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Frozen shoulder and diabetes - are you affected by this?

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Posted 8/20/2005 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with frozen shoulder in 1995 after going through 5 years of pain. Little did I or the doctors know then about this condition. There have been a lot of articles since the mid nineties about frozen shoulder and diabetes.

According to most articles / research the incidence of frozen shoulder in Type 1 diabetics can vary between 15% and 55%. The incidence of frozen shoulder in Type 2 diabetics can be between 25% and 75%.

So if you get pain in your shoulder when you comb your hair, lift something heavy or when you lie down to sleep, this may be the cause. Also if you have stiffness in the shoulder this can also be a sign. Don't just blame it on old age or arthritis.

The important thing is to get it diagnosed early. Frozen shoulder in diabetics, if not treated early, can become resistant to treatment. Anti inflammatory drugs and physio exercises which you can do yourself at home can prevent the condition getting worse and even cure it in most cases.

If you put frozen shoulder and diabetes into your search engine there are plenty of articles to read.

Posted 8/22/2005 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
I have very bad shoulders, due to the dogs pulling when I walk them. The physical therapy guy asked me if I was diabetic. Says there's a big percentage of bad shoulders in diabetics.
Posted 8/22/2005 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
In the early 90's my physio blamed it on my being a nurse, but my rheumatologist says no, due to being a diabetic. See

http://www.iddtinternational.org/healthissues/muscle.htm
Posted 8/23/2005 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
bigack,

There's a type of dog device called a "Halti" which works on the same principal as a horse harness (not a bit and bridle but the simple harness that fits over the head.) It's the coolest thing because as the dog tries to lunge forward it turns their head around and they are looking at you. They always have the most puzzled look on their faces. I have a very stubborn, very strong Dalamation who trained to her Halti in approximately 20 seconds. There is no jerking, no choking and the dogs adjust very quickly to it. I got my black lab when she was already a year old and she had never been walked on a leash. She trained almost instantly to the Halti. Actually I can walk both big dogs at the same time and I have fibromyalgia so that has to tell you how great they are. You can find them online at most pet stores and probably eBay. Hope this helps.
Posted 8/23/2005 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, I'll look into that!!
Posted 8/24/2005 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
Bigack

How do you deal with the pain when it becomes severe. I use heat pads and celebrex tablets, I react badly to most pain tablets. I have had steroid injections but they don't seem to work for long.

I would be interested in knowing how others deal with the pain of frozen shoulder, particularly at night.

Lizanne
Posted 8/26/2005 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Greetings,

 

I am Type 2 Diabetic. I am so glad to see this post. I have been suffering with pain in my shoulder for the past few months (thought it was tendonitis). I have recently started using an herbal pain patch which does give relief while it is on, especially at night, when the pain is at its' worse.

 

I also started a nutritional supplement for my Diabetes and found that after a couple of days the pain had greatly diminished. Not completely, but I don't wake up in pain like before and feel like my arm does'nt belong to my body!

 

I am slowly working out again with small weights, to strenghten my arms.

 

Appreciate any other suggestions.

 

Peace

divaino

Posted 8/26/2005 9:43 AM (GMT 0)
What is in the herbal pain patch? Would be interested to know to see if I can find it here in the UK. I have recently started trying melatonin tablets at night to aid sleep and muscle relaxation. Don't know if it is effective yet as I have only taken it for 2 nights.

I definitely find a heat pad works but other people find ice is better. I do physio exercises twice a day to prevent further loss of shoulder movement. The important thing I was told was to always make sure the shoulder was warm before exercising e.g. after a shower.

I am not sure about nutritional supplements with Type 1 diabetes, but would be interested in knowing which ones you are using.

All the best

Lizanne
Posted 8/26/2005 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Just had another thought... Try to use more pillows for support and cushioning in bed. I have fibromyalgia so the frozen shoulder is a mild nusiance compared with my other pain, but pillows really help at night. I use two under my head and lie on my good shoulder. My sore arm is supported by two pillows in front of me for my sore arm to rest on.. When I get ready for bed my hubby calls it "making the nest". tongue
Posted 8/26/2005 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
I too use pillows for support as it hurts if my shoulders are not supported forwards from the normal position. Unfortunately I have bilateral frozen shoulders so I cannot lie on either side and always have to sleep on my back. I presume bigack may have a similar problem as he/she said they had very bad shoulders. I also ensure I use pillows/cushions for support under both arms when sitting in the evening. Another inportant point is to ensure when carrying things such as shopping is that you carry equal weights in both hands even if the load is small. If a bag with a shoulder strap is used this usually makes the condition worse, as these types of bags cause abnormal strains in the shoulder/thoracic spine.

Unfortunately frozen shoulder in diabetics is well documented as being more painful than in non-diabetics, possibly because of the involvement of neuropathy. The problem is that if not diagnosed early and treated correctly diabetic frozen shoulder can lead to damage of the muscles, nerves and other tissues around the thoracic spine, shoulder blade/s and ribs. This is often due to incorrect moving and handling techniques while trying to compensate for the affected shoulder/s. This in turn can lead to what I beleive is called cervical/thoracic radiculopathy, very similar to sciatica but in the chest wall and arms.
Posted 8/29/2005 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I had about 10 sessions of physical therapy a while back, it helped some, because I can now fasten my bra behind my back, before I couldn't. Still have a good deal of pain, but am regularly doing the stretching exercises they gave me. I have to keep stretched. Working on my sciatica now, lol.
Posted 8/29/2005 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
Agree about the stretching exercises, if I don't do them for a couple of days I lose a wide range of motion. Because I spent 5 years without it being diagnosed and exercises given, I am unable to lift either arm at the back past my buttocks. Due to the rib and upper spinal pain I have developed I am now unable to wear a bra and use sloggi tops instead. Can't use anything with a back zip either but it is amazing how you can find alternatives.

Do you find some aspects of housework difficult with frozen shoulder? I find ironing and vacuuming cause me most pain, ironing being the worst. Mind you I always hated ironing! I live in the UK and now get incapacity benefit because not only do I have frozen shoulder but multiple endocrine disorder i.e. thyroid and adrenal problems as well. This enables me to pay a lady to iron and vacuum for me.

Keep doing the exercises. It sounds like they caught it early enough to prevent it becoming chronic. It takes at least a year to go through all the stages and you sometimes feel like giving up, especially when the shoulders are very painful. Beleive me it is worth it rather than ending up with it long term.

All the best ti you
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