| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| scleraderma and yoga | 10/24/2009 |
Q: I have scleraderma limited. I was diagnosed about 5 years ago and it is likely that I have had ...
A: The Scleroderma Foundation's Bluebonnet Chapter commissioned a yoga video several years ago and have ...
|
| undifferentiated connective tissue disease | 10/9/2009 |
Q: I am a 49 yr old female that was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at the age of 33. I slowly developed ...
A: I'm so sorry you're in pain. I wish I could foretell where your "flavor" of connective tissue ...
|
| bee poison and djd | 8/29/2009 |
Q: I have been diagnosed an initial stage of hip DJD and I have some pain also in my knee. I have heard ...
A: I've never heard of apitherapy helping with osteoarthritis. The last time I knew of anyone ...
|
| Sistematic scleroderma | 8/17/2009 |
Q: I have been diagnosed with systematic limited scleroderma almost 8 years ago. Now, I'm 24. Since ...
A: Actually, depression is part of autoimmune disease, and not just because we're sad to have the ...
|
| No help only pills | 8/10/2009 |
Q: Physicians don't seem to listen or only focus on labwork. I am not depressed, anxious, or crazy. ...
A: You did actually include that with your feet and hands turning red and purple. Raynaud's ...
|
| fluid on knee | 8/9/2009 |
Q: Friday evening I got off the couch and noticed I had at least a golf ball size lump on my knee that ...
A: Sometimes in scleroderma people will have calcinosis, which is calcium deposits in the skin. These ...
|
| No help only pills | 8/7/2009 |
Q: Physicians don't seem to listen or only focus on labwork. I am not depressed, anxious, or crazy. ...
A: I'm so sorry I'm of little help other than to commiserate with you over how frustrating it is to get ...
|
| Scleroderma | 7/29/2009 |
Q: I went to the doctor because I was having mild joint/muscle pain. The biggest annoyance was that ...
A: Let me first start by saying that I've had scleroderma for 14 years and my aunt has for almost 50, ...
|
| what kind of arthritis | 6/25/2009 |
Q: a chiropractor recently told me i have significant arthritis in my upper back and neck and also bone ...
A: A rheumatologist can tell you what type of arthritis you have. Osteoarthritis can be treated with ...
|
| Is there an uncommon arthritis that acts like several types at the same time? | 6/20/2009 |
Q: I have been suffering with arthritis for at least ten years and have been in pain that long. I am a ...
A: If everything else has been ruled out, I encourage you to talk to your doctor about fibromyalgia. ...
|
| ANA bloodwork | 6/18/2009 |
Q: the doctor has called and told me my ANA bloodwork is very abnormal. i asked what exactly this is ...
A: ANAs are Anti Nuclear Antibody tests. (You can search online for more information about them.) For ...
|
| adnormal labs | 5/8/2009 |
Q: I have been having pain in both hands, knees, ankles and neck with swelling around the joints not ...
A: Lab tests in these diseases are used to support a diagnosis that the doc makes based on history, ...
|
| CREST | 4/15/2009 |
Q: I am very confused. I had an appointment with my dermatologist, who advised uva treatment. I have ...
A: Lynne, the diagnosis in scleroderma is based on symptoms. history, and observation, so your doc ...
|
| Positive for Lupus/Sclerederma | 4/11/2009 |
Q: I'am 47 yr old female who was recently had some blood work done by a rheumatologist. The panel came ...
A: I don't have any experience with lupus, but the ANA test doesn't diagnose scleroderma. Scleroderma ...
|
| Painful joints | 3/1/2009 |
Q: I am a 38 year old women with a nine month old baby. Towards the end of my pregnancy I began to ...
A: It would be worth your time to be assessed by a rheumatologist, especially to make sure there isn't ...
|
| Abnormal blood test results | 2/22/2009 |
Q: I wrote you last week regarding an abnormal blood test result, but I've gotten a second one. I have ...
A: Don't stop taking anything without talking to your doctor first, but if you're too concerned to wait ...
|
| High level of Creatine Kinase | 2/19/2009 |
Q: I just received a copy of my 24 hour urine test and it shows my creatine kinse, total, serum level ...
