Vibrations

[Brychni]

Dr google is sending me down a blind alley so thought I'd ask the experts:Does anyone here with primary or secondary Raynaud's ever get an attack from using a vibrating tool such as an electric whisk and/or hairdryer?

It's been happening to me for about a year or so (had Raynaud's for about 10yrs) and I thought the hairdryer issue was because I was damp and cold after shower but after whipping cream today the same thing happened.

Googling just brought up information about people who had developed a related condition from using road drills and the like for years.

[Purple_Badgers]

Yes, I do! It has been happening to me for a couple of years and has coincided with a general worsening of my Reynauds. I discovered that I couldn’t trim my partner’s hair, as it was too painful to hold the clippers. Hand mixers and electric toothbrushes set it off too.

I have never used heavy tools, but used to work in admin at a computer a lot of the time.

A rheumatologist recently recommended that I try nifedipine to improve the circulation in my hands. She also said she thought I had developed carpal tunnel syndrome. I’m due some blood tests next week, as she reluctantly agreed to check whether there is something else going on, due to other symptoms including dry eyes.

[NZHeather in reply to Purple_Badgers]

Hello, I had what appeared to be carpal tunnel syndrome. it wasn't too bad, so just put up with it. Several years laterI was diagnosed with thryroid problems and was prescribed with Levothyroxine and almost overnight the carpal tunnel pain disapeared. It may be worthwhile having your thyroid checked. Best wishes Heather

[Purple_Badgers in reply to NZHeather]

Thanks, Heather. I have a collection of symptoms and never seem to have anything significant come back from blood tests that have been done over the years.

[NZHeather in reply to Purple_Badgers]

This 'self care' business is hard work isn't it?

[Tiko131 in reply to Purple_Badgers]

Hi! I suffer erythromelalgia caused by small fibers neuropathy and I suffer Raynauds from it. And among other symptoms because of the neuropathy, dry eyes and intense dry mouth. I have problems since many years ago with vibrations, more intense vibrations initially and even with these emitted by my mobile or by a car, now. I can't type more than a few words. This kind of sensitivity to vibrations suggest a neurological origin and small fiber neuropathy should be ruled out, as your doctor is doing with carpal tunnel syndrome and probably with Sjoegren´s disease that is another etiology for dry eyes + Raynaud´s.

Small fibers control peripheral vascularization, glands work and many more things, that's why they can cause Raynaud + dry eyes. And temperature has also to do with it. But it´s a difficult diagnosis, many doctors aren't used with it. And in most cases, blood tests will be normal. . Maybe you should contact a doctor specialised in it. Be cautious with nifedipine as it could make worse.

Hope it can help. Good luck!

[k9lover58 in reply to Purple_Badgers]

I got the same thing and was told that the capillaries get even more restricted when I am holding anything tightly. He put me on nifedipine 3 times a day and it really helped. Try it and let us know…good luck👍😘

[Brychni in reply to k9lover58]

Thanks for all the replies. My appointment has been cancelled again (3rd time) and is not til October. I will report back. Since writing the original post I have had another incident; recently I went paddle boarding for the first time (been dying to try it for ages) it was really fun j was surprised how quickly I got the hang of it. I had worried though that my elbows and shoulders would not be strong enough or ache but I think all the physio paid off because it was ok and I had no aching at all the next day. What did happen though was Raynaud's from apparently just gripping the paddle. It was very warm so I sat kn yhe beach in direct sun and waited for it to pass, but it didn't really. It was ok, not painful but WTF? Gripping things,really?Also even though I feel it in my left hand too sometimes (rarely and mainly the nail in my thumb) , it hardly ever causes white fingers in the left all of this is predominantly in my right hand. First three including thumb regularly goes red and swollen and causes aching which goes all the way up to my elbow.

Does anyone else have this?

[trunchalobesity]

it’s vibration white finger. Basically both the vibration and cold has the effect of shutting down your blood vessels in the concerned extremities, usually the fingers

[Brychni in reply to trunchalobesity]

Hi, thanks. Can people have both? All the info online says that it's only caused by occupational activities using heavy duty vibrating tools.

[Tiko131]

Hello! I suffer erythromelalgia caused by small fibers neuropathy and I suffer Raynauds from it. And among other symptoms because of the neuropathy, dry eyes and intense dry mouth. I have problems since many years ago with vibrations, more intense vibrations initially and even with these emitted by my mobile or by a car, now. I can't type more than a few words. This kind of sensitivity to vibrations suggest a neurological origin and small fiber neuropathy should be ruled out.

But it´s a difficult diagnosis, many doctors aren't used with it. And in most cases, blood tests will be normal. . Maybe you should contact a doctor specialised in it.

Hope it can help. Good luck!

[cowhide]

If you have Raynauds then gripping can compromise the circulation. Both the electric whisk and the hair dryer would be gripped quite firmly so Raynauds attack is more likely.

I already had a Raynauds diagnosis before I started occasionally using power washers as part of my job (for a couple of hours at a time) and it always triggered an attack. I often get an attack from gripping something, especially if the temperature is below 20C. The treatment for vibration white finger is basically the same for Raynauds anyway.