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Itching Burning Feet & Hands

In late October in 2004 I started having itching and burning on the tops of my feet and hands.
The symptoms are worse at night and cause me to lose a lot of sleep. The only relief of these symptoms is to soak my extremities in cold water. When I take warm or hot showers it makes the symptoms worse. The symptoms went away in mid-March 2005. They reappeared in late October of 2005 and continued until mid-March 2006. I did not have the problem in October 2006. I thought it was the end of it. But it is now the first week of Novemeber 2007 and the itching and burning feet and hands are back. When I first had the symptoms in 2004 I saw my family doctor, a neurologist, a rheumatologist, a podiatrist, and a dermatologist. None of these doctors were able to give me a diagnosis or a treatment. I now suspect that since it happens at the same time of year, that it may be allergy related. What specialist should I consult about this problem and what diagnostic test should I be having?
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Avatar universal
I have been having the same problem the last couple weeks a the best way I can describe it is my feet and hands itch like crazy but when I scratch them they inturn, burn. It is very painful and they are very painful to the touch, if I bump my feet on anything it feels like needles are going in them (and the same with my hands). Any help anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.
Helpful - 0
1355118 tn?1298564879
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi, welcome to the forum, your symptoms are suggestive of burning feet syndrome. Burning limbs can be seen due to compartmental syndrome i.e. due to high pressure in the limbs will entrap the nerves and can cause burning sensation. Even deficiency of vitamin B12 can also cause such symptoms (get Vit B12 level). It can also be seen in patients with atopic or allergic dermatitis (esp. associated with itching). It is usually seen secondary to exposure to allergen and subsequent reaction is mediated by IgE antibodies. Hence, elevated serum IgE levels can indicate allergy.

Atopic dermatitis can be treated by Anti-histamines with appropriate topical steroids against prescription will help to alleviate the condition. Try using emollients or moisturizing creams. Identify and avoid the triggering factor which you been exposed to recently. I suggest you to consult physician for evaluation and treatment with Vitamin B12. Take care and regards.
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Avatar universal
help me.  i m a guy.  and i have the same symptom.  My hands and feets are itches.   Seem like the hands itches more then the feet.  but yes itches very much.  Please tell me what med u took to take the root out..  cuz i went to my family doc and derm doc.  they just said i have allergy and make me take allegra at day time and benadryl at nite time.  it helps but it doesnt go away.  the moment i stop taking the med.  its very itching.  please help me.

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Avatar universal
HI, It has taken me a long time to figure out what causes this as i have suffered for a long time but it appears to be connected to oestrogen and progesterone deficiency. As once i was eventually diagnosed and put on HRT the itching went away for good (thank god). As i was getting extreme hands and feet itching every couple of weeks, it was unbearable.
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Avatar universal
IT IS NOT ALLERGIES,  please look up "erythromelalgia"

it is very rare and few doctors are familiar with it.

it took me 4 different doctors and hunderds of dollars in co pays and creams to hear about this.

you must be proactive and call doctors offices until you find one that knows about this rare disease.  it is real, it is painful and you are not alone.  

good luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
IT IS NOT ALLERGIES,  please look up "erythromelalgia"

it is very rare and few doctors are familiar with it.

it took me 4 different doctors and hunderds of dollars in co pays and creams to hear about this.

you must be proactive and call doctors offices until you find one that knows about this rare disease.  it is real, it is painful and you are not alone.  

good luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No, I don't wear wool. Because of the itching and the relief from having my hands and feet stay cold, I wear no socks and open toed shoes and I wear no gloves. I went to an allergy specialist and he's not sure, but he thinks it could be hives brought on by some type of physical allergy (maybe the cold weather). I don't get any redness or rash, but he said sometimes you can have hives without redness or rash. He has prescribed xyzal(an antihistamine) and it seems to be doing the trick. But, I not only want to treat the symptoms, I want to get to the root of what is causing this problem.
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Avatar universal
this may sound crazy- but do you wear wool due to the cold weather?  wool socks or gloves?
I am highly allergic to wool and there's so much around in the winter it is crazy- even shopping can be a pain because the wool in sweaters, coats, blankets...its hard to look for clothing and not touch it before you read the label....
silly thought- but thought I should share,,,
Helpful - 0
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