5. Puffy or swollen or painful fingers and/or toes
Another trademark symptom of scleroderma can be the change of appearance in the digits on the hands and feet. This symptom is easily recognizable as we all use our hands so frequently on a daily basis and so any changes, however small they happen to be, are easily noticeable.
Often described as appearing to be ‘puffy’, the affected fingers or toes, which have developed a thickening skin, can be difficult to manipulate or walk on respectively.
The swelling which occurs can prove a very daunting prospect to face, as it is usually a case of sitting it out and waiting for it to improve.
Over the counter treatments and anti-inflammatory medicines may help in some ways, but usually, it is a case of playing the waiting game for this symptom to calm down and for the patient to regain satisfactory control of their fingers and toes.
Once again, this symptom varies from person to person.