I am a 34 year old Female EXACT same thing as you guys have. i'm 5'4 - 120 so its not like I'm out of shape. What is this. I have had this going on now for 7 or 8 years. Its getting worse. It it really embarassing. My hands are sooooo red. Sometimes they are extremely swollen also. (not all time) If I put them over my head they are a normal color. I have seen 2 arthritis dr.'s, 2 family dr.'s, a vascular surgeon. I was tested for reynauds (hands submerged in ice) and they ruled that out. My nose will also at times turn red. I am so frustrated that no one can figure out what this is. No medications seem to work. IVE TRIED EVERYTHING. If one more person asks me whats wrong with my hands Im going to loose it. I have very fair complextion so its very noticable.

Check on sites listing this symptom as common for people with celiac disease. They mention that going GLUTEN-FREE has helped them tremendously, although it takes a while for the diet to take effect. My friend is being investigated for celiac disease soon with a GI biopsy (stomach pains), and she is also having the burning, aching throbbing hands and feet. Her FP told her it was Raynaud's phenomenon. As I am in the healthcare industry, I poked around and have been seriously wondering if her extremity symptoms are secondary to celiac disease. Anyhow, hope this little blurb helps some of you... sounds frustrating. If you're desperate for a solution, going GLUTEN-FREE couldn't hurt to try.

... S.

i am 26 years old i just started to have with in the last two months very hot feet and hands when standing or walking. My nose will swell and get very very red as well as swelling in my hands. they blow up. my feet do not swell but are blochy red. im also very tired alot. my doc said it was "for the tingles only" LACK OF VITAMINE D. does anyone else have this?? Or know what it may be??

I just happen to come upon this forum while I was researching something completely different, and I couldn't believe that I was reading my exact symptoms! My g.p. is clueless, and my dermatologist was also stumped. I have not yet seen a rheumatologist. I am wondering if there is any connection between these symptoms and rosacea? I've formed this theory because when my hands and sometimes feet get this way it FEELS like when my rosacea flares in my face (like after drinking a few sips of red wine.) I mentioned this to my dermatologist who looked back at me as if i was totally absurd.

someone on this message board posted this disease, and it seems to fit what we are all experiencing...i know mine is triggered immediately by beer. best of luck to us all.

O.M.G Listen to the like minded symptoms and you have to wonder what it is that we are all suffering from?
If not RA then what the F@#@* is this disease!!!
I have had it with the Pain and the Prednisone and the Doctors Bull@#@*..
I am in PAIN 24/7 and they are with holding the truth from us..
Is it in processed foods and certain blood types are suffering or is it in the air in (Chem trails) I don't know I'm just in PAaaiinnn

It appears that what many here are suffering from is mild psoriatic arthritis possibly in conjunction witha mixed-connective tissue DISORDER--NOT MIXED CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASE. The swelling of the hands at the main joints along with the wrist is common. Swelling of the nose often occurs simultaneously. The ears and blood vessels along the cheekbone and the rear area of the jaw may feel hot and inflamed as well. The swelling of the nose is associated with an autoimmune response that leaves the periphery of the nasal cavity dry while blocking the inner cavity. You may feel stuffed up and experience extreme nasal dryness at once. Remeber that sinus cavities are connected to the ears and the vessels lining the rear jaw and cheekbone. All are likely to experience some discomfort and inflammation simultaneously. For instance, your nose may feel stiff.

As for the hands, it is more likely that swelling and redness occurs during the morning or night when immune activity is in flux. Do not search psoriatic arthritis for images without realizing that the cases you will likely view are of the most extreme cases. Mild psoriasis is often undiagnosed and misdiagnosed for many years, if ever. Because the symptoms can disappear only to reappear a few months down the line or manifest itself in other ways, such as persistent hair and sclap dryness, eye inflammation, etc. one may have trouble seeking out help or finding someone that can diagnose mild psoriasis. Without linking periods of different types of autoimmune reactivity you will be hard-pressed to find a doctor that can determine your condition without a biopsy.

Do many of you experience irregular cuticle growth, small cuts on your hands that take much longer than expected to heal, the appearance of skin on your hands that looks as if it will soon split apart, a large knuckle that is off-color or red even when the hands are not imflammed, and/or the presence of a cold sweat or cold sweat feeling when the hands are not inflammed or directly prior to inflammation?

If this is the case, it is likely worth your time to go to your dermatologist with all the autoimmune issues you have ever experienced written down, so as to present everything to the doctor. If you have not had a biopsy for psoriasis you should seriously consider it. If your hand swelling occurs during periods of intense work--not physical--or period of other stress, remember to leave yourself time so you can keep your body and mind as stable as possible, especially during the morning hours. Also, physical activity is very good for the swelling. It should subside following periods of exercise where blood flows to the central nervous system, helping circulation. Weight training is beneficial because it will help keep the hands active. You will never experience hand swelling when grasping dumbells of a manageable weight. Blood will circulate and actually flow away from the periphery following the workout, leaving your hands feeling refreshed. Good luck.

