Resolved question:
My knuckle area on my left hand has been swollen and itching for days now and i'm not sure what it is and I am beginning to feel weaker each day.
Details about me:
Im 20 years old patientold, smoke daily and have had several operations for burn related skin grafts
The area feels solid to touch and is swollen directly on my knuckle
It's very itchy and the area appears to be red on swollen (this was prior to itching)
The itching has been getting progressively worse and more noticeable. It went from intermittent itching to an almost constant itch
My joints are quite painful at the moment and it's getting progressively more noticeable
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Dermatologist
Hello
Thanks for your query at DoctorSpring.com. I can understand your concern.
You seem to be having a more complex issue related to the joints than just a simple skin concern. Swelling and pain in joints generally pinpoint to a connective tissue disease which is related to disease of skin and joints.
I would recommend visiting a dermatologist who can examine you thoroughly and also call for the required investigations and then treating you for the concern.
Meanwhile you can take an anti histamine like claritin to help you with the itching. However the redness and swelling would require oral prescription based medications that can be given by your doctor.
Please let me know if you have any queries. Take care
Hello,
The thing is when I feel the area it actually feels like there is a solid structure or mass under my skin in between the joints that partially obstructs the gaps between the knuckles. There is also pain associated with pressing the area and a numbness like sensation when moving the specific joint which seems to radiate from the knuckle joint which is effected.
I am still wondering if what I've described fits within the remit of dermatology or might it be something else? I'd like to know what to roughly expect before going to my GP so i'm not in for suprises but i'd prefer it to be realistic as well.
- Thank you,
Omar Lowe
Hello
Thanks for your reply.
What you describe would be a rheumatology concern. Rheumatology is a disease of joints. As I mentioned we are dealing here with a connective tissue disease, i would suspect a possibility of rheumatoid arthritis. But it would be best for your doctor to first examine you and then give an opinion regarding what it really is.
Take care