Fingers frozen to the bone?
It’s normal to be colder in the winter — but what’s not normal is extremities growing so cold that they go numb and turn white.
Fortunately, it could very well be a generally harmless condition called Raynaud’s syndrome, but it’s important to know the difference between Raynaud’s and frostbite, and when to see a doctor.
What is Raynaud’s?
Raynaud’s syndrome, or Raynaud’s phenomenon, is “an overreaction to the normal cold-induced symptoms,” Dr. Anca Askanase, a rheumatologist at Columbia University Medical Center, explained to The Post.
People with Raynaud’s experience “extreme” narrowing and closure of the blood vessels to the fingers or toes, which stops the blood flow to them. That turns those fingertips and toes white and then blue. It also makes them feel numb and can be prickly or painful.
This can happen when it’s not even particularly cold, hence the “overreaction” — people with the condition often feel numb and see discoloration fairly quickly when temperatures drop.
It’s more common in women than men, with symptom onset usually occurring before age 30. However, secondary Raynaud’s — which can be caused by another condition or a medication — can start later.
How do you know if it’s Raynaud’s or the beginning of frostbite?
It can be scary not to feel your fingers or toes and to see them go blue — but it doesn’t mean you need to panic and rush to the ER.
Raynaud’s can happen even with mild cold exposure, explained Askanase, while frostbite is always due to extreme cold and is associated with tissue damage.
People with Raynaud’s experience the symptoms frequently when they’re chilly — so if this happens to you a lot, you probably don’t have to worry that you are getting frostbite.
And though the initial symptoms are similar, the skin of frostbitten areas gets hard and waxy, while skin texture stays the same with Raynaud’s.
The condition also typically doesn’t cause long-term damage as long as you take care to warm up. Continued exposure to the cold after your fingers have already gone numb isn’t a great idea.
“It is reversible upon warming up. When it is prolonged it can cause sores and tissue loss and, rarely, finger gangrene,” said Askanase.
Whats the best way to warm up fingers and toes that have gone numb?
It’s best to minimize your exposure to cold in the first place, but if you’re already numb, it can take several minutes or up to a few hours for the symptoms to clear up on their own once you’re in a warmer place.
To speed things up, Askanase suggests running warm water over the numb area until it starts to turn pink or red and the feeling returns.
Just be careful not to go too hot: A temperature you might like while feeling fine could burn and cause pain when you’re numb.
When should you see a doctor?
Askanase advises making an appointment to get diagnosed and to rule out diseases that are associated with secondary Raynaud’s, like scleroderma and lupus.
What can you do to have symptoms less often?
Some helpful management tips for fewer Raynaud’s flare-ups include:
- Limiting exposure to the cold. When you can’t avoid going outside, wear warm gloves and extra socks. Carrying hand warmers can also help.
- Keep dry. Slush leaking into your boots and snow melting on woven gloves can speed up the process.
- Get some movement in to improve circulation.
- Avoid stress, which can make Raynaud’s worse and even cause it to happen in the first place.
