Hand cramp --> Purple hand

In My Humble Opinion
1

I get muscle cramps from time to time involving my legs/feet while sleeping and my hand(s) while using them strenuously. Dehydration predisposes their occurrence.

Yesterday I was driving home from my BIL’s, about a 90 minute trip. I was very thirsty but did not want to stop for water. Stupid on my part.

When we got home and were unloading the car, I got a cramp in my left hand. I used my right hand to massage it, which typically helps. Glancing at my cramped hand I was shocked to see how distended the vessels looked, then the back of my hand turned purple. Freaky af. I have vitiligo involving my hands so it looked really awful.

My gf wanted to call an ambulance. I calmed her down and consulted Dr Google instead. The cramp resolved but the discoloration remained. Venous congestion resolved. I went to bed after calming my gf down. This morning there is still discoloration (extravasated blood?) but there is no pain/swelling/tingling.

Thoughts? Anyone ever have a similar experience?

2

Not a doctor, so obviously not your doctor and not providing you a diagnosis. This is really just a “this reminds me of” guess.

I would guess you had a venous thrombosis event in your lower arm, pehaps precipitated by lack of motion and dehydration, but I would think there would be more follow-on consequences. These thing don’t spontaneously resolve, do they?

3

I can only offer: when I get cramps in legs at night, it’s due to Potassium depletion. Orange juice gives me serious GERD, so bananas are the answer for me.

But, yeah, dehydration can’t be helping, either. More beer for you, stat!

4

Sage advise, oh wise one! Because I’d be driving my gf’s car home I purposely eschewed beer. Did not have so much as a sip of my preferred nectar. Never thought of replacing my beer with water/juice/whatever it is people generally enjoy with food.

Right as rain this morning!!

5

So I’m probably wrong, which I’m quite happy to be.

6

for me it’s magnesium depletion.

7

@kayaker Glad you’re OK, you should make it a point to stay hydrated, I’ve started carrying a 1L water bottle with me when I go out in the car or a walk.
Also, As You Get Older, You Need to Drink More Water. Here’s Why

8

Yep, I normally stay well hydrated as a way to keep my gout from flaring up. I’ll have to start carrying my own water with me.

9

That’s what I’d say if I were on a dark chocolate binge. :laughing:

That’s a pretty decent list of foods for when your magnesium’s low; here, have a banana. Or, maybe a chocolate-covered banana :drooling_face: . Gotta go.

10

My son-in-law texted me yesterday and I asked him about my hand cramp/purple (He’s a physician). He pointed out that my vitiligo is an autoimmune type thing, as is my Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). He mentioned that Reynaud’s Syndrome can be autoimmune as well. Hmmmm.

Then he asked me if the cramp was in the hand on the side where I got my COVID-19 vaccine. IT WAS!!! He said it was probably caused by a reaction to the nanobots Bill Gates placed in the vaccine.

Smart ass.

11

Hey , at least you can be your own cell tower now. I bet you’re always at 5 bars, amirite? :laughing:

12

I get Reynaud’s syndrome into toes. I’ve never seen the discoration last more than a few minutes after I massage them or their temperature returns to normal.