Hi everybody, I'm noticing that as time goes on, my fingers and palms are getting redder and redder. It's starting to become embarassing, actually. They will get cherry red but sometimes that will just disappear. When it's cold, they turn white. I guess this is Raynaud's Phenomenon as a side effect of Lupus? Does this happen to anybody else? Thanks.
No, so far I haven't had that problem, do it also itch or blister. I do get the Butterfly rash across my nose and cheeks and down my neck. They will get crusty and raised, I also get sores on my scalp, I am under a Dermatologist for treatment for this.
Good Luck
Hi luv. I'm not a doc, of course, but it does sound like Raynaud's. I have "early Raynaud's", I've been told. Mine get really red, they are cold all the time, and warm water feels like it's burning my hands when I try to warm them up. I don't get a lot of white though, and I've never had them turn blue (I was told that that is when you really start to worry about it).
I would definitely talk to your doc about it. As long as I keep mine warm, I don't have too many issues, but there are certain blood pressure meds they can give to open up the vessels and help keep your hands warmer, if it's really problematic for you. Good luck.
I am new too since September and find the cherry palms all the time... Also can't seem to hold anything cold anymore as my hands start to hurt at area touching the item...
Robert
It sounds like a cousin of Raynaud's, called erythromelalgia (EM for short). I developed EM along with Raynaud's years ago. They are both frequently associated with AI disease such as lupus. Here is a link: http://www.erythromelalgia.org/WhatisEM.aspx
If your fingers hurt with a burning pain, it is likely EM.
I have peripheral neuropathy and red fingertips that also get wrinkled and pruny. Pain managent dr says my neuropathy is idiopathic while rhemo states some dirt of UCTD. Happens to feet too.
Does anyone else get pruny wrinkled fingertips too
My fingers do hurt if they get too cold. But when the temperature is warm, they sometimes will turn cherry red. But other times they look normal. They don't get pruny, either. Aside from hands, I have a red rash on my chest and the racoon mask. But the face mask only appears when I wash or rub my face. The bottom of my feet will also turn red when I rub lotion into them. Lupus is an odd disease to figure out!
Your fingers blanching and turning red could very well be Raynaud's, if it's happening with cold and or stress.. I have a mild case myself. Mine don't turn blue. That's in more severe cases. Your palms makes me wonder though. Make sure you talk to your Dr about it, because it can happen with liver problems. I'm not sure since you said it comes and goes, but it would be worth discussing with your Dr in detail just to be sure. Even if it is Raynaud's you still need to have a management and possibly treatment plan for it.
Ms. P,
Glad to hear from you. I have always had red palms, sometimes worse than others, but never the white fingers. I've wondered if it was Raynaud's but have never been diagnosed with that. I've never had an itching problem with it. It's also not in the middle of the palm but across the top and around the sides. Sometimes spotty, sometimes solid. This has been for 20 years and have never had a problem with it so don't think it's too worrisome.
Let me know if you have it checked and it's something else...hoping it's not, my friend
XOXO,
DeAnne
Yours does sound like Raynaud's.
Mine turn red from time to time. One reason is inflammation, another is a mild case of Raynaud's Syndrome, instead of turning red, white and blue when cold. Mine just turn red and hurt so badly that I can't even hold frozen foods or cold cans of soda. (Stopped drinking soda anyway.)
I have an appt with my Neuro Dr. next month. I have been having numbing and tingling in my hands, fingers and feet for over 2yrs. Sometimes I am unable to walk in the mornings when I first wake up or put any presure on my feet or ankles for atleast an hr. I also get warm an cold spots on my hands but they do not turn colors I sometimes can not feel anything in my fingers when they are cold. I think that this may be a circulatory problem related to Lupus I also have trimbling in my legs and jerking in my arms, legs and deep within my body sometimes they feel like they are burning inside. When this happens I usually take a pain pill and a muscle relaxer. I cant wait to really get to the bottom of what is happening to me.
Will keep everyone up to date on my condition.
P.S. I also joined a local Lupus Group at my area Hospital, It really felt nice to fellowship with people like me who really understand what I'm going thru.
Hello Luvjc,
I have Raynauds Phenomenon which follows alot of A1 Diseases such as Lupus...your hands can get this way and how yours turn white...some people suffer the mixture on their hands.
It can also make your fingers swell besides your knuckles...when you see either your Rheumo or Dermo if your with one ask them about it plus we do have a Raynauds group on the main page you can join.
The link below will help you concerning Raynauds :)
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Raynaud%27s-Phenomenon-%28Cold-Hands%29.htm
There is also an erythromelalgia group here: http://www.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/
Erythromelalgia is a neurovascular condition that is similar to, but sort of the opposite of Raynaud's.... if your pain is a BURNING pain and your feet, hands, face, ears, or chest turn red, it is more likely to be erythromelalgia. Raynaud's makes one feel COLD. EM (short for erythromelalgia) makes one feel HOT.
Not everything is Raynaud's, despite what a lot of people are saying in this thread. I have BOTH Raynaud's and EM... EM accompanies autoimmune diseases such as lupus, RA, and Ankylosing Spondilitis, among others. Your blanching sounds like Raynaud's, the red hands sound like EM.
