Diabetic stiff hand syndrome or Cheiroarthropathy

[NinaB73]

Hi, has anyone experience of this condition? I have been diagnosed this week after months of what started as a trigger finger but has now progressed to the other hand with more fingers affected. I have been to a specialist this week whom was very brief in his consultation and basically said it is Cheiroarthropathy and all my my tendons in all my fingers are inflamed and that it is a degenerative condition that won't improve! He injected the original finger with cortisone and left an open appointment to have any others injected as I feel the need.
The research I have done indicates this is a condition of those with type 1 and whom have had the condition for a long time or have already got another complication. I have been type 1 for 34 years and also have retinopathy.
I asked him about my job which as a holistic therapist involves massage and obviously the use of my hands!! He just raised an eyebrow and said 'well it is probably good to keep using them, with a look of ' I don't think you will be doing that for much longer!'. (paranoid maybe).
I'd also told him that I had just had a physio appointment (after months of waiting) and he basically said 'you don't need physio, you need occupational therapy!'
Any info on this would be really helpful and very much appreciated as there is not a lot of info out there on it!
My hands feel like I have been holding hot coals!

 

[Indy51]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Can't give you any specific advice for your condition, though if it is caused by inflammation, it might be worthwhile researching an anti-inflammatory diet. There are a few varieties out there. There are also anti-inflammatory supplements.

 

[Emmerdale]

Hi,interesting reading,I have Dupytrens on my hands but also over the last few months my fingers have gone stiff and quite painful first thing in a morning,they do ease a little throughout the day,,I also have Plantar Fibromatosis on my feet and that does give trouble after walking a very short distance my fingers are very slowly curling inwards but Doc says not curled enough yet to operate,might be worth asking about Dupytrens syndrome as tendons in my hands are perhaps not what you might call inflamed but are quite thick and pronounced on palms of my hands and seem to get a little worse every day but try another Foc they all have different ideas just keep smiling

 

[NinaB73]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Can't give you any specific advice for your condition, though if it is caused by inflammation, it might be worthwhile researching an anti-inflammatory diet. There are a few varieties out there. There are also anti-inflammatory supplements.

Yes this is something that I have considered as my inflammation markers have been raised in my recent blood tests. All food for thought, thank you!

 

[NinaB73]

Hi,interesting reading,I have Dupytrens on my hands but also over the last few months my fingers have gone stiff and quite painful first thing in a morning,they do ease a little throughout the day,,I also have Plantar Fibromatosis on my feet and that does give trouble after walking a very short distance my fingers are very slowly curling inwards but Doc says not curled enough yet to operate,might be worth asking about Dupytrens syndrome as tendons in my hands are perhaps not what you might call inflamed but are quite thick and pronounced on palms of my hands and seem to get a little worse every day but try another Foc they all have different ideas just keep smiling

Actually my symptoms sound very similar to your Dupytrens as my fingers are slowly curling inwards and yes I can see my tendons on the palms of my hands and that is the painful part. He did mention that it can happen to the feet also! You have my sympathy, it's frustrating that the simplest tasks like tying your shoe laces prove difficult! I'm hoping the occupational therapist maybe able to shed more light on the subject! Thanks for your reply I had no idea these things were linked to diabetes, he did stress that tight control can stop the symptoms worsening and then gave me a shot of steroids which pushed the levels right up!! It has helped the stiffening though and I have much more movement in that finger, don't know if that is an option for you?

 

[caretaker]

i have lots of hand and wrist pain. lumps and bumps. i also have trigger finger. one day i tried to pull the curtains and the finger came out of it joint. managed to get it back but it did frighten me. i must talk to the GP about it but it seems abit better lately or i'm just getting use to it

 

[Emmerdale]

Actually my symptoms sound very similar to your Dupytrens as my fingers are slowly curling inwards and yes I can see my tendons on the palms of my hands and that is the painful part. He did mention that it can happen to the feet also! You have my sympathy, it's frustrating that the simplest tasks like tying your shoe laces prove difficult! I'm hoping the occupational therapist maybe able to shed more light on the subject! Thanks for your reply I had no idea these things were linked to diabetes, he did stress that tight control can stop the symptoms worsening and then gave me a shot of steroids which pushed the levels right up!! It has helped the stiffening though and I have much more movement in that finger, don't know if that is an option for you?

Actually my symptoms sound very similar to your Dupytrens as my fingers are slowly curling inwards and yes I can see my tendons on the palms of my hands and that is the painful part. He did mention that it can happen to the feet also! You have my sympathy, it's frustrating that the simplest tasks like tying your shoe laces prove difficult! I'm hoping the occupational therapist maybe able to shed more light on the subject! Thanks for your reply I had no idea these things were linked to diabetes, he did stress that tight control can stop the symptoms worsening and then gave me a shot of steroids which pushed the levels right up!! It has helped the stiffening though and I have much more movement in that finger, don't know if that is an option for you?