frozen shoulder carpal tunnel syndrome

sugarybibs

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124
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Hi All havnt been on for a while.Was wondering if any other type 1 have frozen shoulder.Cant believe it had frozen right shoulder about 8 years ago was going to doctor for over a year for him to finally get me diagnosed after saying all different things.Anyway had the operation by keyhole surgery was in hospital for over a week.Cant believe it its in my left shoulder now!!!been to hospital after months of going to doctors again and have been diagnosed with another frozen shoulder!!!Had trigger thumb a few months ago had injection for that that went then (sorry about all the moaning)been diagnosed with dupuytrons contrapture and carpal tunnel syndrome.I was just wondering if any of you suffer from any of these problems.I am waiting for appoinment for op on frozen shoulder but was told it is only a day case now.I have been type 1 for 40 years so of course all doctors say is its because of this!!!So i was just wondering if anyone else has these problems . :roll:
 

hanadr

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Frozen Shoulder is indeed common in Diabetes. Exercise and GOOD blood Glucose control are the best way to clear it up. A physiotherapist or sports therapist can advise you on exercise.
Hana
 

DannyB

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Messages
45
You have my sympathy.

I had frozen shoulder in BOTH shoulders at the same time about a year before I was diagnosed type 2 - although looking back now I am sure I was already diabetic at that time.

Nothing really helped - I tried all types of treatments and therapy and was just at the point of considering surgery when it started to unfreeze.
 
C

catherinecherub

Guest
hanadr said:
Frozen Shoulder is indeed common in Diabetes. Exercise and GOOD blood Glucose control are the best way to clear it up. A physiotherapist or sports therapist can advise you on exercise.
Hana
Good blood glucose control does not make any difference. My blood sugars were always in the high 4's and low 5's throughout the time I had a frozen shoulder. It is more common in diabetics than in the general population.
 

lowthian20

Member
Messages
11
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi
I had Frozen Shoulder to my left shoulder about 10 years ago. I suffered it for about 2 years and I was in agony with it. My GP put me on anti inflams, had physio cortisone etc but nothing worked. Got me booked in at hospital to have it manipulated (had to go in overnight to sort out the insulin) had the operation and was out next day. Bit of physio followed and ok since then.
The only downside was that the doctor at the hospital who carried out the procedure said that once you have one shoulder operated on the next will follow. Sure enough 18 months later back in getting the other one done. That was about 8 years ago and fine since then so nothing to worry about

Cheers

Andy
 

jopar

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Messages
2,222
I have at the moment both shoulders freezing on me :(

There isn't a lot that can really be done, physio, can help to maintain as much movement as possible, anti-flam can be helpful for pain control, similar to cortisone injections... Sometimes they will knock you out, so that they can be quite aggresive with manipulated, where the try to break the adhesions in the muscle surrounding the shoulder..

My right should is about 18 months in, and is just on the turn around, with the pain very slowly starting to receed a bit, so physio is looking to increase the mobility, as I've lost quite a bit, so in a fortnight I'm having a cortisone injection, then followed by physio..

As for my left shoulder, it's a case of physio, to see if we can maintain as much mobility as possible while it goes through the freezing process

I went to docs this morning, he arranged the cortisone injections, he gave me the physio numebr (we have self referal here) I made the phone call to them just after 11am, and appointment made for 1.30pm so had my first visit today, they physio did her checks and note taking, did some manipulation on my right shoulder :D Gave me some home exercise for my shoulders, and my right shoulder is more comfortable than it has been for a very long time..
 

jeneh

Newbie
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1
Hi,
I have had frozen shoulder syndrome since 2002. I went to doc back then and he said I had RSI due to working with mouse day in day out. My right shoulder has always been the worst. He recommended physio but I never did it being young(er) and little more reckless and eventually it cleared up by itself but have always had very weak arms and not a great range of movement with them.

Anyhow, nearly three years ago my son came along and shortly after his birth I got trigger thumb in left thumb, had injection but didn't do trick so had to have it operated on. Year later I got it in right thumb and was sent straight in for operation. Both are fine now.

On and off my shoulders have played up but doc always put it down to constantly picking up the boy and the increasing weight of him making shoulders sore. Always thought this was a bit of a suspect diagnosis but recently right shoulder has got really bad and not being able to bear the pain anymore went back to doc who finally diagnosed frozen shoulder. As my range of movement wasn't too bad then he decided against injection and is referring my for physio which I intend to do this time. Is steadily getting worse to the point I can bearly lift my arm up.

