White Finger Syndrome and Workers’ Compensation

White finger syndrome can become worse if the cause isn’t resolved

Have you ever seen your fingers just... turn white? Like lose-all-color white? The appearance might frighten you at first, but most people who live with this condition are more likely to experience inconvenience than a serious medical issue. 

Raynaud’s Phenomenon, or “white finger syndrome” causes decreased blood flow to the fingers. Less commonly, it affects ears, toes, nipples, knees or nose. A person’s fingers could turn white when they’re cold, or if the person feels stressed or upset. 

In some instances, Raynaud’s is associated with other illnesses like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension or thyroid disorders, but in many cases it occurs on its own with no secondary issues.

Symptoms of White Finger Syndrome

• Fingers turn white and then blue when exposed to cold or when the person feels stressed
• Hands could be swollen and painful as they warm up
• If it’s severe, you could develop sores on the finger ads
• Rarely, gangrene could develop in the fingers

Most people can live with Raynaud’s Phenomenon, and they can manage the discomfort and inconvenience by taking steps to keep their fingers warm.

However, this can become a problem for people who work outside or whose workplaces expose them to cold environments. That’s why it could lead to workers’ compensation claims if the condition prevents a person from working or requires medical treatment.

What is vibration white finger?

Vibration white finger is a secondary form of Raynaud’s phenomenon. Typically, Raynaud’s causes finger sensitivity to the cold and reduced sensation. Vibration white finger can cause numbness in the fingers and difficulty using your hands.

VWF is caused by long-term use of power tools. Raynaud’s can happen without a specific cause.

VWF might be more noticeable in the cold, but it changes the appearance of a person’s hands. It can cause whitening or pale color in the fingertips above the first joint. 

Symptoms of VWF include:

• tingling, numbness, or weakness in the hands and fingers
• difficulty picking up small objects
• difficulty with small motor skills
• loss of hand or arm strength
• thumb pain when gripping objects

How is vibration white finger caused in the workplace?

This condition typically affects people who work for many years with certain types of tools. These include:

While some people use tools like these for home DIY projects or other occasional reasons, the condition develops most commonly in people whose jobs are in construction, mining, forestry, automobile repair or assembly, quarry drilling, stone carving, or metalwork.

Vibration white finger is considered an occupational condition from long-term power tool use.

Is there treatment for white finger syndrome?

This depends on if it’s Reynaud’s phenomenon or vibrating white finger.

Reynaud often doesn’t require treatment; an affected person will experience the white finger-related symptoms in very cold conditions or if they feel stressed or upset. However, the symptoms should alleviate when the conditions resolve. If it’s an ongoing, worsening, or persistent issue, a person should consult their medical provider to see if there are any underlying medical concerns. 

Vibration white finger is different, though. 

While there isn’t a “cure” for VWF, there are ways to reduce or manage symptoms. These strategies include:

• reducing or stopping the use of vibrating power tools
• quitting smoking to improve blood vessel health
• avoiding work in cold environments
• taking prescription calcium channel blockers to improve circulation
• taking pain medications to relieve any painful symptoms

Someone who suffers from VWF should also avoid caffeine, alcohol, and any foods that trigger sensitivities or allergic reactions. Some people believe their symptoms are eased by consuming food that contains ginger, garlic and spices. 

Some people can reduce symptoms of VWF by stopping using the vibrating tools; in some instances, the symptoms can be reversed. However, if a person with VWF continues to use power tools that caused the injury, they could suffer permanent damage.

Can you get workers’ compensation benefits for white finger syndrome or vibration white finger?

Workers’ compensation provides benefits for an injury that happened at work, at your place of work, or was caused by conditions or activities related to your job. 

A work-related condition does not cause Raynaud’s phenomenon; your fingers might turn white if you work outside but there is no treatment. It does not cost you money for medical expenses and likely does not require you to miss work time when it happens. 

Vibrating white finger is a different story. Because this condition could be caused by tasks you perform at work, you can make a workers’ comp claim to cover associated costs. 

Workers’ compensation varies by state, but it generally covers:

• Medical treatment related to the injury; and
• A percentage of lost wages from lost work time related to the injury.

How to prevent vibrating white finger

Again, you can’t prevent Raynaud’s phenomenon if it’s part of your biology. But, you can prevent your hands from becoming very cold, which would help ease the symptoms.

You can treat or prevent vibrating white finger using these strategies:

• reducing or stopping the use of vibrating power tools
• quitting smoking to improve blood vessel health
• avoiding work in cold environments
• taking prescription calcium channel blockers to improve circulation
• taking pain medications to relieve any painful symptoms

However, before you begin any method of treatment, you should consult your physician. 

If you believe you’ve suffered from white finger syndrome, first contact your physician to receive a diagnosis and explore treatment options. 

Next, if you think it was caused by conditions or tasks in your workplace, you can seek guidance from a workers’ compensation lawyer to make a claim for benefits.