Systemic sclerosis can also cause symptoms in other organs and tissue, like muscles by causing numbness and swelling, especially in your hands and feet (your extremities), that is Joints stiffness, swelling, and loss of mobility. Early symptoms may include swelling and itchiness. Affected skin can become lighter or darker in color and may look shiny because of the tightness. Some people also experience small red spots, called telangiectasia, on their hands and face. A blood test can tell your doctor that in your blood there is “elevated antinuclear antibodies.” About 95% of people who have scleroderma have this, but people with other diseases also have this. Capillaroscopy is the microscopic examination of blood vessels under the skin. It is now considered a useful tool for identifying problems with the growth of blood vessels, because more than 95% of people will have some capillary abnormalities. Such problems can show the severity and progression of scleroderma.

What are the symptoms of scleroderma?

·       Thickening and swelling of the fingers

·       Pale fingers that may become numb and tingle when exposed to cold or stress, known as Raynaud's phenomenon

·       Joint pain

·       Taut, shiny, darker skin on large areas, which can cause problems with movement

·       Limited mobility or immobile fingers, wrists or elbows because of the thickening of the skin

Scleroderma typically appears as a hardening and tightening of the skin and the connective tissue underneath it. The specific symptoms and the way scleroderma appears depend on the type of scleroderma. The symptoms of scleroderma may vary and can look quite different in each person. In some people, it only affects the skin, but in others, scleroderma goes much deeper, harming your joints, blood vessels, internal organs and the digestive tract, in addition to the skin. In majority of people with scleroderma, you will see changes to their skin, typically in the form of body areas that harden and tighten. Scleroderma can affect small areas of the body — as ovals or straight lines — or it can cover much wider areas and even entire limbs. Since the skin becomes tight, the ability to move might be restricted, and the skin may look shiny.

Some of the symptoms might just be annoying and/or cause significant problems and pain while some other symptoms can be life-threatening.

Most scleroderma patients also experience some pain, which can range from uncomfortable to debilitating.

What are the early symptoms of Scleroderma?

Two of the early signs of scleroderma include the following where blood vessels narrow due to spasm. Excess collagen can also damage blood vessels.  The fingers may become: 

• Your fingers and toes become highly sensitive to the cold and change color with cold or emotional stress (the symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon)
• Stiff and puffy

What does scleroderma joint pain feel like?

One of the biggest sources of pain in scleroderma is the deep tissue fibrosis (caused by excess collagen deposits) that causes permanent shortening of the joints, and tendon friction rubs (a grinding or crunching feeling in joints when they are moved in a certain way).

What are the causes when Systemic scleroderma is associated with internal organs?

• Calcium bumps on your fingers or other bony areas such as your elbows and knees
• Sores on your fingertips and knuckles
• A grating noise when you try to move your inflamed joints and tissues
• Problems of the esophagus, which can lead to heartburn and trouble swallowing
• Scarring of the lungs, which can lead to shortness of breath
• Heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms
• High blood pressure that affects the kidneys

What are the best Ayurvedic medicines for scleroderma joint pain?

Ashwagandha capsules – 1 capsule twice daily with warm water

Bosewellia-Curcumin – 2 capsules twice daily with warm water

Gotukola – 2 capsules twice daily with warm water

Sanjivani Vati – 2 tablets twice daily with warm water

Gandhak Rasayana – 2 tablets twice daily with warm water

Sinhnaad Guggul – 2 tablets twice daily with warm water

What are the recommended Homeopathic remedies for scleroderma joint pain?

--Bryonia is given when pain aggravated by slightest motion and relieved by moderate pressure and warmth.

--Ledum Pal is suggested when the pain travel from downward to upwards and has inflammation in joints. Patient feels chills in wrist and toes are swollen.

--Gaultheria Mother Tincture is sure a shot remedy in rheumatic pains with neuralgia.

--Salicylic acid is another remedy when elbow and knee joints are affected with chills and great swelling.

--Actea spicata is for rheumatism in small joints, wrist, fingers, ankles, toes. Swelling of joints from slight fatigue.

--Curcuma Longa is a specific remedy for acute rheumatism where joints swollen and painful.

--Eupatorium mother tincture for acute palliative pain. Aching in bones of extremities with soreness of flesh. Pain in arms, wrist, and swelling in left great toes.

--Guaicum Q is best remedy for inflammatory rheumatism of upper extremities.

-- Kalimia Latifolia Q is given for rheumatic pains that travel from above to downwards with numbness.

--Mimisa Humilis Q is for lancinations in legs and arms with numbness in right arms and hands and ceasing on movements. And inflammatory swelling in left hand,

--Urtica Urens Q is for pain in ankles and wrists and has increased uric acid level. This mother tincture can be given to joint diseases associated with uric acid.