Genealogy Chat

This really belongs on the General board, but having seen it, I think I will get more sensable input here. Bill Oddie was tracing his back ground on T.V. and other week, and someone mentioned a long toe. My mother and I, have a problem with our little finger on the left hand, my mothers curled into the palm, before it was operated on (she 83 years old) and mine is starting to do the same. Both my mother and I, (she lives in England and I live in Holland) have been told by doctors on both sides of the north sea, that this is and inherited thing, that is known as the Viking hand. We can only track this down to a small, cloudy part of our tree,( as it not known at least for 80 years in the main branches) and little is known of of these relatives. I wonder if there are other people out there with the same little finger problem? maybe it is a marker through time to bunch together distant family groups. Does anyone know of any research into this area? Can' t put it on the trying to find board, as it hasn't got a surname, but it has got a medical name, which unfortunatly I don't know. Any comments welcome. Audrey Kruizinga

Audrey I googled 'Viking hand curl' and this came up: http://archiver.rootsweb*com/th/read/CORNISH/1998-05/0894531820 replace * with . nell

Audrey I've googled and found a bit more: 'Dupuytren's contracture is also called Dupuytren's disease or Viking disease. Tissue under the skin of the palm of the hand becomes thicker and shorter. As the tissue gets shorter, it pulls the fingers down to the palm of the hand. It may get to the point that the fingers cannot be used. The cause of Dupuytren's is not known. It may occur after an injury to the palm of the hand. It tends to be more common in people from northern Europe and in people who have other family members with it. Generally Dupuytren's does not start until the 40's or 50's. Men are more likely to have it and will have the first symptoms earlier than women.'

Dupuytren's (...Dew-pi-tronz) contracture is a condition that is common in adults. Both Ronald Regan and Margaret Thatcher had operations for it! Most people develop it for no obvious reason. It can be hereditary. The layer of tissue that is just under the skin in your palm (the fascia ...fash-ee-ah) is abnormal. Part of it has formed a band which is thicker than normal and shortened. The band prevents you fully straightening your finger. fash-ee-ah .....y-ee-ah right

Hi Diane I think we must be related. LOL Beth :)

My grandfather had the curling little finger too - had heard it was a Viking thingy. Off to invade another country now!! Anna

My neighbour also has this - just had an op for it. She says it was heriditary too. She is very blond and blue eyed and in a part of the country where the Vikings invaded, so I guess there is a good chance this is a genetic throw back. Just on a personal level, I have a really strange thumb. One is perfectly normal, the other is flattened, really like it has been crushed at some time and the nail never grows. My mum had the same thing and recently my aunt (80) told me, oh your thumb is just like my fathers. So I suppose at least I know which line it came through.