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: 9/18/2006 Subject: possible arthritis
Question Two-fold question which is I am feeling pain in my hands and thembs if I hold onto anything with force for any period of time. Is this indication of arthritis?
Also, I take pain meds for fibromylgia and was hoping it doesn't have anything to do with that but I would like to get off of the meds but am not sure how, the biggest obstacle is not having enough energy.
My other question is my mother is having osteoarthritis pain in her back, hips and legs and starting receiving lumbar treatments. Even though the treatments gave her some releif, she started having symptoms of dizziness, falling down, sweating of hair getting drenched, high blood pressure (her normal blood pressure is low), extreme easy bruising, nauseas, leg pain. Her dr. took some blood and didn't seem interested in her leg but I am worried she might have some type of stroke, heart or reaction to the steriod given during the lumbar treatment. Do you have any suggestions? Her father did have a heart attack in his 40's and her mother had a stroke in her 50's. Her father had Diabetes.
Answer Have you reported your hand pain to your doctor? If it's a new symptom, call her/him and make an appt to have it assessed.
I don't know of any medication to help with fatigue in FM, but studies have shown that moderate exercise can help both pain and fatigue. Talk to your doc about what sort of exercise you could do and how much. It's very important not to overdo.
There are alternatives to pain meds - for instance, I've used a lidocaine patch in the past on particularly achy areas. Heat can also be helpful, and the new heat patches make it more convenient than ever. I've also used Capsaicin cream on FM aches with mixed results. Right now for me, though, with FM aches and scleroderma and osteoarthritis joint pain, I find a mild painkiller helps a lot, especially in trying to get enough sleep. If I lose sleep, the whole cycle just kicks in - not enough sleep makes pain, which interrupts sleep, which makes pain, etc.
Sorry I can't help with your question on your mom's condition. I hope her doc gets to the bottom of these symptoms soon.
