[Keyplayer]

HI Guy`s ,

Right now my left hand is very sore , as is my back.

My skin on my hands and legs are a mess and painful to the touch.

If I stay in one place too long , my back feels like it is going to break when I try to move.

I have two appointments next week , one tomorrow to see what services I might qualify for , then Thursday for a health assessment .

Bureaucratic BS , what I need is relief , I have prednisone at home , but I have refused to take it because of the high dose needed to help and then upon tapering down to off the symptoms come back , the relief does not last.

Just a sad day , my therapist thinks my autoimmune issues are stress related , me too , I agree with her assessment , but that does no make it go away.

Just wanted to see if any you guy`s have skin and joint problems and what you do when you have a flare-up.

Thanks

Keyplayer 

[speckofdust]

I do, Key. The consensus on Multiple Sclerosis is still that it's an autoimmune disease/disorder, and I was diagnosed with that in 1998. Quite often, I experience skin and joint problems. Unfortunately, I haven't found that any prescription or OTC meds help much. I've tried Meloxicam, Aleve, etc.) Icing helps sometimes - it at least numbs the area for a while. I often have burning and itching symptoms on the skin. For the areas that make sense, I use an itch relief cream or lotion. Sometimes, but not usually, some diphenhydramine helps. The draw back with that is that it makes me very sleepy, so I only take it at bed time if at all.

Maybe related (or maybe not...) I have T2 Diabetes and Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA).

I would be interested in finding out what others have tried and what has or hasn't helped.

[-jimi-]

Yea, but I really don't take meds for it. I'm banned from the specialist for refusing steroids but I really don't want to live in a nonstop panic attack. They just think that is not to do with them, just see a psychiatrist for that. Yea right. Idiots.

Hello Keyplayer. I'm so sorry you're in pain I don't live with autoimmune problems but several of my family members do and I was talking to my TCM doctor (PhD in Traditional Chinese Medicine) about them. He treats people with pain associated with various autoimmune conditions. One of his patients has really bad arthritis pain and finds relief via acupuncture. My TCM doc got rid of my migraines which were getting scary before I met him. Within two months of regular treatment from him, my migraines stopped and have not returned 10 months later.

Sidenote: my doctor said that one of the most important things for folks with autoimmune conditions is that they don't drink alcohol. I don't know if you're a drinker but just thought I'd mention for your information.

Maybe acupuncture would be worth a try for you? Also helps me with insomnia, depression, and anxiety.

Peace and hope to you!

[sarahsweets]

I have a disease called sjogrens disease. Its characterized by dry mucus membranes like eyes, mouth, nose and skin. Joint pain, and degeneration and swelling. A multitude of other stuff. I have had joint replacement surgery and recently rotator cuff surgery. I am doing great though. I stay active and treat the symptoms as best I can. I have a pain management doc that I go to and we have started with targeted cortizone shots. The one in my shoulder didnt work because I had a tear but the ones in my hands do work. We are going to be focusing on my hips in another month.

[speckofdust]

Originally Posted by SilverTrees

Hello Keyplayer. I'm so sorry you're in pain I don't live with autoimmune problems but several of my family members do and I was talking to my TCM doctor (PhD in Traditional Chinese Medicine) about them. He treats people with pain associated with various autoimmune conditions. One of his patients has really bad arthritis pain and finds relief via acupuncture. My TCM doc got rid of my migraines which were getting scary before I met him. Within two months of regular treatment from him, my migraines stopped and have not returned 10 months later.

Sidenote: my doctor said that one of the most important things for folks with autoimmune conditions is that they don't drink alcohol. I don't know if you're a drinker but just thought I'd mention for your information.

Maybe acupuncture would be worth a try for you? Also helps me with insomnia, depression, and anxiety.

Peace and hope to you!

I've been thinking about doing acupuncture for many years. I just haven't been able to afford it with all of the other medical costs I have to deal with. If I ever have room in my budget, I really want to try it, though! I've always wondered what it would feel like to be a human pin cushion!

Originally Posted by speckofdust

I've been thinking about doing acupuncture for many years. I just haven't been able to afford it with all of the other medical costs I have to deal with. If I ever have room in my budget, I really want to try it, though! I've always wondered what it would feel like to be a human pin cushion!

Believe it or not, it's actually really relaxing! It calms the central nervous system. And sometimes I meditate during my sessions.

He uses 25-30 needles on me depending on the day and how I feel but he told me that he used 100 needles on the patient with bad arthritis pain!

I am lucky because my insurance currently covers my acupuncture. Also, I've heard of clinics who offer acupuncture via a "pay what you can" option. My friend had bad nausea during her pregnancy and that's how she was able to pay for her acupuncture....which she described as "amazing" when her nausea stopped.

[SuperCatLover]

I have had the blood work for both undifferentiated mixed connective tissue disease and also scleroderma. I now am 1 pont below a positive test for RA.
I have had multiple auto injuries and whiplash. I have Flexeril for spasms from rubs to top of neck. I need further diagnosed directly from a Rheumi or Neurologist. I suffer from some weakness in my arms and upper back too. I take Aleve or ibuprofen but Aleve seems to drive my np up sometimes. I am a 46 yesr-old female .