I’m in pain

[Shya]

Hi there, I’m a newbie and I have been prediabetic for a couple of years and only seeing the diabetic nurse once a year but over the last 8 months my glucose levels have gone beyond the normal range by quite a bit. I’m now having to monitor my levels but 1, I’m struggling with the diet and 2,I have horrific pain in the outside of my left thigh. It feels like someone has stabbed me there and is continuously twisting it. I’m not sure whether the pain is neuropathic, also I have stage 4 osteoarthritis in both knees, so with the pain in the outside of my thigh and the knee pain I am at the limit of my pain threshold. I’m under the diabetic team at my local hospital and get on fine with them but my Gp practice diabetic nurse really rubs me up the wrong way and she’s not very sympathetic while I’m trying to figure out how many carbs I’m allowed and how to sort my diet out. I’ve been following the Keto diet without putting myself into ketosis and lost four stone but I need to lose at least another 4 to 5 stone and I’m struggling now. More than anything I want to get rid of the pain because the higher dose of gliclazide is fighting with my warfarin and I don’t know where to put myself because of the pain. None of the painkillers I’m on now for my osteoarthritis are helping with my thigh pain. I’m sorry for the long whinging first post but I need some advice

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Shya Sorry you’re in so much pain The thigh pain doesn’t sound like neuropathy in my non-medical opinion. Is it a muscle pain or is it in the joint or a trapped nerve? Could it be connected to your osteo-arthritis, ie perhaps a positional thing? Have you seen a specialist about it?

Well done on your 4 stone weight loss 😎 The amount of carbs is individual and depends on your blood sugar results. Are you testing at home? Can you give us an idea of the numbers you’re getting, if so?

 

[rebrascora]

So sorry to hear that you are in such pain.

I wonder if it may be diabetic Amyotrophy which is a rare complication of very high BG levels. I believe it can cause severe pain and is often unilateral and generally affects the muscles in the thighs and/or lower back causing muscle wastage and sometimes causing them to give way when walking. We have had very few cases on the forum over the 4 years I have been here so really not common at all and of those who posted about it said that they experienced a lack of knowledge about it with both diabetes consultant and neurologist. I think one post mentioned a specific neurologist who has a special interest in it. Will do a search and see if I can find some of the posts but you might want to do a little research of your own on the subject to see if the information online rings any bells with you. I think it is the most likely fit for the symptoms you describe but I am sure you will have a better idea if you read about it.
I would also ask how high are your BG levels and how long have they been high as it is usually very high long term BG levels which trigger it. The damage can be reversible to a greater or lesser extent with better glucose management but it takes time to make progress and you clearly need a review of your management if your levels are currently high and not responding to dietary changes and medication. I would guess that insulin would be the answer at least short term if they are really high.

I would guess that medication like Gabapentin which is used for neuropathy, would be an appropriate medication if you haven't already tried that?

 

[rebrascora]

Here is a link to one of the discussions....

https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/id-like-to-start-a-discussion-about-diabetic-amyotrophy.97316/#post-1134302

but if you type "Amyotrophy" into the searcg function at the top right of the screen you will get 4 pages of posts about it. Some may not be genuine cases of Amyotrophy but just possible suggestions of a cause of thigh pain or numbness, but there are at least 2 are 3 which are quite informative I think.

 

[Nayshiftin]

Sorry to hear you are in pain.