what would cause my hands to itch and swell
Erythromelalgia is a rare status that causes episodes of burning hurting and redness in the feet, and sometimes the hands, arms, legs, ears and face.
Symptoms of erythromelalgia can begin at any age. Some people may have had it from early on childhood, while some are simply affected as adults.
Symptoms of erythromelalgia
The 3 main symptoms of erythromelalgia are heat, pain and redness in the skin.
The feet are most commonly afflicted, but the easily, arms, legs, ears and face tin can exist also.
The pain can range from mild, with only a slight tingling feeling similar pins and needles, to a severe called-for pain, which can exist bad plenty to make walking, standing, socialising, exercising and sleeping hard.
It can have a pregnant impact on work or school life.
People with erythromelalgia typically have episodes or "flare-ups" of pain lasting from a few minutes to several days.
The flare-ups unremarkably start as an itching sensation, which worsens to pain, and tender mottled, red skin that feels warm or hot to the touch.
Other symptoms may include:
- swelling of the affected body part
- sweating in the afflicted area more or less than you usually would
- purple discolouration when there's no outburst
Triggers for erythromelalgia
Symptoms of erythromelalgia are usually triggered by an increase in body temperature.
This can happen:
- after exercising
- when wearing warm socks, gloves or tight shoes
- later on entering a warm room
- when feeling stressed
- when drinking alcohol or eating spicy nutrient
- when you're dehydrated
Things you lot can do to ease erythromelalgia
Cooling or raising the affected part of your body may assist relieve the symptoms of erythromelalgia.
Y'all can cool your skin using a fan, cool water, a cool surface or cool gel packs.
Just avoid using ice or anything that's also cold, and do not soak your hands or feet for a long fourth dimension in cold water.
This can lead to hypothermia or peel damage.
And in that location'due south as well a take a chance the change in temperature may trigger a burst when the affected area warms upwards again.
Treatments for erythromelalgia
Medicines for the skin
Some medicines that are applied directly to the skin (topical medicines) have been found to help relieve the symptoms of erythromelalgia.
These may exist in the course of creams, gels, sprays or patches. You may be prescribed a capsaicin cream or patch to make the heat receptors in your skin less sensitive.
A local anaesthetic called lidocaine may too be prescribed in the form of a cream, gel or spray.
A GP will exist able to give y'all more information nearly these medicines and if they're right for you.
Yous can also speak to a chemist about lidocaine creams.
Medicines taken past mouth
A number of unlike medicines taken by oral fissure (orally) may help save the symptoms of erythromelalgia.
You may demand to try several different medicines, under the supervision of a doctor, before you lot notice the one or the combination that works best for you.
Your treatment options will also depend on the type of erythromelalgia you have.
Many treatments require referral to a specialist centre so benefits and potential side effects can be closely monitored.
The types of medicine a doctor may prescribe include:
- dietary supplements – such every bit magnesium, which tin can assist open up your blood vessels
- aspirin – just used for adults, not for children
- anti-epilepsy medicines – such as gabapentin or carbamazepine
- blood pressure medicines – medicine to either open up your blood vessels and increment claret menstruum, or beta blockers to help reduce blood menses, depending on the cause of your erythromelalgia
- depression doses of antidepressants – such as duloxetine, venlafaxine, amitriptyline or nortriptyline
- prescription-only painkillers
Medicines given through a drip
If oral medicine does not manage to control your symptoms, you may exist given medicine directly into the bloodstream through a baste (intravenous infusion).
Lidocaine, a local anaesthetic that can assist nerve-related pain, can be given this fashion. Just how long information technology works for varies betwixt people.
Your doctor will explicate this process to yous and how y'all should prepare for information technology.
Causes of erythromelalgia
The cause of erythromelalgia is ordinarily unknown.
Only it'south sometimes caused past another underlying medical status or a faulty cistron inherited from a parent.
Other medical atmospheric condition
Erythromelalgia sometimes results from an underlying condition, such equally:
- a blood disorder – like polycythaemia
- nervus damage – for example, acquired by peripheral neuropathy
- multiple sclerosis (MS)
- an autoimmune trouble – such every bit lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune organisation attacks the body'due south own tissues
It may also be caused by certain medicines. Your physician volition exist able to requite you more information on this.
Genetic crusade
Some people with erythromelalgia have a faulty gene that causes the condition.
Erythromelalgia can run in families when the faulty factor is passed down (inherited) from a parent to their kid.
The faulty gene causes changes in the way pain signals are delivered to the brain, increasing or strengthening them.
More data and support
Specialist centres in the UK
- For children: Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children Pain Control Service
- For adults: National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery Pain Management Heart
Organisations that provide support
- The Erythromelalgia Association
- Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy
- Hurting Concern
National Built Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service
If you or your child has erythromelalgia, your clinical team will pass the information on to the National Built Anomaly and Rare Affliction Registration Service (NCARDRS).
The NCARDRS helps scientists await for better ways to prevent and treat erythromelalgia. You can opt out of the register at any time.
Page concluding reviewed: 09 October 2020
Side by side review due: 09 October 2023
Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erythromelalgia/
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