Erythema nodosum

Hey guys,
Well i'm undiagnosed at this stage, but I had an interesting experience this week. I have been super itchy since Monday, and I started breaking out in these spots. By the next morning, they were all over my legs, and my butt too. I thought I had been bitten by something. Went to the pharmacy, they said I had hives. I took antihistamine. It didn't do anything. Finally, last night, I went to one of those bulk billing gp's and they sent me to the hospital. I thought, how stupid of me to go to the hospital for a rash! But I was very very itchy, and the lumps were harder now, and looked strange, and I also had very bad pain going through my legs. So the dr says I have erythema nodosum. I was wondering, what should I except, re. healing? She gave me predisone, which I have never had before. As yet, not much relief, but I'm waiting... Can anyone tell me about their experiences of this? Do you think having this will help me more in getting a diagnosis? Thanks, hope you're all having a great day.

Mine would get VERY sore (sorry!) .....then go from red to bruised looking before eventually fading. Pred always helped me too.

I've had erythema nodosum before, but the most severe it ever got was numerous large itchy lumps near my joints (elbows, kneecaps, ankles). They are VERY itchy and look just like bug bites - sometimes the center of the lump even exhibits some seepage from a pore, looking as though a bug bit me there!

My doctor has never prescribed anything for it. They will eventually go away on their own but it takes a few weeks. They also leave dark spots behind too that can linger for months - not pretty. Try your hardest to not scratch them!

I cut my fingernails down super short so I wouldn't scratch them! ;D But it's soooo hard! But yes, they hurt too, at the same time? It's weird. So I went to the bowel specialist today and he says I have to have a colonoscopy. :S But he was ambivalent about the nodule things. Blah. So frustrating waiting for a diagnosis!

There is a skin lotion called Sarna - it has menthol in it, and it will make your skin feel cold, but it will relieve the itching for a while. It works on just about any kind of itch. Don't put it all over all at once until you get used to the cold feeling.

Sometimes when I have insect bites I use Bactine on them - it numbs your skin, but it has Benzocaine in it and you don't want to absorb too much Benzocaine so don't use it continuously. I hope these things go away soon. I've never had this particular skin problem, but I've had others that itch and it's miserable.

Yes, unfortunately they do hurt/ache as well. I sometimes find that putting a coldpack on them helps relieve itching/pain/inflammation.

I've never known anyone else with Erythema Nodosum! I had it when I was 8 yrs old and had the bumps just like you described, Kell. For some reason I couldn't walk for a couple days and was in a lot of pain but it subsided pretty quick and I could go back to normal activities. I remember sleeping a lot for that first week though. Feel better! Rest up!:hug:

Miss Underestimated said:

There is a skin lotion called Sarna - it has menthol in it, and it will make your skin feel cold, but it will relieve the itching for a while. It works on just about any kind of itch. Don't put it all over all at once until you get used to the cold feeling.

Sometimes when I have insect bites I use Bactine on them - it numbs your skin, but it has Benzocaine in it and you don't want to absorb too much Benzocaine so don't use it continuously. I hope these things go away soon. I've never had this particular skin problem, but I've had others that itch and it's miserable.

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I use vicks vapour rub, walmart/Asda have their own brand which is very cheap. It is fantastic on ideopathic urticaria it is the only thing that gives me some relief and it doesn't contain any alcohol

Thanks everyone for all your advice. The nodules did what the dr said they would-they went kind of flat and turned into a purply looking bruise things. My legs and feet look hideous! :S Still itchy, but heaps better, that prednisone stuff is a miracle worker!

chellybird said:

I use vicks vapour rub, walmart/Asda have their own brand which is very cheap. It is fantastic on ideopathic urticaria it is the only thing that gives me some relief and it doesn't contain any alcohol

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I never thought of that!! Thanks. It is the menthol that does the trick.

I had those before my diagnosis and after I started my Crohn's treatment they dissaoeared