Swollen veins in hands and wrists | Arthritis Information

  This is my first post in this forum.  I was diagnosed in January with polymyalgia rheumatica and have been on prednisone since January.  For the last month my hands and wrists have been so painful that i cant even open a door or a milk carton.  The veins in my hands are swollen and it feels like my fingers have broken blood vessels in them (like when you accidentally hit your hand or make a wrong movement and you break a blood vessel)  The doctor told me yesterday that he thinks I have RA in my hands.  Could anyone please tell me if you have had the swollen veins in your hands, fingers and wrists and if this truly part of RA?  I wouldnt be so worried except now he states he wants me to go to a hematologist/oncologist too because my wbc, crp and platelets are all mildly elevated.  Any help is appreciated.  

 

I'm sorry I dont suffer with swollen veins, just knuckles. Hopefully someone on the board may have experienced this and give you some advice. RE: your blood tests, I've just had a sinus operation and my wbc, crp etc bottomed out, the phlebotomist (blood chap) told me that those bloods can elevated too when you have an infection (I thought it was just an increase in these tests not a decrease that showed signs of infection... so confusing RA is adisease that effects tissues of the body. We often see people who have RA with digestive issues too. If your body is attacking itself you may get inflammation just about anywhere. My hands stay swollen and at times the veins have been swollen too. Just part of the raw deal we all got.Thank you Sarah and Wendy.  The reason I am confused about having RA in the hands and fingers is that the pain is more where the veins are swollen , rather than the joints, and there is no redness, only the swollen veins or I guess they are blood vessels.  Anyway thank you for your replies very much. A couple of questions? Is your blood pressure high? Have you had it checked? Also, have you had IV medications that may cause some phebitis, or inflammation of your vessels? Phlebitis can be painful.My blood pressure is low, but I have been told I have polymyalgia rheumatica which i supposedly caaused by swollen blood vessels.  However, I can't seem to find anyone in the polymyalgia group that has the blue painful popping veins like I am having in the hands.  No meds that I know that would cause it, just pred and supplements.    I have swollen blood vessels and have since this ra started in 2005. There are on my fingers, hands, and wrists. When they hurt the blood vessels seem more visible. I can't wear my wedding ring because of a blood vessel there that sticks out and makes it very sore to wear. OH and on my left ankle which bothers me the most. Only when I flare and am swollen do they appear big but even when not swollen they are very visible.Hey Paula - THank you Cindee and Pip.  Cindee, what did the doctor say about the veins?  Is this common?  Like you, when the veins are bigger is when my fingers wrists and hands hurt.  Anyway, thank you so much for both your responses.  I am really getting paranoid aftet the tests came back with the high counts.Hi, dr didn't say too much actually he just nodded his head and looked concern. That day I did have noticable swelling and I just figured it was common with ra. If your joint is swollen it[s going to push things around and make them look worse. I find if I wrap my hands in a heating pad it helps with the pain and swelling.
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