Itchy swollen fingers

Guest · Guest

A family member of mine has similar symptoms, and she describes small bumps that look purplish or burned on her fingers. She has no idea what it could be. However, I did some research, and the description of "tophi" seemed to fit the bill. This occurs in gout on and off for years. Get your uric acid levels checked and see if it is gout. My dad also has it, but without the bumps, and it burns intensely, turns red, swells, and is intolerable.

Guest · Guest

It could be gout, which can occur in any joint. Have the doctor check your uric acid levels to rule it out. It can occur on and off for years.

Valerie G · Newbie Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Posts: 1

I don't know what to think. But others have this also, so am not alone. I have tried a number of things: Cortisone cream, anti-itch gel, Noxzema, Vitamin E. This latest seige is the longest ever, and I can't figure out what is causing it. Other posts have helped me think maybe at 60 it's arthritic, or liver connected - who knows if the doctors don't know. If you try Noxzema, it will give some relief, but I use the knock-off Kroger brand because it has clove oil in it (Noxzema brand name does not) & clove oil is a pain killer. I previously thought the itching fingers were directly connected to ear infections which started in 2005. An ear infection would be treated with antiobiotics and the affected fingers would heal up almost immediately. So I am still guessing that the finger problem is caused by an underlying infection of some kind. Psoriasis (some doctors believe) is caused by underlying infections. For instance, a friend's husband had terrible psoriasis, and a year or so later was diagnosed with cancer. So I believe that "underlying infection" theory. I have also had shingles 20 years ago, which was the only other time I had an itching situation this bad that almost drives me to distraction.

This I do know - liver healing can be accomplished by various nutrients - milk thistle, lecithin granules mixed in with food like peanut butter, and essiac (a herbal remedy used against cancer). Essiac has been around for years, and was used on Ted Kennedy's son's cancer years ago, although they don't tell the public that. I haven't used any of these remedies for some time, so maybe time to go back to basics for liver health

Guest · Guest

I have a similar issue but without the itching. It happens mostly in the winter time. My hands will randomly swell and get what looks like burn blisters on them. They're so stiff that it hurts to bend my fingers back. I'm thinking that it has to do with them getting too cold but it just started happening last year. The first time they swell so bad I could move my fingers at all. It hurts and happens often enough to really get annoying. I don't know what to do.

Guest · Guest

I have been going crazy with a similar issue (swollen fingers and toes from about Sep. through March). This has gone on for two years. Symptoms are at their worst when I wake up. With repeated swelling day in and day out, plus associated itchiness, this condition can get extremely uncomfortable. The problem seems to peak in the December - January time period, at which point my fingers are very sensitive. I am reluctant to seek help, especially after reading many of these posts. I'm not sure that I could capture a doctor's curiosity to engage him/her to pursue this to a correct diagnosis. Help!

