Burning sensation in hands

Ok, this has to be one of the weirdest feelings ever. My hands feel like they are being slow roasted over a fire. They aren't hot to the touch, but they are burning, especially in the palm area and where my finger joints are. Sometimes they also tingle, but the burning sensation is the strongest by far. There is no rash and my hands are not swollen.

Could this be Crohn's related? They've been doing this for the last 13 hours or so and it is getting increasingly annoying.

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29f, PhD student, diagnosed with Crohn's ileocolitis in 2/06.
During the summer of 2006, I completed the Adacolumn Apheresis clinical trial, which helped me enjoy 2+ years of remission and more than one year med-free. During spring and summer of 2009 the symptoms slowly but surely began to return, and now I'm flaring again.
Colonoscopy/endoscopy scheduled for 9/10; barium X-ray scheduled for 9/18
Currently taking: 4g Pentasa, 20mg prednisone, 150mg Trazadone, multivitamin, vitamin D supplement

That sounds a lot like neuropathy. Neuropathy can be caused by medications (I don't know anything bad about your meds though) or by any of a few illnesses - but not Crohn's as far as I know. It can also be a serious B12 deficiency. You should talk to your doctor about this soon - it can be permanent if it is not stopped.

I talked to him today and he has no idea what it could be. I'm getting a referral to a rheumatologist because of my joint pain and plan on bringing it up whenever I get an appointment, but my GI doesn't plan on trying to figure out what it could be, unless my CRP and sed rate bloodwork are abnormal.

On a related note, my mother has multi-focal motor neuropathy, so I guess it isn't much of a stretch to think this could be neuropathy.

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29f, PhD student, originally diagnosed 2/06.
09/09: diagnosis being questioned due to lack of evidence of disease.
Next step: seeing rheumatologist
Currently taking: 2g Pentasa, tapering from 20mg prednisone, 150mg Trazadone, multivitamin, vitamin D supplement

sounds like Reynaud's syndrome..do you have Lupus?

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 Crohn's anal fistula Lupus Hyperthyroid..Pentasa Remicade

 

when i was in highschool i used to put my hands under cold water..or in ice cubes..and that would help..or sit with my hands by a fan..they used to get as red as a fire engine..followed by getting blue..and pale later on..and cold impossible to warm up..is it cold right now where you live? If so..you have to keep your hands from getting too cold.its an issue with circulation..check all your meds..for this side effect of Reynaud's syndrome...good luck

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 Crohn's anal fistula Lupus Hyperthyroid..Pentasa Remicade

 

Hey frogeleita, luckily, I do not have Lupus. I don't think it could be Raynaud's, as my hands are not changing colors. The burning is all internal, so they're not getting red and do not feel hot to the touch. Typically my hands are always ice cold, which I've always attributed to just having poor circulation, which makes the heat an even bigger departure from normal.

Basically I keep expecting to turn into a character from Super Mario Bros and start shooting fireballs from my hands (which, I must say, would be pretty awesome!). :) At least, this is what I keep telling myself to keep thinking positively while not knowing what the @!%$ is going on in my body!

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29f, PhD student, originally diagnosed 2/06.
09/09: diagnosis being questioned due to lack of evidence of disease.
Next step: seeing rheumatologist
Currently taking: 2g Pentasa, tapering from 20mg prednisone, 150mg Trazadone, multivitamin, vitamin D supplement

Once you find out I would like to hear what they say. I have had that on occasion and it isn't fun.

Has you doctor done a B12 level blood test? Chronic B12 deficiency (called pernicious anemia) can cause neuropathy and that is something that they can do something for. Also, B12 deficiency is not uncommon in Crohn's, so ask for a test if you haven't had one. It sounds like the kind of stuff happening with your hands is a later symptom of multi-focal motor neuropathy, so that sounds less likely at first glance.

Have they checked Liver Function Tests ? I\m not talking Liver Damage Just it can be a sign of Liver results being a bit off

Keeper, I don't think I've had my B12 tested in years, so I'll definitely bring it up whenever I see a rheumy. Back in 2007, I remember it being a bit low because I had a B12 shot. Of course, that is no indication of if it is low now or not. Also, my previous statement was not a suggestion that I have multifocal motor neuropathy, just a comment that since it is in the family, I wouldn't be surprised if I had one of the many kinds of neuropathy (assuming they are all connected). I've also had numerous occasions of extremities (toes and fingers) going numb over the last year, although when I mentioned it in passing last month, my doc didn't seem concerned.

Trish, I had a CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel) in August, which includes four tests for liver function, and I know the results were all normal for that.

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29f, PhD student, originally diagnosed 2/06.
09/09: diagnosis being questioned due to lack of evidence of disease.
Next step: seeing rheumatologist
Currently taking: 2g Pentasa, tapering from 20mg prednisone, 150mg Trazadone, multivitamin, vitamin D supplement

I can't believe that your doctor was not interested in following up on your symptom. Neuropathy can be an indication of spinal osteoporosis causing nerve pinching, or diabetes or exposure to various chemicals at work and the list goes on. Anything that causes nerve problems is a sign of potentially serious problems and the cause should be traced.

My daughter woke up the other nigh,t screaming at the top of her lungs. I came running to her, she was saying mommy my hands, my hands are burning. She was in the bathroom running cold water in them. She was in extremely bad pain. She did have a heart surgery, but she is always giving a clean bill of health. She told me this morning her finger tip still burn. My husband said it has only happened once to just wait. My daughter thinks demons are trying to get her. IDK what to do? Does any one have any ideas?

Metronidazole (Flagyl) is one medication notorious for peripheral neuropathy and anyone taking Flagyl who experiences those symptoms should STOP taking the medication IMMEDIATELY.

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Any health professional can run a B12 test, and in people with Crohn's this test should be a standard procedure, just like the CRP and ESR tests. There's no need to wait for a specialist. However, you might want to find a family doctor who is more willing to run a simple B12 test.