I am going through the same situation as many of you and I greatly sympathize. It is a terrible thing to live with. For years it has happened in a much milder form when I go out in the sun. Sunscreen helps but not completely. A few months ago I went to the allergist and learned I was allergic to things I would never has suspected. One was "pork," and the other was seafood. But he was not sure if it was one item of seafood or all. The other night I had shrimp and scallops which I have eaten periodically with no known problems. This time I began to have awful body pain the following day and expecially the problems in my hands and feet as you have described. Today I am in awful pain, this has been the worst. I had eaten some fresh salsa earlier and at breakfast some peanut butter smeared on my toast. I am suspecting the peanut butter and will have to play with this to find out. While I did not test positive for a milk allergy, I am super sensitive to all dairy products. The symptoms from the milk sensitivity are often just as bad if not worse than the true allergy. There is nothing you can do for a sensitivity I am told. However I do get some relief by taking a antihistamine. I would suggest you all try considering allergies as was suggested before. It could be anything as he and I have pointed out. For me, my lower back and tailbone also are affected. It is miserable and we all need to work together to figure this out.
Best wishes, Jerri

I have been suffering from swollend feet and more recently hands. They are so red and swollen it is embarassing. When it is summer and my feet are exposed, everyone comments on my feet and how painful they look. It is painful and I feel I cannot do the things in life that I want to do. I have never gotten a doctor to pain attention because they all say I look so healthy. My b/p is good, etc. My hands swell so badly I cannot wear my rings. I would love to find an answer or a doctor to care enough to find the problem

I am also searching for a diagnosis - have had red splotches on hands - burning, not really pain, for the past 5 years. Tops of hands get all red when I am using hands or if it is hot out. I do not think it is eczema. It does not itch & there is no swelling. I am on hrt for menopause, so I don't think it's that. My MD sent me to a dermatologist, who was of no help - she merely suggested using Dove soap. Any advice would be helpful.

I am a 64 y/o female with swollen, red, severly painful knuckles and the same joints above the toes. and also in both big toes, Severe pain sometimes like shooting pain, then the rest is quite bad achiness and is tender to touch the skin surface. I also have peripheral neuropathy. Have tried rest, ice packs, and naproxyn but no cure. Also have lots of food allergies,... just discovered strawberries with a skin itch. I have had these joint pains come and go, but lately mostly staying and sure would like to know what it is and what I can do. Just wanted to add my pain to the others above here. I have swelling between the knuckles and the toe/foot is swollen too. Wonder if that is synovial tissue infected or something. Hope someone has the answer.

It seems what many of you are experiencing is an allergic reaction. I have psoriatic arthritis and have been experiencing cold-induced urticaria (allergy to the cold). After jumping into cold water I had the following symptoms: swelling of hands and feet with redness and burning sensation, as well as hives over my legs, arms and buttocks.

Since that first episode, when cold, I get mild swelling of my hands and feet with sensation of burning. Sometimes I get the feeling of burning in my feet and slight swelling without cold now.

These symptoms are consistent with an allergic reaction (caused by a release of histamine in the body) and therefore an antihistimine should help the syptoms.

What the primary cause of the reaction could be, I don't really know, though there is some speculation about a link with psoriasis, and/or an allergy to gluten. Your guess is as good as mine.

Cheers.

I have red fingers, white knuckles. I wake with pain and redness. I can't make a tight fist. I drive a lot and it is painful to grip the steering wheel or use a round brush to do my hair. It's not in my feet(yet). I feel dizzy at times, can't catch my breath at times.

I've been to a rheumatologist who says it's possible I'm in beginning stages of lupis however the hand xrays and blood tests all came out ok. I don't believe him.

I am currently taking diclophenac which helps a little with the pain and swelling but I'm still in pain. If I have lupis, why am I not taking something that will help with deterioration of the joints?

I think my next visit will be to a medical intuative... what do I have to lose?

i am 17 years old and i have notices my hand swelling in morning walks to school they turn red and start to burn. i try to rub them to take away the pain althought it hurts i am becoming quite nervous because i am so young. through out the day my joints in my fingers start to have minor pain. i just dont know what it is! i am a little nervous to find out, IM SO YOUNG.

My 29 year old daughter has suffered from joint pain and swelling on and off for 8 years. Has been to numerous doctors, tests negative for RA, Lupus. Started allergy shots this year that seem to help a little,but sometimes pain is so bad, she can hardly walk. says she feels like the tin man in the wizard of oz, and she needs oiled. she has also now been suffering from cold sweats periodically. the latest diagnosis at a Lupus Clinic is Missed Connective Tissue disorder, which i guess is related to Lupus and Raynauds. She is now on plaquinal, which i understand is a drug they use to give malaria victims, but they say it will take several months to show any improvement? now she started having bruises appear on her legs and arms!