A: CK/CPK is checked in scleroderma when there's a complaint of muscle weakness and could indicate ...
|
| Scleroderma relation to scar tissue? | 1/25/2009 |
Q: 40yr old female: my rheumatologist told me I have connective tissue disease-don't know which one ...
A: The only information I've heard about post-surgical scarring related to scleroderma is anecdotal and ...
|
| Bilateral Foot Pain | 1/7/2009 |
Q: I've been dealing with pain in both feet for about a year. Mostly a deep throbbing pain, usually the ...
A: The only foot pain I've had experience with was plantar fasciitis with heel spurs and it was easily ...
|
| I think I have scleroderma/CREST syndrome... am I crazy? | 1/5/2009 |
Q: My name is Heather, and I'm 19 years old. For years, my mom has told me that I have Raynaud's and ...
A: Heather, sorry you're experiencing these problems and feeling frustrated. I hope you're staying ...
|
| MCTD-where am I heading? | 12/10/2008 |
Q: I realize that it will take some time (yrs)for my doctors to diagnose me, however I was wondering ...
A: It's tough for our docs when we don't seem to follow the textbook, but then that's why they are the ...
|
| Could this be lupus? | 12/3/2008 |
Q: I am a 24 year old female and am just trying to figure out what could be going on. I went to my PCP ...
A: I'm so glad your PCP was appalled and scheduled you with someone new! It seems she's taking the ...
|
| Arthritus | 11/6/2008 |
Q: I have been experiencing symptoms of "reactive arthritis" for a little over 5 years. I have been on ...
A: I'm sorry I don't have any experience with your condition, but as a fellow autoimmune and chronic ...
|
| ssa 319 and ana positive | 9/29/2008 |
Q: I had blood work for hand tremors and leg pain. Some of my blood work came back and I had a ssa of ...
A: Blood testing in lupus, like in scleroderma, is to support a diagnosis by your rheumatologist made ...
|
| ana highly positive | 9/26/2008 |
Q: i have a blood test and it came highly positive Ana. I'm forty and i was transferred to ...
A: Positive ANAs by themselves don't mean much. A diagnosis would be supported by positive ANAs but ...
|
| weird arthritis? | 9/15/2008 |
Q: i am currently seeing a fibromylagia sp. i have been very worried lately on my current condition. i ...
A: I'm so sorry you're in pain and having such trouble. Diagnosing fibromyalgia is difficult sometimes ...
|
| arthritis | 9/14/2008 |
Q: I have swelling of fingers, hands, wrists, pain in back, neck, legs & feet. I have sore muscles, ...
A: It sounds like your doc is following up well with the re-testing. In the meantime, keep track of ...
|
| Please Help Me!!! | 8/21/2008 |
Q: I work in a retail store and have rheumatoid arthritis in my feet real bad. I am trying to find a ...
A: I've known of people with scleroderma losing padding on the bottoms of their feet using these - ...
|
| Scleroderma and raynaud's | 7/15/2008 |
Q: I'm now 23 and was diagnosed at age 21 with Hashimoto's thyroid disorder. By that winter I started ...
A: I'm so sorry you're going through this, but I think you already know you need to continue to pursue ...
|
| unusual ana pattern | 6/25/2008 |
Q: I recently had testing for ANAs, and the results were 1:320, which I understand is relatively low, ...
A: The only thing I can suggest is taking your file to another neurologist to see what s/he thinks. ...
|
| unusual ana pattern | 6/24/2008 |
Q: I recently had testing for ANAs, and the results were 1:320, which I understand is relatively low, ...
A: At 1:320, your ANA is positive, but without signs and symptoms that point to scleroderma it's pretty ...
|
| RA and Fibromyalgia | 6/5/2008 |
Q: I was diagnosed about 9 months ago with Fibro. I was also tested for RA (which my mother had) and ...
A: I don't know if your test results show a chance of RA, but here's the good news. You should be ...
|
| mctd | 6/2/2008 |
Q: I have a mctd which is causing me great complications. What is the best course of action in dealing ...
