My fingertips are extremely painful. What to do?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

My fingertips feel like there are broken glasses in them, and it is getting worse. When I lay down, it is extremely painful, and if the weather is cold, it becomes unbearable. I work in construction, so this makes it impossible to work.

Answered by Dr. Muhammad Majid Hanif

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand how worrisome this situation is for you.

It seems the blood vessels in your fingertips are not working well. Due to lack of blood supply, it is painful. Small nerve endings in fingertips may also get involved, making it worse. Please consult your primary care physician, and if needed, he may refer you to a vascular physician or an endocrinologist.

We usually call it Raynaud's syndrome. It is actually a symptom of some other disease, for example, lupus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, or atherosclerosis.

It may also be secondary Raynaud's as in smokers, frostbite cases, and people working at vibrating power tools. It seems associated with your work, although, I am not sure about the nature of your job. It may also be caused by taking certain medications.

Hope it helps. Feel free to ask for more details if you need further assistance. Regards.

For more information consult an internal medicine physician online.

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Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team

September 25, 2017

April 22, 2025

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Cardiology