AboutAmelia Yaussy Expertise I can answer questions about systemic scleroderma and live and internet resources to help you cope with this disease. I have personal experince with scleroderma, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and Sjogren's Syndrome.
Experience I am a systemic scleroderma patient (12 years) and have been active in support online for nearly the same amount of time. I proposed the Usenet newsgroup alt.support.scleroderma and own the website ihavescleroderma.com.
Organizations I am a board member and volunteer for the Scleroderma Foundation, Ohio Chapter.
Publications Arthritis Today, Sept 1997, "A guide to the internet"
Education/Credentials International Webmasters Association, Web Technologies Certification
Awards and Honors Volunteer of the Year, Scleroderma Foundation, 2004; Advocacy Appreciation Award, Scleroderma Foundation, 2005
Expert: Amelia Yaussy Date: 3/14/2006 Subject: i have been diagnoised with...
Question i have been diagnoised with carpul tunnell althought i am having lots of pain in my fingers, arms,shoulders,knees,and hips. this has been going on since sept. 2005 the severe pain that keeps me awake. EVERYTHING IS A TASK!!! I am trying to find illnesses with these symptoms or a good web site with things i can read about others having some of the same symptoms. i apologize for the typing but just this little bit has made my fingers numb,and very very painful
Answer The one symptom almost all of us with scleroderma have (97%) is Raynaud's Phenomenon. In Raynaud's, the fingers and toes change color in response to cold or stress. They initally turn white as blood vessels spasm shut, then blue as the blood trapped in the affected area loses all oxygen, then bright red as oxygenated blood re-enters the area when vessel spasms stop. Fingers can become numb and painful during attacks, like in carpal nerve tunnel syndrome, but the color changes would be a clue something else is up.
You may want to check into fibromyalgia, a much more common cause of extensive joint pain. A major symptom of FM is sleep disturbances - in fact, some research has induced FM in subjects by depriving them of sleep. It can also cause profound fatigue, which can make everyday tasks seem like climbing mountains!
A rheumatologist would be the doctor who might best put all the various symptoms together for you, since joint and muscle pain are in their expertise. Good luck!
