Granuloma Annulare + Joint Pains- Advice!!

[charlottev22]

Hi Everyone,

I have had type 1 diabetes for 5 years i am now 21 and have an insulin pump.

I have granuloma annulare on my left hand and have been told it is in relation to my diabetes i was wondering if anyone else has suffered from this and also any advice on succesful treatments would be good. I ahve had it for roughly 2.5 years and it is still active. I also have a patch on my right shin hich is not active but has left a very noticible red mark. I have been perscribed strong steroid creams but have recentkly been taken of them as they are having no affect and dismissed from the dermatology clinic. I was wondering if anyone with the condition has had laser treatment on the area and if it helped, this is the next step i am thinking of taken.

I also suffer from bad shoulder and hip pain which comes and goes. I have had tests for the problem and have been told in a roundabout way it is due to my diabetes. I have had this for around 3 year and any tips would be good. I am currently using volturol cream and diplofenic tablets for pain but its sometimes not useful.

Any advice or comments would be really good

Thanks
Charlotte!

 

[daisy1]

Hi Charlotte and welcome to the forum I am sure there will be some members answering soon who have had similar problems to yours. I know you have had diabetes for 5 years but a little information may be useful to you. Here is a link to some basic information which was written by the Forum Monitors. Have a good read around, use the search facility and ask all the questions you like:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17088

 

[cugila]

Hi Charlotte.
Welcome to the Forum.

I have 2 questions for you, Why were you dismissed from the Dermatology Clinic ? Seems odd. :?

Have you had a Biopsy to confirm the diagnosis as there are some related conditions which are similar in appearance ?

There are only certain treatments for this condition and it also depends on the type that you have as apparently there are 5 different types.

The main treatments as far as I can make out are these :

A number of treatments are effective..

• Intralesional steroid injection is almost always effective for local disease but less effective and less practical in generalised disease, and more steroid is needed.
• Potent steroid creams may be enhanced by using under occlusion.
• Cryotherapy works but may cause hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation. Some regard it as the treatment of choice.2
• Generalised disease is not so amenable to the steroid treatment and is also less likely to resolve spontaneously. Systemic treatments have been disappointing. There are many options, none of which is satisfactory. They include psoralen + UVA (PUVA) treatment, oral steroids, dapsone, chlorambucil and ciclosporin. Trials have usually been small. The tumour necrosis factor inhibitor infliximab may be useful in recalcitrant cases.
• With subcutaneous lesions in children, the best management is reassurance.
• Treatment of perforating lesions is disappointing.
.

I haven't heard of Laser Therapy but there is 'Light Therapy' which can be used in severe cases of generalized granuloma annulare, your doctor may recommend a special kind of ultraviolet light therapy called psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA).

Is that what you mean ?

 

[charlottev22]

Hi thanks for taking the time to get back to me.

I was dismissed because they felt there was no further treatments they could offer and because it is dormant condition. I have had I biopsy on the area and it is granuloma annulare. It is localised as I only have 3 compact areas of it one on my left hand, the other on my right hand middle finger and the other which isn't active on my right shin. When I was dismissed from the clinic they suggested using light therapy but it won't be funded through the nhs. I was wondering if there was anyone who has had successful results with this or any other treatments before I go private and get my hopes up!

Thanks
Charlotte

 

[cugila]

Thanks for that Charlotte. I understand a little better now.

I think the funding issue is maybe down to the local PCT as some areas apparently do fund it (PUVA) if all other treatments fail, it is only available if prescribed by a Specialist.

It might be worth your while contacting the local PCT to ask what the position is there and if you have other options for this treatment outside of the area.

I am not sure if we have any members with the condition, I have been here since 2009 and haven't come across it before, although some of the other conditions have been mentioned once or twice.

Hope you get something sorted soon.

 

[allie/s/w]

I just joined this site and read your post. I have Type 1 and diffuse (generalized) GA and subcutaneous GA too. I've consulted several dermatologists (US) and done my own research, and all the journals suggest that there is nothing to treat generalized GA in people with Type 1. I have it up and down my arms and legs. Steroids do nothing (except harm). I think our only safe option is to learn to live with it or cover it with make-up and clothing. I'm not going to risk dangerous therapies for what is actually a benign condition (though unsightly).