I believe that we diabetics are more prone to such conditions. I have two other diabetic friends who have also suffered with tendon trouble in fingers and frozen shoulders. I disagree with the person's comment about it being down to good blood sugar control.

My control is fine, my HbA1c is at a good level and one of my friends is sickeningly perfect with an HbA1c of 5.4 and she has had nearly every finger operated on for tendon problems and had treatment for frozen shoulders. Just got to face that we are more prone to these things 8((

Jen
 

badmedisin

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Messages
247
Annoying, isn't it? Sometimes I feel like if I got shot in a drive-by, the doctor would say "well, there's a much higher incidence of random shootings on diabetics. You just need better control."

But hand and shoulder problems definitely are much more common in diabetics. I'm convinced it's because type 1 is an autoimmune condition and my stupid body wants to kill me! But that's just on my bad days...

I have noticed that things usually go wring on my right side and the left invariably follows. I had busitis in my right shoulder, which took years of physio and evil steroid injections and a ton of codeine before I got a diagnosis and an operation. They operated two years ago and it's ok now, but it's taken me those two years to persude them that the left shoulder is the same. I'm having the op for that next week so I'm in constant panic now. Anaesthetics scare me.

Also I had carpal tunnel last year. They diagnosed that quickly because I pointed out that it was the three fingers that are affected by carpal tunnel. That stopped them trying to fob me off with neuropathy, better control, blah blah blah. When I was recovering from that op, my left hand started to show symptoms. Great! Luckily when I went back to using my right hand for everything the left got better. I got trigger thumb right after having the operation, then one of the fingers on my left hand started to go as well. Oddly they both got better on their own. Which is nice.

So really it's all fun and games when it comes to diabetes and your extremities!
 

donnellysdogs

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Hi

I used to suffer from frozen shoulder, and had cortisones etc....it wasn't. It was the simvastatin. Since stopping them majority of leg muscle pains have gone, and I am now able to put my arm under the pillow at night for the first time in 8 years, and it wasn't through surgery, or unecessary injections, just reading about the amount of people on various website that have shoulder pain as part of their simvastatin side effects. It isn't listed as a side effect-only muscle pains in legs. I also had carpal tunnel operated on twice on both hands, and got told I would have to give up my gardening job.......my hands are normal now, not a pain in them-and I am stil gardening.

Look at everything as a possible cause, I wonder how many people with diagnosis of frozen shoulders and carpal tunnel are on statins....
 

Russ

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Nasty for you, Sugary, but as mine occurred about 5 years before T2 diagnosis I don't think there was a connection - especially as it came suddenly with the trauma of falling off a ladder because of over-stretching. It took 18 months of many different therapies, including a variety of exercises 6 times a day, before going. I begged for cortisone injections to no avail but probably the most effective and easiest exercise was the 'elephant's trunk' where you lean forward and dangle the affected arm like an elephant's trunk and swing it in ever-wider circles. Doubtless you've been given that one amongst others.

Good luck.

Russ
 

Salgor

Member
Messages
5
I suffer carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands. I have already had surgery on the right hand about 9 years ago. It is back and I am just waiting to have the op again. They tell me that if you are diabetic and have an underactive thyroid you are prone to this condition - I have both!! No luck eh :(
 

Russ

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Interestingly, Salgor, I had an aunt with CT Syndrome. She had the ops which were eventually successful BUT she never knew that her diabetes (T2) was a contributory factor. Poor Tina - poor you.

Good luck,

Russ
 

sugarybibs

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124
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Hi badmedisin, was just wondering if youd had your op yet?my nerves are gone because went to hospital yesterday they gave me the 21st june for op and then i had all my post meds.ive signed form but like you im scared of anaethestic because i was allergic to one muscle relaxant years ago and nearly died so have to tell anaethists befor my op.They said i may go in night before but usually you are only if for a day.

Im always scared of the doctors and nurses not making sure my blood sugars are ok etc.I told pre op nurse this and he said you will be looked after properly!!i was ill last time when i had my right shoulder operated on and was in for over 6 days and they said id only be in for 3 i know it was about 8 years ago though.They also give risks on consent for like infection nerve injury bleeding recurrence stiffness clots i read this and thought i dont know wether to bother or if i dont get it done do you know if it will get any worse?i am not on simvastatin dont have thyroid problems just take novorapid and detemir.Hope your op went ok so you may be able to advise me thanks. :? :? :?
 

badmedisin

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247
Hiya,
yep, I had my shoulder op 2 weeks ago. It always scares me, but I felt it was the only option cos my shoulder just kept getting worse. It's still hurting but I already have more movement in some directions, which is pretty cool. I'm looking forward to being able to do my hair properly again :)

I read somewhere that they don't always use muscle relaxants, sometimes it's just the sleepy stuff. Not sure if that's true but maybe worth asking your doctor. Or they might use a different kind of relaxant. Just make sure you keep reminding them of everything you're concerned about. Keep telling them you're allergic and keep telling them you're diabetic. You should get to go first in the morning so you can get back into your insulin & eating routine asap afterwards.

