Treating CIDP / Parasites / ERYTHROMELALGIA (red, burning feet and hands)

I should have stressed the point of my previous post-

I hope to see if I can reduce my dose of IVIG for my CIDP as my parasite infection should have had some effect on my immune systems ability to cope with the CIDP.

I must admit to being somewhat nervous about getting my dose of IVIG reduced as I spent 4 years not being able to walk with a CIDP related vascular dysfunction. The problem is called Erythromelalgia.

Erythromelalgia and Raynauds are the only two temperature related disorders. With Raynauds, the extremities turn cold and white or blueish when exposed to cold temperature.

In Erythromelalgia, the extremities turn red and warm when heated. The pain is often characterised as “burning” and are releived by cooling or elevation. For me, the pain was very bad. The redness generally affects the soles of the feet, or palms of the hands, or ears at first. It can eventually cover the whole body and affect the internal organs in a few cases. I was in the worst group.

About 50% of people with Erythromelalga have Raynaud’s as well.

The Erythromelalgia Association has a website that goes into the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder. The disorder is caused often by tissue destruction within the body. CIDP, MS, Sjogren’s, cancer, AIDS, and a large number of disorders can cause the problem. I had the first three on the list.

Best wishes,

Cal