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Raynaud's Disease & Shoulder Pain

Raynaud's disease can be primary or secondary. Both types affect blood vessels and limit circulation. Attacks can last a minute or several hours. If you are experiencing shoulder pain associated with Raynaud's, it is most likely the secondary type.

  1. Raynaud's Disease Symptoms

    • With Raynaud's, you will experience cold and numb fingers, toes and possibly other areas of the body like lips or ears. Along with these sensations, you could feel stinging, prickly heat or odd warming sensations in the same areas. Your skin often changes color usually going from white to blue to red.

    Primary Raynaud's

    • If you have primary Raynaud's disease, the disease is the cause of your symptoms. This form is more common and not as severe. Certain blood vessels overreact to cold or stressful emotions. They spasm and narrow, affecting blood supply. The exact cause is unknown, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although age, gender, geographical area and occupation could affect its development.

    Secondary Raynaud's

    • The cause of secondary Raynaud's disease is often an underlying condition's affect on blood vessels, resulting in Raynaud's symptoms. These conditions could be: lupus, sclerodoma, rheumatoid arthritis, toxicity from chemical exposure and more.

    Shoulder Pain

    • Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus both can cause shoulder pain. Chondrolysis is a form of arthritis that is severe and specifically affects the shoulder, according to University of Washington Medicine Othopaedics and Sports Medicine. Lupus or arthritis can lead to development of secondary Raynaud's phenomenon.

    Shoulder Pain & Raynaud's

    • Typically, Raynaud's syndrome affects digits, ears, lips and nipples instead of larger body areas like shoulders. However, when secondary Raynaud's is developed, the symptoms and syndrome are more complex, even causing gangrene and sores according to the Mayo Clinic.

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