• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Shoulder pain

M

MidnightStar

Well-Known Member
Messages
448
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi I have been reading on here about leg cramps. Could T2 cause shoulder pain as this started before diagnoses.
 
I've had problems with my left shoulder and neck for years but only diagnosed in august......be interested to know if there's a link? I sleep very badly and move around a lot trying to get comfy, so maybe that's party it?
 
I am no doctor but i will repeat what i was told by my doctor when diagnosed T1..

Having prolonged periods of high blood sugars can cause the muscles in your neck to tighten up which can cause headaches and a pain in the neck.

She didn't say 'shoulder pain' but from my own knowledge and some experience with muscle problems - the muscles in our backs and necks are all interconnected to various degrees, a pull or knot, or tightness in one muscle can go on to pull and knot any muscle its connected to (and so on).

I wouldn't think it to be crazy that high sugars could cause ones neck to tighten, and in turn pull and tighten the muscles in the shoulder or the back.

So yeah, high BS could potentially cause that.

But so could stress, or bad posture, or knots in your back, or sleeping poorly on your side, or any impact, and so on and so forth.

Shoulder pain is the worst lol it can come from so many reasons.

Is this a muscle ache, or a knot? or like a shooting pain? or radiating pain ?
 
I think there is a higher incidence of frozen shoulder amongst 'us', but I've no idea of the numbers, or the reason.

I've always found doctors next to useless for Back/neck alignment and associated muscle and tendon problems (I have hyper mobile joints). Here, have an anti-inflammatory, and no, I don't need to examine you. Come back if it isn't better in 3 weeks.

On the other hand, osteopaths and chiropractors have consistently improved the quality of my life, whenever I have got it together enough to arrange an appointment. So, tell me your full patient history. Heart? Arthritis? Family ailments? Diet? Medications? Weight? Exercise? Details of injury. Physical examination, including posture, movement and resistance. Then muscle work, massage, joint manipulation and correction, where necessary. Supplements advised, where necessary. Prognosis discussed, and subsequent appts discussed, if appropriate. Worth every penny!
 
There is a condition called Diabetic Frozen Shoulder .
Ask/seek your GP advice on this .
My consultant said there is a link with diabetes and this condition .

It affects the rotator cuff - build up of calcium in the cuff .

Lift arm up to brush hair or shower/clothe yourself painful .
Reach out to close car door painful .
Also so very painful to lie on affected shoulder at night .
(pain can radiate upwards into the neck area)

Cortisone injections can relieve the pain if advised by GP or
hospital .
Surgery needed when cortisone injections fail to improve this
condition . (I had 4 cortisone injections done)

I had surgery done on my left shoulder 2 years ago - worked a treat .
In fact the arm operated on - is my best arm now
 
I was diagnosed with frozen shoulder and asked at that appointment if I was diabetic as its common, was actually being tested for diabetes the next day - my dad who's also diabetic appears to have the same problem with his shoulder but hasn't been to docs!
 
I've got problems with my rotor cuff at the moment - I've had physio on it but it hasn't helped much so may have to go back to the doctor soon
​
 
Hi. True Frozen Shoulder will not be relieved by steroids as it's shrinking of the shoulder capsule for which there is no real treatment other than time. My wife's excellent consultant said he sometimes uses steroids as condtion separator. If the GP has guessed and used steroids without effect then he 'knows' it will be true frozen shoulder. It seems most GPs don't have a clue on this.
 
Same here for the shoulder pain.
However, if the pain is at the back of the shoulder/top of the back and not so affected by raising your arm I would suggest it needs to be checked by your GP.
BeeGee
 
Anna, well that's a new one to me, never heard of it. Many thanks will Google it and update my memory banks lol
 
I think you are spot on with this. Shoulder and neck pain v common in diabetes
 
I fractured my shoulder years ago before diagnosis and had subsequent surgery to remove bone fragments that was causing impingement. Was great for a long time but now I wonder if it is becoming stiffer due to my diabetes mmm
 
Thank you for the replies. I'm seeing the Diabetic Nurse on Tuesday so may mention it to her.
 
I've an upcoming Diabetes Clinic review with my DSN and Consultant at the Hospital and will be mentioning my shoulder too.
 
eddie1968 said:
Anna, well that's a new one to me, never heard of it. Many thanks will Google it and update my memory banks lol
Click to expand...

My shoulder rotator cuff needed debriding by my surgeon .
They burred and scraped all the calcium away by debriding technique .
After the surgery - had few months of physiotherapy to get 'full movement' back .
Now the left shoulder is my best shoulder out of both .
Worked wonders !
 
I've had bad pains on my right shoulder and on my tricep my neck and back for 18 months now, the hospital and doctors seem to be clueless and I've just been referred to the pain team, i just want some answers as its really getting to me now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…