Erythromelalgia is a very rare uncomfortable disorder that is difficult to treat and generally impacts the feet and also the hands. It is described by the symptoms of redness, warmness along with burning discomfort. The episodes of this disorder are intermittent and last anywhere from minutes to days. Episodes will most likely start with a mild itchiness, but after that progress to extreme pain and the burning discomfort. The feet or hands will become warmer, tender as well as bloated in addition to look a red colour. The attacks are very disabling and will have a significant influence on the patient with an impact on the standard of living and also the ability to perform many of the common functions of daily life.
There's two categories of erythromelalgia. There is the primary type which is likely to impact younger people and is most probably because of a inherited genetic trait that will make nerve cells more excitable. The secondary type tends to have an impact on older individuals and it is because of an underpinning condition including diabetes, gout, some blood disorders or as a adverse affect to some drugs. There are a number of disorders which resemble erythromelalgia and physicians will likely need to distinguish it from them as part of the examination. Included in this are conditions like persistent pain problems, Raynauds along with burning feet symptoms.
The management of erythromelalgia is challenging because there is no one therapy that seems to assist every person and also the reaction to medication is very diverse between individuals. The main approach will be to prevent circumstances which bring about an episode for example a warm bath, environment triggers or certain foods. Many people with it will find relief from cooling down with the aid of an air conditioner along with cooling skin gels. A few do turn to immersion of the feet or hands in icy water but this isn't advised as it can cause moisture accumulation in the skin and even chilblains and they might possibly develop a secondary bacterial infection.
With the second variety of erythromelalgia, management is generally directed at treatments for the underpinning medical condition, and this is frequently very useful. For the primary variety of erythromelalgia the treating of the pain sensation is commonly much more difficult with the reaction to different medications being different among individuals. Often anti-inflammatory drugs are tried, but they are frequently not helpful. Medicine which hinder the channels in the nerve fibres that make the nerves over active are frequently tried and these do often help some people. The anticonvulsant prescription drugs which include gabapentin could help quite a few. Usually there are some topical cream drugs that a few find effective for example capsaicin. In the toughest cases sympathetic nerve blocks or a sympathectomy which does involve surgery on the back may be carried out. Nevertheless, the outcomes of surgery are mixed. Because the pain is severe and the condition is difficult to handle and has such an impact on the everyday life of those who have erythromelalgia it is strongly recommended that all those with erythromelalgia get a assessment with a pain management professional and also clinical psychologists to assist them to deal with the symptoms and learn the strategies which have been good for dealing with the pain.
