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Painful fingers

W

wendyaldred

Newbie
I have been diabetic for 42 years (type 1). although when i was a lot younger I paid little attention to my health as i had no problems, in the last 2 years i have had really painful hands. i even went private to try and get some treatment, but no one could tell me what it is. all the usual complaints were tested for. In the end my own GP (who is great and a specialist in diabetes) told me it was probably bad control when i was younger and the excess sugar had worn away the cushiony bits between my bones. thus providing a lot of pain. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this and although i am learning to live with the pain has anyone had any sucess in treating it?
 
Hi wendy,
Sorry to hear about the pain you are experiencing.

Did your Dr. recommend or prescribe anything to help you? If not, then I would pay him another visit and explain that you need some relief. Constant pain wears you down and stresses you out.

Catherine.
 
Hi Wendy :)

I use a Vogel tincture of Knotgrass which keeps my fingers moving and painfree. It took about a fortnight to kick in with 15 drops morning and evening but now I just take 20 drops in the morning as a maintenance dose. May not work for you but might be worth a shot. :)
 
wendyaldred said:
I have been diabetic for 42 years (type 1). although when i was a lot younger I paid little attention to my health as i had no problems, in the last 2 years i have had really painful hands. i even went private to try and get some treatment, but no one could tell me what it is. all the usual complaints were tested for. In the end my own GP (who is great and a specialist in diabetes) told me it was probably bad control when i was younger and the excess sugar had worn away the cushiony bits between my bones. thus providing a lot of pain. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this and although i am learning to live with the pain has anyone had any sucess in treating it?
Click to expand...


Awww .. my sympathy Wendy. I have arthritis creeping in many parts and my hands are no exception. I usually find first thing in the morning is worse after being imobile in bed. I am prescribed Voltarol Emulgel which contains diclofenac diethylammonium. That not only eases the pain but also reduces any swelling.
It can be bought OTC but at over £8 for 100gm tube, a Dr's script is the best option, and of course your Dr will know if it will clash with anything else you are taking/using
Voltraol is a NSAID and more info can be found here:-
http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/19985
 
wendy
your doctor's explanation seems aa bit odd to me.I can't see how sugar could wear away cartilage.
I would recommend you keep your blood glucose control TIGHT [around 5] for the next week or 2 and see if that helps. . If the pain is arthritic in character, Glucosamine might help.
Hana
 
'. . .worn away the cushiony bits' sounds like a simplistic explanation of osteo-arthritis to me - though I am not qualified and that is not a diagnosis! I add hastily.

The Voltaid gel is good, I have it for my arthitic knees and back, but I'm never sure whether it's the gel or the massage of rubbing it in that helps. Make sure your hands never get cold, would be one piece of advice, and if you want an old-fashioned remedy, try Elliman's Embrocation - if you can still get it. The horse liniment is much better than the people liniment, and it smells rather pleasantly of lemon curd. Ask at the pharmacy, or a pet shop or farm supplies shop.

It's always worth asking a pharmacist about this sort of thing, as well. Most of the ones I know are desperate to help and delighted when you ask them questions. And very knowledgeable.

Do get the pain treated, though, and ask your doctor for help. You don't have to suffer.

Viv :)
 
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