posted
So one of my symptoms is extreme pain in my hands and feet, with my hands always being quite swollen.
But what I am wondering about is when I look at the pals especially, they are always mottled white and red with some sort of purply areas.
My guess is that it may be a circulation issue, but nothing I seem to do helps. I also vaguely remember reading somewhere that with Bart the red blood cells get misshapen and can't move as easily through the membranes and this can cause it?
I really am at a loss and was wondering if anyone else got this mottled blotchiness and if there was anything to be done about it.
Thanks,
Alison
--------------------
The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. --- Edward R. Murrow Posts: 923 | From California | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged |
The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. --- Edward R. Murrow Posts: 923 | From California | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged |
Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Alison,
You're not alone. My hands were in so much pain before my Lyme diagnosis I had a stupid duck tell me that I needed to find a career that didn't include computer use. Because, of course, it was really bad tendinitis and it would never go away as long as I actually used my hands.
I get the blotchiness too, as well as a sort of lacy purplish pattern all over my body. I remember it on my legs in high school. I was infected in junior high school.
My LLMD said that the pattern is common with Lyme. She put me on plavix when I first started treatment, because it had to do with thickening of the blood. And it got worse when I started abx, which she said would happen.
As far as things that help:
Plaquenil has really reduced the pain and swelling in my hands. Flexeril, a muscle relaxer, also helps because some of the hand pain was referred from my thoracic outlet area.
I wear elastic ankle supports that go over my feet to reduce the foot pain and foot swelling. It really helps, although not always. I've also found that my foot pain comes partly from referred pain from tightness in my hips.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
Have been doing some intense herxing last few weeks. I can only tell you from experience, that the red and swollen palms and feet are from the infection, period.
Six months ago, my hands were red and swollen so badly I couldn't close them. The bart attacks the g i track, and causes the lining around the pancreas to become swollen, so it does cause circulation problems.
That is the reason I found it important to take extra hydrochloric acid, to help food pass through the swollen pancreas. I also drink a lot of kefir to help calm things down.
I also get colonics and do enemas at home, and drink lots of water along with the herbs I take.The swelling and redness in my hands are almost completely gone.
I know these extra little tidbits don't sound like a big deal, but they are. When you think about circulation, visualize, mouth to anus, and the concept of keeping things moving(flushing our toxins)
I too, have been focused on these symptoms because I wanted to know what was causing them so I could heal.
I know this may sound ridiculous, but diligently applying the kefir to my hands and back sores, greatly helps calm things down, and causes me to herx, along with helping the pain.
Of course this is not meant to be medical advice, it's just what worked for me.
Hope this helps,
Gael Posts: 121 | From philadelphia | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged |
That totally reminds me to thank you for reminding me about the kefir. I finally got some and nearly chugged the whole bottle it felt and tasted so good.
Now, I am writing down on my Whole Foods list hydrochloric acid, which should win me the world record for how many times I've forogtten to get that one.
Aniek, thank you - I will look into the Plaquenil definitely. Thanks! Also the foot things you metnioned sound like they would help.
Alison
--------------------
The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. --- Edward R. Murrow Posts: 923 | From California | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged |
Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
I also find that wearing a small healed shoe, under an inch, helps myfoot pain. Somethign about the hcange in angle.
I have a high arch, and heals usually have more of an arch than flats. So that might be a part of it.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I had the mottled palms too. It was one of my early symptoms. It was especially bad in the late afternoon. My hands would get very mottled & painful. There was a hot flushing feeling. Other times my hands would get very cold. Other times they would get shriveled, kind of like prune fingers from soaking too long.
Sometimes my thumbs & big toes would turn yellow and frozen. The rest of my palms and soles would be mottled and warmer.
Over time this has improved. It it essential for me to wear gloves & heavy socks whenever my hands and feet are cold (they once got frozen during a heat wave). Soaking in a hot bath with Epsom Salts helps my feet. Using Podi Patches to remove toxins has helped too. www.akgnaturals.com
Like Aniek, Plaquenil has been useful for me. I recently went back on Plaquenil & Biaxin and the swelling & pain in my hands is gone.
hatsnscarfs
Posts: 956 | From MA | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Alison and Gael - if you don't already, you should brew your own kefir at home. It is SO easy and so much more potent than the kefir you can buy commercially. If you'd like more info, let me know. I'm happy to share grains so you can try it yourself.
Carla
-------------------- Getting older is when we would rather not have a good time than have to get over it. - Oscar Wilde Posts: 386 | From Radnor, PA - where the ticks run free | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
The swollen hands and blotchy mottling comes and goes with the Lyme. I have had it on and off and esp. when up and walking around. Its the infection and inflammation.
IP: Logged |
posted
Pssss.... Psssss...... Think Acrodermatitis Chroicitis...... Supposedly only in Europe, its a late Skin manifestatino of Lyme.... usually presenting in the hands and feet. Read up, take pictures, get a biopsy, and pressure your LLMD to publish!!!
Posts: 559 | From Cary, NC | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
I tried to Google that but got nothing. It suggested spelling it Acrodermatitis Chronicitis.
That came up with nothing too. Is there another spelling? Where can I find info? hatsnscarfs
Posts: 956 | From MA | Registered: Nov 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Trisel. The spelling is off. acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans.
Here are some links to help you learn....however, don't worry about the treatment recommendations, we all know they are bogus. An important tidbit however is that even "authorities" that publish at EMedicine agree that this form represents a Chronic Infection.
Be aware that most of the pics you see are of very late stages, which most do not have. So read the fine print, and search for pictures of earlier stage ACA. Also note that sometimes ACA can only present after things such as a warm bath.
posted
Yes, my hands have always swollen up with Lyme relapses. I had Lyme, babs and bart together for a long time, but the swollen hands and fingers seemed to be specifically connected to Lyme.
IP: Logged |
posted
ARgh! I keep telling myself that I'm full of it, ('cause that's what everyone else says and frankly, who *wants* to have lyme) but apparently not.
On a course of azithromycin for a throat infection, my hands and feet swelled up, got blotchy and became difficult to move. My doctor said allergetic reaction (although unlike any I've ever had) and put me on something else, but I wondered if I was Herxing. Looking at this post, it seems like yes? Yes?
My joints also acted up and I'm so tired I keep just passing out for hours in the afternoon. I've been sick so repeatedly these days I've tried going on a garlic therapy routine (based on a post read here -- got back on the board recently) and am exhibiting more weirdness: spleen pain/swelling, and half of my throat has swollen up like a giraffe, hurts from my ear all down the side of the neck. Left a message with my doctor, who perscribed tylanol and...sudafed?
Do the side and neck pains (different sides by the way) sound like herxing? If so, does that mean that the garlic is working?
Is there an icon for jumping up and down and thumping your head against a wall? I guess this one will do. Posts: 8 | From Pasadena, California, USA | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[bonk]](graemlins/bonk.gif)
![[dizzy]](graemlins/dizzy.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic