Puffy Hand Syndrome, medically known as edema of the hands, is a condition where the hands experience severe swelling. While puffy hands can be a symptom of conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis and gout, it is often a result of an autoimmune disease or chronic drug use.
Typically this condition is a complication of long-term intravenous drug usage and/or a viral infection such as Hepatitis C. It can also be caused by lymphatic obstruction, where there is an accumulation of fluid in the issues or thrombosis. Primary thrombosis is known as Paget Schoetter syndrome and it occurs in healthy adults who partake in strenuous exercise. The other most common cause of thrombosis is long-term central venous catheters – patients may develop this condition as a result of having catheters in excess of 15 days.
While puffy hand syndrome is painless, it can create functional, aesthetic and social challenges where the use of hands is critical. The syndrome is believed to be caused by venous and lymphatic insufficiencies that are caused by abuse of the veins and lymph nodes with intravenous drugs including heroin. Typically, the long term use of intravenous drugs causes infections as well as complications due to the toxicity of the drugs and the agents they are cut with.
Identifying the root cause of Puffy Hand Syndrome is critical to treatment. Obtaining a clear patient history, combined with testing for conditions like Hepatitis C, RA and gout are all incredibly important.
If you suspect that you are suffering from Puffy Hand Syndrome or seeking treatment on behalf of someone else, please contact us today. We specialize in identifying and treating hand conditions and our experienced team will guide you every step of the way.
