Confused

[Hotcinders]

I have all these symptoms but I was diagnosed with erymathelalgia 20 years ago my feet and legs send me mad some Times soluble aspirin help anyone else suffer with this it seems similar too rls

[Hidden]

Hi, interesting, I have never heard of erythromelalgia before. I vaguely recall hearing of Gerhardt disease which I believe is synonymous.

Sorry to hear you suffer this terrible sounding condition.

I see that it is condition of blood vessels and hence completely different to RLS which is neurological.

When you say you "have all these symptoms", it isn't obvious what symptoms you are referring to.

The symptoms of RLS are

Weird crawling sensations

Irresistible urge to move

Is relieved by moving

Happens in the evening and/or when falling asleep.

The key one being the urge to move.

This affects the legs and can affect arms, shoulders, torso and neck, not just feet or hands.

This does not sound the same to me as descriptions of the symptoms of erythromelalgia.

If you are suffering ALL the symptoms of RLS, then you have RLS. It may be RLS secondary to erythromelalgia, unlikely, or secondary to some other condition, but nonetheless is RLS.

Whereas Aspirin, presumably used for its anticoagulant and/or pain killing properties may help erythromelalgia, it is highly unlikely to relieve the symptoms of RLS.

If you do have RLS symptoms and they're causing you distress then it would be best if you sought a confirmatory diagnosis.

I hope this clarifies things

[Hotcinders in reply to Hidden]

Two of My local gp,s had never heard of this complaint one sent me too a rheumatologist and the other said rls but the dermatologist 20yrs ago said erymathelalgia and too take soluble aspirin apparently it's part of raynards but hot instead of cold i take pramipexole but these don't help

[Hidden in reply to Hotcinders]

If you have erythromelalgia then taking aspirin is possibly useful in relieving that. I don't know one way or the other.

If you have RLS then aspirin will do nothing for it. Aspirin will not relieve the symptoms of RLS.

If you do NOT have RLS then it is pointless taking Pramipexole as Pramipexole is only prescribed to relieve the symptoms of RLS or Parkinson's disease.

Pramipexole will have no effect on your erythromelalgia.

Do you have RLS or not? What are your symptoms?

Do you have ALL of the following symptoms?

1) Crawling sensations in your legs or arms.

2) An irresistible urge to move your legs or arms.

3) The sensations and urge to move disappear when you do move.

4) This happens in the evening.

If you do NOT have all these symptoms and have never had these symptoms then you don't have RLS.

If this is the case you would be advised to withdraw from the Pramipexole. You will need to be careful withdrawing because you will probably get withdrawal symptoms as if you had RLS.

I hope this makes it clearer.

[Hidden in reply to Hotcinders]

On further investigation. Some further information for you.

Erythromelalgia, call it EM is quite rare so it's not well known by GPs.

It is a condition of blood vessels so referral to a rheumatologist might be irrelevant.

The symptoms of EM are burning pain, red skin, heat and possible swelling in the feet and sometimes hands ONLY. The symptoms of EM are similar to the symptoms of several other conditions. None of these are RLS.

One of the similar conditions is neuropathy.

I can find no mention of Aspirin as a treatment for EM. Painkillers can be used for EM , but Aspirin is not very effective as a painkiller, is now used as a mild anticoagilant. It can cause gastric irritation and bleeding.

I can find no mention of anticoagulants being prescribed for EM

Symptoms can be relieved by physically cooling the feet.

A topical local anaesthetic can be used e.g. Lidocaine.

There are oral medications that can be used. Apparently no single one works and they may have to be combined.

They include, Gabapentin, SSRI antidepressants or tricyclic antidepressants. These are typically used for nerve pain.

Others include antihistamines and clonazepam.

Some of these make RLS worse.

I suspect your doctors are not treating the condition you do have properly and they are treating you for a condition you don't have.

To get proper treatment for EM you need to see a dermatology (skin) specialist, to properly assess if you have RLS or not, you need to see a neurology specialist. Your GP can refer you to these.

You will need to be quite assertive with your GP, take a friend or family with you or there are advocacy services who may help.

[Hotcinders in reply to Hidden]

Aspirin was not prescribe for pain but too thin the blood .thank you for all your info very helpful

[Hidden in reply to Hotcinders]

That makes sense, the modern use of Aspirin is a mild anticoagulant, ("blood thinner")

I hope you are clearer that it will do nothing for EM or RLS

Best wishes