Thermography / nail fold capillaroscopy

AndyT

Anyone had any experience of these tests?

I Have been referred by my Rheumatologist, in relation to my yet undiagnosed finger swelling, tendon pain, raynauds, finger rash and nailfold changes, various colour/temperature changes (circulation seems up the wall too, extreme reactions to either cool or warm temperatures.

Thanks.

TUL50

Yep, arthritis is just like cancer, it's the gift that keeps on giving. I hope you have some answers soon AndyT

stickywicket

I'd never hward of it but this looks encouraging. [Link removed by moderator]

I hope you get some results.

Hi @stickywicket - I'm sorry but I've had to remove the link as it was directly to a product, and this is something we don't allow in our community guidelines.

Shell H, Mod

stickywicket

So sorry, Andy and Mod Shell H. Wrong link posted. This is the right one (I hope!) https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/rheumatologists-find-nailfold-capillaroscopy-increasingly-useful-diagnostic-tool/?singlepage=1

wazz42

Hi there,

I see you are having tests,, it sounds like to diagnose Raynauds. I have this and I saw the link Stickywicket has included - I wish these tests had been more commonplace when I was diagnosed. They both are non invasive so should be quite easy to have and they will show up what is going on to cause your symptoms.

I experienced thermal imaging way back in 2000 at the Millenium Dome, do you remember when it first opened it was a sort of science fair? I went along with a group of children and was stunned at the difference between my images and the children's. Luckily we all had a laugh but afterwards I was a bit shocked.

Anyway, go for the test and then come back and let us know how it went

xx

AndyT

Hi all,

I had these tests done and eventually got the results - not given any detail by my Rheumatologist but basically the capillaries and circulation in my hands is 'abnormal'. From what I could see from the capillaroscopy images, a lot of the capillaries were distorted/enlarged/haemorrhaged. The thermology was interesting, gloved hands plunged into iced water for a short period, then monitored under thermal camera in a very warm room to see how the blood flow returned to the fingers. It was very slow, and 2 fingers on one hand lagged way behind the others, staying blue (cold) for almost the whole test period.

Rheumatologist has now given a diagnosis of secondary raynauds (I.e. more serious raynauds, caused by disease) and Systemic Sclerosis or connective tissue disease. Have been sent for yet another more specialised blood test, my bloods so far come back ok except for low neutrophils. Prescribed Nifedipine to relax the blood vessels to try and improve circulation (particularly in the winter months) other than that, there is nothing they can give me that 'won't make me feel worse overall'. They ask me if I'm having problems swallowing or breathing - presumably these are the symptoms that can come next.

Generally my hands have improved very slowly over the last few months, still very puffy/inflamed in the mornings but I can get that down mostly with light movement & compression gloves, still have pain the palm/tendons/wrist/forearms so tight gripping or heavy lifting is a complete no-no. Warm temperatures makes my hands swell up and more painful. I don't know whether the symptoms will come back as bad as they were in January (or worse, as the pattern has been) or not.