Raynaud's Phenomenon
 

I broke my 3 and 4 metatarsals in my foot about 9 weeks about. In the past two weeks my foot has been turning bright purple and getting really cold randomly and this has never happened before. I visited the doctor today and he diagnosed me with possible Raynaud's phenomenon. He also said there is a good chance i have rheumatoid arthristis (this is the third doctor to suggest this due to chronic ankle and back pain and i am currently waiting for test results) as this is a symptom. Anyone else have this same condition and would offer some advice or experiences??

Thanks,
Marie

Hi Marie, and welcome to NeuroTalk.

There is a condition that can occur after a trauma, and the foot is a very common place. It is called RSD...and can become quite long lasting and painful.

We have an RSD forum here where you can ask questions:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/fo...sprune=-1&f=21

However, if you have Raynaud's you can try a simple thing, which is Epsom salts soaks. This provides magnesium to the blood vessels and helps with the circulation.
Don't use hot water, but use tepid lukewarm instead. If you soak in a bathtub you'll need about 6-8 ounces if you fill the tub past the ankle. In a smaller dish type tub, you use less. Like 3-4 ounces. Soak for about 20 min to 1/2 hr 3 times a day and if you get improvements, that would be a sign that you need ORAL magnesium supplements. Many people are low in this mineral and I have a thread here explaining how to choose a good form, and how much to take:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html
You would start aiming at 1/2 the RDA or 200mg elemental daily.

Inflammation from any trauma sometimes upsets the tissue and the cells there make inflammatory chemicals to heal things up.
Some of these constrict blood vessels and some expand them. If you are out of balance and don't eat foods containing the building blocks to avoid inflammation (Omega-3 fats like flax oil and fish oil) and you instead eat high amounts of Omega 6 fats, you can get stuck in an inflammatory spot, where healing is difficult.

Also don't wear tight socks or tight shoes. This may impede the circulation too.

Hi Marie and welcome. I also have Raynaud's syndrom and have noticed it is much worse since I have lost weight. I only have it at my finger tips although one of my daughters has it in both her fingers and toes.

Sucking hard on my finger tips helps a lot to return the blood flow...however, this would be difficult to do on your toes! :o :D

i have to agree with mrsd (big surprise, lol) i would be thinking RSD....please get checked out, and quickly

Hi Marie - you've found a great place with really knowledgeable, helpful folks. A couple of things in your post made me think of some things. The color snd coldness you describe.

I've had RSD for 17 years after an open Colles fracture of the left wrist (snapped the ulna, too). Both my ortho surgeon and my physical therapist were RSD "nuts" (totally immersed in it, wrote many articles about it - I loved learning how/when it was discovered!). Bright redness and searing heat (others can feel the temp differences at the skin) are common. They also defined this bright redness as a common, preliminary visual marker tight after the trauma. I agree with MrsD (she is an excellent resource!); see the RSD forum. There may be others with RSD that have your symptom types (purple, cold).. My mom also developed RSD when she had a stoke. What I really want to convey is that the drug Neurontin (gabapentin) has worked wonders for both of us. I know other RSD folks with good resultls.

I was completely misdiagnosed with Raynaud's a year ago. I had pure white (like a corpse) hands, top and bottom, from the fingertips to 1" above the wrists. They were ice-cold to others' touch, but I felt intense, burning pain inside them. The knuckles were severely swollen and I was sent to a Rheumatologist (I have severe spinal, hip/pelvic arthritis, but not rheumatoid). He immediately ruled out Raynaud's. The outer coldness was right, but my inner pain type and the hand color were completely wrong. Raynaud's hallmarks (I learned it's referred to as the "red, white, and blue disease) are quite different, usually. My current PT has it. While her hands are icy, she could probably crush a polar bear's paw with little pain in them.

Both RSD and Raynaud's occur in the feet. Raynaud's is often treated with blood pressure medications. Also, with drugs like Amitryptyline (typically used as a mild antidepressent). Both increase blood circulation through vessel expansion.

Rheumatologists and neurologists are often good sources to pinpoint diagnoses. I ended up having neuropathy from permanent nerve damage, and internal spinal cord damage from vitamin deficiencies (B-12 the biggest contributor). However, be sure to inquire about their expertise with RSD and Raynaud's when considering appts. Not all are experienced with or have any interest in these conditions.

Sorry for the length of this; I just spent a year (including lengthy hospital stays) recovering from a very severe illness. Of all the things that were "broken" by-products. diagnosing the extremity problems proved the hardest. Please, don't wait too long in seeing whoever you choose to see. While I learned exactly what happened to my hands, I also learned that the damage is permanent. We can ease the pain some, but the loss of their use is permanent. Unfortunately, there were far more serious problems before they got to my hands. You wouldn't believe how long it took me to type this, and I know it's probably still filled with tupos! I hope you find something worthwhile in it :winky: Good luck to you.