Hands turning dark/purple

[Brando CalPankian]

So, I've got a problem.

As some of y'all know, I broke my neck and messed myself up pretty bad in 2021, not tree related.

I've been muscling through, and building the crew has helped a lot.

I also broke both of my wrists this spring.

Recently (last few months) my hands have been turning dark purple, almost black, starting at my finger tips going to the wrists. It seems to be isolated to my hands.

It's not dirt, grease, paint, or any topical affliction. It gets worse when training aerial workers (looking up during the day), running saws, or driving the tractor.

Today is day 3 of a big removal project where I've been training my new lead. I noticed them changing colors yesterday (did a fair bit of ground cutting), and today is significantly worse.

I don't have insurance yet. Employees do, I had to sacrifice this year. It never happened before in my career. I don't feel any pain with it. My fingers will get cold when it's really bad. Taking pressure off my neck by using a special collar thing I have helps.

I'm wondering if it's vibrations from the saws and equipment, or maybe the channels in my neck getting inflamed and causing blood to pool in my hands.

Wondering if anyone's got any info/thoughts on it. It's getting harder for me to back up my team as they grow because my health is deteriorating. Gotta make it another year or two.

Thanks

 

[Reach]

There are a number of likely answers I'm finding online, Reynaud's is one I am familiar with, as I suffer from it myself to a certain extent. I'm only affected by the cold, though vibrations may make it worse when it is cold.

Signs & symptoms of Raynaud's

Raynaud's causes cold fingers and toes as the colour of the skin changes from white to blue to red. It can also cause numbness and pain.

www.sruk.co.uk

What You Need to Know About Peripheral Cyanosis (Blue Hands and Feet)

Peripheral cyanosis may be caused by cold temperatures or a more serious medical issue. Learn more about causes, diagnosis, and treatment.

www.healthline.com

Are you keeping yourself fully hydrated? Have you tried checking your blood pressure, whether during work hours, or when you are resting in the morning and at night? That might be a good place to start, you can buy a fairly cheap electric blood pressure cuff at Walmart that will be reasonably accurate.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

The first time it happened I was worried and we'd check blood pressure and everything, elevated arms, gentle heat. No changes. But if you press on the fingers they change color.

I've been taking better care of myself in regards to hydration and eating. It first came on after a nasty stomach bug a couple months ago. I was given a zpac. It seems Reynauds can be caused by immune system issues?

When yours comes on is it just the cold, or does running saws influence it too? It was low 80s today, not really that hot.

 

[Reach]

The first time it happened I was worried and we'd check blood pressure and everything, elevated arms, gentle heat. No changes. But if you press on the fingers they change color.

I've been taking better care of myself in regards to hydration and eating. It first came on after a nasty stomach bug a couple months ago. I was given a zpac. It seems Reynauds can be caused by immune system issues?

When yours comes on is it just the cold, or does running saws influence it too? It was low 80s today, not really that hot.

it looks like there's quite a few different things that can be a cause. Even stress can cause those symptoms, and you seem to be under a lot of stress these days.

For me, it has to be cold out. Vibrating machinery makes it worse though. When I was mowing many years ago in my lawn care days, on a cold day my hands would get so bad there were times I had to use my arms to pry my fingers off of the control levers on the zero turn I would ride. Between the vibration of the engine and the cold air, even on a 45 or 50° day, my hands would freeze up.