tngrits Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 Hi everyone. I thought I would give a little more information about my medical condition since I am still a newbie. I went to doctors for at least 2 years before being diagnosed with the CREST form of scleroderma and fibromyalgia. That was about 20 years ago. I have been very blessed that the scleroderma has progressed slowly. About 3 years ago I had bilateral knee replacement (fun---Not!). The doctor told me there was a 1% chance of nerve damage during surgery. Guess what?! I was the 1%. I have a misfired nerve in the right foot leg which is called reflex sympathetic dystrophy or RSD. My big toe now sits on top of the toe beside it. I have a hard time finding shoes that have a wide toe box. My esophagus has been dilated twice so far. My lungs have only minor damage. As I stated in another post the biggest problem I am having now is diarrhea. Hoping to get that straigtened out soon. Oh, almost forgot, I also have restless legs really bad. Another thing I am having a problem with is sores on my nose and ear lobes. I do not know what is causing them but wondered if anyone else has ever had this problem. They start out as painful hard spots. Then they puff up and are filled with what looks like water. I end up busting them because of the pain and then they turn into ugly scars Help!! tngrits Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Amanda Thorpe Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 Hello Tngrits 20 years with sclero is testament to your resilience and determination! Sorry about being in the 1% that's an even lower percentage (I think) than that of having sclero! Now I am going to hazard a guess as to what the lumps are on your nose and ears, could they be calcinosis? If you have a look at our page on calcinosis you'll see that it's mostly associated with CREST (it's what the C stands for) and can occur almost anywhere on the body. Do bear in mind though that I am a non medical layperson and you really need to get a definitive answer from your doctor(s). Take care. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
judyt Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 Hi tngrits, Thanks for replying to my post about incontinence, I was just getting organised to answer that one when I saw your latest post about your blisters. I too had CREST for many years before anybody identified it - from 1966 until 2003!!!! I think I have been lucky that I have had no skin involvement apart from sclerodactyly and my organ involvement seems to have been slow compared with what others have experienced. However, now things seem to be hotting up and I am pleased to have you folks to talk to. For me calcinosis consisted of very painful little blisters on the joints of my fingers. I would pop them and they would ooze milky fluid, the pain would go and then they would dry up. Sounds like your blisters could be the same thing and I think that they are way better than gravel under your skin!!!! Which I have experienced once only. I don't know whether the blisters on my fingers would have grown bigger - I never gave them a chance to grow. But, the best part has been that they eventually stopped and I have not had any for probably 15 years now. Warm wishes Judy T Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tngrits Posted December 28, 2009 Author Share Posted December 28, 2009 Thanks for your help. I guess this could be calcinosis but when popped they ooze very clear fluid, not milky white. I need to ask my doctor about seeing a dermatologist. Linda Quote Link to post Share on other sites
debonair susie Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Hi Linda, I've not had the opportunity to welcome you to the forum...until now! So glad you are posting as you are! I'm also relieved to see that you are headed in the right direction...getting to a dermatologist. Should this be calcinosis, treatment is so important. However, whatever the case, I wish you a good outcome! Take care and please...let us know what is going on, if you would? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alice1 Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 A few years ago I had the same thing I think. Clear blisters popped up on my nose, chest and leg. They broke and scabbed over and left a scar, one on my leg left a deep scar. I asked my doctors about them and they had no idea. Haven't had one since. alice1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nan Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Tngrits, I too have CREST. I am not a doctor so you could ask your doctor about this. I had restless legs for about a month. It turns out that I was anemic. Restless legs can be a sign of low iron. I have watermelon stomach which causes me to bleed internally. Restless legs are now my cue along with black stools to know if I am bleeding. Again I am not a doctor ,but it sounds like calcinosis is what you are dealing with. Hang in there and you can private message or email me with any other questions. Nan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tngrits Posted December 29, 2009 Author Share Posted December 29, 2009 Thanks everyone. I will keep you posted. Alice, sounds exactly like my blisters. Nan, my iron level is fine but boy oh boy do I have restless legs. My primary doctor sent me to a neurologist and he changed my medication. I am doing so much better the last couple of weeks. What a great group of people on this forum. My heart goes out to each and every one of you. :wub: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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