It causes episodic or continuous intense burning pain, severe redness, and skin warmth.
The condition was formerly known as Mitchells disease after American physician and writer Silas Weir Mitchell.
Its estimated that EM affects an estimated 0.36 to 1.3 out of 100,000 people per year.
Verywell / JR Bee
It affects more women than it does men, and its more common among smokers.
Erthyromelalgia Symptoms
Traditionally, EM has been classified as either primary or secondary.
The feet are more often affected, but symptoms can also affect the hands, face, and ears.
Primary EM pain attacks start with itchiness and will progress to severe burning pain.
These pain attacks can last for minutes, hours, or even days.
In some cases, the feet can develop ulcers (sores) and gangrenes (dead tissue).
It is more common in adults, with onset generally occurring in middle age.
The symptoms of secondary EM occur when a person is experiencing symptoms of the underlying associated condition.
Symptoms of secondary EM will present gradually and will worsen in a short time.
Burning pain, redness, and warmth are the most common symptoms.
What Causes Erythromelalgia?
Some neurological diseases increase risk, includingmultiple sclerosis.
Diet has also been linked to EM.
Spicy foods and overconsumption of alcohol, for example, are commonly reported triggers for EM flares.
Neuropathy is the result of damage to peripheral nervesnerves located outside the brain and spinal cord.
Neuropathy causes weakness, numbness, and pain in the hands and feet.
Diagnosis
There is no definitive testing for EM.
This condition has been traditionally diagnosed based on the symptoms and ruling out other possible causes.
Tests may be done to rule out other conditions, including blood work and imaging.
It may take some time to find a treatment plan that works.
There is no single treatment for EM, and there is also no cure.
In these situations, symptom relief is the goal.
Common treatments used to control EM symptoms:
These medications can be used in combination as needed.
Other less commonly used treatments have provided relief, such as itraconazole, an antifungal.
Cooling the affected areas with cold packs and elevating flaring feet can help with coping.
Therapies such as biofeedback and cognitive behavioral therapy may work for some people.
Procedures
Nerve blocks are among the treatments that are sometimes used.
Surgery is considered when no other treatments provide relief.
Doctors will consider sympathectomy only when a persons quality of life is significantly affected by EM.
Treatment may bring about complete relief of symptoms.
Most of the time, however, EM cannot be fully treated.
Treatment takes some trial and error to find a plan that works to relieve symptoms.
However, most cases do require symptomatic treatment.
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