Ankle Hurting - is this related?

garyb · #1 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 05:26 PM

The last few days my ankle has been hurting and since I did nothing to it that I know of I am wondering if this is related to my type 2 diabetes?

Thank you

liz32 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 05:42 PM

probably not but if it persists you should see a doc, especially if your sugars are not in good control...don't know if they are or not, but if they're not you may take longer to heal from an injury: it's very easy to hurt or strain your ankle.
Liz

Jill-O · #3 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 04:16 AM

I also think it's probably "just" a twist or sprain. I sprained my ankle about 10 years ago (before I had diabetes or before I knew I had it) in an accidental dismount (ie riding accident) and it was honestly a couple of years before it did not hurt anymore. I doubt that's normal in hindsight. It didn't continue to hurt all the time, but would ache off and on.

rwmetcalf · #4 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyb

The last few days my ankle has been hurting and since I did nothing to it that I know of I am wondering if this is related to my type 2 diabetes?

Thank you

I woke up one morning in 1994 with a "sprained" ankle. Couldn't think of anything I might have done to hurt it. Put a wrap on it and went to work. By 8:30am I was nearly in tears and couldn't walk (had to take the wrap off due to swelling). Turns out I had gout. It took the Drs. 3 months to make the diagnosis (actually, it took the arthritis specialist 30 seconds to make it and 5 minutes to confirm after a two month wait to get in to see him).

I have read somewhere in all the reading I do about this stupid disease (diabetes) that gout is more prevalent in diabetics. Not sure if this is true since I don't seem to recall anybody here talking about it. Of course, I seem to be the only one here with perpetually tingling lips and tongue, too. Anyway, I mention gout only because it is really painful and I would hate for you to go 3 months wondering why your ankle is hot, red, feverish, sore and very painful to the touch. Sodium naproxin (sp?) was a big relief against the pain. The primary ingredient in Aleve is sodium naproxin. Try that and see how it works. I usually take two when I feel a twinge. This is twice the amount the bottle says to take but less than the prescription.

Roger

type1tenorlady · #5 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007, 02:14 PM

I get really painful neuropathy episodes in my arms and legs that seem to come and go as they please, so that could be it, but since you mention pain specifically in your joint rwmetcalf might be correct in suggesting that it could be gout since I know that disease affects your joints.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwmetcalf

Of course, I seem to be the only one here with perpetually tingling lips and tongue, too.
Roger

My lips and tongue tingle too, but only when my BG is really low, and only sometimes.

princesslinda · #6 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007, 02:15 PM

Good call Roger. I have a diabetic co-worker who suffers from gout quite frequently. She will have a banding type pain across the top of her foot and all around the ankle area with heat, redness and swelling...so bad she can't put any weight on the foot.

Gary, if you don't improve, you can have a blood test done to check your uric acid levels....also, they can check the fluid from your ankle as well, apparently gouty crystals can be seen under polarized light and diagnosed that way.

The docs advised her to watch her nitrate consumption (found in processed meats), eat a few cherries with b/fast and to drink a carnation instant breakfast daily when her symptoms began (they come in s/f now). She has these attacks a couple times a year, more in Fall/Winter for her.

rwmetcalf · #7 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

The docs advised her to watch her nitrate consumption (found in processed meats), eat a few cherries with b/fast and to drink a carnation instant breakfast daily when her symptoms began (they come in s/f now). She has these attacks a couple times a year, more in Fall/Winter for her.

Some other things you can do to help avoid gout attacks are: don't eat organ meat (liver, heart, etc.), don't drink beer, red wine may contribute because of the nitrates used as preservatives, don't take regular aspirin (doesn't cause gout but does aggravate it, according to the arthritis specialist), don't eat turkey (can't remember the by-product in turkey that is broken down into uric acid). Also, and I found this to be really helpful, wear socks to bed. The gout is your body's reaction to uric acid crystal buildup in the joints. The lower joints are normally most affected because they get cold at night and the uric acid comes out of solution (like salt or sugar forming crystals when the hot water they were dissolved in cools off) and form crystals. I have had gout in my big toes, my ankles and my left knee, socks help prevent that. Of course, this assumes you have gout. I hope not.

Quote:

My lips and tongue tingle too, but only when my BG is really low, and only sometimes.

I hate that feeling. It is supposed to be a symptom of low BG, but mine is perpetual. I always have it after eating carbs, even low GI carbs. My BG has never been lower than 70 that I know of, and in 6 months I have only measured my BG below 80 three times. My lips and tongue will tingle in the 80's, 90's or much higher. The plus side is that I have great incentive to not eat cake or ice cream.

Roger