Electric shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) as a pain control measure in dermatomyositis with calcinosis cutis-old method, new discovery.

A 23-year-old Chinese man with dermatomyositis associated calcinosis cutis received electric shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) as an alternate to a conventional pharmacological regimen to reduce pain associated with the complications of subcutaneous calcinosis nodules. He became symptom and opioid free after two courses of ESWL. No significant adverse effect had been noted. ESWL may serve as a means of pain killing in patients suffering from debilitating pain caused by complicated calcinosis cutis.