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Post by christel on Jul 2, 2013 8:15:47 GMT -5
I hate to add something to the board in this way, but... I have had excruciating pain in my right thumb off and on since last Friday. The pain actually kept me from sleeping on Friday night. I have had 'bumps' under the surface of my thumb for a while, but it never caused a problem other than some pain with direct pressure. On Saturday, I noted an area the size of a pea on the tip of my thumb, white and almost callous-like in nature. I thought it was an infection. I saw my favorite hand surgeon yesterday, expecting him to drain it...He said it was a calcium deposit ('c' in CREST) and that there wasn't much that could be done. He said most likely it would come back if he took it out, and that then we have the issue of healing. An x-ray of my thumb showed that I have calcium throughout my thumb...The acute inflammation is better, but I had to bow out of checking blood pressures for my group of senior citizens at church this a.m., which I have loved to do for a few years now!  My thumbs have probably been working overtime for a while because the tips of my other fingers are so sensitive. I have already been adapting many of my activities to avoid pain. I may be running out of ways to adjust. Needless to say, I am quite depressed as more of my abilities are being taken from me. I keep thinking that this stupid disease will just go away. It will be trickier as I develop more stuff with it. Ok, enough complaining. Hope you all have a good day!! Christel |
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Post by jeffn on Jul 2, 2013 19:36:14 GMT -5
Well that sucks! Have you ever had calcium deposits before? I had on my fingers them early on but they used to just come to the surface and break open and a sort of gritty paste would come out. Yeah, I know yucky. Did he have any advice for you? What is the care routine? Sorry you have to temporarily give up the senior citizen gig.
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Post by christel on Jul 3, 2013 16:31:38 GMT -5
Well, the white spot actually got about the size of a penny. I have been keeping a bandaid at the tip of my thumb to try to protect it and whatever it was planning to do or progress to. Then.....this a.m., I noted some drainage and more drainage and more drainage. It was thick and off-white in color. Guess that was the calcium?! I am keeping an eye on it now, of course, and hope that this episode is coming to an end.
I have never had any calcium deposits before that behaved this way. Years ago, I had some hard bumps on my elbows, which I think were a different kind of calcium deposit. I don't know what to think!
C.
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Post by isobelle44 on Jul 3, 2013 17:50:02 GMT -5
Wow Christel, sorry to hear of your calcium deposite. I had a few small ones but wow no where near the size of a penny. Hope that is the end of it for you too.
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Post by jeffn on Jul 4, 2013 6:47:42 GMT -5
That is what mine would do and from your description of the drainage that was like mine also. Sort of gritty feeling. Nice that it is draining, should be less painful. Mine were never that large, that has got to be very sore!
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Post by christel on Jul 4, 2013 19:19:44 GMT -5
Sore is definitely an understatement! I now can't use my fingers or my thumb on my right hand (and I am right-handed!) I hope my thumb heals soon, but it is a pretty significant open area, and that makes me nervous. The pain is burning in nature and radiates up my thumb along what I think is the nerve line, as well as hurting where the actual break in the skin is.
I guess I will be lying low (some more) and giving everything time to heal. Reading out on the deck sounds about right!
C.
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Post by nhnancy on Jul 4, 2013 23:54:01 GMT -5
hi, sorry to hear about this, I have a nodule on my left ring finger knuckle that is a
calcification, about the size of a pea, it doesn't drain, It hurts at night mostly, but docs say they don't like to mess with them. I hope it drains and then heals, its good to know that jeffs got better! thinking of all of you with love
!
Nancy
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Post by scheetzie on Jul 10, 2013 20:57:42 GMT -5
I can remember my very first Calcium Deposit, and it hurt like all heck until it opened, and then I was going to my wonderful hand surgeon 2x weekly because it was so bad...I had to take 2 Oral Antibiotics, and had to keep it covered with RX Bactraban Cream...
It seemed like it took forever to start to heal, think it all started in about October and was still using bandaids in Jan.
I even had a splint made just for that finger and had to use one of those finger protectors at the same time.
I was always told, it's like 50/50 if a surgeon tries to open them, sometimes they can get worse, so mine has never opened one yet...
