I was just recently tentatively diagnosed with “early erythromelalgia”. I had seen both my podiatrist and my doctor about the symptoms I had been having for a couple of years and neither of them could figure out what it was. I asked to be referred to someone else, maybe a dermatologist, who might be able to tell me what I had. I only saw her for a few minutes, but I believe her diagnosis is accurate. When I got home and looked up EM on the Internet, the symptoms were bang on. She has ordered some blood tests (to rule out other things I think) and I don’t see her again until mid-December. I live in Northern Ontario and this doctor is a visiting dermatologist who only comes every two or three months. I have the feeling she doesn’t know much about this disease or its treatment as she prescribed me a cream called Protopic (tacrolimus ointment, 0.1%) for my feet. (Some doctors just feel like they need to give you a prescription to make you happy.) I looked it up and all I could find was that it is used to treat eczema or psoriasis; I couldn’t find anything at all about it being used for EM. It list skin cancer as a rare side effect, so I am not too keen on using it. Has anyone ever used this for EM???
Also, I am wondering if there is anyone else out there in Ontario who is seeing and can recommend a doctor who specializes in EM and its treatment? Thanks.