Fingers turning red and swollen - Scleroderma & Ray...

Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK (SRUK)

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Fingers turning red and swollen

faith89 profile image
15 Replies

Over the past 6 months or so I've noticed that my fingers have become progressively more and more red, swollen and sensitive. Is this typical of Raynaunds? I know that I have it as evidenced by my fingers and toes turning white last winter.

Thanks, Faith

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faith89 profile image
faith89
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15 Replies
zenabb profile image
zenabb

Yes, but it is not constant. In Raynaud's there are changes in colour depending on how cold the extremeties are, but there is swelling and loss of sensitivity though it may vary from time to time. Are you sure that you have Raynaud's? Has it been confirmed? Are you being treated for it?

Rp321 profile image
Rp321

Mine get really red and swollen to. sometime it comes and goes and others it stays like that until they end up going blue or what every colour they feel like that day.

uknlv profile image
uknlv

Mine do this around the cuticles all the time, I try to keep them soft as possible with some oily creams and cotton gloves at night. It is do to the poor circulation from the Raynauds I am told. In my case it doesn't matter what the temperature is they just go this way. Have been having a terrible time with them lately. It is very painful, I hope you find something to help yours.

zenabb profile image
zenabb in reply to uknlv

Do you have a rheumatologist? I don't know but you may need Iloprost. Anyway it needs to be treated with more than cream it seems.

Gwatyans profile image
Gwatyans

I have Renauds. My fingers are red and swollen too and have been since the weather turned cooler in August. The tips of my fingers hurt and have little patches on them that resemble frost bite. I use moisturiser and chilblain cream and try to keep my hands warm, but activities like getting things out of the freezer are a problem.

zenabb profile image
zenabb

Do you keep your body warm as well as your hands. I have special freezer gloves to get things out of the freezer, but I have found that getting somebody else to get things out is better because the thick gloves make my diminished sensitivity in my hands worse. I go very quickly through the freezer department in supermarkets.

RosemerryVenet profile image
RosemerryVenet

I call my fingers sausage fingers sometimes. This is very common. I agree about seeing a rheumatologist.

AliW profile image
AliW in reply to RosemerryVenet

Hello there YES I have the same problem - sausage fingers - or banana hands on a bad day :( the chilblains are popping up already - do you suffer with these ? ! :))

RosemerryVenet profile image
RosemerryVenet

Funnily enough, AliW, this is the first year that my toes have been itchy and I wondered if I was getting chillblains. I haven't had them since I was a child. The weather forecast is warmer for next week, but I heard they are expecting snow in Oct/Nov, so I don't know whether to book myself in for iloprost in advance of the cold weather. What does anyone else think?

Yorky profile image
Yorky in reply to RosemerryVenet

Get yourself booked in for Iloprost. I'm going for mine tomorrow, not something to look forward too, but as I've been cold over the summer, I'm hoping it will help.

Lynnie profile image
Lynnie

Has anybody had cervical, and lumbar sympathectomies, for their Reynauds?.....I had mine done, in SA, many years ago, and apart from the extreme skin dehydration, it is almost miraculous!!......I had freezing extremities, even with chillblains, in the Durban heat of over 30 deg centigrade!!......I also suffered from hyperhidrosis, and the surgery helped 100% with both conditions.

RosemerryVenet profile image
RosemerryVenet

Thanks Yorky, though it's brilliant sunshine outside today!!

AngelaO46 profile image
AngelaO46

Do your fingers radiate heat from them when they are red & swollen? Do they go red without any Raynaud's attacks first? If so, & especially if it's usually in the evening that your fingers go very red & swollen, take photo's of them & go along to your GP with the photo's. You could well have Erythromelalgia although I hope for your sake you don't. I have it really bad & never go a single day without it flaring up & it's agony. Get yourself to your GP & keep on going especially if there's a locom standing in, they see something new like this & they will refer you to a hospital for further tests. That's what happened to me. Good Luck!

britty profile image
britty in reply to AngelaO46

I know what you mean

alwaysfreezing profile image
alwaysfreezing

my fingers go numb dark red then purple with severe joint pain then totally white then back to purple then red pins and needles chill banes then normal when heated same with toes good luck

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