My old friends and teammates will remember my notorious feet with toes so crooked I could hang upside down by them. Back in high school in Sterling, Illinois my podiatrist, Doctor Heffelfinger, gave me my first foot orthoses. He also showed me how to tape each toe to prevent blisters from forming between my phalanges when playing basketball.
Forty years later, I am still doctoring my crazy feet. Dr. Drevo, my podiatrist in Geneva Switzerland, hand crafted custom-made foot orthotics to help my balance, relieve back pain and slow the progression of Ledderhose Disease. Ledderhose disease (also known as Morbus Ledderhose or plantar fibromatosis) causes nodules to develop in the arches of my feet, which can become painful or grow to a size where they affect walking.
Not surprisingly, my foot doctor also diagnosed Dupuytren’s Contracture, which is similar, because the same type of cords and nodules formed in my hands.
Ledderhose and Dupuytren’s Contracture, known as the Viking Diseases, target the fascia. According to International Dupuytren Society.
"Dupuytren's Contracture is a chronic, progressive fibroproliferative disorder affecting the palmar fascia, leading to permanent flexion deformities of the fingers.”
Typically the ring and pinky finger become permanently locked in bent position.
The condition is more common in Northern European countries where the Vikings settled (hence its nickname.) Typically there, it afflicts about 30% of men over the age of 60 and seems to run in families.
As the daughter of a Norwegian mom and Scottish dad ancestry, I am genetically 89% Scandinavian and Northern European. Key genetic risk factors for Dupuytren's crippling hand disorder can be traced back to Neanderthals’ DNA.
Over the past few years, thanks to Dr. Drevo, my foot condition is under control, but the collagen overgrowth went wild, especially in my left hand.
Only 5% of patients with Dupuytren contractures have similar lesions in the medial plantar fascia of the feet. Lucky me!
At my podiatrist’s appointment in May, I showed Dr. Drevo my bent fingers and crippled hand. He recognized the cords of fibrous tissue puckering under the skin of the palm as Dupuytren’s Contracture and urged me to follow up with a hand specialist right away.
At the Hand Clinic of Geneva, I met Dr. Vakalopoulos who asked, “Would you prefer I speak French, English, Dutch or Greek?”
When he described the complex dissection required to prevent digital nerve injury, it helped that he spoke English. He drew lines across my left hand and explained that he would cut into my palm to remove the chords in my palm and pinky. Unfortunately, my disease had advance too far for him to perform a simpler needle aponevrotomy.
The day after surgery, he confirmed with relief that I retained the sensation in my fingertips.
“The surgery was more difficult than I anticipated,” he said. “You have an aggressive form of 
Dupuytren’s and the collagen had formed spirals around the nerves in the finger joint.”
Dr. V removed the fast growing collagen forming tough bands in the connective tissue of my hand. Two weeks later, in my follow up appointment, after the nurse removed my bandages, Dr. V inspected his delicate artwork. Fifty-eight stitches zig zagged across my palm and pinky.
“That scar would make a great jigsaw puzzle,” my brother-in-law kidded when he saw a photo of my hand.
On the bright side, I retain bragging rights in my extended Olson, McKinzie, Lechault, Carlson, Miles, Westphal, Zhang family. I hold the record for the most stitches. It will be hard to beat!
Never to be discouraged, I wear my scar like a badge of courage. I show off my left hand as a visual reminder of my proud heritage.
After all, I am a Golden Warrior Viking.
You are definitely the warrior. Despite all the hardships you have endured you come out smiling and with a positive attitude.
Thanks Tinie for always cheering me on. I am not always positive about these endless obstacles, but like in basketball, we don’t get to choose our opponents. All we can do when we get knocked down is get back up and do whatever we can to stay in the game!
I actually hurt when I think of all the pain you have endured over the years. What a warrior! More importantly, what a teacher! You should have been twins—or triplets.
Thanks Nan, but don’t dare tell mom that I should have been a twin or triplet. Just the thought of another me or two could make her heart stop! ha ha
Healing is a way of life for you, isn’t it. You do what has to be done but your bravery and courage is admirable. Hang in there Patty.
Thanks Kim. That is a nice way to think about it…healing as a way of life.
A true Warrior Patty. God bless and enjoy family in your Wisconsin paradise!
Thanks Dave. I sure will.
Pat, You are a Viking Warrior Goddess!! I admire your positive attitude…indeed an example of moving forward!! Wishing you an easy recovery!!
Thanks for the compliment Barb. I like that image a “Viking Warrior Goddness” makes me feel strong!
Hello my airplane friend! I have never talked with anyone on a flight and connected in such a way as I did with you! Then to have you come to UW-Stevens Point as a guest speaker! I’m not sure if I told you that your book was part of a display I did for a Title IX exhibit at our Historical Society.
It is finally summer in Wisconsin and a beautiful day for my grandson’s high school graduation party. Are you here in the state at the lake???
I have had surgery on my Dupuytren’s Contracture twice! Those were in between the shots that were supposed to work on straightening….then didn’t. Ugh! You most definitely have me beaten on the number of stitches though. I would love to see you again!! 🙂
It was so great to hear from you my “airplane friend!” Thanks so much for sharing my Title IX story as part of you Historical Society exhibit. Women’s bball has exploded so much recently that it almost makes me feel like the past challenges of the pioneers never happened.
We do have so much in common. I can’t believe you have DC too. Do you have it in both hands? Do you still have troubles with it? Right now my left hand is a mess, but I am hoping I can prevent my right hand from getting as bad. I would love to get together again, but unfortunately we never travel through SP anymore cause we come over from the Twin Cities where our daughter lives. We will have to figure out a way. Do keep in touch!
I’m so sorry to see the extent of your surgery, Pat. I hope recovery is easier than it looks like it would be! It’s such a horrible affliction. I see a hand doctor in the fall for the first time. I’m very apprehensive and may reach out with a few questions. Love you, sis!
Mar-Mar, so sorry you have to deal with this along with all of the rest. I’d be happy to answer any questions. Right now my hand is a hot mess, but hoping that farther along in recovery later in summer I will gain more mobility & dexterity. Lots of love!
My goodness, Sis! What else will afflict you? I sure remember those feet from our apartment days at ISU! I currently have a trigger finger on my right hand but not interfering with function (yet). Keep being you and fighting the good fight!
Thanks sis. I know it sounds like ever the story teller, I must be embellishing things, but honestly this is so bizarre there is no way I can make this s…up. Do you know what is causing your trigger finger? What is your ancestry?