A: I'm sorry you're having to deal with these complications. I encourage you to find a rheumatologist ...
|
| scleroderma spreading | 5/30/2008 |
Q: What are the chances of my localized,(linear), scleroderma becoming systemic? I was dignosed 35 ...
A: The experts I've heard, read, and talked to say localized scleroderma doesn't "turn into" systemic. ...
|
| Just discouraged... | 4/29/2008 |
Q: Amelia...thanks for listening...I am just very discouraged today...I don't mean to complain, but I ...
A: Tina, so sorry about your situation. I do know folks with multiple autoimmune diseases and, ...
|
| lower arm/hand pain- Fibromyalgia? | 4/26/2008 |
Q: I am a otherwise healthy 48 year old, slim built woman, and I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia ...
A: There is a common osteoarthritis in the base of the thumbs - my mom with fibromyalgia has it and ...
|
| scleroderma | 4/13/2008 |
Q: I tested positively for ANA two times, so this time my doctor continued with testing to see what ...
A: Joint pain in scleroderma/fibromyalgia for me is always bilateral - if one wrist hurts, they both ...
|
| scleroderma | 4/13/2008 |
Q: I tested positively for ANA two times, so this time my doctor continued with testing to see what ...
A: Here's what the American College of Rheumatology says - "As discussed above, most patients with a ...
|
| leg pain | 4/7/2008 |
Q: My legs feel like cement is holding down. It hurts to pick something off the floor or to sit in a ...
A: Did your doctor say what type of arthritis? If it's osteoarthritis, you're doing the right thing by ...
|
| scleroderma CREST mctd? | 3/24/2008 |
Q: 9 months ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but subsequent unanswered symptoms including ...
A: Angie, yes, you are pursuing the right course. Sometimes it takes someone especially experienced ...
|
| crests syndrome | 2/17/2008 |
Q: I don't know if you can help me or not but I thought I would give you a try! My 56 year old sister ...
A: I'm hoping you live within a reasonable distance of one of the scleroderma treatment centers on the ...
|
| leg pain | 2/10/2008 |
Q: I am a 50 year old female. About 3 years ago I noticed what I think is arthritis in my hands. I ...
A: There are so many possibilities. I know it's tough when you own your own business to find the time ...
|
| Scleroderma | 2/8/2008 |
Q: My good friend has had the disease for about 13 years, she's 64 and was told she's in "end stage". ...
A: Yes, she should see a scleroderma specialist. A scleroderma specialist sees hundreds of patients ...
|
| hi ana levels | 2/1/2008 |
Q: my dr did a blood test to see if ihad arthritis and what kind plus xrays. he called and said i was ...
A: Your doctor didn't send you to a rheumatologist because of positive ANAs - he sent you because of ...
|
| RF positive | 1/29/2008 |
Q: For the past two years I have suffered extreme fatigue with painful joint all over the body, this ...
A: I'm not sure why your RF would be positive at 19.7. It depends on the range that lab uses, and ...
|
| morphea | 1/17/2008 |
Q: Amelia - I was recently diagnosed with Morphea. I've had spots for years and finally found a ...
A: There is a scleroderma specialist (rheumatologist) at the Cleveland Clinic and the Medical ...
|
| preserving successful treatment for chronic non-cancer pain sufferer | 1/11/2008 |
Q: I saw in your bio that you have personal experience with FM, Sjogren's, OA, etc. You know how ...
A: Not being a lawyer, I have no idea how binding her Dr/Patient agreement is (or even _what_ it is.) ...
|
| ANA levels in bloodwork | 1/4/2008 |
Q: My Doctor referred me to a Rheumatologist after having bloodwork done during my annual exam. She ...
A: You're not mentioning any symptoms that may have caused your doctor to test for antinuclear ...
|
| LUPUS / Autoimmune Disease | 1/4/2008 |
Q: Post our honey moon in July 2007, my wife has broken out into a rash on her body, has severe joint ...
A: I'm so sorry your wife is in pain. I hope you can find relief soon. You can always find a ...
|
| fibromyalgia | 12/16/2007 |
Q: I am a 52 year old woman,with a fairly active lifestyle. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 5 years ...
