numb fingers - something to worry about?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I have cold blue hands and feet much of the time, even on warm days. Doctor did some blood tests a while back and said its reynauds. I also have psoriatic arthritis.

Was helping a friend serve tea - fish fingers and smilies. I was wondering why she was serving cold food and if they'd been fully cooked. She was wondering why I was using my fingers (washed) and not the spatula! So we experimented. Oven tray just out of oven - she could touch it briefly before it burned. I could hold it and it felt warmish.

Also having problems holding things - trying to help kids at school do their sewing today - never mind that I couldn't see what they were doing, I couldnt feel the thread or needle between my fingers in the slightest.

Not told gp any of these symptoms - do you think they are par for the course (ok I know you aren't doctors but I'm just asking....) or is it something i need to chase up with gp?

thanks

I think these are symptomatic of Reynauds, but wouldn't hurt to chat to him/her? Sounds pretty rotten. No idea of treatment for it. Def see GP!

yeah, I suppose I ought to check it out. Spect it is the reynauds, I'm kind of hoping that loads of reynauds people will jump in and say they have it

does also explain why I keep running my bath far too hot - hadn't occurred to me - I only find out when I'm ankle deep!

I suffer from Reynauds disease but with me it isnt a constant numbness to heat etc.

When i lose circulation in my fingers or toes they take on a white/yellow appearance and i cant feel any sensation in them for 5 minutes uo to an hour.

It is basically the blood vessels constricting which affects the bloody supply to your digits.
It can be brought on by cold or emotional stress.

As far as i know there is no treatment for it, but i would go and see your gp as raynauds is usually something that happens as an attack not something which is with the body constantly.

If this is affecting your daily motor skills and senses i would say it is worth checking out further.

Do your fingers take on a different appearance when you cant feel the temperature of things.

There are 3 stages of colouration normally.

Just to add though that everyone is different so it is hard to say. wanted to let you know what Raynauds is like with me.
Dont want to scare the pants off you

don't worry
So are yours cold all the time then? My hands are slightly bluish even now and its 22C in here - one hand more than the other.

I do get the classic white fingers stopping startlingly at one joint but there is this near constant thing going on too. Until friend pointed it out I just saw it as a curious cooking advantage - being able to turn things over in the frying pan with my fingers is quite useful.

Not all the time but they do get cold easily.

I was at the Osteopath yesterday for a dodgy shoulder and he commented on my cold feet..was warm summery day outside

I remember being prescribed Nifedipine (for increasing the blood flow round the body) in my late teens as i also suffered with bad chilblains once the circulation had come back they felt like they were overheating.

Thankfully they are few and far between now.

Christ i sound like i'm dropping to bits!

Did your doctor mention if it could be linked with the psoriatic arthritis?

I'm with you on the fingers in the frying pan, some of those utensils can be a bugger to clean

Can I sound a note of caution here? Just because something doesn't feel hot doesn't mean it won't burn you! I don't think that using your fingers instead of a utensil to handle hot food is a very good idea.

I think you should consult your GP if this is a new symptom or a worsening of an existing symptom. It probably is connected to the Raynaud's Disease, I'd guess.

It was meant lightheartedly. Not advocating it. I manage to burn myself with steam from my kettle and would not be trusted to put my hands into a frying pan

northernsoul my gp did do some blood tests with which she concluded they weren't connected - though it can be. I do suspect though it is - I'm back to using my wheat bag this week at night as my feet ache in bed as they are cold. i have to be careful with that though as I had near permanent chilblains this winter.

MsHighwater It sounds ridiculous to admit but I really thought I was just toughening up til friend pointed out it wasn't normal. You are right I think i do need to talk to my gp about it.

I have raynauds too. Mine kicks off in the supermarket... Dreadful can barely fasten kids in seatbelts with it.

But although I'm always famous for cold hands cold feet. I am not heat resistant like you are!

Do you smoke BadKitten? It worsens the condition. I must admit since i stopped when pg with ds 6 yrs ago it has improved lots especially the chilblains.

northernsoul I don't smoke. I'm glad giving up helped yours

Piffle tis a nuisance isn't it!

Have made an appt with gp - 2nd June. (glad its not urgent lol!!) will update then.

Right it is salads for you till the 2nd June
Stay away form that cooker

lol at salads!! have to have them with loads and loads of dressing then - have got a bit underweight past few weeks.
Perhaps I should just eat crisps and tinned sardines

That sounds like my kind of diet, and lots of oily fish so its semi healthy!
Good luck at the doctors, hope they can warm those hands up x