pain with diabetes

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-2003
pain with diabetes
17
Sat, 10-02-2004 - 10:56am
I am 24 years old and have been a diabetic for three years now. Recently I have been having severe pain in my body(neck,hands,legs, arms). Just a few days ago my fingers started to get really painful around the knuckle area, and now they are swollen and turning white. I have been told that this could be neuropathy.I really dont know much about this or if this is what it sounds like so if anyone can help i would greatly appreciate it, I made an appointment with my doctor, but i cant get in for over a week. I really dont know if i can wait that long, and really dont know if i should. If anyone has any suggestions on easing the discomfort of this i would also welcome that. Thank you.

Pages

Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Sat, 10-02-2004 - 5:37pm

I don't know exactly what to tell you as for neuropothy.

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-21-2003
Sun, 10-03-2004 - 6:58am
Hi There: I am very sorry you are going through so

much the last several yrs. I feel for you. Sometimes when

a person gets one chronic disease they may get another. I

truly hope this is not the case for you since you are still

getting used to Diabetes. I don't know much about you and I

am certainly not a medical person, but all that pain sure

sounds familiar...it may be Arthritis of some kind, I hope not

but maybe Rheumatoid Arthritis. Since you were only dxd 3 yrs.

ago I would find it hard to believe that you would have neuropathy

this soon.

I was dxd with Type 1 Diabetes(Autoimmune Disease) when I was

3 yrs. old. So I had almost 20 yrs. on me with Diabetes before I

was dxd with Rheumatoid Arthrits(Autoimmune Disease)when I was 24.

You could try the Ibuprofen,Aleve, Tylenol, etc. as Cheryl

suggested. It helped a little but I have severe R.A. so these

drugs didn't help much. I went to my GP. because of the pain and

he sent me the next week to a Rheumatologist. I just had to cope

'til then. Do you know anyone in your family that has or had Rheumatoid,

etc. Aunts, Grandfather,etc. It sometimes like Type 1 skips generations.

For pain try a pain-killer if it helps. Do you have one of those bean

bags you can put in the micro-wave? Warm it up and put it around your neck

or across knees whatever joints are in pain. For your hands either put them

in a sink with just above warm water temp. for awhile and flex your fingers. You

could also buy some candle wax, just melt it in a pot on simmer. When it is

melted take it off the stove, keep testing it until it is just warm enough

to stick your hands in. Coat your hands with the wax and leave it on for about

10 minutes. Then peel the wax off. I hope you turned the stove off. Ha! I

had a bad experience with this.I left the wax unattended, firemen at my door,

Ha, long story. A warm bath with epsom salts(or without)also helps some. Also

do move around with easy exercises so your joints don't seize up on you. Get

to a Doc as soon as you can so you can aggressively stall the damage of Arthritis which

includes prescription drugs, occupational therapist, physio therapist, even a social worker and a person from the Arthritis Society to phone or she will come over to see

how you are doing, suggest things to help you and answer any questions.

I hope and pray you do not have R.A. you have enough on your plate with

Diabetes. These pains could very well be something else. The Very Best of

Luck to You. Please keep us up-dated on how you are doing.

Hugs from ........***Carlie*** :)

P.S. Sorry this is so long...But Thankfully Life is long!


Edited 10/4/2004 2:05 am ET ET by carlie2024
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-2003
Mon, 10-04-2004 - 9:33am
Thank you both for your advise! It is greatly appreciated. In answer to your question Carlie my mother has osteoperosis and my father has degenerative arthritis. Both of my Grandparents are diabetic also and they have/had arthritis. I came home from work today cause the pain in my hands was unbearable, and I now have two fingers that are turning a purple color, I decided I am just going to go to the ER if i cannot get into my doctor today. I have not been able to hardly get out of bed in the mornings the last couple days from the pain in my hands and arms,I have been taking aleve which has relieved some of the pressure in my fingers, but they still are turning white, and I cant seem to get them circulating right. I will keep you posted on what the doctor says. Thank you again.
Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Mon, 10-04-2004 - 10:06am
I hope with your call the dr will get you in!!!
Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Tue, 10-05-2004 - 10:07pm
Kendra~

Am truly sorry that you're in so much pain. I have osteoarthritis in my knees which predate the diabetes. Not in very good shape right now because Merck took Vioxx off the market, and my rheumatologist hasn't answered my query about a replacement anti-inflamatory.

Don't get worried about it being rheumatoid arthritis as one board member suggested. It does sound like neuropathy...particularly the loss of circulation.

Don't fool around waiting to see your PCP, endocrinologist or whatever kind of doctor it is...seek medical attention ASAP. I'd shy away from steroids if at all possible. You could end up with a much worse problem. Please discuss the symptoms fully with your medical personnel, and get all the answers to your questions. Don't be put off!!!

Kathi




Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 1:29am

I have neuropathy myself, but the mild type. I do know that it can become very painful and swelling also can be found with it as well. So my best advice is to get in to see your doctor right away since it is nothing to let go untreated. They do make medications that can help with it though if it is indeed the painful type of neuropathy in which I so hope it is not. Try using some ice for swelling by placing the ice in a baggie with a towel wrapped around it before applying it to the swollen areas and after applying the ice use some heat to the area as well since that does help get the blood flowing better. These are all used for this type of thing, which I was taught by a physical therapist when I was getting treatments and it has helped me out so much.


I do hope this helps you out some and that you get in to see your doctor very soon. Do let us know what you find out, because it might be of great help to somebody else. Take care and do have a very enjoyable day!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-2003
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 10:01pm
well I got into my doctor Monday afternoon, and My DR. seems to think i have what is called raynauds disease. She gave me a calcium blocker med that is supposed to help but so far no luck. I also had numerous blood tests done and have not heard back yet. She set an appt. up for a rheumatologist in Nov. I also have started taking Insulin as of Monday. Cause the meds she had me on for my Diabetes was not doing the trick. I will go back to see her on Monday, and I am praying she will figure out something that will ease the discomfort. As for work, she has takin me off until I see her Monday. Which I dont really like, but I dont think I could make it through the day anyway. I have been wearing a glove on my right hand and have not takin it off, It is the only way to keep my fingers a little warmer. It seems to help a little when I excercise my fingers, But that also is very painful. Thank you all again for your concerns, and suggestions it has all been very helpful.
Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 11:43pm
Thank you so much for the update!!!! I am sorry you still don't feel better but the meds may take some time to really feel it!!!
Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 8:52am
Thanks for the update.

Nancy

 


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-21-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 3:28pm


Hi Kendra:

Thank you for posting back. I'm sorry if

I scared you about the Rheumatoid. That certainly

was not my intention. Ya, I forgot to mention about

your 2 fingers maybe being caused by Raynaud's

Disease. My first experience with that was about

20 yrs. ago when both my hands turned dark blue. I

haven't had any probs with it. They only turn slightly

blue twice a year. My hands are usually cold except

durung the warm weather.

I hope the Rheumatologist has nothing but good news

for you. Take Care.........***Carlie*** :)

Pages