diabetic shoulder

[princesslinda]

Has anyone here had any problems with "diabetic shoulder?" This is something i'm not familiar with.

I do have a herniated disc C5-6 level and occasionally have shoulder pain. This was diagnosed before my diabetes, but no surgery was suggested, as after taking NSAID's and muscle relaxers for a few weeks, the pain became managable and there was no nerve root impingement.

I do have frequent shoulder pain (nothing bad, just a tightness, achiness and some difficulty in range of motion). This usually resolves when i'm home on the weekends and not typing (which I do for about 10-12 hrs a day). Some well-meaning person at work mentioned diabetic shoulder and gave me something else to think about. I do have some arthritic changes in neck as well.

Anyone have any experiences to share?

[lgvincent]

I've never heard of any such thing but for the last year I've had intense pain in my right shoulder. It's so bad, I have a hard time doing something as simple as buttoning the sleeves of my shirts. The doctors here have been of no help with the problem.

[rzrbks]

This might help:

Results 1 - 10 of about 1,270,000 for diabetic shoulder


There are many ways that diabetes can affect the muscles and joints. Sugar sticks to the collagen in cells and affects its ability to function. Diabetes can damage blood vessels and a poor blood supply results in scarring and damage in the body's elastic tissues.
We know that some diabetic patients can have problems with changes in the gristle of their hands - and in men, the penis. Most experts think that frozen shoulder in diabetics arises for the same reasons
Diabetes is known to affect the shoulder in several ways. Frozen shoulder seems to be the commonest - with up to 20% of diabetic patients developing it at some time or other.

Calcium spots in the tendons and muscle around the shoulder are also seen more commonly in diabetic patients - this probably relates to the fact that high blood sugars can impair blood flow through small vessels. Tendons are particularly vulnerable to this and respond by depositing calcium. These calcium deposits can sometimes be painless but often cause severe discomfort or limited movement. They usually show up on x-rays.


Diabetes Monitor - frozen shoulder and diabetes (http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/b240.htm)

[Cyborg]

Ahhh, frozen shoulder. My constant reminder that I have diabetes... Went through therapy with some results, but I don't ever think it will be 100%. Stretch, stretch, then stretch some more. Remember, no pain, no gain. If you can't find a source of good stretches, I can probably find my sheet and scan it. Good luck.

[moorejames]

I've had a bad shoulder for awhile now and it didn't occur to me until a few weeks ago that it might be related to the diabetes. I'm planning on talking to the endo about at my next appointment. So far, nothing seems to help it. Some days are worse than others.

[sweetcheeks]

I've had a bad shoulder for awhile now and it didn't occur to me until a few weeks ago that it might be related to the diabetes. I'm planning on talking to the endo about at my next appointment. So far, nothing seems to help it. Some days are worse than others.


you know.... hmmm come to think about it, after i was diagnosed.. about 12/10/06 i woke up one morning with the god awlfulest pain in my shoulder....

i went to the doc on 12/12 for check up, and she says "go to chiropractor" which ive never been cause i dont believe it has to do with that... i actually feel something in there some times not all the time, like a pinched nerve... when im at home it doesnt hurt so much as it does sitting at my computer desk for 8 hours..

[moorejames]

<< actually feel something in there some times not all the time, like a pinched nerve...

My varies from feeling like a tighness, to more like a pinched nerve to sometime feeling like someone's driving an icepick up under my shoulder blade.

I've been to therapy, chiro, you name it. Had xrays on it, nothing. They always start out thinking it's a rotator cuff problem, but my range of motion and inability to "cause" the pain by certain movements (plus a clean xray) always seems to rule it out.

[sweetcheeks]

so there's basically no drugs etc.... that can help this, is that what your saying

[Cyborg]

If it's true frozen shoulder, there are things they can do to help. Manipulation of the shoulder under anesthesia can be done. I went to an orthopedic specialist that happened to be a diabetic himself, but only went through the physical therapy.

[princesslinda]

Thanks for the feedback guys! Cy, i'll look into finding some info on stretches.

