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I looked at my middle finger and was surprised to see the intensity of the purple color of my skin. I tried to think, what could have caused this purple episode to occur in a single finger? Was it serious?
The previous night I had a sudden pain, like an insect had stung me, on the back of my middle finger. I could not see any bite but went ahead and iced it a couple times before bed.
The next day I forgot about my finger, until I noticed it while washing my hands. The skin of my middle finger was incredibly purple like it was bruised or had been dipped in grape jelly.
The odd thing was, only the backside of my middle finger from one knuckle down from the tip to the base was purple. The inside skin of the finger looked normal. The finger did not appear swollen and barely was painful when I squeezed it. I did not have any other symptoms of feeling poorly.
Like many of you would do in this situation, I searched the web. Interestingly, I found numerous forum postings from people who described similar situations that had happened to them. Like me, some of them also had their middle finger affected.
After much hunting, I found a few medical articles that described what it could be and found a photo of someone else’s hand that looked surprisingly like mine. (1)
The diagnosis was a paroxysmal finger hematoma or Achenbach syndrome. Even though it is supposed to be uncommon, based on the numbers of people who posted about similar episodes, it may happen more often than the medical community thinks.
Achenbach syndrome is a benign self-limiting condition of sudden unexplained bruising of the hand or fingers. It is more common in women then men and the middle and index fingers are most affected.
Typically the palm side of the finger shows the bruising after a sudden episode of pain or itching, and there maybe swelling and coldness of the area. The fingertip is usually not involved. The bruising resolves in a few days, which mine did.
While I was able to determine what my purple finger was probably caused by, there are several more serious problems that can cause purple fingers or toes.
Purple digits can be caused a range of problems such as trauma to the finger, a snake bites, a blood clot in the finger due to high levels of cholesterol, or from a cardiac issue. Sensitivity to cold may be due to Raynaud’s disease, frostbite, certain types of anemia or an early sign of lupus.
It is important to consider any issues in your medical history or medications you are taking that might cause a purple finger or toe to occur. Do not be afraid to call or see your doctor.
Sources:
1) Photo of hand with Achenbach syndrome. Brown, Patrick et al. The Purple Digit: An Algorithmic Approach to Diagnosis. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2010;11(2):103-116. Medscape.com. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
http://img.medscape.com/article/724/274/724274-fig5.jpg
2) Y. Smulders. What about this finger? Department of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, tel.: +31 (0)20-4444309, fax: +31(0)20-4444313, e-mail: [email protected].
http://www.njmonline.nl/getpdf.php?t=a&id=10001012
3) Brown, Patrick et al. The Purple Digit: An Algorithmic Approach to Diagnosis. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2010;11(2):103-116. Medscape.com. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/724274_5
4) Kämpfen, S. et al. A Painful Blue Thumb: A Case of Achenbach's Syndrome. Hand Surgery Unit, Department of Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. Accepted 5 July 2005, Available online 15 September 2005. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvsextra.2005.07.004.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S153331670500083X
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele are at http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/499625/michele_blacksberg.html
Edited by Jody Smith
Add a Comment27 Comments
It's not that it IS Reynaud's syndrome, and indeed seems to present the very opposite. Just that there appears to be a correlation, and a rather strong one. I have mild Reynaud's; I also get this stinging, bruising finger thingy as well.
January 19, 2019 - 11:03amThis Comment
Yes, I have this as well. It can be quite painful initially, sometimes into the next day. It happens randomly, not due to any trauma. I know several women who have this and I don't think it is as rare as they think it is. My doctor didn't know what it was and of course said I must have bumped it, as if I wouldn't remember this. I finally did research on my own and found this diagnosis and so I diagnosed myself, as I have done so many times.
April 20, 2017 - 1:25pmThis Comment
If it is so rare, then why is there so meny of us suffering from it. Okay I understand the Doctors say it goes away on it's own and they can't make money on it's care or study. But there has to be a reason why the veins are braking. So there has to be a cure that hasn't been considered. Maybe in the near future science will find it.
September 18, 2019 - 3:01amBut we need it now. Its debilitating and painful.
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My sister Googled it and found it. I have shown a nurse practitioner last night who didn't know what it was, and she is going to show my doctor. I work in a pain center, and showed 2 nurse practitioners and one of the head doctors here and they were all stumped! One other thing is today (4 days after onset, just the back of my middle, second and pinki and hand are red, and it feels kind of sun burney. Anyone felt that??
May 30, 2018 - 8:19amThis Comment
My middle finger on my right hand will swell up and turn purple. The purple color is usually around the nail and on the palm side of my finger. It isn't usually sore but my thumb on my right hand does the same. It has the stinging pain and itching, and turns purple around the nail, and on the palm side of my thumb. It is really sore and will often stay swollen and purple for weeks. It turns black on the palm side for an hour or a day. I have rheumatoid arthritis in my hands; I wonder if it's associated with that? My hands are always cold too.
April 20, 2016 - 11:43amThis Comment
I have been suffering with black/purple fingers for some years, always on the palm side of my hands, starts with a sharp stinging pain then discolours, sometimes swells and is quite painful and although the discolouration goes can continue to be painful for some time, can cause it just by opening a door or carrying something it seems. Don't really know what causes it to happen and neither did my GP.
February 2, 2016 - 6:28amThis Comment
Same here! Nice to know I'm not alone. Thanks for posting.
April 4, 2016 - 1:49pmThis Comment
I don't no what is wrong with my finger. My little finger is swollen and purple right under my nail. I didn't slam it or anything. I don't no if I got bitten by something. Does anyone know what is wrong???please help me out.
October 16, 2015 - 12:48pmThis Comment
This same exact thing has been happening to me on and off for at least 15 years. (Thought I was bit by spider the first time because of the stinging/itching of the area.) A purple bruise always appears afterward and lasts several hours. Usually no larger than a dime in circumference. These bruises occur on my hands and feet, most commonly on fingers/toes. I've mentioned to doctors during routine checkups, none of them think it's anything serious. Glad to know I'm not a lunatic, because that's how I feel when I try explaining to drs what's going on!
September 15, 2015 - 10:44amThis Comment
This happened to me for the first time nearly 6 years ago. My middle right finger turned purple then black and was throbbing so much that it used to wake me up. After persuasion from 3 friends I made an appointment at our GP surgery to see a nurse. She called in a GP who asked for a full blood count - and 2 days later I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia. The bruised middle finger is back again, but this time I know my blood counts are OK as I had a test last week and am still in remission.
August 16, 2015 - 4:26amSo.... don't automatically dismiss such symptoms but get them checked. If I hadn't I wouldn't be here today!
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