Hello All I’ve got Raynauds - started having symptoms last winter, just before I got my ms diagnosis at Easter. I’ve not mentioned it to the Dr - so far I’ve had white fingers which wouldn’t heat on just a couple of occasions, but to date I’ve kept myself wrapped up & always go out with 2 pairs of gloves & 2 pairs of socks! Dr Google did tell me (don’t shout!) that secondary Raynauds can come along hand in hand with other autoimmune diseases. I wanted to know if anyone else has this, and whether it’s something I should mention to the dr? I’ve not paid too much attention to it to date, but with Winter coming on, I didn’t know whether there were any extra measures I should be taking? As ever, thanks for taking time to read the post Jane xxx
Jane, Yes, Raynaurds is another auto-immune symptom. Many of us on here have it. Even in the summer l often need to wear gloves when out on my scooter. Not a good look with shorts/suntop. My fingers go white then dead looking. And very painful when they start to ‘thaw’. l have tried heated gloves in the winter. They contain a battery. Also, you can get small hand warmers they you can re-use. l have also some thick ‘heat holder’ tights - which l shall be wearing when the weather starts to freeze. And fleecy lined waterproof trousers. Dogs still need to go out everyday - whatever the weather. And it is cold sat on a scooter.
Raynaurds is a pre-cursor to MS - as is Shingles.
I have a friend with Raynauds, she invests well in good gloves 
She doesn’t have MS tho 
Sonia x
Hi Jane I too have raynauds, my doctor recently prescribed nifedinpine. Ive only been taking it two weeks and as yet have seen no difference but I suppose like many things it takes time to work through your system. I only have to go out to the garage & my hands & feet go white & like spacejacket says very painful when returning to normal. I would deffinatley mention it to your gp rather than suffer in silence. Sue x
Hi Jane,
Yes I have MS and Raynauds - typing this with fingerless gloves on and thick British made Uggs!
I take nifedipine 3x per day in the Winter like Sue. Seems to work for me.
(alcohol dilates your blood vessels too but cannot be prescribed)
Keep warm.
Jen x
Hello Jane. I’ve just recently been diagnosed with MS. In 2007 I was diagnosed with Psoriatic arthritis, not long after my rheumatologist told me I also had a type of raynards. My hands and feet are nearly always cold even now in my flat with central heating on I’m wearing two pairs of socks. I’m always running my hands under the hot tap. I don’t take any medication for it, just make sure I keep myself warm. Good luck to you.
Hello Everyone. Thank you for your replies. As ever, all your replies make me feel I have company on my ms journey. I’m off to purchase ‘heat holders’ tights, thick socks, arctic gloves & enough woolies to put Ernest Shackleton to shame! I will tell my dr on next visit Thank you Jane xxx
I too have Raynauds. Drives me potty at times but yes I believe its connected to the m.s. although my friend has it quite bad but no other auto immune disease x
I’ve both Raynaurds & RRMS (lucky me!) Good news is that the raynauds has improved hugly over the years (as my GP said it would) and to be honest as long as I make sure I’m wearing enough layers it is a less of an inconvenience now. Twenty five years ago I was told that keeping hot potatoes in my pockets was a good way to keep my hands warm- times have moved on, thank god!
l too have psoriasis - which is another auto-immune. lt has been much better now my vitd3 levels are higher. You can use the vitd3 softgels as a treatment. Just make a little hole in them and squeeze the oil straight onto the skin. Argan Oil and Coconut Oil is also good.
Hi Jane,
MS is only presumed to be autoimmune; no proof. So although Reynaud’s is it does not mean the susceptibility of getting another autoimmune if you already have one; which seems to be fact should not have an MS association.
Here are a couple of articles in New Pathways about Reynaud’s and MS http://www.ms-uk.org/search?cx=006358928245428888083%3Ahqxishasr0q&cof=FORID%3A9&sa=Go&q=raynauds
Hi Jane
I posted this to Sacejacket so thought you might be interested too.
My son has Raynauds and when things get really bad and the heated gloves etc etc aren’t enough to warm him he puts my hairdryer on warm and warms his hands and feet. He also puts the hairdryer under his bedding for 5mins before he gets into bed so that it is cosy and warm when he gets into bed.
Shazzie xx
[quote=“Blossom”]
Hello Jane. I’ve just recently been diagnosed with MS. In 2007 I was diagnosed with Psoriatic arthritis, not long after my rheumatologist told me I also had a type of raynards. My hands and feet are nearly always cold even now in my flat with central heating on I’m wearing two pairs of socks. I’m always running my hands under the hot tap. I don’t take any medication for it, just make sure I keep myself warm. Good luck to you.
[/quote] I’ve been in to town with my daughter today…stayed a bit too long. Now got two pairs of socks on and my feet still freezing. When I’ve had something to eat I’m putting my feet in a bowl of bubbly warm water.
Just a warning guys to be really carefully using warm water on cold hands and feet to re warm - especially feet - as it can cause terribly painful chilblains… Try to keep warm and rewarm in other ways. Easier said than done I know. Love Lilly xxx
Your quite right Lilly I promise its not too hot…just very soothing.
Chilblains are not fun!! Any broken skin, especially on the feet, can take ages to heel too so just a friendly warning!!! I think rapidly heating up cold extremities can cause these…! Lilly xxx
Thank you for all your comments, and Anon to your link to the New Pathways articles. Lots of good suggestions. I already have an electric blanket so night times are warm, but a hairdryer’s a good idea. I hadn’t thought about the likelihood of getting chilblains, so the warning will be well heeded. Thanks everyone Jane xxx
I was diagnosed with Raynauds when I was an infant, barely 6 months old. It never apparently caused me any problems as a kid, but in my late teen years and especially in my 20’s, it’s snowballed into a giant mess. Just today, I went to the neurologist about the annoyingly insane nerve twitching I’ve had for the last couple of years that keep getting worse and driving me up the wall. I have an MRI scheduled for the 16th of April and a follow-up on May 6th. The possibility is MS. Armed with that possibility, yet unconfirmed at present, I’ve milled about doing my own research into Raynauds and MS. It led me here.
I’ve done research onj Raynauds bit by bit over the years and I keep learning new things, like the fact that it’s an auto-immune disease itself, which is why about 80% of any open wounds I get end up infected, despite my best efforts at disinfecting, hand-washing, and precise care of said wounds. Like right now, just yesterday, my cat sliced my left index finger open. I washed my hands straight away and used a liquid bandaid on it, which has antiseptic in it, Stings like crazy. Yet, today, it’s already showing signs of getting infected. I nearly chopped the end of my finger off last summer with a large survival knife. It got infected, a month later, I was washing my car and cut my thumb open, that also got infected, and seeing the doctor then was when I learned about Raynauds being an auto-immune issue.
I also already have rhumatoid arthritis in several joints and carple tunnel in both hands, worse in my right than left. I get the classic vasospastic attacks, just got over one in my feet, actually. And I also have vasovagal syncope. I found this out when I started passing out from laughing about 3 years ago.
I’m still learning and I would be greatful for all the information anyone can provide me with.
At present, I’m unsure what to feel armed with the knowledge of the possibility that I might have MS. Over the next few weeks, I hope to learn much more about MS and Raynauds as a whole. I’m trying to keep myself from reacting as if it’s been confirmed, but I’m still feeling shock from the fact that it could very well be MS. I tend to overthink a lot.
But today’s research brought me here to this site and I hope to find many things, and learn about other individuals’ experiences and hopefully cope with my own.