Symptoms

Symptoms of Scleroderma

Patients with scleroderma can experience a variety of symptoms. The most common symptoms include:

• Thickening and swelling of the tips of the fingers
• Pale and tingly fingers that may become numb when exposed to cold or when emotionally upset, called Raynaud's phenomenon
• Joint pain
• Taut, shiny, darker skin on large areas such as the face, that may hinder movement
• Appearance of spider veins
• Calcium bumps on the fingers or other bony areas
• Grating noise as inflamed tissues move
• Frozen (immobile) fingers, wrists, or elbows due to scarring of the skin
• Sores on fingertips and knuckles
• Scarring of the esophagus, leading to heartburn and difficulty swallowing
• Scarring of the lungs, leading to shortness of breath
• Heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms
• Kidney disease