I want you to understand, the mistakes I make on my posts are not due to lack of spelling or typing skills. I learned both fairly well plus having spell-check helps. The reason for most of these errors can be seen below.
It’s called Dupuytren’s contracture whereby the tenons in my hands become tight which has caused, in the last 10 – 15 years, my pinkie and ring fingers to slowly curl up into my palms. In the pictures I have my fingers extended as far as they can go. This means when I type I will inadvertently hit the wrong keys and, unless I proof carefully some words get misspelled. While most of the time the spell-check catches it, it will not when I hit an “i” for and “o” or “r” for “t” and end up with “our” for “out” or “hot” for “hit”. Often I just miss making these kinds of corrections.
There are several interesting things about this “contracture”. For one, it is inherited. Often called Scottish or Norwegian fisherman’s disease, it is found in populations that have Scandinavian ancestry. In fact, it is used to track the movement of the Vikings in their European conquests since it will appear only in those populations where they left genetic material. Second, it is fairly much incurable. While it can be repaired surgically the cure will only be temporary–one of the reasons I haven’t sought to have it done. Fortunately it does not prevent me from grasping a golf club so I can still pursue that form of torture. Aside from not being able to straighten out my hands, there is no other side effect unless I grab something that I cannot release–then it hurts like hell. I can no longer set a volleyball, BTW. Interestingly too, I seem to be the only member of my extended family that is so inflicted.
If any one else out there has this, I’d be interested in know how you are coping.