Re: [Paddlewise] Coldfinger/ Raynauds

Joan:

[ Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome :  It is a litmus test.  If your physician
laughs  at you, things are fine. If they seem confused, if their brows
become knitted, and their face puckered,  then you are looking at storm
flags.]

 It is an  obscure occupational injury /syndrome , mostly affecting working
class males who use the  outside of the palm of their hand (pinky side), as
a hammer to pound, push or twist  things into place. It compresses the ulnar
artery against the wrist bones, leading  to arterial damage and aneurysm
formation. The aneurysm collects "debris", which  is periodically "showered"
down to the fingers supplied by  the ulnar artery. The tips of the of  4th
and 5th finger turn colors, as they are embolized (blue-black)  but often
improve over a few days. I once had the  misfortune of participating  in a
Persantin-stress test on some young corn-fed hunk  farmer in Illinois,  for
Raynauds. ( at the Carle Clinic in Urbana IL)  The test (mostly the cost of
the drug  Persantine) was over $2K). Because the physician ordered this
test, I was a helpless participant in it.  I remember feeling this guy's
hand, and the heavy callous on the little finger side, and I knew what the
problem was, but was swept along with the test, like being sucked into a
rapid.  The Persantine-stress  test was normal.

Afterwards, after this expensive test, over  the objections of my
co-workers, I used ultrasound to image his ulnar artery, and  found an
aneurysm there, which was filled with debris, which was causing the systems
in his 3rd/4th/5th digits.  The vascular surgeon agreed.  The case "won my
spurs" there at this prestigious Clinic, but  I left 2 weeks later ,
figuring that if  some one as stupid as me, could figure out something as
obvious as this, then there was  an abyss there  that I would never be able
straddle without pissing people off left and right. It also earned me the
moniker of  " Mr WiseAss."

My comment about the hypothenar hammer "test,"  was meant to communicate
that the physician who says "huh?"  when you say "hypothenar hammer
syndrome" , is unworthy to touch your hand. Whereas as the physician who
laughs, and says "Where did you ever hear of that? , in  my 20 years  of
practice , I 've seen just 2 cases", is worth  your time, and money.

It is a litmus test.  If they laugh at you things are fine. If they seem
confused, if their brows become knitted, then you are looking at storm
flags. Find a better physician.

----- Original Message -----
From: <volinjo_at_juno.com>
To: <RiDem_at_email.msn.com>
Cc: <JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com>; <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 11:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Coldfinger


> Hey Rich - can you explain the hypothenar hammer test a bit?  I'm really
> interested, because my daughter has had what we've always considered to
> be Reynaud's since she was little.  She has no other diseases or
> conditions, but her hands and feet have always gotten really really cold,
> even when it doesn't seem to be that cold out - and when I say always, I
> mean since infancy.
>
> Incidentally, what's "RDMS/RVT" stand for?
>
> Joan
>
>
> >  Don't take my word for it try the hypothenar hammer test.!!!!
> >
> > Rich Dempsey RDMS/RVT
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >


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