Primary Raynaud's Case Study

"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).

About a year and a half ago during the fall of my junior year of high school, I was diagnosed with an illness that has dramatically changed every aspect of my life. This illness has changed how I think, what I do in my spare time, how I feel both emotionally and physically, and has given me a more optimistic outlook on life. Any plans I had for my future were interrupted and thrown right out the window. Everything changed for me and not in a good way.

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

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

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic syndrome that is characterized by inflammation of the peripheral joints, but it may also involve the lungs, heart, blood vessels, and eyes. The prevalence of this autoimmune disease is between 0.3% to 1.5% of the population in the United States (Feinberg, pp 815). It affects women two to three times more often than men, and the onset of RA is usually between 25 and 50 years of age, but it can occur at any age (Reed, pp 584). RA can be diagnosed by establishing the presence of persistent joint pain, swelling in a symmetric distribution, and prolonged morning stiffness. RA usually affects multiple joints, such as the hands, wrists, knees, elbows, feet, shoulders, hips, and small

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

The inflammation that occurs can cause wear and tear. Thus, the inflammation causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and, limited range of motion. This then leads to wear down of the bone and destroys cartilage. It also affects the body’s biggest organ: Skin. Rashes occur in in various places of the body. Some, even develop Raynaud’s phenomenon, which is a condition of the skin on the ears, nose, fingers, and toes. They turn numb and pale or purple when exposed to cold.

Causes: rheumatoid arthritis, gout, diabetes, works which require repetitive finger and thumb movements such as farmers, musicians, and industrial workers

On examination of the right hand, the middle finger shows scarring, pale color, contracture and unable to straighten.

“Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of chronic arthritis that occurs in joints on both sides of the body, such as both hands, both wrists, or both knees. This symmetry helps distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from other types of arthritis”. If a joint is deemed as arthritic that means that there is inflammation within the joint. Inflammation within a joint can cause swelling, redness, warmth and pain within that joint. Rheumatoid arthritis primarily affects the joints, but may also affect the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood, or nerves. Rheumatoid arthritis can present itself in many different ways. For some, joint symptoms develop gradually over several years, while others may develop quickly. Some people are affected by rheumatoid arthritis for a short

The doctor found that Steve was having what seemed to be stroke like symptoms. The entire left side of Steve’s face was drooping, he lost control of his extremities on that side of his body, and his hands had turn blue as if he had lost circulation. Doctor administered an ANITPLATELET AGENT immediately in case Steve was having a stroke. They also sent him for a brain computerized tomography and an antinuclear antibody test. It took a couple hours for the doctor to receive all the results, but when they came back Steve did not have a stroke. Steve was diagnosed with RAYNAUD’S PHENOMENON. The doctor had to decide his next course of

The thumb joint below stress is referred to as carpometacarpal joint or basal joint. Basal joint arthritis is often referred to as osteoarthritis. The cartilage that protects and cushions the thumb joint is worn out, for that reason causing soreness throughout movement of the hand. Consult a health care provider to get a suitable splint that supports the thumb and to better manipulate its motion. The healthcare professional could prescribe medicine or cortisone injection to manipulate and shrink joint irritation. Corrective surgical procedure is also advised as a method to cut down the nagging thumb joint

Raynaud's phenomenon- white or cool skin on the hands and feet once you're cold or stressed. And 'it caused by blood flow problems.

While the cause of Raynaud’s is unknown, factors such as: exposure to cold, underlying disease processes, chemical exposure, cigarette smoking, injury/trauma, repetitive hand actions, and medications can increase the risk of developing the condition (University of Rochester Medical Center, 2016, para. 4). Although Raynaud’s has been diagnosed in more than one family member, a hereditary factor has not been

Raynaud’s phenomenon is a disease that affects the blood flow to your fingers, and rarely your toes, nose, ears, lips, nipples, and knees can be affected as well. It is a result of an abnormal response of the blood vessels after being exposed to cold temperatures, increased stress, or excitement. It was first recognized by Maurice Raynaud MD in 1862, and was subsequently named after him. He stated that, “local asphyxia of the extremities’ was a result of ‘increased irritability of the central parts of the cord presiding over vascular innervation”, (Herrick, 2005. para 1). A person with Raynaud’s suffers periodic attacks, where the blood vessels, mainly in the fingers, narrow causing spasm of the blood vessels. This results in a decreased blood flow to the tissues of the fingers; then leads to first pallor, then