Also I would advise discussing your diabetes with the specialist first. I have to admit I got conflicting info & responses from different hospital people. I was told I would be on an insulin & glucose drip like I was when I had the other shoulder done, but then they decided I didn't need it. No explanation. Then my blood sugar was astronomical afterwards. Thanks for that! Then the nurse told me the doctor wanted me to have some actrapid. I told her I would rather take my own humalog, since I know what it does and it works faster than actrapid anyway. She said the doctor would have to prescribe it and I'd have to wait. I replied that I had it in my bag and already had a prescription. So she went away and I did my injection! In the end i did get a bit of ketones and it took me a couple of days to get my sugar down. But I wasn't going to let them keep me in hospital as I have no confidence they can manage my diabetes better than I can. And I saw their menu! Grim!

Only you can decide whether you need the op enough to actually have it. But if you've done lots of Physio and it keeps getting worse, chances are it won't go away on its own. But do hassle your entire care team until you get all the answers you need! It's their job to help you and make you feel safe.

Try not to worry though. I hope it all goes well for you and you feel better really soon! Let me know how you get on :)
 

sugarybibs

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Thanks badmedisin for your advise which i will be asking when i see doc how long were you in was it only for a day?They said i may go in night before but i dont know yet. :? :?
 

badmedisin

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Messages
247
Yep just the day. Had to go in at 7 and finally managed to escape at about 5. They kept finding excuses, like the insulin. Then I had to wait for the Physio, which was fine. Then it took another hour to get someone to remove my canula, then they said I had to wait for some painkillers. By this time they'd driven me mental with daytime tv (seriously, loose women is sooooo awful!) so I said I had a houseful of cocodamol and I didn't want any tramadol (I took it for so long last time that now it feels like bad speed - teeth grinding and twitchy and not really here, deeply unpleasant). So eventually they relented and let me go. With no advice about changing dressings. The Physio I saw last week was surprised I'd changed the dressings. What did she expect?! The dressings they put on were the size of jumbo sanitary towels and I was all scabby. The cleaning had to be done and I like my plasters to look neat :)

last time I was out by lunchtime though. They let me go as soon as I'd seen the Physio and had some 'food'.

So don't let them ignore you! Hassle them as much as you need to, and ask questions if they're not being clear. A lot of doctors assume patients are ignorant and need to keep things really simple. But as you have diabetes you probably understand more medical stuff than average cos you've had to learn.

Forgot to say, it might help to bring some food or a snack for afterwards, you'll need to eat but they might not get you anything in time or it might just be grim!

Good luck with your doctor - don't leave til they answer all your questions properly :)
 

Soundgen

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Messages
146
Vitamin B6

In several research studies, vitamin B6 deficiency has been associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. A study by the Portland Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation Center in Oregon examined 441 people and found that higher levels of vitamin B6 were associated with fewer carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. Researchers also found that higher levels of vitamin C relative to lower vitamin B6 levels were associated with a higher prevalence and greater frequency of carpal tunnel symptoms.

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/carpalt ... tunnel.htm
 

john-87

Newbie
Messages
1
hi all i am new to this forum but i too have frozen shoulder. Firstly about 3 years ago in my right shoulder and just when that was clearing up my left flared up about 4 months ago. h Had pysio and cortisone injections in my right shouldre but they did not work only home physio and a l ot pf pain killers seemed to work. Still have twinges in my right shoulder too but i was never offered any ops to try and cure this at all may it was my postcode or is that not politically correct. Anyway rant over for this night i have an appt next week for physio on the left one and i will see what they say then. Until then this time seems to be a lot more painful and i have not had a good nights sleep in months even with pain killers and anti inflams.
 

Synonym

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Having no energy as this is so limiting.
john-87 said:
hi all i am new to this forum but i too have frozen shoulder.

Hi John and welcome to the forum. :)

Have you been offered acupuncture? This can help so it may be worth asking about it.