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Help... Terrible muscle pains

JayCee10

JayCee10

Well-Known Member
Messages
47
Type of diabetes
Type 2
For a few weeks now i have had terrible pains in my lower back and legs so much so that for 3 days if I tried to walk I couldn't put my foot down straight away. I can't turn over in bed without pain and if I try sitting in a chair in just achy all the time. My levels are usually between 10.1 and 11.5 so not good even with 500mg of SR Metformin twice a day. Can't sleep all night anymore. I take a statin and a BP tablet. Eyes get blurry sometimes . I'm 55 and just started a casual job 4 weeks ago approx 10hrs a week but on my feet walking about or standing still for the whole time so I do get additional exercise. I do still have a sweet tooth but try to keep my craving to a minimum. Any ideas?
 
It may be the statin, you should read up on those. What are your cholesterol levels like? You can ask the GP for a print out, and post on here for advice. Have you tried cutting out carbs or at the very least reducing them, read the Low carb high fat threads. You may be surprised what you can eat on that 'diet'.
 
Hi dawnmc. Cholesterol level was 4.3 about 3 months ago. Managed to get a GP appointment at 1850 tonight so will see what is said and or decided. Will look at the low carb high distance see if I can change as I find it difficult to eat what I should. Will post results later.
 
@JayCee10 I hope you get a sensible response from your doctor. Some are more aware than others. Muscle pain, sometimes severe and even leading to long term damage is surprisingly common amongst statin takers. I cannot, of course, say that this is your problem, or suggest that like many who have suffered in this way you see about trying a little experiment and dropping them for a while, with your doctor's co-operation, naturally.
Your sugar levels are too high and, as you have seen, Metformin is not a wonder drug in this respect. Your doctor may offer you something a little stronger, or you could cut right down on your sugar and carbohydrate intake and get the results you want that way. There's lots of info about low-carb on this site.
Sally
 
sally and james said:
@JayCee10 I hope you get a sensible response from your doctor. Some are more aware than others. Muscle pain, sometimes severe and even leading to long term damage is surprisingly common amongst statin takers. I cannot, of course, say that this is your problem, or suggest that like many who have suffered in this way you see about trying a little experiment and dropping them for a while, with your doctor's co-operation, naturally.
Your sugar levels are too high and, as you have seen, Metformin is not a wonder drug in this respect. Your doctor may offer you something a little stronger, or you could cut right down on your sugar and carbohydrate intake and get the results you want that way. There's lots of info about low-carb on this site.
Sally
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Back from doctors. Last reading end of June was 87 or 10.1 but tonight on a random test it was 13.8 Cholesterol end of June was 4.9. Next blood test 30/9. Doctor thinks my muscle pain is probably due to low sodium in the body and suggests I take soups every day for 2-3 weeks and then go on a low carb diet and keep fluids up. I had chronic diarrhoea about 2 weeks ago and told to stop Gliclazide which I had only started taking 6 weeks ago but now I should start taking it again as it shouldn't cause any such side effects. So starting tomorrow I'm on soups, taking more fluids and will weigh myself to see if it helps my weight.
 
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If you could go low carb it will really help get your bs numbers down.
I agree stains are excellent at giving you muscle pain .. I was immobile with leg and arm pains when taking them.
 
Thanks Enclave. The only thing I can say about the statin I take is that I've been on it now for 2 years but didn't experience this chronic muscle pain till about 4 weeks ago. I will look for the low carb diet on this website. Appreciate the responses. I'm a bit lonely here as no family or friends with diabetes.
 
Hi and welcome. Did the GP tell you your cholesterol breakdown e.g. HDL, LDL and Trigs numbers and/or ratios? These are more important than the total. Whilst the GP could be right about the sodium, see how it goes and remain suspicious of the statin and for some they do cause muscle breakdown. If the muscle pains remain I would tell the GP that you will be stopping them for a trial period to check that they aren't the problem. Do go for the low-carb diet. Gliclazide is good if you are slim and don't have insulin resistance but as it stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin that may not be the best solution if you already have too much from insulin resistance. Losing weight will help with that.
 
If you are still having chronic diarrheoa soups may make this worse.. Please don't go dunking bread in soup as that will out do any low carbing. Fibrous but low carb broccoli is quite good at normalising stomach and has good nutrients in it.. A nice amount of cheese over the top would add to taste.

I have to balance my stomach and one gluten free crispbread at 6.9g carb is enough to bind my stomach up if it has gone to chronic looseness....

Also metformin.. There's two types.. It may be that the othsr type to that you are on would be less problematic with stomach...
 
