Jennifer B: Morphea Scleroderma

When I was about seven or eight years old, I went on vacation with my family to Galveston, Texas.

When we returned, I noticed that I had a "bruise" on my left knee. It did not go away, so my mother took me to the doctor. He pointed out that I also had white spots down my leg all the way to my ankle.

He wanted to do some tests. They took tissue samples (with huge needles) and marrow samples. I have huge pock marks on my leg from those needles. Anyway, he diagnosed me with scleroderma and told me to apply a cortisone cream daily.

I went to Children's Memorial Hospital a few years later, and they changed my diagnosis to morphea.

I am now twenty-four years old. I still have the permanent "bruise" on my left knee. Every summer, without fail, someone asks me where I got the bruise. I am still unclear exactly what I have, and exactly what it means. If anyone can put it into laymen's terms for me, I would be really grateful. How did I get this disease? Thanks!