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Diabetes - Juvenile Community
This patient support community is for questions related to juvenile diabetes including celiac disease, depression, diabetic complications, hyperglycemia / diabetic keto-acidosis, hypoglycemia, islet cell transplantation, nutritional issues, parenting a diabetic child, pregnancy, pump therapy, school issues, and teens with diabetes.
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Stiff joints
by marylesko, Sep 12, 2007 12:00AM
I have had type 1 diabetes for 38 years (I'm 48) with only eye complications (cataracts and minimal hemorrhaging - sight is 20/20 corrected). However, over the past year, I've had pain / stiffness in my left shoulder, wrist, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle..and it's getting worse, impacting everything I do. The pain worsens only AFTER I've done a simple activity including walking down the hall, typing on the computer, or lying flat. I've seen a rheumatologist who has told me I have limited joint mobility (but I can put my fingers and palms together nicely which does not fit the criteria for LJM), and an orthopedic specialist who told me I have "arthrofibrosis" and that I shouldn't do anything that makes it more painful as that will worsen the fibrosis. All joint x-rays show no arthritis and all labs are completely normal (my HgbA1c is 6.8). My endocrinologist will not let me take an NSAID or coxib as he fears renal failure with use of these medications.
I cannot find anything dealing with arthrofibrosis and long-term diabetes. Can someone help me find more information on what's going on and what I may be able to do to help myself? Thank you.
I cannot find anything dealing with arthrofibrosis and long-term diabetes. Can someone help me find more information on what's going on and what I may be able to do to help myself? Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by JDRF-VOL-RL, Sep 12, 2007 12:00AM
Hello, Mary. Congratulations on taking care of yourself so well for so long. I'm not a medical professional, just the parent of a kid with diabetes. The arthrofibrosis descriptions I've seen say that it's a complication of recent surgeries or injuries, but you don't mention that, only that it's after you do some simple activity. What connection between your symptoms and that condition did the orthopedic specialist give you?
I can't find anything diabetes related for that condition, much less anything that talks about long term care, so I'm not sure I'm going to be any help. I'd like to toss this out to everyone else to see if they have any ideas.
I can't find anything diabetes related for that condition, much less anything that talks about long term care, so I'm not sure I'm going to be any help. I'd like to toss this out to everyone else to see if they have any ideas.
Post Comment
I have had left hip surgery (impingement) and bilateral shoulder surgery (impingement in both), but remotely from the onset of symptoms (not to mention that the -fibrosis is also in joints without surgical intervention).
Good BG levels now are positive, and have helped me mitigate my many complications, but even with the best control (and in our early years, the best available was poor by today’s standards) the elevated glucose levels do damage. It is my opinion that your orthopedist has classified you and dismissed you, without concern or real understanding for your underlying condition. There are treatments for these issues, and you need to find an orthopedist who is experienced in treating these complications related to diabetes. This may not be an easy task, but it is worth it.