A: This was really interesting to look into. Recent studies I see are divided about whether or not the ...
|
| Scleroderma Odds | 11/25/2007 |
Q: What are the odds that I might have scleroderma? History: Raynauds for approx.10 yrs but recent ...
A: Trigeminal neuralgia is, rarely, a nerve involvement in scleroderma, but of course, it occurs on its ...
|
| Scleroderma Odds | 11/24/2007 |
Q: What are the odds that I might have scleroderma? History: Raynauds for approx.10 yrs but recent ...
A: There are about 303 million people in the US and between 75,000-100,000 people with systemic ...
|
| lupus like symptoms, but ANA neg | 10/26/2007 |
Q: I am a 28 yr old female who has been experiencing strange symptoms for the past year and a half. It ...
A: Your negative ANA does support the idea that it's not an autoimmune disease - for now. But that ...
|
| Fibromyalgia, MS...or other? | 10/19/2007 |
Q: I have had symptoms for some 6 months following a bad flu episode. My muscles (mainly legs) become ...
A: I understand your anxiety - nothing is more frightening than knowing something is wrong but having ...
|
| Hips | 10/15/2007 |
Q: I have just started a degree course in Contemporary Dance and for the first time in my life my hips ...
A: I'm not sure what you mean by "clicking," but if you're feeling discomfort during dance in a degree ...
|
| Knuckle Pain/hand Pain | 10/8/2007 |
Q: First let me state I cook for a living.. Second.. I've been diagnosed with Tendonitis/Bursitis in my ...
A: An MRI of the spine won't tell you if you have arthritis in the hands. Osteoarthritis is more ...
|
| rheumatoid arthritus | 10/1/2007 |
Q: I HAVE SUFFERED FROM RA FOR ABOUT 6=7 YEARS, CAN YOU SUFFER FROM OESTEOARTHRITUS AS WELL AS ...
A: The Arthritis Foundation has a good brochure about the differences between rheumatoid arthritis and ...
|
| Arthritis and glocosomine | 9/24/2007 |
Q: My wife has severe pain from Ankylosing Spondilitis and wanted to try glocosomine but found the ...
A: I don't know of any information on using glucosamine for ankylosing spondylitis. It's an ...
|
| Arthritis | 9/14/2007 |
Q: Can you be diagnosed with arthritis from an e-ray of the area? In other words can a doctor see ...
A: You mean an x-ray? Yes! This can show narrowing of the space between joints in osteoarthritis, ...
|
| Arthritis | 9/10/2007 |
Q: I am 48-healthy woman. Exercise daily, work full-time, great husband and I'm an equesterian. Thin ...
A: Your complaints aren't vague. Vasculitis can be secondary to autoimmune disease, and your newer ...
|
| Fibromyalgia | 8/6/2007 |
Q: Ok.. I have been sick forEVER!! Since they couldn't find anything wrong with me after about 8 years ...
A: I'm so sorry for all the pain and trouble you're going through. Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis of ...
|
| IPL and scleroderma | 7/25/2007 |
Q: I have overlap connective tissue disease, including CREST. My symptoms are not severe and the ...
A: Take this for what it's worth - I'm not a doctor and I've never had IPL. You don't say, but I ...
|
| elevated CPK level, not sure which | 7/11/2007 |
Q: As part of an in depth physical at the Mayo Clinic to determine the cause of my year+ exhaustion, ...
A: Sounds like the retest is a good idea, since elevated CPK levels can occur in a lot of conditions. ...
|
| Inflammation of bones in foot | 6/30/2007 |
Q: Yaussy, I think I have some form of arthritis in my foot. Inside the ball of my foot. It's ...
A: See your doctor for a complete diagnosis of your pain and to discuss the use of anti-inflammatories. ...
|
| scleroderma | 6/18/2007 |
Q: I am a 28 year old female with anxiety. i am scared I have scleroderma, but I dont know if it is ...
