Sore finger tips

[Turfbeg]

Just wondering if anyone else has/is experiencing sore fingertips? I often experience mild pins and needles in my feet and hands but lately my fingertips have become sore. I was diagnosed with PV almost 7 years ago and have been taking hydroxycarbamide ( approximately 1000mg daily) and 75mg aspirin daily. I enjoy doing craft work so sore finger tips are particularly annoying. Many thanks in anticipation of replies. Turfbeg

[hunter5582]

This could be several things including a microvascular issue, paresthesia or possibly peripheral neuropathy. Some issues are easily addressed while others might require more extensive intervention. This could be related to the PV, a medication side effect, or unrelated. Pain is a warning that something is wrong. A change in your symptoms like this is not something to be ignored. Suggest you contact your MPN care team promptly.

Please let us know how you get on and what you learn.

[Turfbeg in reply to hunter5582]

Thanks for your prompt reply Hunter. I will chase this up more agressively at my next consultation in October. Last week I told the specialist haematology pharmacist ( to whom I passed to for assessing my bloods a few years ago) at the hospital and she reckons it's acroparesthia. I am not confident in this diagnosis and so I thought I'd ask on this forum.

[hunter5582 in reply to Turfbeg]

Note that it is recommended that you call your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms like what you report when taking HU.

medlineplus.gov/druginfo/me...

mayoclinic.org/drugs-supple...

Suggest letting your hematologist know ASAP rather than wait. Some on HU experience peripheral neuropathy as an adverse effect. While this may not be a HU adverse effect, you do not want to take that chance. Timing matters when responding to this adverse effect when it is present.

If this is a microvascular issue related to the PV, something as simple as an increased dose of aspirin might resolve the symptom. That would be an assessment and treatment decision to be made with a MPN Specialist.

Wishing you all the best.

[Uzza]

Yes, I have it for awhile, Duloxetine seems to help.

Best of luck

Uz

[George1976]

I had neuropathy mostly in my feet before starting HU for my ET. As I’ve increased it to 1000mg per day a couple months ago the neuropathy has gotten worse while platelets are in low 500k range. I am now dropping back to 1000 5 days a week and 500 two days. Those 2 days will be Monday and Friday. I also have other flu like symptoms that are debilitating that we were hoping would resolve if my platelets got into normal range but it is not helping at all so I see no need to drive platelets closer to normal in my case.

A nutritionist suggested I may have a histamine intolerance problem which I am exploring this week. If that helps my QOL I will likely let my platelets go up into the 600 to 800 range.

other meds are worth trying if you haven’t already particularly peg.

[ThingamaGeorge]

Not on my fingers, but yes on my feet. It sometimes feels like I walked on a hot road top.

[PhysAssist]

Hi Turfbeg,

When you say sore finger tips, do you mean that they hurt regardless of what you're doing, or that they are tender to the touch?

Do you have any discoloration of your hands?

Best,

PA

[Turfbeg in reply to PhysAssist]

Hi, no discolouration, they become sore as soon as I start doing something repetitive that needs fingertips or needs using fingertips to apply pressure to do. Most of the time of the time I can take alternate action but I like to relax with my knitting and have found I need to make a protective sheath for some my for fingertips. Hope this answers your queries.

[PhysAssist]

Hi Turfbeg,

I wondering about the possibility of your symptoms being related to erythomelalgia, but that typically involves redness and burning sensations.

Unfortunately as has previously been said, there are numerous things that can cause the type of symptoms you're reporting, and your MD/GP or MPN MD should explore what the cause is for you, and be able to offer treatment.

Sometimes an electromyography/nerve conduction study can shed some useful light in making the diagnosis, but laboratory studies may also be required.

Best wishes in getting some answers and resolution!

PA

[Turfbeg in reply to PhysAssist]

Many thanks for you prompt reply. I hadn't heard about a nerve conduction survey before so will investigate and together with Hunter's reply be better informed when I consult my GP and the specialist pharmacist who is monitoring my blood at the moment.