Question
I am 55 years old.  Last year my doctor  made a diagnosis of Raynauld from symptoms only. No specific test. I do have some symptoms of Raynauld (cold hands, turning spotty red/white related to cold and stress).  But my worst discomfort is when hands/arms are hanging to my side/dependent position or sitting down with hands held in certain position.  I don't have to be cold/tense for this to happen. My hands will turn red/blue, really ache  and also have pressure type Headache at this time.  My blood pressure is good.  108/64. When I mentioned this to my MD, he said, " that's just circulation, just what Raynauld's is.  This can be very uncomfortable at times.

Answer
Emma,

I am not an expert on Raynaud's phenomenon but I will give you what I know. Raynaud's is a circulatory problem in the hands caused by an abnormal nerve control of the blood-vessel diameter. The nerves tell the blood vessels in the hands to constrict this causes a lack of circulation in the hands. This can cause a lot of pain in the hands and cause them to change colors between white, blue and red.

Rusty

Here is some more info on Raynaud's phenomenon

http://arthritis-symptom.com/m-r/raynauds-disease.htm