![]() Decongestants that can be bought for cold and flu symptoms: these often contain adrenalin which can be bad for the circulation in your hands.Examples include beta-blockers, which are used for high blood pressure or heart problems.Avoid medications that can make the circulation to the fingers worse If possible, you should consider a change of job or reach an agreement with your employer to restrict the hours that you spend using vibrating machines. However, it is not clear whether nerve symptoms can improve once they have developed. This may prevent symptoms from getting worse. What is the treatment for hand-arm vibration syndrome? Stop using vibrating tools if possible It is your employer's responsibility to make sure that you work in a safe and acceptable working environment. Also, report your concerns to your employer, works nurse, or work doctor (if there is one) and, where relevant, to your union representative. If you suspect that you have symptoms of HAVS then see your doctor. You should not smoke - the chemicals in tobacco can affect blood flow.Keep warm while at work - especially your hands.Short bursts of work are better than long periods of work without a break. Take regular breaks of at least 10 minutes away from the tool.The aim is not to need to use excessive grip, nor to use a tool for longer than necessary. Use tools correctly and use the right tool for the job.Hold tools as loosely as possible and in varying positions.The following steps are thought to help prevent HAVS in workers who use vibrating tools: Can hand-arm vibration syndrome be prevented? The Health and Safety Executive has a calculator that can help to gauge how much exposure you might have had to equipment that can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome (see 'Further reading' section below). The tests may include checking your grip strength, your ability to perform fine hand movements and the response of your fingers to cold. However, tests are sometimes needed, especially if you are involved in a compensation claim. Your description of your symptoms and the fact that you have worked for a long time with vibrating tools may be enough to clinch the diagnosis of HAVS. The strength of your grip may be weakened.īook a private appointment with a local physio today Book now Minor damage to the muscles, joints and bones may cause aches and pains in the hands and lower arm. See the separate leaflet called Raynaud's Phenomenon. Vibrating tools are just one cause of Raynaud's phenomenon. A typical appearance in Raynaud's syndrome is seen when the fingers go white, then blue, then red. Raynaud's phenomenon comes in bouts or attacks that are triggered by cold weather or touching a cold object. Raynaud's phenomenon - white finger symptoms Sometimes one finger is badly affected with other fingers only mildly affected. In many people the severity of nerve symptoms is somewhere in between these two extremes. For example, it may become difficult to fasten buttons or to handle coins, screws, nails, threads, etc. This may cause clumsiness and difficulty in doing fine tasks. In severe cases a permanent numbness may extend along affected fingers. It may be mild and just affect the tips of the finger(s) and come and go. Loss of feeling (numbness) and/or having pins and needles (tingling) in one or more fingers are usually the early features. These changes also lead to muscular aches and pains. This can then be followed by Raynaud's phenomenon resulting from changes in the blood vessels and resulting in a white finger. Nerves are affected initially, leading to changes in sensation. What are the symptoms of hand-arm vibration syndrome? Possibly, up to 1 in 10 people who work regularly with vibrating tools may develop HAVS. Over time these may gradually lose some of their function and cause symptoms. It is probably due to slight but repeated injury to the small nerves and blood vessels in the fingers. It is not clear how vibration causes the condition. It may also be caused by holding or working with machinery that vibrates. HAVS is caused by repeated and frequent use of hand-held vibrating tools - for example, power drills, chainsaws and pneumatic drills. ![]()
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