JayCee10 said:
Thanks Enclave. The only thing I can say about the statin I take is that I've been on it now for 2 years but didn't experience this chronic muscle pain till about 4 weeks ago. I will look for the low carb diet on this website. Appreciate the responses. I'm a bit lonely here as no family or friends with diabetes.
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You were unlucky .. I was about 5 years before the pain set in ... cannot even take the plant steroid cholesterol reducers without the pain returning .. but the low carb high/normal fat way of eating has sorted out any cholesterol problems the Dr thought I had .
 
Hi All. Thank you for your feedback. No upset stomach now but I ended it abruptly by dosing myself with Imodium instants for 4 days. Will dabble now with the soup and will work harder at a low carb diet as I really don't want to carry on feeling like this. I'll re-educate myself and my husband . Dr really didn't give me a breakdown on my blood results but I'll make sure I'll get them next month.
 
Hi Jqycee, did he takes a blood test to confirm your low sodium levels? If not go back and insist this is done. My MIL was in HDU for a few days due to low sodium levels. She was advised one of our hospital to eat any salty foods, like crisps, salted nuts and be liberal adding salt to food. What is the specific point of soup as advised by your GP?
 
No blood test. Only saw GP at 7pm this evening. Soup was advised due to amount of sodium and its nutritional value. Will mention sodium levels when I go back next week. I'll start tomorrow with the soup and low carbs and the Gliclazide and see how I get on.
 
I had chronic diarrhea due to metformin which resulted in IV rehydration at the hospital and also low sodium levels. I also used immodium to try to control it but in the long run this is not ideal. I would consider asking your doctor for extended release metformin if it persists. Low sodium can cause cramping and headaches and if not addressed can be very dangerous. You should have a blood test to confirm. Also something to have checked is vitamin B12 and D3 levels.
 
JayCee10 said:
For a few weeks now i have had terrible pains in my lower back and legs so much so that for 3 days if I tried to walk I couldn't put my foot down straight away. I can't turn over in bed without pain and if I try sitting in a chair in just achy all the time. My levels are usually between 10.1 and 11.5 so not good even with 500mg of SR Metformin twice a day. Can't sleep all night anymore. I take a statin and a BP tablet. Eyes get blurry sometimes . I'm 55 and just started a casual job 4 weeks ago approx 10hrs a week but on my feet walking about or standing still for the whole time so I do get additional exercise. I do still have a sweet tooth but try to keep my craving to a minimum. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Hey it sounds serious , lack of sodium can be the cause but have you got your levels of vitamin B12 checked in a blood sample after years of being on metformine you could develope a anemia . But all in all it seems like a neurological damage and you have to get your numbers down right now. So stop eating anything with carbs at all . Eat chicken and macadamia nuts and green leaves salat only with salsa the kind of salsa with no sugar added and drink 3 liters of water only a Day for the next 2 Weeks . If you cant do that Then fast for 4 days only drinking water . But all in all your blood glucose must come down. You can add Alpha lipoic acid capsuels at least 600 mg Pro day at Best the dubble for the first 3 weeks. But there is no Way other than getting your blood glucose down . By the Way " seltin " is a good choice of salt as it do give you the right combination of sodium and pottasium
 
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Thank you all for your replies. Truth is I'm scared for the first time since diagnosed in 2012. I don't control what j eat, I still eat choc and find it easy to easy when feeling down or just in front of the tv at night. I know I need to stop this. I also need to start a low carb diet. However, I'm not good at preparing good from the start and sometimes if stuck I just buy a ready meal. I don't eat fish or eggs but I do like vegetables and chicken and red meat. I don't know anyone with diabetes to pal up with since I moved nearly a year ago. I know I need help but don't know where to start. Feeling rather depressed this morning.
 
Regarding Alpha Lipoic Acid. Should I contact my GP to see if they will supply or can I just go and buy them from a health store?
 
For Info. BS this morning at 0745 was 11.3 and random at 1900 last night taken by DN was 13.8
 
I had my review 6 weeks ago. Told the doctor I was having pains in my feet and finding it sore to walk. I have to admit I fell of the wagon and not followed proper control. She told me to stop drinking and lose some weight. She also put me on a high dose of Vitamin D3 as my levels are low. She told me the drinking affected my good cholesterol which in turn has a knock on affect. I'm now back on track and went two weeks without any pain. Then the pains came back. I started taking Alpha Lipoic acid capsules a week ago with no real change. Read up I should be taking 600 mg spaced out over the day. Took 3 capsules last night and 3 more this morning. Woke once during the night with a bit of leg pain. But that was it. Today legs and feet feel 2 out of 10 on the pain scale. Compared with around 8 out of 10 a few months ago. I hope this info helps.
 
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