Having cold hands and feet is a common problem with conditions likefibromyalgia(FMS),chronic fatigue syndrome(ME/CFS),and Raynaud’s syndrome.
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What Is Raynaud’s Syndrome?
InRaynaud’s syndrome, the blood vessels constrict more than they should, which reduces blood flow.That not only makes your extremities cold, it also makes them difficult to warm up. The most commonly affected body parts are the fingers and toes, but your lips, nose, ear lobes, knees, and nipples may also be involved.
Raynaud’s isn’t all about the cold, though. The diminished blood flow can cause pain in the affected areas, and it may also make the skin appear blueish. Skin ulcers (sores) can occur as well since low blood flow can damage your tissues and impair healing.
For some people, Raynaud’s syndrome is a primary condition that doesn’t accompany another illness. And sometimes it’s a secondary condition that results from another illness.
Raynaud’s is also common inlupus,rheumatoid arthritis, andSjögren’s disease.
We don’t yet know what causes Raynaud’s syndrome and there is no cure.
Diagnosing Raynaud’s Syndrome
A Raynaud’s syndrome diagnosis is generally based on symptoms and a physical exam. However, your healthcare provider may also order a cold stimulation test for you, in which heat sensors will record the temperature of your fingers before and after you soak them in cold water.
Your healthcare provider may also consider the possibility that you could have secondary Raynaud’s syndrome.
And since FMS and ME/CFS can also causecold fingersand toes, you might have tests that are used as part of thediagnosis of FMSor part of theME/CFS diagnostic process, if your history and physical exam suggest that you could have one of these conditions.
They include:
Treating and Managing Raynaud’s Syndrome
Medical treatment options include:
Some alternative treatments, including biofeedback and supplementation with gingko or fish oil, have been recommended for treating Raynaud’s. However, a 2009 review of available research found that they did not make a significant difference.
Raynaud’s in Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Raynaud’s symptoms may aggravate certain symptoms of FMS and ME/CFS, which often involvetemperature sensitivity. Exposure to cold temperature can cause pain for someone with FMS/ME/CFS and may, in some cases, trigger a symptom flare.That makes it especially important to prevent Raynaud’s symptoms in those patients.
While treatments for Raynaud’s and FMS/ME/CFS are different, lifestyle changes such as not smoking, managing stress, and gentle exercise may help alleviate symptoms of all those conditions.
If you suspect you have Raynaud’s syndrome, be sure to bring it up with your healthcare provider so you can be properly diagnosed and treated.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Scolnik M, Vasta B, Hart DJ, Shipley JA, Mchugh NJ, Pauling JD.Symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) in fibromyalgia syndrome are similar to those reported in primary RP despite differences in objective assessment of digital microvascular function and morphology.Rheumatol Int. 2016;36(10):1371-7. doi:10.1007/s00296-016-3483-6Rowe PC, Underhill RA, Friedman KJ, et al.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis and management in young people: a primer.Front Pediatr. 2017;5:121. doi:10.3389/fped.2017.00121Cleveland Clinic.Cold hands.Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library.Raynaud’s phenomenon.Wigley FM.Patient education: Raynaud phenomenon (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.MedlinePlus.Raynaud’s disease.National Institutes of Health (NIAMSD).Raynaud’s phenomenon.National Institutes of Health (NHLBI).Raynaud’s.Scolnik M, Vasta B, Hart DJ, Shipley JA, McHugh NJ, Pauling JD.Symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) in fibromyalgia syndrome are similar to those reported in primary RP despite differences in objective assessment of digital microvascular function and morphology.Rheumatol Int.2016 Oct;36(10):1371-7. doi: 10.1007/s00296-016-3483-6. PMID: 27136918; PMCID: PMC5020104.MedlinePlus.Fibromyalgia.Additional ReadingSmith NL. Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy. 2004;18(4):31-45.Serotonin mechanisms in pain and functional syndrome: management implications in comorbid fibromyalgia, headache, and irritable bowel syndrome - case study and discussion.Wigley FM.Patient information: Raynaud phenomenonUpToDate.com.Malenfant D, Catton M, Pope JE. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2009 Jul;48(7):791-5.the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon: a literature review and meta-analysis.Pope JE. Drugs. 2007;67(4):517-25.The diagnosis and treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon: a practical approach.Staud R. Future rheumatology. 2008 Oct 1;3(5):475-483.Heart rate variability as a biomarker of fibromyalgia syndrome.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Scolnik M, Vasta B, Hart DJ, Shipley JA, Mchugh NJ, Pauling JD.Symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) in fibromyalgia syndrome are similar to those reported in primary RP despite differences in objective assessment of digital microvascular function and morphology.Rheumatol Int. 2016;36(10):1371-7. doi:10.1007/s00296-016-3483-6Rowe PC, Underhill RA, Friedman KJ, et al.