Scleroderma is a chronic auto immune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. It mainly affects the skin (it hardens and becomes scarred), but can also affect the internal organs of the body with symptoms varying enormously from a minor irritation to a life-threatening illness.
Symptoms and Characteristics:
Symptoms vary greatly and also depend on what part of the body is involved. They may include:
- thickening of the skin of the fingers, arms and sometimes face, making it tough, tight and leathery
- restriction to the movement of arms and legs
- abnormal blood flow causing colour changes in the hands and feet, usually from pale to blue to red with exposure to cold (Raynaud’s disease)
- tiredness and/or aches and pains in the joints
- digestive problems such as indigestion, heartburn, reflux and diarrhoea or constipation
- lung or kidney dysfunction.
For many people scleroderma presents as a mild skin condition. This is known as localised scleroderma and occurs either as patches of thickened skin or a line of thickened skin that may extend along an arm or a leg. Systemic scleroderma however also affects the internal organs such as kidneys or lungs.
Workplace adjustments and solutions:
In the workplace there are various factors that would assist people with scleroderma to better manage their symptoms. These include changes to work tasks and the environment, such as:
- avoiding work environments with significant temperature changes if experiencing symptoms of Raynaud’s disease
- wear thermal or protective gloves and other warm clothing if working in cold environments to assist skin temperature regulation
- allow time and a suitable environment within the workplace for people to undertake stretches to maintain joint range of movement
- for those with scleroderma in the hands which affects the capacity to grip small objects, consider building up the grip size on tools, pens, door handles and other workplace items used.
Employers of people with disability may be eligible for free workplace assessments and modifications through the Workplace Modifications Scheme. The Workplace Modification Scheme pays for the costs involved in modifying the workplace or purchasing special equipment for employees with disability. To determine eligibility, please refer to the full guidelines:
There are specific solutions and adjustments relating to scleroderma:
References:
Arthritis Australia 2006, Conditions and Treatments: Scleroderma, Arthritis Australia, New South Wales, viewed 26 February 2007, <http://www.arthritisaustralia.com.au/images/stories/documents/info_sheets/english/colour/Scleroderma.pdf>.
Better Health Channel 2008, Scleroderma affects the skin, State Government of Victoria, Victoria, viewed 21 November 2008, < http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/BHCV2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Scleroderma_affects_the_skin?OpenDocument>.
Hunter Area Pathology Service 2005, Hunter Area Pathology Service, New South Wales, viewed 26 February 2007, <http://www.haps.nsw.gov.au/search.aspx?q=Scleroderma>.
MDA Internet 2007, Reed Group, viewed 23 February 2007, <http://www.scleroderma.org.au/information.html>.
Scleroderma Queensland 2007, Queensland Government (Queensland Health), Queensland, viewed 26 February,
<http://www.scleroderma.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=17&Itemid=68>.