A: 95% of systemic scleroderma patients have Raynaud's phenomenon. This isn't just tingling or ...
|
| osteo/arthritis | 6/6/2007 |
Q: I'm female,51yrs, overweight, smoker, finished menopause about 6yrs ago. I have Arthritis in a few ...
A: I'm so sorry you're in pain. Your doctor should be able to determine if the pain is related to the ...
|
| Damp Living Conditions | 5/13/2007 |
Q: Living in a totally underground basement which is damp and humid in the weather conditions of nyc, ...
A: I can't imagine any way that dampness would cause cartilage inside a joint to break down, which is ...
|
| scleroderma | 5/3/2007 |
Q: I haven't been diagnosed with anything yet, but it seems I have a lot of the symptoms for the last 7 ...
A: In my case, reflux was first, then Raynaud's. Raynaud's was in Nov, followed by swelling and ...
|
| back and joint pain | 5/3/2007 |
Q: I am 18 years old, about 5ft 8in tall, 133 lbs, in graet athletic shape however, I have had severe ...
A: I'm sorry you're in pain. If you were diagnosed with osetoarthritis, it's not something you grow ...
|
| scleroderma | 5/3/2007 |
Q: I haven't been diagnosed with anything yet, but it seems I have a lot of the symptoms for the last 7 ...
A: Only about 2-4% of people with systemic scleroderma don't have Raynaud's, but it does happen, and ...
|
| Sunburn and Joint Pain | 5/2/2007 |
Q: I am 50 years old and have arthritis. It usually doesn't give me too much trouble unless I overwork ...
A: Hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease, like lupus, and it's not uncommon to have AI diseases group ...
|
| Sunburn and Joint Pain | 5/1/2007 |
Q: I am 50 years old and have arthritis. It usually doesn't give me too much trouble unless I overwork ...
A: What sort of arthritis do you have? The only connection I can think of with osteoarthritis is that ...
|
| arthritis | 5/1/2007 |
Q: i am 55yr old and have had few mild eposodes of arthritis in my life. like stiffness in the knees ...
A: I'm so sorry you're in pain. Waking up at night from pain is not normal. You should see your ...
|
| Is it Arthritis? | 3/12/2007 |
Q: I have terrible pain in both wrist and knees and the movement is getting stiffer and more painful. A ...
A: I'm sorry you're in pain. Continue to work with your doctor to rule out other diseases that cause ...
|
| Cycling and Arthritis of Hip | 2/6/2007 |
Q: I have early arthritis of the hip. I am starting to cycle again and wonder if this will agravate or ...
A: Keith, I have arthritis in the hips, too, and had a difficult time finding the right exercise. I ...
|
| Lab tes | 2/3/2007 |
Q: I have been trying to find information about a lab test I had draw. My Rheumatologist has been ...
A: This website explains ANA blood tests, used for diagnosing autoimmune diseases. There's an ...
|
| joint pain | 1/23/2007 |
Q: Is there a specific name for the sort of joint pain that seems ot move around from night to night ...
A: I'm so sorry you're in pain. The only pain I've experienced that moved around is pain from ...
|
| Regarding positive RA blood test | 12/19/2006 |
Q: I also had a positive RA blood test and have been doctoring for different pains in my legs, knees, ...
A: It may be worth a second opinion from another rheumatologist, if your insurance will allow it. If ...
|
| Arthritis | 11/20/2006 |
Q: Is there any treatment for arthritis for a 75 year old female,who also happens to be a blood ...
A: I'm going to assume high blood pressure is your problem and the arthritis is osteoarthritis. I have ...
|
| Osteo-arthritis pain | 11/17/2006 |
Q: I have fibromyalgia and other stuff. I also have moderate osteo-arthritis in both knees, I am in ...
A: I've heard for years about how moderate exercise can help with both osteoarthritis and ...
|
| degenerative arthritis | 11/1/2006 |
Q: What does degenerative disease have to do with intestinal problems
A: If you mean degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, nothing that I know of. However, having ...
|
| SCLERADERMA WITH DIABETES | 10/27/2006 |
Q: I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SCLERADERMA 4 YEARS AGO AND IT SEEMS THAT I CONTINUE TO HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS ...
