These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.
Scleroderma
Question: My 33 year old son has scleroderma. He had surgery on his hand in 1996. The
bones in his thumb were fused and other adjustments were
made to increase mobility. At first things were much better,
but now he has constant pain. He gets discouraged and
depressed. How can we stop the pain?
Answer: I am not sure from your description as to the location of the pain. That is, is this a nerve compression problem, scarring from surgery, or changes due to scleroderma. A pain specialist or neurologist might be able to help you figure this one out.
Scleroderma
Question: Please send me information for the diagnosis of scleroderma.
Answer: Scleroderma is also referred to as sytemic sclerosis. This is a disease with unknown
cause which is grouped in the category of connective tissue diseases. It is thought to be a
disorder of the immune system “attacking” ones own connective tissues. It usually affects
multiple organs in the body with thickening or fibrosis. Women are affected about three
times more often than men and the disease is usually seen starting at age thirty-and then more
frequently with age. The skin becomes thickened and leathery the Gl tract thickens and
motility is a problem-especially the esophagus, thickening of the renal system can cause renal
failuse, thickening of the lung tissue-respiratory difficulties, and thickening of the heart
muscle-heart failure. The course of this disease varies a great deal. Some patients with only
minor non-progressive problems, others with rapidly progressive multi-organ failure. Drugs
don’t seem especially effective although d-penicillamine has been used and steroids are
sometimes used for treatment of a specific organ. Diagnosis of this disease is usually by the
characteristic clinical picture, although biopsy is sometimes helpful.
