Raynaud's Disease??? But symptoms only on left hand??

I was stepping outside of a store and walking to my car when my middle finger on my left hand started to hurt, I looked and it was turning white starting from the tip, it was painful to touch. I did everything I knew to try and get blood circulating to my finger tip, but it lasted about 10 minutes - it was confined to only my left middle finger. The only thing that sounds similar is Raynaud's (never heard of it before today) but it seems too weird that it's only my left hand. Any advice from someone who knows? I don't have health insurance so going to a dr is a last resort, should I wait to see if it happens again? ANY helpful inforamtion would be appreciated. thanks in advance!

FYI - I'm 22 and live in UT (it's been in the '80s lately but today it's been in the '50s) don't know if that helps!

Well, I'm not a doctor, but I can tell you that it definatly sounds like you could have Raynaud's syndrome. It can affect people to the point where every finger, toe, ears, nose, and sometimes lips turn while when your body gets cold. It can also be isolated to a single finger. It is part of CREST syndrome. Each letter stands for a symptom, each of which can be considered a condition in and of themselves. If you have I believe 2 or 3 out of the 5, they can diagnose you with CREST. Part of it is that your blood vessles are constricting, not allowing enough blood to flow, causing the whiteness. There is no cure and there is no explanation as of yet as to where it comes from...doctors think genetics, but can't prove it. Try this...wash your dinner dishes in cool or cold water. If by the time you're done, you're experiencing the same white finger (or more), you may want to consider going to the doctor. Also, keep some gloves or mittens in your car (silly, but you gotta do what you gotta do!). If you feel this way again, put them on. Heat will help them return to normal sooner and will ease the pain somewhat. Also, running under warm water is also a good plan if you can. Good luck!

Heavenly Heat sells a massage mitt that you warm in the microwave for a few minutes and it seems to really ease the discomfort, plus heat is supposed to restore circulation. Report It

I concur with the previous poster and her tips are spot on. I understand that not having insurance makes it all the more difficult. You can check with your local medical school to see if their Rheumatology department is conducting clinical research on Raynaud's in order to get an actual diagnosis. Clinical research does not cost you a dime and you don't have anything to fear since current raynaud's and scleroderma research is mostly fact finding (trying to understand the diseases and controlling the diseases).

I would not suggest prolonging an MD visit.

Also, the mayo clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/raynaud... also provides awesome background information.