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       #Post#: 5--------------------------------------------------
       my DM treatment experience
   DIR By: dmgone
       Date: December 9, 2017, 10:13 am
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       I began to have arm pain in July, 2009 followed by an
       inflammation of my cuticles on every finger. At first, a
       dermatologist prescribed a topical cream for the fingers which
       did no good. By November, I had band-aids on every finger and my
       muscles ached to the point where I had to use two hands to shave
       and had to sit  down to put on pants. My GP correctly identified
       it as Dermatomyositis but sent me to a Rheumatologist. After
       ordering blood tests, the Rheumatologist sent me to a
       Neurologist for more testing; I went back to the Rheumatologist
       who then prescribed Prednisone and Methotrexate, the first to
       relieve the pain and inflammation and the second as a
       maintenance drug. I was then seen by UCONN's health center's
       leading Rheumatologist to confirm the diagnosis. By that time, I
       had begun to display red blotches on my arms and face. The
       condition is rare enough that he took pictures of my fingers and
       of my 'blotches' to use in his classroom instruction. The
       medication reduced the pain in my muscles first, but it took
       longer for the finger inflammation to go away. I was weaned off
       the Prednisone and then, eventually, off the Methotrexate. As of
       December, 2012, all signs of my conditoon have disappeared.
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