If any of mine were not real bad, I always cleaned them with peroxide a few times a day, and was told to make sure it was always covered and if nothing else, atleast use Neosporin on it...
Sorry to hear that you had so much pain - Hope it feels better soon, but try to keep it clean at all times
Donna
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Post by grammie on Jul 22, 2013 14:28:17 GMT -5
Sorry you have had these difficulties. I can't relate....fortunately...to this and hope I don't ever have too!
Take care.
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Post by jeffn on Jul 23, 2013 11:12:25 GMT -5
Hey Christel how are you doing with the calcinosis? Have they healed up?
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Post by christel on Jul 23, 2013 13:44:18 GMT -5
Gee, thanks for thinking of me--the answer is yes and no. The original thing did heal up after a peeling off of a few layers of skin on the distal half of my thumb. Then I had a few days of basically no pain. Then the pain began again deep in my thumb (in joints and the nerve inflammation sensation) before the intense swelling began and the skin broke open again and has been draining more of that white stuff. I am quite frustrated as I haven't had normal use of my right hand for probably over a month now. The pain is coming and going, mostly coming! Right now, for example, I have burning along the side of my thumb. I have a bandaid on as the skin is broken open and looks like it is sloughing off again. So, is that enough of a description for you?! Bet you are glad you asked!! If anyone has any tips (no pun intended!) or ideas on how to deal with this very frustrating situation, feel free to share. I am actually dreading going into winter with this stuff due to the spasms of the blood vessels and the worse pain that will bring to the area. I will deal with that later if I have to, I guess.. Christel  |
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Post by jeffn on Jul 23, 2013 19:59:39 GMT -5
That is not such good news huh. And yeah I am glad I asked  . Do you have any issues with digital ulcers also? I know the calcinosis is plenty but I was curious. My bout with calcinosis lasted a four of five months and while not as bad as yours (I think) it was indeed memorable. Sure did hurt. |
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Post by christel on Jul 24, 2013 5:43:21 GMT -5
No actual ulcers at this time, Jeff. I woke at 4 a.m. today and was unable to go back to sleep--aching and burning in right thumb. The drainage seems to have stopped again, but I feel like there is still 'crud' in the thumb, and I can't bend it more than about 30 degrees due to pain and swelling.
Further updates to follow...
C.
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Post by jeffn on Jul 27, 2013 17:52:02 GMT -5
Christel since you brought up your issue about calcinosis I have been trying now and again to remember more about my period of calcinosis sores. Fortunately those are behind me at least for now or were. But you know how it is when you are thinking about something. Last evening I was just hanging out around the house and I noticed that the outside of my right hand ring finger was itchie and upon a little investigation I felt a small lump that appeared to be under the skin. Not inflamed or anything just a small lump. I am figuring I have a blast from the past calcium deposit maybe. Not pleased about that for sure. Well I wake up this morning and can't find it again, this afternoon I can feel it but there is no soreness associated with it now. In a wait and see mode for a while I suppose. I am hoping it is just something that has been there all along and for some reason the area was itchie, right now I feel that the lump and the itchie are not related.
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Post by christel on Jul 28, 2013 17:24:46 GMT -5
Gee, Jeff. Sure hope the power of suggestion didn't jinx you!
My right thumb remains an issue. It has periodic episodes of burning, itching, and aching. I hate to say it, but it seems that the cold (chilly here these days) is making the pain appear and get worse. The sensation of burning is spreading to my right index finger and into my palm and wrist. No open areas.
I am trying to keep my chin up, but the summer is usually my time of less discomfort. The pain really exhausts me, and I am also getting depressed in trying to have a life with its presence. Any time I am pain-free, I am afraid to 'do something' for fear of making the pain reappear with movement of my right hand. What am I to do??
C.
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My thumbs have probably been working overtime for a while because the tips of my other fingers are so sensitive. I have already been adapting many of my activities to avoid pain. I may be running out of ways to adjust.
. Do you have any issues with digital ulcers also? I know the calcinosis is plenty but I was curious. My bout with calcinosis lasted a four of five months and while not as bad as yours (I think) it was indeed memorable. Sure did hurt.