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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Numb Fingers, Purple In Color. Diagnosed With Blood Disease Year Ago. What Could Be This?

hello, my friend woke up 4 days ago with her left fingers purple, and her arm is killing her everysince. she said her fingers arm numb.the dr.she has is saying it might be buergers disease and might have to aputate.she was diagnosed over a yr ago with an blood disease caused by a bacteria she had caught at a lake. and hasnt been well since. do you have any idea what might it could be
Tue, 27 Aug 2013
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Orthopaedic Surgeon, Joint Replacement 's  Response
Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.

There are no blood tests to confirm buergers disease. It can be diagnosed only by performing Angiogram (arteriogram) using a dye which helps to delineate any blockage in the arteries. A simple clinical test - "ALLENS TEST" will also help in assessing the blood flow through the arteries of the involved hand.

There is no treatment to cure buergers disease but the only effective way to halt the disease progression is to quit smoking.

There are many treatment options (though less effective) that can be tried

* Medications to dilate blood vessels, improve blood flow or dissolve blood clots
* Intermittent compression of the arms and legs to increase blood flow to your extremities
* Spinal cord stimulation
* Surgery to cut the nerves to the affected area (surgical sympathectomy) to control pain and increase blood flow, although this procedure is controversial
* Medications to stimulate growth of new blood vessels (therapeutic angiogenesis), an approach that is considered experimental by many
* Amputation, if infection or gangrene occurs

Hope this information is helpful. Good day
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Numb Fingers, Purple In Color. Diagnosed With Blood Disease Year Ago. What Could Be This?

Hi, thanks for writing to HCM. There are no blood tests to confirm buergers disease. It can be diagnosed only by performing Angiogram (arteriogram) using a dye which helps to delineate any blockage in the arteries. A simple clinical test - ALLENS TEST will also help in assessing the blood flow through the arteries of the involved hand. There is no treatment to cure buergers disease but the only effective way to halt the disease progression is to quit smoking. There are many treatment options (though less effective) that can be tried * Medications to dilate blood vessels, improve blood flow or dissolve blood clots * Intermittent compression of the arms and legs to increase blood flow to your extremities * Spinal cord stimulation * Surgery to cut the nerves to the affected area (surgical sympathectomy) to control pain and increase blood flow, although this procedure is controversial * Medications to stimulate growth of new blood vessels (therapeutic angiogenesis), an approach that is considered experimental by many * Amputation, if infection or gangrene occurs Hope this information is helpful. Good day