[jb1]

Hi everybody

Sorry I only seem to appear when I've got a question but I try not to think about lupus when I feel ok anyway could anyone tell me if chilblains are a symptom? For the last two winters I have had really bad chilblains and they are just started to come back again (I was diagnosed with Raynaulds in 97 and with SLE this year but it just seems weird that I've only started to get them as the lupus thing began.... does anyone else suffer from these or know of any creams that can calm down the itching and pain? It's not a massive problem (there are far worse things I know) but it is annoying - I just want to hit my toes against something to stop it!

Thanks a lot - and wishing you all health xxx

 

[marymackay]

Chilblains.

Hi
as a child down south in Melbourne, Australia I always had chilblains in the cold, both hands and feet, so itchy, paining and breaking into sores from rubbing. Leaving the cold climate for the Tropics, I was amazed in the last 3 years to have my hands becoming numb, paining, particularly when keeping still in church, not able to shake hands with anyone.Then of course lupus symptoms came loud and fast, although at the moment I still have the d/x of lupus like symptoms, starting on Plaquenil last year.

In Professor Hughes book, A Patients' Guide to Lupus, 2008, he speaks of cold circulation, P4, that could predate d/x by many years.This usually presents as Raynauds's Phenomenon which is a tendency for the fingers (and sometimes the toes) to turn white, then blue, sometimes leading to cold sores or chilblains.

My mother also had such small,cold hands down south. I hope this may help you a little.

 

[Joandublin]

Hi there JB1

There have been a number of posts about chilblains in the past and you might find something useful in them if you do a search for them. Im not sure there is an awful lot you can do in terms of treating them but I remember some members saying they can take up to three weeks to go away.

Just click the 'Search' function near the top of the page and type in chilblains and hit the 'Go' button. A list of posts will come up with reference to chilblains and you can have a look through and see if anything helps.

Let us know if you find anything useful. I sincerely hope you do :hugbetter:

Luv n stuff
Joan:rose:

 

[Clare.T]

Chilblains certainly can be secondary to other conditions associated with lupus such as Raynauds and vascular conditions. They can be associated with anti-Ro and Rheumatoid factor and antiphospholipid antibodies and other 'thick' blood conditions. Biopsy might show if they are lupus related or 'idiopathic'. Not much treatment but keep warm and dry and watch out for infection. Nifedipine is sometimes used
Ugh, horrible things ! We got them as children in prehistoric times; after playing out in the snow we'd put our freezing wet feet in front of the coal fire.
I have the impression that if they occur in warm climates they are more likely to be disease associated. Must be mentioned to doctor and take photos if possible.

I hope they get better soon
Clare