Stiff Person or Endocrine problems

[sdegraff]

In June 2004 my knees became painful when doing stairs or squatting. During physical therapy for my knees I began having mid-upper back pain. This back pain started in August 2004.
Some background: I am a 47 year old female - in June 2003 I had an adrenal gland removed due to Cushings. I am still on replacement hydrocortisone. In April 2004 I was diagnosed with hypothyroid and am on Levoxyl.
I have had extensive work ups including MRI

[eyeman415]

A related discussion, Anti-Gad positive and muscle stiffness during pregnancy was started.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

Anti-GAD antibodies in HIGH titre are associated with stiff-person syndrome. Low titres are not and can be found in patients with endocrine problems such as diabetes mellitus.

Your symptoms are not suggestive of stiff person syndrome, so together with a low anti-GAD level, a diagnosis of stiff person syndrome is premature. The pain is more suggetive of a thoracic radiculopathy (pinched or inflamed nerve root in the back) which can occur from diabetes, Lyme disease, viral infections or a prolpased disc.

You should be check thoroughly for diabetes or glucose intolerance (pre-diabetes) with a formal glucose tolerance test if not done already

Good luck

[sdegraff]

Also, could the back pain be related to the endocrine problems?