ISN Photo Repository

Sympathectomy Photos

Systemic Sclerosis, which is most commonly called scleroderma (SD), affects everyone differently. Just because something is listed here does not mean an individual patient will ever experience it.

2. Photo After Sympathectomy in Systemic Scleroderma Patient

Photo after sympathectomy in a systemic scleroderma patient.
Property of ISN Photo Repository. Contributed by Jeanne N.

Commentary by Jeanne N.

Three and a half months after the ulcers began to surface on my cold purple finger, surgery became a last ditch effort before amputation. My surgeon gave me a 5% chance that this particular procedure would help relieve the constriction in my blood vessels enough to save the end of my finger. Somehow, an "unnecessary" surgery seemed better to me than a scary amputation.

I have read anything and just about everything in the medical journals and in personal experiences online relating to my condition. In theory, the procedure should also raise the finger temperature and lessen some pain. PAIN was why I was up for the procedure. Three days prior to the surgery, I had hit two # 11's on the pain scale and I could no longer control my tears.

Surgery was a breeze. I told the anesthesia folks who put the block in my armpit that I had been waiting for two months for the pain relief. I told my surgeon's right hand nurse, just moments before lala land, "Please have Dr. B cut back the nail." I remember watching the monitor as he did. Subconsciously I must have surfaced from my incoherent snooze to celebrate.

Soon after I arose from the occasion, my arm was laden with deadness. It was heaven. I was out of my room and on my way home in an hour. I spent the rest of the day napping. When I woke the next morning, pain was at a level 2! I emailed the great news to everyone who cared and got ready to get the bandages off and take a look at my "franken finger".

At the physicians office the Fellow came in to remove my bandages and ask me some questions, then a nurse came in to clean my hand. I discovered my nail was gone, the ulcer was removed, and I had an angry lightening bolt full of blue sutures, 16 of them from my second knuckle to my palm. Dr. B. came in and said, "Well, how does it feel?" I smiled and said, "Like a million bucks, doc," and my smile turned into his.

Related Links

ISN Photo Repository: Sympathectomy (Main Page) ISN.

Raynaud's Treatments: Sympathectomy ISN.

Digital Ulcers ISN.

What is Scleroderma ISN.

ISN Photo Repository: Main Page ISN.

Skin Involvement ISN.

Scleroderma and Symptom Photos Wanted for ISN Photo Repository

We want photos of scleroderma symptoms to post on this web site or use in our printed materials to illustrate symptoms such as Morphea, Linear, Sclerodactyly (hardened fingers), Raynaud's, Calcinosis, Telangiectasia (etc). If you have any form of scleroderma or related illnesses and photos of your symptoms that you'd be willing to donate to the ISN Photo Repository, please email JPG files to [email protected]. International Scleroderma Network.

SCLERO.ORG is the world's leading nonprofit for trustworthy research, support, education and awareness for scleroderma and related illnesses. We are a 501(c)(3) U.S.-based public charitable foundation, established in 2002. Meet Our Team. Donations may also be mailed to: