Primary Raynaud's Case Study

Few people are aware of Raynaud's disease even though it is a fairly common condition. Raynaulds Disease is also referred to as Raynauld’s phenonmenon. Raynaud's is a condition in which cold temperatures or stress cause blood vessel spasms that block blood flow to fingers, toes, nose, and ears. This causes these body parts to suddenly turn ice cold and to become a purple or blue color. Later when the blood flow becomes normal the area turns a reddish color and later returns to normal. There are two types of Raynaud's Disease, primary Raynaud's disease and secondary Raynaud's disease. Primary Raynaud's is when a person has no other cause or condition. Secondary Raynaud's is when there is another condition that

Raynaud’s disease is when the body restricts the amount of blood flow to various parts of the body, such as the hands and feet. There are some factors that contribute to making this disease worse, but there are also some factors that can help in making this disease more controllable. With the very few known facts about Raynaud’s disease, it is not a disease that should be overlooked for the fact it affects “approximately five to ten percent of Americans.” (WebMD, 2005-2016).

This condition is caused by excess pressure or strain (stress) applied to the intermetacarpal ligaments. This often happens because of a hard, direct hit or injury (trauma) to the hand.

Finger or toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or when stressed (Raynaud's phenomenon)

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, also called radial styloid tenosynovitis, is a painful condition that affects the inside of the wrist. The two tendons that are located at the base of the thumb begin to swell, causing the tendons and the area around them to become inflamed. As a result, pressure is placed against the neighboring nerves, leading to a feeling of numbness and pain.

Stenosing tenosynovitis, or most commonly referred to as trigger finger, is a condition where one of the fingers is stuck in a bent position. The affected finger may straighten in a snap similar to a trigger being pulled and then released. This situation usually occurs when there is inflammation in the area causing space within the sheath surrounding the tendon to become narrow. To help alleviate it, there are home remedies for trigger finger pain.

"Rheumatoid joint inflammation is an interminable infection set apart by irritation of the joints, frequently influencing the hand joints and both sides of the body in the meantime" (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, 2009).

The most common symptoms are fatigue, rashes, or joint pain. Other symptoms that might develop are skin problems, sensitivity to light, neuropsychiatric problems, fever, changes in weight, hair loss, and/or swollen glands. Some specific skin problems are skin rashes, i.e., the facial butterfly rash. Raynaud’s phenomenon is often common, affecting the fingers, toes, ears, or tip of the nose. About 90% of lupus patients have fatigue in various degrees. Symptoms depend on what body organs are affected and how seriously they are affected. This disease can cause problems in nearly any system of the body, including the:

Some of the injuries that can occur in the hand are Cubital Tunnel Syndrome and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome along with many more. Cubital Tunnel Syndrome causes pain or numbness in the ring and little fingers, but could also go to the arm (Types of RSI, 2010). Occurs when the ulnar nerve is pinched along the elbow’s edge (“funny bone”), and has tingling or painful feeling (Types of RSI, 2010). Cubital Tunnel Syndrome can be treated by avoiding putting pressure on the “funny bone” (Types of RSI, 2010). Cubital could lead to surgery if the nerve needs to be relieved. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is similar to Cubital but occurs in the three first fingers. A major nerve is compressed which passes over the carpal bones through the front of the wrist (ASSH, 2015). When the nerve is compressed it causes painful, tingling and numbness in the first three fingers (ASSH, 2015). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be treated without surgery by changing the patterns of hand use and/or wearing wrist splints at night (ASSH, 2015). If severe then surgery can take place to make the nerve have more

“Is your face always that red?” I had heard this question hundreds of times throughout my life by family, friends, and the occasional stranger, but never by a medical professional. So when the physician assistant I had been seeing to treat a recurring case of strep throat asked me this same question, I thought she was just making an innocent inquiry like so many others had before. I gave her the same answer I gave everyone who asked. “Yes, sometimes it gets worse when I’m stressed or if I’m in the sun, but for the most part it stays close to this shade of red.”

There is a wide variety of symptoms, the most distinguishable being a butterfly shaped rash across your face. Lupus also causes achy and swollen joints, mouth and nose sores, and unexplained fever. Some people with lupus also suffer from inflammation of the linings of the heart and lungs causing pain when breathing, which is often misdiagnosed as simply pleurisy. Although pleurisy is a symptom, some doctors may not delve deeper into the cause of it and just try to treat only the inflammation. Raynaud’s Phenomenon is also a common symptom, this is when the body doesn’t send enough blood to the hands and feet which causes the fingers and toes to be pale or

Trigger finger can affect any finger or thumb. It may affect more than one finger. Mild cases may clear up with rest and medicine. Severe cases require more treatment.

The most common symptoms are fatigue, rashes, or joint pain. Other symptoms that might develop are skin problems, sensitivity to light, neuropsychiatric problems, fever, changes in weight, hair loss, and/or swollen glands. Some specific skin problems are skin rashes, i.e., the facial butterfly rash. Raynaud's phenomenon is often common, affecting the fingers, toes, ears, or tip of the nose. About 90% of lupus patients have fatigue in various degrees. Symptoms depend on what body organs are affected and how seriously they are affected. This disease can cause problems in nearly any system of the body, including the:

A healthy 15-year-old female came to Tallahassee Memorial Clinic with blue bilateral hands. Patient states not having pain numbness or tingling. The nurse’s evaluation revealed she had a similar episode in the past but it resolved itself. Swollen hands were not evident in the past and the client does not recall if the color was because of an injury. She does not smoke and only walks outside for short periods. She reported color change in her fingers from white to blue. The chart revealed that all vital signs were stable and she is not taking any medications. Her medical chart shows no significant medial history.

Swollen wrists can pinch a nerve and result in numbness or tingling due to carpal tunnel syndrome. Cysts can develop behind affected knees and rupture, causing pain and swelling in the lower legs. Up to 30% of people with rheumatoid arthritis have hard bumps just under the skin, usually near sites of pressure. Common areas for these bumps to develop are on the back of the forearm near the elbow. In rare cases, rheumatoid arthritis causes an inflammation of blood vessels called vasculitis, this condition reduces the blood supply to tissues and may cause nerve damage or leg sores that may become infected. Inflammation of the membranes covering the lungs, the sac surrounding the heart, or inflammation and scarring of the lungs, can lead to chest pain and shortness of breath. Some people develop swollen lymph nodes, dry eyes or mouth, or red, painful eyes as a result of inflammation (Slomski, pg 1557).