Achenbach syndrome - help, please!

[ChipButty]

Over the past month, I have twice experienced a sudden sharp pain - once in a finger and once in my thumb - followed by the sudden appearance of a bruise and slight redness and swelling. The pain recedes quite quickly and the bruising fades over a few days. I have found the name for this condition but cannot find much information about it. Don't know whether to see a doctor. Has anyone had any experience of this, please? TIA.

.

Hi, I've just been googling the same because for years I've had this. (And that is how I found your question!)

The reason I was googling it this morning is because today it happened again.

My left middle finger suddenly hurt, the last finger joint started to swell and sure enough the vein burst after a few minutes. I have now got a black finger.

I've had this for years and it happens a few times a year, and also very occasionally in my feet.

I've seen the doctor about it and he took some blood to test it for it's clotting abilities which apparently came back normal. That was the end of his enquiries. I've never bothered going back again about it.

I'll perhaps mention it again when I go back to him for something else!

In the event anyone else stumbles upon this thread, I get the same thing, have had this issue for a few years. Usually a middle finger and happens when I have applied some pressure to it such as opening a door or pulling on something.

I get this occasionally. Only since menopause though and friend the same. Only requires a very light touch on finger to cause the stabbing pain and bruise.

Me too! Never occurred to me it was a 'thing', I just assumed that I was pinching/bursting the blood vessels by being too rough. Thought it was a bit weird that I was so 'fragile' these days.

I get it too and sometimes on toes as well, if I stand on a sharp edge or something.

I’m 45 years of age and had it for years, my mum and sister get it too and I presumed it was normal until colleague at work thought it was very bizarre, just googled it and didn’t realise it had a name -Achenbach syndrome! Do I need to worry about it or is there anything I should be doing to prevent it?

Mine seems worse when my thyroxine is low. Might be worth getting it checked out!

Hi has anyone got a update having been to a doctor or had tests? It’s happened to me one or twice over the years but again today I’ve been cleaning all day some heavy lifting and I was fine I sat down after about a hour I got a sharp sore feeling ontop of my ring finger in the middle and it lasted about 30secs sore to touch and then the pain went and a bruise started to just appear where the pain was! So worried about it

I’ve had this happen twice before my menopause. I have been on hrt now for almost two years . I have had two to three cases of achenbachs syndrome happen in the past week and it’s really painful and stops me being able to pick up small objects.
There doesn’t seem to be a treatment, but it’s happening more and more frequently and easily .
I’m pleased I’ve read other people’s experiences as I though something more sinister was going on.
A bit of research indicates it may be due to low Estrogen or arthritis .... I don’t know. Does anyone know what might help prevent further attacks ?

Oh my gosh - I had this the other day! Sudden pain in my thumb, then a massive bruise!
Bruising & pain in thumb has gone, now have arm pain - did anyone else suffer with this afterwards???

I have it too! I was searching to see if there are any long-term consequences because it's happening quite often in my right forefinger. I have Raynaud's as well and wonder if there might be a connection. I'm also starting with Sjogren's symptoms (currently diagnosed with Sicca) and have noticed discussions in SS groups mentioning Achenbachs. My finger is cold and numb for a few days after a bleed and I'm a bit worried about the repeated interruption to blood flow. Does any of this resonate with anyone? I did read a paper on the subject which was nearly all descriptive, and it's most common in middle-aged+ women and in the 2nd and 3rd digits of the right hand. Don't think they analysed whether that was dominant hand.

I have had Achenbach's syndrome for years on and off. It normally only affects either the middle or ring finger on my right hand. However, a couple of weeks ago, I had an 'attack' on my left ring finger. First time for everything..........

I have previously reported it to my GP without a lot of interest from the 'other side of the table'. This time, I took pictures of the instance and will be taking those to the GP with me!

As I have been told in the past, you should consider going to see your GP and discuss it, as there are other vascular conditions that can give similar symptoms.

Unfortunately, there is not a lot that can be done with Achenbach's, as so little is known about it in the medical world. I normally just reside to pain killers and ice to reduce the swelling.....

I agree with the lack of interest from the other side of the table. Since I posted previously, I've found a few other women who get this. I'd just like to know what are the implications of a big bleed (I've had one that ended up staining most of my palm with blood) if you are somewhere where the normal "first aid" is impossible. I've had a bleed going through an airport for example where it would have been really difficult if I'd been on my own - ice and elevation entirely out of the question.

I’m glad I found this thread. I had my first ever ‘episode’ last night of what I assume (from Google!) is achenbach. My right index finger tip suddenly had a nasty pain (thought I’d been bitten or stung by something sinister!) then it went numb then the bruising came out. Pic attached how it looks this morning, still a little numb and colder to the touch than the rest of my fingers. Sounds like from the other responses no point raising it with a GP. I was wondering if it had anything to do with being pregnant? I’m 21+2 with my first and I’m 40 so an ‘older’ mum. Probably not but since I’d not had it before the thought crossed my mind.

Pic

@Lousecarlet - from a website: "Achenbach syndrome is a rare, self-limiting condition, which causes paroxysmal bruising in the hand or fingers. Etiology [the cause] is still unknown."

I hope it has nothing to do with being pregnant. I'm male and had it on and off for years

Ah thanks @Titch2k6 I’m just being paranoid as it’s my first pregnancy and no idea what on earth is happening most days!
Looks pretty much like that’s what I’ve had then. Hopefully it won’t happen too often!

I get this too, didn’t know it was a thing.

Ah 83% of people who suffer fromit ate women. That will be why not much is known about it.

• are women, not ate women!

I’ve had this for years in hands and feet and it seems to be triggered occasionally by using hand tools or machines that vibrate. I had one last week that stained my toe and another on my sole that hurt to walk on.
I’m intrigued that it might be linked with Sjögren’s syndrome as I have self diagnosed sicca syndrome and positive autoimmune antibodies.
I think the menopause has made it worse so perhaps the low estrogen link applies too. There doesn’t seem to be any treatment and it doesn’t seem sinister but I bet it is really common.

Me too, this tread has made me feel so much better! All in it together

Just catching up with the thread.......

Came across this on a medical site and hopefully can put people's minds at ease somewhat. I have copied this directly as it has some info in relation to the post by TopOfTheCliff:

Achenbach’s syndrome, also known as ‘paroxysmal finger haematoma’ is a rare and benign clinical condition of unknown aetiology, which results in the sudden onset of pain and swelling along with bruising, mostly on the palmar aspects of fingers and hands. Although the most commonly affected anatomical site is the volar aspects of the fingers, there are occasional reports involving the palms, soles or toes. It is clearly predominant in women (7:1) in their fifth decade of life with a median age of 50 years. The subdermal bleeding usually stops spontaneously and although the patient’s signs and symptoms often disappear within a few days without treatment, relapse can occur in a few cases. The main differential diagnosis of Achenbach’s syndrome includes Raynaud’s syndrome, ischaemic vasculopathy of the limbs, Buerger’s disease, acrocyanosis, Gardner-Diamond syndrome, collagen diseases and Chilblains disease, among others. The diagnosis is mainly clinical and there is no specific prevention and treatment for this benign condition. Therefore, prompt diagnosis avoids unnecessary invasive procedures and may relieve patient anxiety.

Just with regards to the stats posted above, I am male (as previously stated in the thread) and have had this on and off since I was in my early 30's. The pictures I've attached shows my left hand last week.....