Can anyone tell me if they have experienced numbing of the fingers or massive swelling of my hands as well as legs, feet, ankles, and face? I am a small person. My legs and feet are huge to where I can’t wear shoes and they feel like they may split at any moment.
Yes I have had that before. Any massive swelling generally reduced while I was laying down for a while. This most recent time they were very concerned about blood clots. I would get it checked out right away. I have always had swelling to the point my shoes/rings were not fitting while I was flaring up.
Hello MrsQ,
These symptoms your suffering concerning swelling are usually associated with Lupus (edema) and really you need to see your specialist as there can be many issues inolved.
I hope these links help you...Terri :)
http://www.localhealth.com/article/swelling-symptoms
http://arthritis.about.com/od/lupus/a/guidetolupus_2.htm
All the issues on the bottom link can cause this kind of swelling.
Do either of you experience numbness in your hands?
I’ve experienced numbness and tingling in my fingers on and off for about 7 years now and just recently (about a week ago) woke up on two separate occasions with both hands numb. I thought maybe I might have slept on them. It hasn’t happened again. As far as the swelling goes, I don’t get that, but I think you should see your doc and mention it.
Numbness to the hands can come from the central nervous system and also Raynauds besides causing tingling...these issues need to be asked about :)
Massive swelling is an urgent matter… Probably not something you want to head right to the ER about, but definitely call your doctor right away (or any doctor if you can’t reach your rheumie!) They may want you to go to the ER, but considering it’s expensive and horrid there you should push for an urgent care same-day office visit… Unless they think you might get hospitalized instead of just checked out, in which case it’s the ER. Bring your favorite company/advocate if so! I’ve had some terrible solo ER experiences in the last 6 months!
I too have had this and ended up on steroids to reduce the swelling. It took a long time but eventually it did go down but it is important for you to see your doctor about this.
Please let us know if you’ve called or seen the doctor about your swelling. I read your profile and hope you’ve seen a doctor recently. Swelling in all the locations you’ve mentioned is worrisome and needs to be addressed. Could be your kidneys having a problem.
If you're swelling that much, you should see the doctor ASAP. If anything, at least contact the doctor so they can make sure nothing else is going on and to help get rid of that extra fluid you have going on. I haven't had numbness of the hands, but I've had it of the feet and my shins. Hope everything settles down for you and the doctors can get the swelling down!
hi ive got the swelling aswell all over from my face to my soles of my feet i havent been able to wear shoes for over 6 years now the winter is bad as i cant find anything decent to wear my docs say its fluid retention but hasnt gone away i havent got any good docs at all no one seems to know what to do with me so i have to get on with it as best i can but you guys help with everything at least im not on my own with this illness i also have numbness in my hands and fingers also my legs and feet ive been so tired lately cant stay awake good luck with everything i hope you do get something to help with swelling etc xx
I do feel a sort of numbness, it is more often a burning pain for me and my palms get hot. In the winter I have severe numbness in the tips of my fingers. They turn completely white where I have no blood flowing to tips of my fingers at all. I took a picture to show my doctor how bad it was. I'll attach it. This has been from my Raynauds syndrome. My doctor had me increase my procardia dosage and it has helped with the numbness.
MrsQ said:
390-IMG_2133.JPG (1.54 MB)Do either of you experience numbness in your hands?
Hello, yes you might be having a Flare!!! If you eat salt , try not eating it for a couple of days . When this happens to me , the doctor always say don’t eat salt on anything. But at first it was hard to do but once I started doing that , it stop, swelling so bad . But the feet , ankles, and hands sometimes swell not as bad . Also when this happens try to get as much rest as you can…Beverly L.
Hi Dobby,
Definitely Raynauds and the colour changes happen when the blood vessels shut down and when our hands do get slightly warm they open back up and that's where the redness comes from but the white patches is where the vessels have'nt opened enough.
Dobby it's also important to have a nerve test done to see if you have nerve damage at all, i was tested twice years back and i have nerve damage which makes it even worse, it's worth asking about.
Terri :)
Dobby said:
I do feel a sort of numbness, it is more often a burning pain for me and my palms get hot. In the winter I have severe numbness in the tips of my fingers. They turn completely white where I have no blood flowing to tips of my fingers at all. I took a picture to show my doctor how bad it was. I'll attach it. This has been from my Raynauds syndrome. My doctor had me increase my procardia dosage and it has helped with the numbness.
MrsQ said:Do either of you experience numbness in your hands?
Thanks Terri. I'm actually going to see a neurologist to check on my nerve involvement with my SLE. I passed out Monday from simply trying to work from my home office instead of my bed where I have been working the last few weeks while I have been flaring up. My rheumy was very concerned.
Tez_20 said:
Hi Dobby,
Definitely Raynauds and the colour changes happen when the blood vessels shut down and when our hands do get slightly warm they open back up and that's where the redness comes from but the white patches is where the vessels have'nt opened enough.
Dobby it's also important to have a nerve test done to see if you have nerve damage at all, i was tested twice years back and i have nerve damage which makes it even worse, it's worth asking about.
Terri :)
Dobby said:I do feel a sort of numbness, it is more often a burning pain for me and my palms get hot. In the winter I have severe numbness in the tips of my fingers. They turn completely white where I have no blood flowing to tips of my fingers at all. I took a picture to show my doctor how bad it was. I'll attach it. This has been from my Raynauds syndrome. My doctor had me increase my procardia dosage and it has helped with the numbness.
MrsQ said:Do either of you experience numbness in your hands?
Thank you all for telling me your experience with this. You have been extremely helpful. Has anyone been put on a fentanyl patch for pain?
I was on those when I had a fractured back, but never specifically for my SLE.
Has your swelling improved?
MrsQ said:
Thank you all for telling me your experience with this. You have been extremely helpful. Has anyone been put on a fentanyl patch for pain?
Yes my swelling has gone down a bit but not all the way. What do you take for the pain?
Depends on the doctor I had at the time....Vicodin worked best for me, but I only found one rheumy willing to give it to me generously for pain. I take so much medicine I would gladly never take another pill in my life if that were an option. I'm not likely to get addicted to pain pills, but my current rhuemy is very conservative with pain meds and likes to use steroids or anti-inflammatories instead, which of course don't usually help right away. Over the last 25 years I have definitely had to develop a higher tolerance for pain whether I wanted to or not.