A: There are some promising treatments for severe, life-threatening scleroderma and complications of ...
|
| RA/Scleraderma | 10/22/2006 |
Q: I was diagnosed several years back with undifferentiated autoimmune dissease. A Rheumatoligist ...
A: You don't say anything about Raynaud's attacks. 98% of people with scleroderma have Raynaud's, and ...
|
| possible arthritis | 9/18/2006 |
Q: Two-fold question which is I am feeling pain in my hands and thembs if I hold onto anything with ...
A: Have you reported your hand pain to your doctor? If it's a new symptom, call her/him and make an ...
|
| other possibilities???? | 9/14/2006 |
Q: Sorry to bother you again but I went to see my doctor's nurse practiner today since my doctor wasn't ...
A: I wish I could just tell you what's going on, but of course I can't. That's what your doctor is ...
|
| scleroderma | 9/13/2006 |
Q: i have been diagnosed with scleroderma. My consultant put me on methotrexate. I have also been ...
A: You don't say what type you've been diagnosed with. Localized scleroderma has few complications, ...
|
| other possibilities???? | 9/10/2006 |
Q: Bit of background, I'm 29 yr. old female. Have huge level of anxiety and obessive complusive ...
A: Scleroderma is not a fatal disease. It can be life-threatening in some people, but the vast ...
|
| Hip Pain | 8/19/2006 |
Q: For the past few months I have had a dull ache in my left hip which sometimes extends into my pelvic ...
A: I'm sorry you're in pain, and I know how frustrating it can be. My hip arthritis hurts with ...
|
| tendon and joint pain | 7/15/2006 |
Q: I am an avid runner and boxer. I run 3-7 miles a day, and go to the gym and punch for about an hour ...
A: As a former avid runner myself, I know how important your training is and how annoying it can be to ...
|
| ARTHRITIS(Type of) | 7/11/2006 |
Q: Over the past 6 years i have experienced 5 or 6 episodes of what i originally believed was gout. The ...
A: This info from NIAMS (the part of the NIH concerned with arthritis) names the areas where gout can ...
|
| CK levels~aldolase~uric acid Too HIGH???? | 7/4/2006 |
Q: I hope you can answer the questions I have after getting my blood work results. My CK level is ...
A: Blood test results are just a part of the diagnosis and treatment process. It's best to talk to ...
|
| head and neck pain | 7/4/2006 |
Q: brief history of myself now 65 yr old, since my teens sudden onset of kink in neck lasting several ...
A: I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I agree you're not being diagnosed and, as a result, ...
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| rheamatoid arthritis | 6/27/2006 |
Q: I am a 39 year old female in fairly good health. about 8 years ago I woke up feeling very sore and ...
A: I'm not sure what your doc meant by a "carrier," but if you're having new symptoms, please make an ...
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| Popping problem | 6/20/2006 |
Q: I don't know if this is relevant to your expertise. I have "popping" joints - joints that let a ...
A: My popping jaw is caused by TMJ http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/hw209469 Ask your doctor ...
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| aarthritis in the ankles | 6/10/2006 |
Q: I was wondering I have had this numbness for over a year about now, and I was at therapy to help my ...
A: I'm so sorry you're struggling with pain. There are many reasons this could be happening. The ...
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| i have been diagnoised with... | 3/14/2006 |
Q: i have been diagnoised with carpul tunnell althought i am having lots of pain in my fingers, ...
A: The one symptom almost all of us with scleroderma have (97%) is Raynaud's Phenomenon. In Raynaud's, ...
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| Diffuse Scleroderma | 2/15/2006 |
Q: Are you familiar with Dr. Brown's protocal using minocycline for treating scleroderma? Do you know ...
A: >Are you familiar with Dr. Brown's protocal using minocycline for treating scleroderma? Yes. >Do ...
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| arthritis | 9/15/2005 |
Q: I had a blood test with abnormal ANA levels and had to go to an arthritis specialist. He said I ...
A: Don, if you don't feel this rheumatologist is helping you, go to another. No single test can ...
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