Are these chilblains?

[Brunaaa]

In March/April time my middle finger swelled up, so much I could barely bend it. It then spread to two other fingers on the same hand. I also noticed raised red, sometimes itchy patches on the fingers and they were often mottled and blotchy
Hopefully the photo has worked to show what they were like (index, middle and little finger were affected.

I had a virtual consultation with my dr who said he thought it was rheumatoid arthritis. I had blood tests which came back negative (I was also never convinced because my fingers weren't painful). I asked my dr whether it could be chilblains and he say no straight away, but was stumped as to what else it could be. I've been waiting for referral to a rheumatologist since April.

Over late spring and summer it disappeared, but is back with a vengeance now the weather has turned. My fingers really hurt if they get very cold, and I also have Raynaud's disease, so I think it all points to chilblains. Can anyone help?? Can it possibly be RA instead?

They could be. Do they feel hot?

No, not often hot. Quite often stiff which makes me worry that maybe it is RA. I don't know how much to chase the referral...

COVID can cause odd lesions on hands and feet that look like chilblains! The time they appeared fits too. Young people may have no other symptoms except the rash and they can persist....

covidskinsigns.com/tag/covid-digits/#page-content-conatiner

Ooh that's a bit scary...not had any other Covid symptoms so hopefully it isn't that, although the photos do look quite familiar...

I was going to suggest Covid toes/hands but then I loooedbat the photo and thought your little finger looks quite arthritic- or have you got it bent at a weird angle? (Disclaimer not a doctor but was carer for my mum who had very bad arthritis in both hands)

My little finger is a bit bent, yes - I broke it when I was very young and it didn't heal very well.

The swelling was what prompted the doctor to suspect rheumatoid arthritis though. In the spring, it lasted a couple of months and then disappeared over the summer and re-emerged in the last few weeks.

Would love to know what it is!

Hi! Realise this is quite old but I wondered if you ever worked out what it was? My husband has had a couple of bouts of something looking very similar! He has been referred to rheumatologist who ruled out RA etc and now thinks it is probably dermatological?!

I have Reynards symptoms and get chilblains if I forget to use gloves. I have had them look similar to yours. The only thing is that chilblains are only red and swollen for a few days then they get better so if its lasting a long time it could be something else.

Hi!!

I was wondering if you worked out what this is? Very very oddly this exactly happened to me in March/April 2021 and last a few months then went away and now has come back worse than ever in both hands. Blood tests are negative - been referred to a arthritis specialist but I’m waiting. My docs think it could be chilblains but I think it may be something called scleroderma.

Would be amazing if you could let me know what happened and what they think it is

X

@Brunaaa

In March/April time my middle finger swelled up, so much I could barely bend it. It then spread to two other fingers on the same hand. I also noticed raised red, sometimes itchy patches on the fingers and they were often mottled and blotchy Hopefully the photo has worked to show what they were like (index, middle and little finger were affected.

I had a virtual consultation with my dr who said he thought it was rheumatoid arthritis. I had blood tests which came back negative (I was also never convinced because my fingers weren't painful). I asked my dr whether it could be chilblains and he say no straight away, but was stumped as to what else it could be. I've been waiting for referral to a rheumatologist since April.

Over late spring and summer it disappeared, but is back with a vengeance now the weather has turned. My fingers really hurt if they get very cold, and I also have Raynaud's disease, so I think it all points to chilblains. Can anyone help?? Can it possibly be RA instead?

Asp have experienced the same thing. Mine came back in last few weeks when cold. Raised itchy, hot blotches. I'm pretty sure it's chilblains. I had blood tests too an arthritis was ruled out.

My knuckles have become swollen, hot and very itchy. Can help as to what it could be please?

@Crazysphynx77

My knuckles have become swollen, hot and very itchy. Can help as to what it could be please?

Mine were exactly the same as you explain the itch was awful cause they were so painful I couldn't scratch them. Dr said chilblains but I wasn't sure was going on for years. Mentioned it in passing to my accupuncture lady when I seen her in October about my back she had a look said it was down tui poor circulation stuck a few needles in and I'm like a new woman. Honestly no pain, no swelling, no itch and I can bend my fingers. Def worth looking into accupuncture

Mine did this after my first (J&) vaccine and my booster. It then went away but came back a few weeks ago. On my little finger only each time.

I bought some 1% hydrocortisone from Amazon, and 5 days later there is just a bit of dry skin. Hopefully this is the end do it.

Arthritis? Your little finger is slightly misshapen,
I have arthritis and all of my fingers are like that.

Hi there, came across your thread while researching for similar symptoms. Same exact symptoms, my fingers get swollen, stiff, warm to touch, itchy, I have also just developed Raynaud’s in the last years. Also have the same red itchy rash on toes. First diagnosed with dyshidrotic eczema, but suspicious it’s chilblains. Have an appt with doc today and assuming we will do all the labs to check for RA. I’m an 34 year old otherwise healthy woman so I’m just so confused on why all of sudden I’m having this, but nice to find a thread with people experiencing similar symptoms.
All of this started in the last 2 years, first noticed March 2020.

Hello, well three years on and I still have swollen fingers constantly from October to April and it's spread to almost all of them now!

RA was ruled out after blood tests, x-rays and ultrasounds of my hands, so I'm guessing it is some kind of extreme reacto the cold.

I get a bit of itching but the main thing is the swelling and stiffness. The skin is all cracked and bleeding now as well so that's another joy!

If anyone ever figures out what it is please update us!

Sounds so much like me. Definitely related to cold weather for me. X-rays and blood tests all ok, physiotherapist says it's a skin issue. Still waiting referral. I suspect it will clear up totally May/June and will then reappear September ish....

As I thought my hands are like new now since it's been warm. Diagnosis is chilblains and Reynaud's and advice to simple moisturise multiple times a day, even during the warmer months.

Hey Brunaaa, have you ever figured out what it was? I've been having the same issue intermittently for the past 2 winters, started in the same finger and occasionally spreads to 2 more on my right hand, I don't really get chillblain-like red blotches though, only very occasionally. I was so excited to find someone with the exact same symptoms because my GPs haven't been able to figure it out and I've been googling to no end without getting any closer to a solution. They tested me for RA aswell and suggested it might be Raynauld's but I'm skeptical (I feel like everything I've read about Raynaud's, I have the opposite symptoms). Based on everything I read I suspect it could be a more extreme recurring form of chillblains or cold urticaria...

@cathairnowhere nope, never got a diagnosis but I think it's some sort of chilblains. I'm really careful to try to keep my hands warm in cold weather now, and amazingly, so far this autumn they haven't been too bad - only my little finger was slightly swollen a couple of weeks ago. No idea if it is due to that but I'm not complaining!

Hope yours improve!