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Suggest Treatment For Symptoms Of Raynaud's Disease
Question: My friend has been experiencing a feeling of bugs under the skin and is sure he has some kind of rare parasite or some kind of mites he has been to three doctors and they don't look at what he shows them he has taken out of his skin. he also has swollen legs ,feet hands at times, experiences knives stabbing his feet, get white finger tips and toes and is always in pain. HE THINKS THE BUGS HAVE CONSOMED HIS BODY AND WILL PROBABLY KILL HIM.I myself think he has some neurological problems stemming from his neck surgery and his 2 hip replacements.. I am very worried as he has white and sometimes blue finger tips and toes. He has picked several holes in his hands and arms claiming there are bigs and pulls out what appears to be worm type matter. he thinks they are bugs like dermodex mites. what do you think.
Brief Answer:
Not a bug issue, a rheumatological cause may be considered.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I appreciate your concern about your friend.
Regarding his thoughts of bugs consuming him I must say that there is no basis for that. There are no such parasites which crawl under the skin, it is not possible.
That being said he the color changes of the fingertips you describe seems like what is called Raynaud's phenomenon, caused by vasospasms of blood vessels. It may be without a cause or may be in the setting of rheumatological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus etc. The fact that he has had joint issues as suggested by the surgeries of the neck and hips does indicate towards such a rheumatological condition. The swollen hands and feet may be in such conditions as well. So it should be investigated in that direction. Such conditions are commonly associated with peripheral neuropathy which may cause abnormal skin sensations leading him to those false beliefs of bugs under the skin (for which a psychiatric consult is necessary anyway).
I remain at your disposal for other question.
Not a bug issue, a rheumatological cause may be considered.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I appreciate your concern about your friend.
Regarding his thoughts of bugs consuming him I must say that there is no basis for that. There are no such parasites which crawl under the skin, it is not possible.
That being said he the color changes of the fingertips you describe seems like what is called Raynaud's phenomenon, caused by vasospasms of blood vessels. It may be without a cause or may be in the setting of rheumatological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus etc. The fact that he has had joint issues as suggested by the surgeries of the neck and hips does indicate towards such a rheumatological condition. The swollen hands and feet may be in such conditions as well. So it should be investigated in that direction. Such conditions are commonly associated with peripheral neuropathy which may cause abnormal skin sensations leading him to those false beliefs of bugs under the skin (for which a psychiatric consult is necessary anyway).
I remain at your disposal for other question.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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