Hi i suffer with raynauds does anyone know of anything which can help?

Question

i'm 27 and have had it mildly, just with my hands, for the past 3 years, but this year it has got particularly worse and i now suffer with it in my feet and nose! the doctor just dismisses it and tells me to keep warm but i find that it isn't just the cold but sudden changes from warm to cool or vice versa, just wondered if there was anything i could do to help myself. thanks!

Answer 1

yes I have it too.Doctors are just great!! They put me on blood pressure pills to open up the vessels.I do not take them anymore just too many side effects.Ok so usually you can feel when its coming the best things to do are running and rubbing your fingers under warm water.Mittens are the thing to wear not gloves.Stress is the absolute worst thing for this condition,mine flares up big time when I am faced with any kind of stress,so stay away from that as much as you can.I know it is an uncomfortable condition and after many doctors I just deal with it on my own by doing the things I say here.Airconditioning is another thing that flares it up.Basically you just have to try to avoid the things you know will flare it.Heaters and radiators never help me I just rub the heck out of my fingers to bring the blood back into them if I am not anywhere where I can use warm water,you also have to be careful of the temp. of the water cause in that state you dont have alot of feelings in your fingertips so you have to be careful you dont burn yourself.Since now your nose is affected yes you need to keep a scarf around your face. You do know there are 2 types of Raynauds 1 is plain Raynauds and the other is callled Raynauds phenomenon which is linked to other autoimmune illnesses which is the type I have,so once in a while you should be blood tested to see what your ana levels are. Good luck but I do find doctors are very unsympathetic to these conditions.

Answer 2

This is a condition in which the smallest arteries that bring blood to the fingers or toes constrict (go into spasm) when exposed to cold or from an emotional upset. Smoking cigarettes or working with vibrating machinery also can cause these episodes. The small veins are usually open, so the blood drains out of the capillaries (KAP'ih-lair"eez). The result is that the fingers or toes become pale, cold and numb. If there's a spasm in the small veins and blood is trapped in the capillaries, the fingers or toes turn blue as the blood loses its oxygen.

People who have experienced what appears to be Raynaud's syndrome are encouraged to see their physician to confirm the diagnosis and, if necessary, to get proper treatment. Most people only need to make minor lifestyle changes. In some cases, however, vasodilators (medications that relax and widen blood vessels) may be prescribed to keep the blood vessels from constricting.

Raynaud's (ra-NOZ') syndrome is also sometimes called Raynaud's phenomenon or Raynaud's disease.

Answer 3

I recently gave this answer to a similar question, I copy it here for you:-
Raynaud’s phenomenon is a condition that affects the blood vessels in the extremities—generally, the fingers and toes. It is characterized by episodic attacks, called vasospastic attacks, in which the blood vessels in the digits (fingers and toes) constrict (narrow), usually in response to cold temperatures and/or emotional stress. When this condition occurs on its own, it is called primary Raynaud’s phenomenon. When it occurs with another condition such as scleroderma or lupus, it is called secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon. Although people of any age can have Raynaud’s phenomenon, the primary form typically begins between the ages of 15 and 25. Women are more likely than men to have Raynaud’s phenomenon. It appears to be more common in people who live in colder climates. This is likely true because people with the disorder have more Raynaud’s attacks during periods of colder weather. In medical literature, primary Raynaud’s phenomenon may also be called idiopathic Raynaud’s phenomenon, primary Raynaud’s syndrome, or Raynaud’s disease. There is no known cause for primary Raynaud’s phenomenon. It is more common than the secondary form and often is so mild the patient never seeks medical attention. It generally is an annoyance that causes little disability. Secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon is a more complex and serious disorder. The aims of treatment are to reduce the number and severity of attacks and to prevent tissue damage and loss of tissue in the fingers and toes. Most doctors are conservative in treating patients with primary Raynaud’s phenomenon because they do not get tissue damage. For these patients, doctors tend to recommend nondrug treatments before moving onto medications. For patients with secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon, medications are more often prescribed, because severe attacks with ulcers or tissue damage are more likely. In the most severe cases, Raynaud’s causes ulcers and serious tissue damage that does not respond to medications. Doctors may use a surgical procedure called a digital sympathectomy with adventitial stripping (which involves removing the tissue and nerves around the blood vessels supplying the affected digits). While this procedure may result in reducing symptoms and healing tissue, it only helps temporarily and therefore is reserved for difficult cases.
Hope this helps
Matador 89

Answer 4

Me too, I don't have any advice unfortunately, but I suffer with it. I went to the docs, wearing 3 pair of socks and all he said was wear another pair grrr! He said I was too young for a lifetime of tablets, its so frustrating. Contact the Raynauds society, and they'll send you an info pack with some suggestions in it - though they aren't all practical!

Answer 5

I have the same condition, My rheumatoligest put me on calcium channel blockers and it has helped some. I find that I get the most relief from a paraffin hand dip.

Answer 6

i dont think there is anything to help you.just keep wrapped up and warm.

Answer 7

Try the links below if they don't help ask on webmd.com, good luck!

Answer 8

i find if i put my hands on a radiator it helps have a look at this http://www.raynauds.org.uk/potioncms/viewer.asp?a=117&z=25

Answer 9

http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/articles/raynauds.html