Happy now · Newbie Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

Had two fingers swell up quite quickly at the beginning of Feb. Gave it a week but no improvement, so went to see the doc. By then my left index finger, and the finger next to it had swollen with discoloration around the joints, and small sore areas along the inner and/or outer surfaces of the digits - a bit like small blisters or heat bubbles. Itchiness would come and go on a daily basis, and often more agressively at the end of the day. Got progessivley worse. Plenty of scratched heads at the surgery, but no accurate diagnosis. They couldn't even decide if it was an allergy or an infection.
After two months, 3 different doctors with three different diagnosis, and a small pharmacy of drugs doing not-much-in-particular, I turned to the internet and found these pages. (By now my fingers had become huge, painful, massively discoloured and nothing the docs had done made any difference.) I read from the beginning and looked for commonalities to my condition. Came up with a theory. I pushed all the doctors remedies to one side, stopped using handsoaps with chemicals in (I was using PalmOlive with almond extract in + Cussons anti-bacterial) and picked up a good old-fashioned bar of soap (Dove - it's very soft dontcherknow and smells nice too). Also stopped using shampoo for a few days (was using Head & Sholuders anti-dandruff) - since I have very little hair it seems a bit pointless anyway.
My fingers started to improve almost immediately. Within 36 hours the itchiness had gone and the fingers were deflating so fast that the formely-stretched skin actually began to dry and crack a bit, but only a touch and no big deal.
Being a bit compulsive, I tend to wash my hands a lot, especially after a cigarette. Reducing this a bit (the washing, not the smoking), using mild soap bar and keeping my hands warm and dry when I go outside has helped hugely, and in no time I'm back to normal. My suggestion is this: Avoid repeated exposure to harsh chemicals on your hands (inc dispenser soaps and maybe some mediacted shampoo), don't repeatedly wet and dry your hands, and keep them warm. Maybe a bad diet, a bit of stress or other factors may excacerbate the problem and make you more susceptible to the onset of this, but take a step back, use some common sense, look at your lifestyle and daily habits and help your fingers look after themselves.
Please note: as a caveat to this, swollen fingers may well be indicitive of a more serious health problem, so if in doubt seek medical advice.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to post on this topic; you all helped me identify some areas worth investigating and get better! Hope my experience helps someone. Drop me a line if I can help buddybottle@hotmail.com

KRESINA · Newbie Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

I suffered from the same symptoms as a child. I live in Corfu, an island in Greece where the winter is very humid. I went to so many doctors, and they couldn't diagnose me. I also started suffering all winter long for tendonitis. When I moved to the US, all the symptoms suddenly stopped. I'm now 26, and for the first time in my life I got a bad case of Raynaud's disease...

"Raynaud's disease is a condition that causes some areas of your body — such as your fingers, toes, tip of your nose and your ears — to feel numb and cool in response to cold temperatures or stress. In Raynaud's disease, arteries that supply blood to your skin narrow, limiting blood circulation to affected areas.

Women are more likely to have Raynaud's disease. It's also more common in people who live in colder climates."

.. shortly thereafter, I started experiencing the same symptoms from my childhood. (itchy, painful, swollen fingers and toes) along with Raynaud's.

I have read and read and read on these symptoms, and i have asked doctors in the Balkans, Western Europe, Spain, and in the US. I have been told it could be a sign of an autoimmune deficiency or disease.
Also, your tonsils is something else that is associated with your immune system. Are you tonsils enlarged? do you have frequent infections? it could be frequent UTI's or even Sinus infections. I'm not a doctor, and this is only my opinion.

Guest · Guest

I have had this issue since 94. It comes and it goes, and I have noticed if I use table salt (rather than sea salt - which is not iodized) or eat salty foods (even a little of them) that I get this at night. I think the itching comes from the swelling and if I avoid salt I don't get it.

lyrastar · Newbie Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Suffolk UK

I have recently in the last 3 months had the same symptons as many others on here.
Unfortunatly I also have arthritis inbetween the 4th & 5th vertabrae in my neck which affects other areas, the most noticable affect was burning itching in the backs of my legs and arms, so I have amitriptyline which stopped it, but I also have arthritis in my right knee and it also feels like it starting in my fingers.
I never even thought it could be down to allergies I thought it might come down to poor circulation because a few nights ago while I was sitting here at the Pc and leaning on the desk, I realised both my hands and arms were getting darker in colour and sort of mottled, I rubbed both of them and they went back to normal
I went to my Dr and he is referring me to a rheumatologist so I am waiting to see when that will be.
At first I thought it was to do with the carpal tunnel, I had both hands operated on ten years ago and it wasn't fully succesful because of how long I had been doing the same work but when I got the same numbness under my foot, that threw that idea out of the window.

Guest · Guest

I just received an update from the website that others have had similar symptoms. I finally got some relief as my rheumatologist prescribed a drug called Leflunomide (Arava). It is an anti-inflammatory medication. Although I do have symptoms from time to time, I do not have the severe inflamation or numbness I once had. I also try to stay away from "cold" conditions. Cold seems to be a trigger. I take one 20MG pill once daily, FYI.

Itchy swollen fingers

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