Very Painful Digital Ischemia with Dry Gangrene from Systemic Sclerosi

Posted by smvogel @smvogel, Aug 31 1:52pm

Has anyone dealt with severe digital ischemia with necrosis? In the past 4 months, I have been experiencing rapid tissue loss, severe pain and an actual bone protrusion on my right index finger. I have dark necrotic areas on three of my digits. Angioplasty to open blood flow to arteries in the palmar arch of my hand has failed. I continue to have severe pain and see more tissue loss daily.Please let me know if you have dealt with this and how it was treated.

I have Scleroderma, Rheumatoid arthritis, CREST, Raynalds, and recently completed 6 rounds of chemo for Kaposi Sarcoma.

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Mshutch | @mshutch | Aug 31 4:15pm

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I haven't gotten to that point yet. I am developing contractures in both hands and the last digits in my fingers are painful and tingle constantly. I don't know if it is calcinosis or ischemia developing. Hopefully someone here has something more helpful.

jerce | @jerce | Sep 1 8:14am

I am sorry for your suffering. I am also diagnosed with systemic scleroderma.
In a hospital sponsored support group, a woman with our diagnosis spoke of successful hand surgery probably done by a hand specialist.