Erythromelalgia - damage to vessels of a neurogenic nature

Erythromelalgia is a vascular and tissue lesion that is neurogenic in nature, manifested primarily in the hands and feet.

Mitchell's disease occurs in middle-aged people. It manifests itself in the form of sharp severe pains, swelling and redness.

The second name of the disease was received in honor of the scientist, who described his symptoms.

Causes and mechanism of the disease development

The primary and secondary forms of the disease course differ. The first, acting as an independent disease, develops separately.

Secondary arises as a symptom of some other diseases:

• multiple sclerosis;
• myxedema;
• osteochondrosis;
• hypertension;
• consequences of injuries and frostbite;
• blood disease.

Secondary erythromelalgia develops as one of the symptoms of another disease on which its course and treatment depends.

Primary itself arises by itself, and its causes are not yet established, at this stage of the development of medicine, experts advance several versions:

1. The first says that the disease is as a consequence of peripheral neuritis .
2. The second that the disease has is the spinal origin of , and develops as a result of cardinal inversion of the gray matter of the spinal brain, resulting in the weakening of the vasomotor fibers. In favor of this version says the presence of structural changes in the spinal cord in a significant part of the diseased.
3. The third theory links the disease to various malfunctions in the sympathetic nervous system or the pathologies of the blood vessel walls.
4. The fourth version speaks about the influence of the personality features of the personality. Thus, Mitchell's disease often occurs in children prone to psychosis.

So far, none of the versions is recognized by the scientific community, and research continues to this day.

During attacks in the vessels of the hands and feet gets a large flow of blood, which does not fit into the volume of the capillaries. In the vessels that are located in these places, there are a large number of receptors, and with a sudden expansion of the capillaries, the receptors are irritated, causing pain, redness and fever.

Symptoms and Diagnostics

The main symptom of erythromelalgia is pain in the lower part of the arms and legs. As a rule, it appears suddenly, in the form of a strong and burning attack. When heated, for example, in the heat, it increases, as during the vertical position of the body.

Cooling or horizontal position may result in relief. Seizures can appear on the ears or on the entire face. The rest of the time the patient feels completely healthy.

Other symptoms of Mitchell syndrome are:

• edema of the limbs;
• symmetry of the lesion;
• appearance of urticaria rash;
• temperature increase in the lesion site;
• sweating in the limbs;
• redness of the feet and palms of the feet, a violation of their sensitivity.

At the beginning of the development of the disease, attacks of pain appear only in the evening and at night, but in the absence of treatment, can last for a day, with the distribution zone gradually increasing.

If the disease is started, it can lead to the death of the tissues of the extremities, thickening of the fingers, opacity and brittle nails, as well as thickening and atrophying of the outer layer of the skin.

With secondary erythromelalgia, symptoms are less pronounced, changes in tissues occur to a lesser extent.

The diagnosis of the disease is based on the collection of anamnesis and analysis of the clinical picture, which includes a number of symptoms:

• presence of pulsating pain, lasting for several minutes or several days;
• duration of attacks and their intensity;
• time of attack in accordance with the day and the period of the year, the position of the limb, the temperature of the environment and other factors;
• does the pain subsiding after applying a cold compress, walking on snow or wet sand;
• the place of origin of the original pain and its further spread;
• symmetry of the disease, manifested in development on both arms or legs;
• external changes in the form of edema, excessive sweating, blue skin and others;
• development of thickening on the nails and exfoliation of the skin, the appearance of cracks on it.

Medical care

Treatment of erythromelalgia is performed by a specialist - neurologist.

Therapy includes a whole range of tools and methods, which includes the use of medications, physiotherapy and surgery, and in the secondary form - the elimination of the underlying disease.

It should be noted that to date the disease is not completely cured, the effect will be only temporary.

Drug treatment includes the administration of drugs with different routes of action:

• analgesics;
• antihistamines;
• of vasoconstrictor;
• corticosteroids;
• vitamins;
• calcium salts.

With severe pain, novocain blockades and injections of corticosteroids are prescribed.

Physiotherapy methods allow to increase the regulation of the vascular wall tone by the nervous system. In parallel, they contribute to reducing and even eliminating the symptoms of the disease.

The main physiotherapeutic means are baths and baths with chilled or even cold water for 5 to 10 minutes, they can be simple or with various additives( radon, salty, aromatic).

Baths show a temperature, chemical and mechanical effect on the affected areas, slow down the frequency of heart contractions, reduce pain, strengthen metabolic processes, inhibition processes in the cerebral cortex. Use them is recommended daily for 10-14 days depending on the species.

It also uses hardening with water or air, and reflexotherapy.

If traditional methods of treatment do not bring relief, the doctor prescribes surgery: sympathectomy, during which part of the nerve is removed. The operation is performed under general anesthesia, it can be endoscopic or open.

Treatment of erythromelalgia with folk methods allows to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, increase their tone and to normalize the pressure. Use alcohol tincture of hawthorn or broth of its berries with honey, applied daily in the form of a course of 10-14 days.

It is also recommended to use garlic oil, which is applied at the rate of 3 months, and blue iodine.

Preventive measures

Preventive measures are problematic, because the exact causes of the disease are not known. In order to reduce possible risks, several rules should be observed:

• avoid places where there is a very high temperature, this applies to both saunas and baths, and countries with hot climates;
• get rid of bad habits;
• to avoid work that causes muscle overstrain and increased blood circulation;
• avoid injuries and frostbite of the hands and feet.

Erythromelalgia is infrequent, but it is not yet possible to clearly define the risk group, so the best way to avoid this disease is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and attentive attitude to your body, allowing you to notice the first symptoms of an unusual disease.