Scleroderma Information » Scleroderma » Question for Docs and others
Question:
In the continuing battle to get this flare of mine under control, I have had to take some side trips. One I took this morning was to a dermatologist. I went to him because, in addition to two very painful nodules, I have had a large number of small, painless, white bumps start sprouting in my hands. They are in the fleshy areas, not over joints. I have also had another persistent leasion we have not been able to get control on. The derm. said that the white bumps were calcium deposits, and that they occured with many rheumatic diseases. He was surprised, however, to see them in someone with RA. He also had a name for the other leasion, which he forgot to write down for me, so I’ve forgotten it. He said it was a large massing of lymphocytes in the skin and perscribed a steroid cream for it. My questions are, I know what the nodules indicate in terms of disease activity, but are these other problems significant? Have others out there experienced similar skin problems? Also, I will be seeing my RD again soon, and I am feeling like it is time for a med change. The azulfidine has done well, but it is losing effectiveness. I have tried increasing the dose to 4 grams (yes, on my own – I know I shouldn’t have), but it did no good. What do you docs prefer to try next? I tried MTX innitially, without folic acid, and I had major mouth ulcers immediately. I am willing to try again, with folic acid and by injection this time, but I wonder if I should try plaquinil first? My RD and I will make the decision, but I just wondered what your experiences have been. (BTW, for those who don’t know, I have seronegative RA and have been on Azulfidine and Disalcid for almost 7 years. I am also HLA-B27 negative, and have a normal sed rate – which is usually the case for me.) Thanks for any ideas! Walt Hanks http://cougarnet.byu.edu/~whanks/WaltHP.html Health Education: Bringing perspective, vision, and individual empowerment to Healthcare. To learn more about health education, go to: http://www.byu.edu/~whanks/ESG/ESGIndex.html
Response:
writes: The derm. said that the white bumps were calcium deposits, and that they occured with many rheumatic diseases. He was surprised, however, to see them in someone with RA.
Walt, check out info on CRST or CREST variant of scleroderma. This is an acronym for the main symptoms of this variant, the C being calcinoma. I don’t have this symptom, but others say it is really difficult to manage, and depending on where the calcinomas are, painful. Hope you can find some relief from them. Amie There’s no waiting worth the misery And there’s no wanting worth the tears…
Response:
In the continuing battle to get this flare of mine under control, I have had to take some side trips. One I took this morning was to a dermatologist. I went to him because, in addition to two very painful nodules, I have had a large number of small, painless, white bumps start sprouting in my hands.
Calcium deposits are unusual in RA – this process of calcinosis we see in scleroderma , but Im NOT SUGGESTING you have that – you definitely dont Walt. The rheumatoid nodules can occur anywhere however…including internal organs Regards drdoc http://www.aztec.co.za/users/drdoc/
no comment untill now