white hard lumps on end of fingertips

[pycat]

I have limited scleroderma diagnosed 6 years ago lumps on knees, ankles and elbows which has settled during time but now i have these white areas on fingertips with digital ulcers on some fingers my consultant wanted to put me on blood pressure tablets to get the circulation to fingers but i dont want to take until necessary because he says it will make me dizzy. i now have white areas on finger tips are these calcium deposits what can i do to help these thankyou

[LucyJean]

Hi there, I am a bit surprised that your Consultant (who I am assuming is a Rheumatologist) hasn't provided you with more information and advice about your hands. His main concern will be your ulcers, and I would strongly recommend that if your circulation is very compromised that you do follow the advice about medications to try and improve the situation. There are a number of medications on the market, and they do not all affect everyone the same. You may have no issues with dizziness...and if you do with one type then it is possible to try other options. If the ulcers develop then you will have long term damage to your fingers and the risk of amputation. This is going to be worse than some of the medication side effects. If you wait until the situation is really bad then the medication will be less effective. You will see if you search the site that there are lots of comments about the medications that people are on. Many people are treated with iloprost infusions which they attend hospital units for.

Regarding the white lumps. They sound like they are calcium deposits (calcinosis). There is no medication or treatment that is currently available to improve the situation. They are more likely to occur when you have inflammation and damage to the tissues (another reason why it is important to treat the ulceration). Sometimes they can be removed surgically if they are causing particular problems but generally they are just left in situ.

The main thing is to look after your hands. You must ensure your circulation is good to the tissues. You need to look after the skin with careful moisturisation and you must keep them clean so you don't develop any infections on top of the ulceration.

Please take great care of yourself

All my best

Lucy xxx

[pycat in reply to LucyJean]

thank you for the information i am seeing the rhematologist in march i go once a year now take care

[Lilrosie1]

Are they hard?

[pycat in reply to Lilrosie1]

yes the lumps are hard i think it is calcium deposits

[Lilrosie1 in reply to pycat]

Well if they are hard I would start with essential oils. What else do ur do? If u dont mind me asking

[LucyJean in reply to Lilrosie1]

Whilst I agree that essential oils are a lovely thing to use on your skin in normal circumstances. If you have calcinosis and the lumps have not broken the skin then using essential oils should be ok, but if the skin is broken and the lumps are near to ulcerated skin then you must be VERY VERY careful about what you put on the skin, because it would be easy to irritate it and cause further inflammation and possible infection or skin breakdown. Your GP can prescribe emollients/moisturisers and products to wash the skin in that are also antibacterial/antimicrobial.

All my best

Lucy

[pycat in reply to LucyJean]

thank you LucyJean for your advice i usually use epsom salts with essential oils i will try what you suggest thankyou

[cowhide in reply to pycat]

sildenafil is frequently prescribed and definitely helps a lot of patients with digital ulcers, my rheumy was saying only this week the only cases where she has prescribed it and it has not helped, it turns out the patient was not taking their meds!!! I am on losartan (very small dose) and 3 sildenafil a day and my blood pressure, although on the lower end of normal, is OK and I don't notice any problems (I didn't have high blood pressure previous to that). I get calcinosis too - sometimes a white grainy paste but also the sharp lumps - and it's when they start coming out it gets really painful. Making sure it does not get infected is the most important thing. Keeping skin moisturised and then protecting open lesions where a lump is coming / has come out is essential - I use germolene several times a day. As it's always on the joints it's very difficult with dressings but have had nurses dress them on the odd occasion they've become infected.