Sheryl: Morphea

My story starts several years ago when I was going to numerous doctors for joint pain such as wrist, TMJ, knees. On one of my visits to my physician I showed her the small brown spots I had on my upper right thigh. She biopsied it and referred me to a skin doctor. He asked me if I was having joint pain also. When I confirmed that I was he put me on an antibiotic because he said it might be related to Lyme disease.

I was on the antibiotics for several months. All of my joint pain went away, but in the meantime I was having side effects from the antibiotics and my spots were increasing down both of my legs.

During my time in his care he did two more biopsies on my legs and told me the only thing they knew to do was to put me in a machine sort of like a tanning bed except stronger. The spots would then turn white and hard. I already have a few spots like that and they hurt at times so I opted out of that treatment.

Since there was nothing else they could do I have not been back in to see them. The brown spots have spread all over my body including my face. I have white spots on my chest now and my skin is very leathery. My skin also hurts during the cold winter so I keep a lot of lotion on it. I do not have joint pain anymore except when I have been standing for a long period of time.

I really had not associated morphea with that but it makes sense now. I was told to not get in hot water which is my favorite for a shower so I do try to limit the hot water.

Although, I hate that others are suffering with this terrible disease, I am glad to know I am not alone. If you know of anything to help my skin not hurt or ache please forward to me.