Please Google erythromelalgia and read about it, at least. The triggers and treatment are different from those for Raynaud's, so it's important to understand those differences if you should have both. A good dermatologist or neurologist may be able to help you figure out if it is only Raynaud's or both Raynaud's and EM.
Take care, JoAnn
Thank you everyone for the great advice. Tez_20, I do have swelling around my knuckles and the other finger joints, that has been confirmed by my Rheumo. The last time I saw him, I pointed out that when I would curl my fingers, it would be white where the bones got pushed against the skin but it would be red around the sides. He said it is Raynauds Phenomenon due to my Lupus. At the time I saw him, my palms were not really turning red but now they are. So, I'm assuming it's because of the Ray Phenom. Stress also makes them turn red. But it can disappear as quickly as it comes. So strange. Also, I can make a fist and when I open my hand, there will be white places here and there and they slowly fill up with blood. He said it has to do with the capilaries being restricted so it takes longer. Thank you for the link, though, I'll check it out!
Hello Luvjc,
Well what you've just explained to me for start what you've told your rheumo is what i have with the Raynauds around the knuckles going white at the moment my hands are rough i have cuts open on the joints of my fingers and two nails this week have just starting bleeding down the quick of the nail.
Yes i thought it was Raynauds Phenomenon as soon as i read your post but we're not doctor's t confirm only give advice on what we suffer...raynauds can get to bad levels.
Well when you make a fist your shutting your blood vessels down and when you open your hand the vessels are slowly opening back up...i have ne finger i would'nt miss if they chopped it off i told my dermo it gives off pure pain, it's cold and feels like frost bite and ontop i have chilblains to go with it which is very painful.
If you join the raynauds group also there's discussions on there you can view also besides pictures and when your typing put some mosituriser on your hands and wear cotton gloves as they both hold warmth...that's why i do so many spelling mistakes through always wearing gloves. :) xxx
JoAnn,
Thank you for the link...although my feet are "always" cold, meaning I am always with socks or slippers or both, the pain in my feet and hands is a burning heat...most especially my feet. I am going to check out that link and perhaps find some relief. My husband wants to go to sushi for lunch today, but it's raining and feels like walking on hot coals. And we don't go to just reg sushi, this is sushi so good you don't add soy sauce or wasabi. When any of my friends visit, we go there although since we moved its about a 30 min trip. So worth it. Come visit, I will show you. Now, to check the link.
JoAnn O'Linger-Luscusk said:
There is also an erythromelalgia group here: http://www.livingwitherythromelalgia.org/
Erythromelalgia is a neurovascular condition that is similar to, but sort of the opposite of Raynaud's.... if your pain is a BURNING pain and your feet, hands, face, ears, or chest turn red, it is more likely to be erythromelalgia. Raynaud's makes one feel COLD. EM (short for erythromelalgia) makes one feel HOT.
Not everything is Raynaud's, despite what a lot of people are saying in this thread. I have BOTH Raynaud's and EM... EM accompanies autoimmune diseases such as lupus, RA, and Ankylosing Spondilitis, among others. Your blanching sounds like Raynaud's, the red hands sound like EM.
Please Google erythromelalgia and read about it, at least. The triggers and treatment are different from those for Raynaud's, so it's important to understand those differences if you should have both. A good dermatologist or neurologist may be able to help you figure out if it is only Raynaud's or both Raynaud's and EM.
Take care, JoAnn
Luvjc77,
you will find a lot of good advice about symptoms from so many knowledgeable people on this site. This is one thing that I do have in common with you and used to be embarrassed by it. Some people thought it was a rash or a burn...sometimes spotty, sometimes invisible, but always around the fatty part of the palm. Thanks for the info.
DeAnne
luvjc77 said:
Thank you everyone for the great advice. Tez_20, I do have swelling around my knuckles and the other finger joints, that has been confirmed by my Rheumo. The last time I saw him, I pointed out that when I would curl my fingers, it would be white where the bones got pushed against the skin but it would be red around the sides. He said it is Raynauds Phenomenon due to my Lupus. At the time I saw him, my palms were not really turning red but now they are. So, I'm assuming it's because of the Ray Phenom. Stress also makes them turn red. But it can disappear as quickly as it comes. So strange. Also, I can make a fist and when I open my hand, there will be white places here and there and they slowly fill up with blood. He said it has to do with the capilaries being restricted so it takes longer. Thank you for the link, though, I'll check it out!
I'm so glad others can relate to what I go through, although it's sad that others have to have this disease in order to do so! I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. At least I don't experience pain in my fingers or feet, just either the warmth or coldness. Also, I don't know if this is related or not but overall, I'm experiencing being colder than I used to. Some of that may be age related, I don't know. It seems I always have to have a sweater now because I'm cold and I used to be so hot natured! What do you all think? Does it tie in?
Hello luvjc,
Many of us can relate to what your suffering as Raynauds a large percentage of the time follows with autoimmune diseases as i said and also scleroderma ca be joint with raynauds which i also have which causes many issues besides.
The pain can be terrible and when such as myself gets way to cold the pain sets in my joints and there's no relieving it....as the years go on your symptoms will course worse as i'm not going to lie to you and each year you'll get colder come cold weather besides it playing up when its warm weather besides.
Yes it all ties in, i'm wearing thermal clothes got no choice but come summer i still have to wear short sleeved thermal vests YES it sounds sick but my health comes first :)