pain with diabetes
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pain with diabetes
| 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.

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I don't know exactly what to tell you as for neuropothy.
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
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
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!
Nancy
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*** :)
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