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Arthritis group offers first guidelines for patients who use cannabidiol (CBD) for joint pain. The Arthritis Foundation released guidelines for people who want to try CBD — the first such guidance on using the cannabis-derived ingredient from any major patient advocacy group. NBC Health News, 09/24/2019. (Also see Endocannabinoid System) This item was posted in the ISN Newsroom. Please check the newsroom daily for updates on scleroderma and other related articles.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound can improve referrals from dermatology to rheumatology for patients with psoriasis. Due to the high frequency of non-specific pain in psoriasis, it is not possible for every psoriasis patient with joint pain to be assessed by a rheumatologist. PubMed, Br J Dermatol, 09/10/2019. (Also see Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis) This item was posted in the ISN Newsroom. Please check the newsroom daily for updates on scleroderma and other related articles.

Hi Everyone, I am new here and not yet diagnosed but I feel like an expert in this disease as my mother died 20 years ago from Scleroderma with CREST and Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. For the last 3-4 years I have suffered with joint pain in my toes and fingers along with severe fatigue. I have many other issues and have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Intracranial Hypertension; but that’s for a different forum! In October I was diagnosed with Raynaud’s and I have had GERD daily as well with it being as bad as bile rising up in my throat at night while I sleep. In December my doctor ran an ANA reflex which came back positive and reflexed to a positive Anti-Centromere B result. My primary care physician does not think I have Scleroderma as I do not have any skin involvement and he can bend my fingers easily. My fingers feel stiff and are painful and swollen everyday. I have requested him to refer me to UCSF Scleroderma clinic and they are reviewing my labs and X-rays and echocardiogram (which both were normal, I just have the abnormal labs) as well as my medical history. Every day feels like a living misery. Mornings are brutal and I barely have any energy to get ready for work. I tire so easily. After I get home from work, I change my clothes and get in bed. I also suffer from severe muscle pains in my upper legs and arms. It's a struggle everyday to do normal activities. I was just hoping to hear of anyone else who might be in the same boat I am? Yet I hope no one is! I am trying to be proactive with this as I don’t want to hear the same words my mom did, “You have about 2 years to live.” Any advice or anyone who wants to share their experiences with me, I would be most grateful! All the best, Tracy

I'm a 25 year old female. About 3 years ago, I began to develop scar tissue on my abdomen. It showed up in the shape of a pair of lips (funny)! The next one showed up on my breast, when it covered 1/3 I finally went to the doctor. They prescribed many fungus creams, to no avail, and finally did a skin biopsy of my breast. I was told it was scleroderma. I finally went to a specialist about a year ago. My opinion of the guy is not high. He didn't run ANY tests... and I have bad teeth, always have, he asked if I've ever done meth, when I responded that I haven't, he says, "Are you sure? You know, meth can do that to your teeth."......?!? Not impressed. He said I just have morphea and don't have to worry about ever getting tested again. So, fast forward to the present, the past three weeks my eyes have become extremely sensitive to sunlight, I have to wear sunglasses until the sun goes down or else I'm squinting heavily. My joints have cracked EXCESSIVELY for probably 3 years but especially lately have become increasingly painful. I have frequent muscle spasms, especially under my rib cage (no, not pregnant. lol). I googled the symptoms tonight and found that they are very common in people with progressive systemic sclerosis (or diffuse form). I'm a single mom with a mortgage...I don't have much money right now, going through a rough patch. I'm worried that my condition is not just morphea.... What do you think, should I be worried?

Hi folks. It has been a long time since I've been into the forum. I was coping with things pretty well, and I was feeling quite good. All of a sudden my hips are terribly painful. My shoulders are getting bad, like just before my shoulder surgery 3 years ago. The backs of my knees are so stiff after sitting for a while I have trouble standing at first. Last night was bad. I have been trying to not sleep on my side which bothers my shoulders. My hips were hurting and I just couldn't fall asleep. I finally got up and took some ibuprofin and eventually finally got a little sleep. In the morning I had terrible heart burn and the golf ball feeling in my esophagus. Great, I've irritated my poor esophagus. I have an appointment to see my general practitioner next Friday, and I hope I can make it till then. I see my rheumatologist March 6. I think this feels like tendons or ligaments that are sore. Possibly bursitis especially of the hips. Is this typical of connective tissue disorder or is it just an age thing. I'm 48. I've been walking to work about the same time I got the really sore hips. I'm fine in the morning, but if I sit for a while during the day I end up with sharp pain in the outside of my hips when I try walking. I am a little sore at night, but we just got new beds. The other night at the grocery store, I was using the cart like a walker to get around. It hurt so much to put my weight on my hips. I thought I'd read an older post about joint pain like this. Other than NSAIDS which are not good for my esophagus dysmotility and reflux are there any other options? I'm not on Plaquenil because it gave me such gastric distress in the past. The only medication I really am on is Restasis (cyclosporine). Mando.