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Posted By Emma Forbes
Hi, I have a refuse collection driver who has come on to me stating that he is experiencing blanching, numbness and occasional tingling on the 3rd finger of his left hand. This also happens to be the finger he uses when operating the button for the automatic gear change on the RCV.
10 years ago he worked on a construction site where he was exposed to vibrating equipment.
I'm referring him to OH but your opinions would be helpful. This, to me, sounds like VWF, but I can't figure out why it would raise it's ugly head after such a long period of time. Is it possible that constant use of the finger would exacerbate any underlying symptoms or is it more likely to be RSI? I haven't come across these types of symptoms when dealing with RSI.
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Posted By mrs.seed
To me it sounds more like VWF, but being in only one finger sounds like either:
He does something else with that finger other than the button you know about
The button he pushes if he has to hold it down for any length of time does it vibrate at all?
The vibration of the truck engine is being transmitted through the button while being held down.
he has had a previous injury to that finger (even years ago which damaged nerves in some way and he may have forgotten about) which has caused symptoms to show in that finger before any where else. (Previous injuries/deep cuts can make one section of a finger feel the cold quicker than the rest of the hand (dont know why)and as VWF is connected to temperature that could explain initial symptoms in that place).
good luck
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Posted By FJ
As vwf is frequency dependant it may have been been triggered by a new vehicle, new road surface, new way of holding the lever, or even something "out of work"....
Wearing a normal glove may help (short term) as may being aware of what he does in his spare time- a new hobby may be the trigger. Does he ride a motorbike into work?
You certainly should contact an occupational health service which specialises in HAVS- despite the claims of others I have found it to be something where the more experience the better...
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Posted By Ron Hunter
3rd finger, left hand - tight wedding bands will often exacerbate VWF symptoms.
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Posted By Steve Cartwright
Third finger left hand. Does he use this finger because of the layout of the control panel. Seems a strange finger to use. It might be me but I would have thought that with most people if they had to push a button they would use their index finger.
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