What is sclerosis of the foot

Systemic diseases affect the whole body, and symptoms usually are displayed in the feet. Systemic diseases include gout, diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders, and arthritis. Gout — is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. Gout can be treated by NSAIDs to relieve pain and inflammation, and other drugs that lower the acid levels in the body. Diabetes mellitus — is an increase in the level of blood sugar that the body cannot counteract with its own insulin.

Failure to produce enough insulin is a factor in Diabetes. Diabetic Neuropathy — may lead to damaged nerves and affect the feet through numbness and loss of sensation. Peripheral Vascular Disease — can restrict the blood flow to the feet, and often times lead to amputation of the feet.

What is Scleroderma? The disorder results in the hardening and inflammation of many organs in the body. Inside the body, SS affects the gastrointestinal tract, the lungs, kidneys, heart, and various muscles. There are two major types of scleroderma that are commonly seen in people. The first type affects large parts of the body such as the respiratory system, while the second type is more specific and might affect a smaller area such as the tissue or cartilage near a bone.

In many cases the risks associated with complementary and alternative therapies are more to do with the therapist than the therapy itself.

The use of high-dose vitamins E and C, fish oil and ginger or gingko dietary supplements can also help. If you have trouble with daily activities like dressing or tasks that need you to have good grip strength, there are a number of gadgets available that can help. If in doubt, ask an occupational therapist for advice on how to protect your joints from unnecessary strain.

If you struggle to open child-proof medicine containers, ask your pharmacist to put your drugs in containers you can manage. Some people find it difficult handling coins when their fingers are sore or swollen. A coin purse that opens out to form a tray for the coins may help with this.

This organisation makes bespoke equipment free of charge for people with a medical condition to help them with essential daily tasks. If you live in England, and have systemic sclerosis, you may also be entitled to free support from your local authority to help with everyday tasks and getting around your home.

You could get help with the costs of aids and minor adaptations if you meet eligibility criteria. The criteria includes that you have a physical or mental illness or disability, and are unable to do basic tasks or activities, such as:. All these aids and adaptations can help with everyday tasks around your home and make it easier to get around. For more information, visit this website for a needs assessment: www.

You need a good supply of blood flowing to your skin to stop it from cracking, peeling and developing ulcers. Telangiectasia are small red spots on the skin that often develop on the face, hands, and sometimes the chest and arms.

Changing Faces, a charity for people with conditions, marks or scars that affect their appearance, offer a skin camouflage service, giving advice on how to cover the marks with camouflage cream. Clinics are available throughout the UK and you can find information on the nearest one to you by visiting their website, www. The service is free though donations are welcome and is open to anyone. Laser treatment can also help in some cases. There may be emotional difficulties connected with having a long-term condition, and the changes in the appearance of your skin can be upsetting.

Talk about any feelings of stress or depression with your family, friends or a healthcare professional. If you need help in handling stress or depression, your doctor may be able to help or can refer you for specialist counselling. You can also speak to a nurse in the rheumatology clinic. Many clinics have nurses who either specialise in systemic sclerosis or have a special interest in the condition. Talking to people with the same condition can greatly help. We explain which foods are most likely to help and how to lose weight if you need to.

Find out more about exercising with arthritis and what types of exercises are beneficial for certain conditions. Versus Arthritis is currently funding several studies to improve our understanding of the causes of systemic sclerosis. This includes a long-term study to find out whether a new light-based imaging technique can be used to measure different features of the condition. This technique has potential to tell us more about what causes blood vessel narrowing and tissue scarring fibrosis.

It may also lead to research into new therapies for systemic sclerosis. Scar tissue is made by cells called myofibroblasts, and a protein called c-Rel is thought to regulate its production.

This research aims to understand how c-Rel regulates scar production and to discover whether altering its function or removing it will prevent scar formation. My symptoms started in July No-one could tell me what was going on. I was referred to a rheumatologist. Nothing was showing up in my bloods to indicate anything in particular. But over the following few months, more and more started to go wrong.

I was having trouble walking and I was out of breath all the time. The walk from my car to work was too much, so my husband would drop me off right at the door. After Christmas, I had another blood test and something showed up. We went on a skiing holiday in northern Italy, and because it was at high altitude that set things off.

I became ill and was struggling to breathe. I had to be helicoptered to a hospital in a town called Bolzano. I was in this hospital in Italy for two-and-a-half weeks. It was quite a shock. They got me stabilised, so I could come back to England. I came back to the local hospital and was transferred to a renal unit in Manchester.

I had a serious problem with my kidneys. They did a biopsy on my kidneys and took me off my medication. When they saw signs of improvement, I was allowed home. I have good days and bad days. One of the biggest ways it has affected me is my skin. It has made my skin extremely tight, and it gets shiny, itchy and painful. My skin is almost normal again now. My treatment was quite aggressive early on, but it seemed to have the desired effect.

I had to give up work though. I was too ill to continue at the time. It is easy to say, and difficult to do, but you have got to keep a positive mindset that you will get through the worst of it. What really helps, is to talk to people. It helps if you have a good supportive family around you, and I am lucky to have that.

My husband Andrew and I get out for a walk on a daily basis. And just being out in the fresh air, is good for the mind. Versus Arthritis About arthritis Conditions Systemic sclerosis scleroderma.