My ‘dead finger’ agony: Snap that reveals TV star Jenni’s battle with bad circulation
BY her own admission, it is a sight that might make some feel a little queasy.
But TV presenter Jenni Falconer posted this picture of what she describes as ‘ dead man’s finger’ to highlight her ongoing battle with painful circulatory condition Raynaud’s.
The 42-year-old’s photograph shows how her index finger turned completely white in chilly weather due to restricted blood flow. Although she appeared to brush it off, saying that it is ‘what happens when it’s cold’, she has previously said the pain can sometimes be so bad she is reduced to tears.
She captioned the picture: ‘This is my hand at its most attractive … Anyone else suffer with bad circulation?’.
Miss Falconer suffers from primary Raynaud’s, which is thought to affect
‘The most painful part is the thaw’
up to ten million in Britain, 90 per cent of them women. Symptoms include pain, numbness and fingers and toes changing colour for as long as a few hours, while rare cases affect the lips, nose and ears. Attacks often begin in one finger or toe and move to other fingers or toes.
Last night, the This Morning and Heart FM radio star opened up to the Mail about her battle with the condition. She said: ‘I first became aware of my Raynaud’s when my fingers turned white during a hockey match at school. I was 16.
‘The cold weather affects my circulation and the blood doesn’t seem to reach extremities like fingers and toes. Some people have it much worse, but for me, any time I’m outside in cold weather, or even on a warm day when a cool gust of wind blows, I’m at risk of “dead man’s fingers”!
‘The most painful part is the thaw. When the blood starts returning to your finger or toe, you experience an intense burning pain which tingles.
‘To combat the Raynaud’s, I find sheepskin mitts and Ugg boots best in winter. And even in milder weather, I tend to run in gloves.’
The mother-of-one was flooded with support on social media, with many thanking her for drawing attention to the condition. Others suggested treatments, which ranged from herbal remedies to wearing silver-lined gloves.