Well, it has been 12 months since I have had erthema nodosum. I first got it when I got Fifth's disease ( a virus) from my youngest son. So, in that time..what have I learned... Here it is....
Overall, erythema nodosum occurs in approximately one to five per 100,000 persons. In adults, it is more common among women, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:6. Peak incidence occurs in persons between 20 and 30 years of age, although erythema nodosum can occur at any age….I am proof at that..at 41. Most direct and indirect evidence supports the involvement of a delayed hypersensitivity response to numerous antigens. For me, I have noticed through trial and error and reports from two different Naturopaths, that I can not have corn, wheat, spelt, oats…etc. The only grain I can have is brown rice. I think my body and perhaps blood type ( O +) doesn’t like grains.If I choose to eat even a small amount (two bites) of these foods, my knots turn bright red.
I have also been told to avoid coffee which is closely linked to people with gluten-issues (gluten is the protein in wheat). Hot tea has become my new best friend. J
So what else do I know about Erythma Nodosum?
Basic Features of Erythema Nodosum
| Painful, symmetric, red nodules |
| Anterior legs most common location |
| Involutes in weeks with bruise-like appearance |
| Does not ulcerate; tends to heal completely |
What did my doctor say caused my case (which first showed its self July 2010? Well, I had my regular physicians draw my blood. All of my tests came back normal. They advised that I KEEP running as it is good for me, but some say to rest your legs. I did NOT notice more inflammation on days that I ran. I typically run 4-6 miles at a time. The naturopaths told me to avoid certain foods, which has worked best for me.
What do American doctors say causes it?
| Causes of Erythema Nodosum |
| Idiopathic –(idiopathic means - arising spontaneously or from an unknown cause) (up to 55 percent) |
| Infections: streptococcal pharyngitis (28 to 48 percent, mycoplasma, chlamydia, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, mycobacteria |
| Sarcoidosis (11 to 25 percent) with bilateral hilar adenopathy |
| Drugs (3 to 10 percent): antibiotics (e.g., sulfonamides, amoxicillin), oral contraceptives |
| Pregnancy (2 to 5 percent) |
| Enteropathies (1 to 4 percent): regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis |
Again, I am in that 55% of UnKNOWN reasons to have it........they just don’t know. However, I know that foods are reactive for me. That is motivation for me to avoid those foods ..even if it is inconvenient at times. I hope that this info is helpful to others, so you don’t have to suffer as long.
Well, the erythema nodosum is totally gone. No more swelling in my legs. No more painful knots. I am still not having grains (other than brown rice)..and no coffee. Hot tea is my new treat. Try it for 2 weeks and see if it helps your erythema nodosum.
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