Gary,
I'm sorry to hear about your wife. I don't know much about
scleroderma, other than it is a form of arthritis. I have a friend who
has it (just slceroderma, not lung scleroderma) and she has had a
tough time. I think Bob Saget's sister had a much more severe form of
it. In my friend's case, the cartilidge overgrows and cuts off the
blood supply. She doesn't have any full fingers left because of this.
I know from watching the Bob Saget movie of the week that something
similiar can happen with internal organs. I think the name of the
movie was "The girl who turned to stone" or something like that. I
know this isn't much help, but I wanted to try.
I hope things work out ok,
Charlene

gary, i'm so sorry you and your wife are facing this difficult
disease. is her doctor a rheumatologist?

I don't think I'm really a "believer" in the antibiotic protocol for
rheumatoid disease, but I feel as though I need to make you aware of
it. Google "Robert Franco MD" and "scleroderma".
When I was first diagnosed with RA, I got very involed with a group of
people using antibiotics to treat rheumatological diseases. I traveled
across the country twice to see Dr Franco in california(he is a
wonderful man) and to participate in a huge seminar on the antiobic
protocol. There were patients of his there with scleroderma under
control. The antibiotic treatment didn't work for me (studies have
shown it works best in early disease), but we have at least one member
in this group for whom it's worked miracles. Dr Franco supports using
both traditional treatment as well as the AP. At least he did back
then.
Anyway, I wanted to make you aware of another option. Also, what about
a paraffin bath for your wife's hands? They are relatively inexpensive
and feel so good.

Diane

Gary,

I have Psoriatic Arthrits in my hands.  The occupational therapist
suggested to me that I try those warm paraffin baths for my hands.
She says that once I can get my hands warmed up a little, then I can
exercise them & the aching goes away.  Sometimes cold helps, if
there's swelling.  You might want to ask your wife's doctor if he/she
can send your wife to a therapist to see if they can help her out, or
if he/she has any suggestions about how to lessen the pain &
swelling.

Good luck & good thoughts for you & your family.

Shannon

Gary, i don't know a lot about scleroderma - most of what I know comes from
when the wife of a UF football asst. coach had it and the coach's wives
banded together to help her and raise funds for scleroderma.  It sounds like
a most unpleasant disease.

Two questions come to mind - has she been referred to a specialist?  
Preferrably a specialist in scleroderma, but at the least a rheumatologist,
who should know somewhat more.  And i wonder if a pulmonologist would be a
good idea?  In all honesty, I'm not comfortable with waiting a full year for
a follow-up CT as it sounds like she's progressed a lot in the past year.  
Another reason why getting a specialist in on the act could be a good idea.

As for hand massagers, my stepdaughter gave me one a couple ofyears ago from
Sharper Image, but I can't find any trace of them still carrying it.  There
are a lot of mini-massagers showing up in places like Walgreens.  It might be
worth her going in and trying those out to see if any are helpful for her.  
Also,  massaging a capsaicin cream into her hands might help with the
circulation, which could help with the swelling.  My fav is Sore-No-More, but
she could try it out with any of the many ones in the stores.