Chronic pain and blood glucose

BrianSkye

Member
Messages
23
I suffer from spinal and exit canal stenosis which greatly affects my mobility giving me back pain, numbness, weakness scaitic pain etc.
Until recently my blood glucose had been kept under reasonable control by liragutide, gliclazide and metformin. My hba1c was about 7.6.

Until recently I was accustomed to getting bg levels 2 hours after breakfast of around 11 in the old money but after a period of no monitoring I now find they have increased to about 16 at the same time of day.

At the same time though my pain levels have shot up and I spend half the day in extreme pain to the point of crying with severe effects on my mobility. Because of this I have been switched from long term (increasing) use of Tramadol for pain relief to Oxycodone but we have not been able to establish a dosage level where I get anywhere enough pain relief while remaining lucid. I suspect I am one of these people that opiates don't work for and I'm going to have to get the pain clinic to come up with some better ideas if I am to find a reason to carry on with my life.

Question is, is it likely that the severe prolonged pain is responsible for this degree of blood sugar increase? Forgive me but at the time of writing I don't have any other reference points for the increase other than after breakfast. I'm almost afraid to check as I feel I'm in danger of overloading my doctor with more problems. I have increased sweating and tiredness but it's almost impossible to attribute any symptoms to diabetes when I'm taking so many pain killing drugs ( I take Pregabalin and diclofenac as well).

Do I take up the BG readings with my doctor and risk distracting him from trying to relieve my pain or try to get the pain under control and hope the BG will go back to it's previous control? Opinions? :?:

Brian
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
I have rheumatoid arthritis, and it is under good control, but even so, I still suffered with constant pain in my hands and feet. Since getting my BG`s right down to normal levels, my hand pain has gone, and my foot pain eases to nothing throughout the day. Not just declined, but really disappeared. This may be coincidence, but I doubt it.

I would say to still go to your GP for pain medication, but perhaps try to reduce your readings, if that is at all possible.

I wish you relief from your pain soon.
 

Dottybagpuss

Active Member
Messages
40
Hi Brian.

First thing I'd like to say is that I can completely sympathise with you for the situation you find yourself in. Chronic and/or acute pain is so very difficult to cope with on a daily basis, and add to that the worry and problems of unsettled diabetic control, and life can indeed become so hard that you can start to wonder what it's all in aid of. But life is precious, and none more so than yours. And with the patience and help of your doctor and specialists, and your friends (either at home or on these forums), you will again get to the stage where you start to feel as if you are coping again.

I too suffer daily from severe pain and from the uncertainty of how my pain medications may affect my diabetes. Purely from a personal point of view, I do not view one set of problems as any more significant than the other. Both affect my life greatly and both need me and my doctors and specialists to work together to come up with some sort of solutions. Please don't think that you must prioritise pain management over diabetes control, or vice versa, because both are high priority for you and should also be for your doctor!

I haven't given you much in the way of practical advice here Brian, but I do offer my support. And I wish you well in your quest to bring down your levels of pain and your levels of glucose.
 

BrianSkye

Member
Messages
23
Thanks for that Susan. I have to say, the way it is at the moment if it wasn't for my partner needing me and similar needs from our 100+ pet hens (including 10 adorable little chicks in a brooder in the house) I would struggle to find a reason for keeping up the fight. Unfortunately one of the effects of me getting depressed is the standard comfort eating. If I let that get out of control I won't have to get a wheelchair, people will be able to roll me about :wink:

BTW I love your avatar, our Molly looks just like that.

Brian
 

Dottybagpuss

Active Member
Messages
40
Sorry Brian, but you did make me giggle with the image of you being rolled about like some over-inflated beach ball... :lol:
Dont know why I'm laughing mind you. I would be like one of those things that people get inside and then get pushed down a hill, which by the way looks like EXCELLENT FUN!! Can't for the life of me remember what that's called. :?

I love the idea of all your hens and your little chicks. Superb! We have two cats, funny little Gizmo and grumpy old Sam. Had three lady cats in past years, all dies of old age, Mindy Sophie and Ellie. My avatar looks kinda like Mindy did.

Stay strong Brian, keep the faith my friend.
 

Glados

Well-Known Member
Messages
116
Dislikes
Courgettes.
My heart goes out to you Brian, I can't imagine what you're going through! I'm not a doctor but I reckon keeping your BG under a bit more control would make you feel better (comfort eating is fun but high BG makes me feel like c**p), your doctor should be interested in helping you with that (if drugs are needed) as well as your pain. I know what you mean about overloading though.

Sorry this issue is making you so down. I've recently drawn a great deal of comfort from attending my local church and whilst I know that it isn't for everyone, I thought I'd risk looking like a Bible-basher and say it anyway. :angel:

In any case, don't give up on life too much, you sound like a really nice person. :thumbup:
 

Dottybagpuss

Active Member
Messages
40
Hi Glados

Just I'd say that you do not look like a bible-basher just for mentioning that you find going to your Church is a help to you. It's great that you have found that this gives you support. We all find our own support from all kinds of people and places, and Church can be fantastic for this if it's what suits you. I am not a religious person really, but I would never denegrate someone else's belief in what religion can do for you. Each to their own, I say.

And well done you for mentioning it. I know it's not considered a "cool" thing admit to, though I don't know why this is so. And who knows, maybe now that you have brought it up, someone out there on these forums will discover that Church IS what will help them.

:D
 

Glados

Well-Known Member
Messages
116
Dislikes
Courgettes.
Dottybagpuss said:
Hi Glados

Just I'd say that you do not look like a bible-basher just for mentioning that you find going to your Church is a help to you. It's great that you have found that this gives you support. We all find our own support from all kinds of people and places, and Church can be fantastic for this if it's what suits you. I am not a religious person really, but I would never denegrate someone else's belief in what religion can do for you. Each to their own, I say.

And well done you for mentioning it. I know it's not considered a "cool" thing admit to, though I don't know why this is so. And who knows, maybe now that you have brought it up, someone out there on these forums will discover that Church IS what will help them.

:D

Thanks Dottybagpuss! I'm really moved that you took the time to say this. *hug*
 

lucylocket61

Expert
Messages
6,435
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I was shy of admitting it but when I am in a lot of pain, I do find prayer helps to keep me calm and not tense up so much.