ERYTHROMELALGIA

Erythromelalgia (EM) is a rare disorder characterized by excessive blood flow to the hands and/or feet. This produces marked redness, heat and severe pain. EM is a serious, often disabling condition that can be difficult to treat, yet with persistence treatment can be effective in many cases. I know because I developed EM in 1995, when little was known and the few known treatments rarely worked. I was bedridden for 3 years until, by trial and error, I found therapies that worked for me. My condition today is 95% controlled, and I have little difficulty doing everyday activities unless the temperature rises above 80 degrees. I am highly active without pain.

EM stems from abnormal nerve and blood vessel activity. In this regard, EM is similar to migraine disorder. And just as in migraine, different people with EM respond to different treatments. Therefore there is no standard formula for success. What works for me or other people may or may not work for you. It is important to try treatments, prescription or nonprescription, but to do so slowly and carefully.

I have written these articles so that people with EM can make choices among therapies that have some evidence of being helpful. I believe that with thought and persistence, most people can obtain significant improvement of their EM.

The Medical Treatment of Erythromelalgia, updated January 3, 2012

What is Erythromelalgia?

Supplements and Herbs in the Treatment of Erythromelalgia

Partial List of Related Articles:

Cohen, JS. Erythromelalgia: New Theories and New Therapies. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Nov. 2000; 43:841-7.

Cohen, JS. High-Dose, Oral Magnesium in the Treatment of Chronic, Intractable Erythromelalgia. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, Feb. 2002;36:255-60.

Cohen, JS. Magnesium and erythromelalgia: a clinically important vasoactive mineral and a rare disorder. Italian Journal of Pediatrics 2004;30:69-72.

View all of Dr. Cohen's medical articles, consumer publications, and presentations.




NOTE TO READERS: The purpose of this E-Letter is solely informational and educational. The information herein should not be considered to be a substitute for the direct medical advice of your doctor, nor is it meant to encourage the diagnosis or treatment of any illness, disease, or other medical problem by laypersons. If you are under a physician's care for any condition, he or she can advise you whether the information in this E-Letter is suitable for you. Readers should not make any changes in drugs, doses, or any other aspects of their medical treatment unless specifically directed to do so by their own doctors.

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