[Gangrel]

I had frozen shoulder as well. Psyshio and lotttsss of time got rid of it. Probably almost a year and it was gone (though i only went to therapy for 6 months then quit)

I lost a lot of range of motion, and if anything impacted my arm, like catching a basketball, I could have such great pain I couldn't move my arm for a minute or two.

I finally went to my doctor and got him to refer me to p.therapy, no endo involved.

[moorejames]

so there's basically no drugs etc.... that can help this, is that what your saying

Nah, I'm sure there's things that can help, I just gave up on pursuing it. Actually, plain old-fashioned ice packs seemed to help more than anything else. I was using heat, but that only seemed to make it worse (which makes sense actually, if it's a chronic inflamation thing, ice will help more than heat).

Actually, I took Vioxx for a month (shortly before it was pulled from the market) and it worked wonderfully.... Thankfully, the insurance company was up to date with the research and refused to renew that prescription!

[Cyborg]

Some meds can help with the inflamation, but the actual cause is not dealt with by meds. The problem is that the shoulder actually gets pulled into the shoulder socket and that is the cause of the pain and discomfort. Stretching helps to break the adhesions that are causing the shoulder to tighten up.

[shaza]

I really appreciate what I learned from this thread!

In the last couple weeks I've been experiencing pain in my right shoulder (I'm left-handed, so this matches the profile for diabetic shoulder). It was really bad at night, it was affecting my sleeping, and I was starting to have real problems with mobility.

Then I was diagnosed with T2 and I found this forum and I found this thread and I realized what was going on. It never even occurred to me to mention this symptom to my dr. So, after reading these posts I've been stretching the shoulder frequently. I've also changed my diet quite aggressively and I'm walking every day and, of course, drinking lots of water. I also take MSM, which may or may not be helping, but the shoulder is now (just a few days later) almost pain free. Without any meds or pain killers whatsoever. (Unless you count the MSM, which I've been taking since Christmas.)

Thanks, everyone!!!

Sharon
(My last A1c was 12.2, but next one will be much better, just based on my ever-lowering bg readings.)

[princesslinda]

What's MSM?

[Scratch]

I had frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis in my right one. Man it was horrible. In non-diabetics, patients with frozen shoulders can get cortisone shots to help with the pain, but cortisone shots mess badly with blood sugars.

Let me see, it was back in 2003 my shoulder began hurting some, and then like Gangrel said earlier, it got to a point where sudden sharp movements could leave me crying, and the range of motion was terrible. I've got most of my shoulder's range of motion back, still have some difficulties with adduction (bringing the arm in across my body) but finally over the last few weeks have seen some more gradual recovery that I can sleep again in my favorite position, on my stomach with my head turned looking over my left shoulder and weight on my right shoulder.

It's horrible to go through, but I think that in the years after the worst of it is over, it's helpful to keep working on it with stretching and exercises to strengthen the muscles around the shoulder girdle. You'll lose a lot of strength in that shoulder while going throught the worst of it because it'll hurt so much and you won't be able to reach with your arm. So once it stops hurting too much, got to start working on it.

[Scratch]

As a followup, I was thinking some about the frozen shoulder some soon after I was put in the cast for my ankle and hopping around on crutches. There is no way I could handled crutches back during the worst of the frozen shoulder, I simply couldn't bear any weight on the right shoulder.

[orpy]

I had frozen shoulder a few years ago, even before being diagnosed with diabetes. It was the most painful handicapping experience! I couldn't even do my own bra, had to turn it around to the front to do it. I'm telling you, this was excrutiating pain that would bring tears to my eyes if I so much as moved it in the wrong direction. One day I reached for something in my back pocket and the pain was so bad, I was practically crying, and I'm pretty tough.

The good news is, it got better. It doesn't have the motion it once did but I can do my bra the regular way...it doesn't hurt and I can move it fairly well. It's no longer a handicap. I just hope I never get it again.

[princesslinda]

Amazing how many of us have the same things. That's why I love this group...there's always somebody who can give advice..or at least commiserate.

[rzrbks]

princesslinda

What's MSM?

