Are you at risk of ‘Viking’s disease’? All you need to know as Ally McCoist reveals incurable diagnosis

‘Viking’s illness’ is an incurable condition that ALLY McCoist has disclosed he has.

According to the Rangers great, the illness has run in his family for many generations, but you could also be at risk due to specific lifestyle choices and medical problems.

According to Ally, he suffers from Dupuytren’s contracture, a disorder that causes one or more fingers to progressively bend in toward the palm of the hand.

As the tissue beneath the skin of your fingers and palms thickens and tightens, the disorder causes lumps, dimples, or ridges to form in the palm.

One or more of the victim’s fingers, including the little and ring fingers, may eventually become trapped in a bent posture. The condition frequently affects both hands.

Since it is believed to be more prevalent in those of Scandinavian or Northern European ancestry, it is frequently referred to as “Viking’s disease.”

Nevertheless, a 2019 agenetic study revealed no proof that Dupuytren’s originated in the Nordic region.

Although Dupuytren’s contracture is typically painless, it can make daily tasks and hand use more difficult.

It is usually not possible to have surgery until the problem has severely worsened.

The sports host disclosed that despite two surgeries to try to straighten his fingers, the problem has reappeared.

Ally stated on talkSPORT: “I have Dupuytren’s. The way your fingers close in is inherited.

“I’ve had two of them done.

The strange thing about Dupuytren’s is that the doctor told me, “I will operate on it, but it will come back in about nine years,” when I visited him.

“And I swear to God nine years later it came back.”

According to Ally, the illness ran throughout his family.

The doctor asked me, ‘Did your grandfather have it?’ when I saw him.

I said, ‘I don’t know,’ as I never had the opportunity to meet any of my grandfathers, who tragically died before I was born.

“But my dad had it,” I told him. ‘You’re unlucky because it generally skips a generation,’ he replied, raising his head. “That’s good news because I have five boys,” I responded.

“My little mother also had it. It runs in the family; both my parents had it.

The football star revealed that he finds it difficult to text because of his illness.

“I have seen myself sending a text message which takes me five minutes to text with one finger when I should just dial the number,” he stated to talkSPORT.

Up to 5% of the UK population is thought to be affected by Dupuytren’s disease, according to Oxford University researchers who discovered a potentially ground-breaking cure.

Actor Bill Nighy and Margaret Thatcher are two other well-known victims.

Causes of Dupuytren’s contracture

‘Viking’s illness’ has no recognized etiology.

In Ally’s instance, his likelihood of developing the illness was increased due to a family history of it.

However, the condition has also been connected to other variables.

Smoking may raise your chance of Dupuytren’s contracture, according to the NHS.

Another risk factor for lifestyle choices is heavy alcohol consumption.

The sickness has also been associated with certain disorders, such as diabetes of epilepsy.

If one or more of your fingers are bent and you have trouble putting your hands down flat or performing everyday tasks, you should see a doctor.

How is it treated?

In its early phases, Dupuytren’s contracture typically doesn’t require any treatment.

Your doctor might recommend that you see a specialist for treatment if the condition is severe enough to prevent you from using your hand normally.

Three primary categories of treatment exist:

• Surgery to remove the affected tissue in the hand (fasciectomy)
• Using a needle to make small cuts in the affected tissue (needle fasciotomy)
• Surgery to remove the affected tissue and skin (dermofasciectomy)

Your fingers can feel less flexible and robust after treatment, and they might not straighten entirely.

After a few years, your fingers can begin to contract once more, just like Ally’s did.

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