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis and management in young people: a primer.Front Pediatr. 2017;5:121. doi:10.3389/fped.2017.00121Cleveland Clinic.Cold hands.Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library.Raynaud’s phenomenon.Wigley FM.Patient education: Raynaud phenomenon (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.MedlinePlus.Raynaud’s disease.National Institutes of Health (NIAMSD).Raynaud’s phenomenon.National Institutes of Health (NHLBI).Raynaud’s.Scolnik M, Vasta B, Hart DJ, Shipley JA, McHugh NJ, Pauling JD.Symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) in fibromyalgia syndrome are similar to those reported in primary RP despite differences in objective assessment of digital microvascular function and morphology.Rheumatol Int.2016 Oct;36(10):1371-7. doi: 10.1007/s00296-016-3483-6. PMID: 27136918; PMCID: PMC5020104.MedlinePlus.Fibromyalgia.Additional ReadingSmith NL. Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy. 2004;18(4):31-45.Serotonin mechanisms in pain and functional syndrome: management implications in comorbid fibromyalgia, headache, and irritable bowel syndrome - case study and discussion.Wigley FM.Patient information: Raynaud phenomenonUpToDate.com.Malenfant D, Catton M, Pope JE. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2009 Jul;48(7):791-5.the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon: a literature review and meta-analysis.Pope JE. Drugs. 2007;67(4):517-25.The diagnosis and treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon: a practical approach.Staud R. Future rheumatology. 2008 Oct 1;3(5):475-483.Heart rate variability as a biomarker of fibromyalgia syndrome.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Scolnik M, Vasta B, Hart DJ, Shipley JA, Mchugh NJ, Pauling JD.Symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) in fibromyalgia syndrome are similar to those reported in primary RP despite differences in objective assessment of digital microvascular function and morphology.Rheumatol Int. 2016;36(10):1371-7. doi:10.1007/s00296-016-3483-6Rowe PC, Underhill RA, Friedman KJ, et al.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis and management in young people: a primer.Front Pediatr. 2017;5:121. doi:10.3389/fped.2017.00121Cleveland Clinic.Cold hands.Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library.Raynaud’s phenomenon.Wigley FM.Patient education: Raynaud phenomenon (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.MedlinePlus.Raynaud’s disease.National Institutes of Health (NIAMSD).Raynaud’s phenomenon.National Institutes of Health (NHLBI).Raynaud’s.Scolnik M, Vasta B, Hart DJ, Shipley JA, McHugh NJ, Pauling JD.Symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) in fibromyalgia syndrome are similar to those reported in primary RP despite differences in objective assessment of digital microvascular function and morphology.Rheumatol Int.2016 Oct;36(10):1371-7. doi: 10.1007/s00296-016-3483-6. PMID: 27136918; PMCID: PMC5020104.MedlinePlus.Fibromyalgia.
Scolnik M, Vasta B, Hart DJ, Shipley JA, Mchugh NJ, Pauling JD.Symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) in fibromyalgia syndrome are similar to those reported in primary RP despite differences in objective assessment of digital microvascular function and morphology.Rheumatol Int. 2016;36(10):1371-7. doi:10.1007/s00296-016-3483-6
Rowe PC, Underhill RA, Friedman KJ, et al.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis and management in young people: a primer.Front Pediatr. 2017;5:121. doi:10.3389/fped.2017.00121
Cleveland Clinic.Cold hands.
Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library.Raynaud’s phenomenon.
Wigley FM.Patient education: Raynaud phenomenon (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.
MedlinePlus.Raynaud’s disease.
National Institutes of Health (NIAMSD).Raynaud’s phenomenon.
National Institutes of Health (NHLBI).Raynaud’s.
Scolnik M, Vasta B, Hart DJ, Shipley JA, McHugh NJ, Pauling JD.Symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) in fibromyalgia syndrome are similar to those reported in primary RP despite differences in objective assessment of digital microvascular function and morphology.Rheumatol Int.2016 Oct;36(10):1371-7. doi: 10.1007/s00296-016-3483-6. PMID: 27136918; PMCID: PMC5020104.
MedlinePlus.Fibromyalgia.
Smith NL. Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy. 2004;18(4):31-45.Serotonin mechanisms in pain and functional syndrome: management implications in comorbid fibromyalgia, headache, and irritable bowel syndrome - case study and discussion.Wigley FM.Patient information: Raynaud phenomenonUpToDate.com.Malenfant D, Catton M, Pope JE. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2009 Jul;48(7):791-5.the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon: a literature review and meta-analysis.Pope JE. Drugs. 2007;67(4):517-25.The diagnosis and treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon: a practical approach.Staud R. Future rheumatology. 2008 Oct 1;3(5):475-483.Heart rate variability as a biomarker of fibromyalgia syndrome.
Smith NL. Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy. 2004;18(4):31-45.Serotonin mechanisms in pain and functional syndrome: management implications in comorbid fibromyalgia, headache, and irritable bowel syndrome - case study and discussion.
Wigley FM.Patient information: Raynaud phenomenonUpToDate.com.
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