Many Serious Mice

My Slippery Mate

Match Sam's Mudheadedness

Mary's Simple Maladies

Martha Slides, Mainly

Many Send Money

Must Save (the) Models

Microsoft Scr#@^@#s Mankind

Mark Says Much

madeleine Speaks Manfully

[princesslinda]

See what I mean? Somebody ALWAYS knows the answers!

[MJM]

Has anyone here had any problems with "diabetic shoulder?" This is something i'm not familiar with.

I do have a herniated disc C5-6 level and occasionally have shoulder pain. This was diagnosed before my diabetes, but no surgery was suggested, as after taking NSAID's and muscle relaxers for a few weeks, the pain became managable and there was no nerve root impingement.

I do have frequent shoulder pain (nothing bad, just a tightness, achiness and some difficulty in range of motion). This usually resolves when i'm home on the weekends and not typing (which I do for about 10-12 hrs a day). Some well-meaning person at work mentioned diabetic shoulder and gave me something else to think about. I do have some arthritic changes in neck as well.

Anyone have any experiences to share?

I had what i know as Frozen shoulder about 16 years ago. Both arms could only be raised to shoulder level. I went to a homeopath( not sure about spelling) after being to surgeons and doctors and specialists getting injections into the shoulders and physio for a long period of time, but with no success. I had a couple of meeting with this homeopath and he gave me a very tiny tablet to put under my tongue. After about 7 days my shoulders started to loosen up and after 4 weeks I was 100% again. I've never had any trouble since then. Now he did tell me to take 2 x 500mg of Evening Primrose Oil capsules daily and I've maintained that regime. It's worked for me and is still working. Now it worked for me but may not necessarily work for you, But I know if it was me I certainly would give it a try. If it doesn't work it's one more possibility eliminated. I can feel for you with that complaint. It's dreadful. I had to endure it for years before I found the homeopath.

[Cyborg]

After over a year now, I've gotten approximate 85% range of motion back with only slight pain now. I scheduled an appt for next week to go back to physical therapy and get some assisted stretching.

BTW, it usually occurs with your non-prevalent arm.

[notme]

I have had frozen shoulder twice. The first time was about 1999 and then again in 2004. Once in each shoulder. Both times it started the same way....dull ache in the shoulder, quickly progressing to inability to sleep on my shoulder to the tear reducing quick movements and then the inability to put my hand behind my back or raise it to far above my head. I could not put on a coat, pull a sweater over my head or fasten a bra. It is miserable and someone who has "frozen shoulder" has my deepest sympathy. I pray to God I never get it again.

Both times I did have cortisone shots in my shoulder. Yes, it wreaks havoc on your blood sugar for about a week and a half. It takes about three months after the cortisone for it to start healing. Both times it took me about two years to completely recover from frozen shoulder. My doctor highly suggested against the surgery as she said many times the patient was left with damage to the shoulder. She said manipulation is sort of a last resort.

Frozen shoulder eventually resolves itself. It is painful and frustrating. But....it does go away. Sometimes you are left with a reminder as I was the second time.

Good luck and I hope you get relief SOON!!!!

[lgvincent]

Darn. Sounds like I may have this diabetic shoulder.

[princesslinda]

Yes, I do have the problem in my non-dominant arm. I would have usually just taken a few ibuprofen tablets, but I try to avoid this now. I have bought one of the memory foam pillows and it has helped a bit. Also, I've been doing stretching as Cy suggested and feel my range of motion has improved a little bit. I'm sure working at a keyboard 10-12 hrs a day is not helping.

Again, thanks for all the info guys.

[Scratch]

After over a year now, I've gotten approximate 85% range of motion back with only slight pain now. I scheduled an appt for next week to go back to physical therapy and get some assisted stretching.

BTW, it usually occurs with your non-prevalent arm.
Not for me. The bright side of that was that I learned to do a lot more stuff with my left hand and arm, and I'll still often now work with a computer and have the mouse on the left side of the keyboard.

There are fairly rare cases of frozen shoulders occurring simultaneously in both arms. OW! That'd be utterly miserable.