White finger

[Hann]

As already mentioned, what you are seeing is Raynaud's phenomenon, it can be caused by vibration but there can be other causes, most commonly cold. It's characterised by the defined divide between the skin colours and is actually restricted blood supply to the extremities, worth a bit of internet research.

I also suffer from Raynaud's but it's related to my core becoming cold, possibly also linked to a low resting heart rate. It has happened on the bike, but is as likely to occur when I'm sat doing nothing. The arteries restrict and the blood supply to my fingers is reduced or even cut off completely, there's usually a tingling sensation first which is a useful early warning that it's going to occur. Swinging your arms around like a propeller will force blood to the finger tips but not particularly practical on a bike, also it can be quite painful as the blood returns to the fingers tips.

Strangely, I can go skiing, mess in snow even without gloves, go for a run in cold weather, but if I sit in front of the TV and the room isn't warm enough it triggers the Raynauld's. It's certainly not consistent person to person and in my case is definitely connected to heart rate.

That`s very interesting as i also suffer from similar conditions if i`m `idling` which i`ve often thought may be linked to my low heart rate when sat still doing nothing..
My symptoms are that i always have cold hands and feet, so much so that i wear fingerless gloves for seemingly 8 months of the year and become preoccupied by cold feet when at work to the point of distraction.
I get it from my dad - he`s always got cold hands, and i`ve passed it to my daughter who also always feels the cold.
I don`t get it through vibration on the bike but can do when it`s cold - my fingers go white and completely numb.
As i`m sat here now in the living room it is 18 degrees but my feet feel cold...

You seem to have got a handle on it - have you got any magic cure that you have discovered that will alleviate the problem?

 

[Bobbin-Man]

That`s very interesting as i also suffer from similar conditions if i`m `idling` which i`ve often thought may be linked to my low heart rate when sat still doing nothing..
My symptoms are that i always have cold hands and feet, so much so that i wear fingerless gloves for seemingly 8 months of the year and become preoccupied by cold feet when at work to the point of distraction.
I get it from my dad - he`s always got cold hands, and i`ve passed it to my daughter who also always feels the cold.
I don`t get it through vibration on the bike but can do when it`s cold - my fingers go white and completely numb.
As i`m sat here now in the living room it is 18 degrees but my feet feel cold...

You seem to have got a handle on it - have you got any magic cure that you have discovered that will alleviate the problem?

Sorry, no magic cure, but most effective has been to keep my core (torso) warm and ideally my heart rate up a little.
I've read that the effect is caused by your body sensing a reduction in temperature, then in order to avoid heat loss in the blood the arteries feeding extremities become restricted to prevent further cooling of the blood. Fingers, toes, nose, even your John Roger if your really unlucky!
Also apparently Raynaud's can be hereditary, my mother also suffers with her fingers, my brothers gets it worst in his toes, he does a lot of cycling so it might be related. There's some anecdotal link to sufferers often having lower than average resting heart rates but nothing definitive.
Some people can prevent it occurring by wearing gloves, in my case it's more important to keep my core warm and remain active.

 

[BigKev67]

Cold extremities can be a symptom of under active thyroid. I continually felt cold for years, would go to bed in thermals. Six layers of clothes on the bike. I also cycled and had to but heated pads in my shoes to stop the toes going numb .
had a blood test and had under active thyroid. Now take thyroxine and I am much better.
Under active thyroid is very common, worth googling the symptoms if you suffer from the cold

 

[Deleted account 221212001]

How bizarre.

 

[CHRISTARAS]

PROBLEM SOLVED!!

https://www.nippynormans.com/f650st...ucatihonda-kawasaki-suzuki-and-yamaha:thumby:

 

[JvW]

I had the problem of cold/white fingers. Even thick gloves/heated grips did not help. I now drive with the neoprene hand grips cover from tucano urbano. They are great !!!!!! Even on the coldest of days I ride with summer gloves inside the covers. No more white fingertips.

 

[Bobbin-Man]

Some information about Raynaud's on the NHS website.

 

[Scotsrick]

I’d heard of white finger but never gave it much thought till I was away at the weekend.

One of the guys had to stop midway on Saturday to get the circulation back in all his fingers. They were pure white 2 joints down from the tip far worse than the op’s. He said it takes a few minutes but the blood flow comes back but if he didn’t stop, eventually he couldn’t operate the controls.

He thinks it was from years of using power tools in his work.