Sign in

or Register now

MyOsteoarthritisCentral.com

See all of our health sites at www.HealthCentral.com
Thursday, November, 12, 2009
  • Font size
Have you been diagnosed with OA of the knee?  Get a FREE knee pain relief kit.Start here.

Arthritis Can Keep People With Diabetes From Exercise

Craig Stoltz
Craig Stoltz
Close
Health Journalist

A veteran health journalist, I spent six years as editor of The...

Craig Stoltz

Monday, May 12, 2008
View All of Craig Stoltz's Posts
A nasty interplay observed between arthritis, diabetes and inactivity appears to multiply serious health risks, according to a new report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).   The CDC study essentially found this: About half of diabetics have osteoarthritis, and ...
  1. Arthritis and Diabetes
    CLS
    Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 01:57 AM

    I noted that the findings were based on telephone interviews.  Has it occurred to anyone that this arthritis connection to diabetes could be the side-effects from the medications most diabetics are taking?  I have had problems with shoulder pain for a number of years.  Then my doctors started adding different blood pressure medications and also cholesterol lowering drugs.  The pain intensified.  At one point putting me flat on my back.  In checking med side effects I noted that a number of my meds listed muscle and joint pain as possible side effects.  I broached the possibility to my family doctor that meds were causing my pain.  He did some checking himself and suggested that although the individual dosages of the meds I was taking probably wouldn't cause these side effects, there could be a CUMULATIVE effect from the different meds I was on.  He assisted me in eliminating or lowering dossages on several meds.  It took 2 1/2 years, but I am now free from the shoulder pain, and am able to engage in several exercise classes (aerobics, yoga, free weights etc.) each week.  I am stronger than I have been in years and am slowly toning and losing weight.  A side note:  two so called "specialists", endo and cardio,  refused to believe me at the time.  Time and further research have shown that the meds in question did cause joint and muscle pain.

     

    I would think this is worth looking in to, since most diabetics are put on cholesterol lowering drugs as a matter of course and many of them are on blood-pressure lowering drugs.  Several of the diabetes drugs also list joint and muscle pain.  How about it? 

    Reply
  2. Arthritis and Diabetes
    CLS
    Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 02:00 AM

    I noted that the findings were based on telephone interviews.  Has it occurred to anyone that this arthritis connection to diabetes could be the side-effects from the medications most diabetics are taking?  I have had problems with shoulder pain for a number of years.  Then my doctors started adding different blood pressure medications and also cholesterol lowering drugs.  The pain intensified.  At one point putting me flat on my back.  In checking med side effects I noted that a number of my meds listed muscle and joint pain as possible side effects.  I broached the possibility to my family doctor that meds were causing my pain.  He did some checking himself and suggested that although the individual dosages of the meds I was taking probably wouldn't cause these side effects, there could be a CUMULATIVE effect from the different meds I was on.  He assisted me in eliminating or lowering dossages on several meds.  It took 2 1/2 years, but I am now free from the shoulder pain, and am able to engage in several exercise classes (aerobics, yoga, free weights etc.) each week.  I am stronger than I have been in years and am slowly toning and losing weight.  A side note:  two so called "specialists", endo and cardio,  refused to believe me at the time.  Time and further research have shown that the meds in question did cause joint and muscle pain.

     

    I would think this is worth looking in to, since most diabetics are put on cholesterol lowering drugs as a matter of course and many of them are on blood-pressure lowering drugs.  Several of the diabetes drugs also list joint and muscle pain.  How about it? 

    Reply
    re: Arthritis and Diabetes
    Craig Stoltz
    Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 07:14 AM

    What an excellent comment and thought. The study, as you point out based on phone interviews, did not take meds into account.

     

    Good for you in persisting in finding out that drug interactions, not the individual drugs themselves, may have triggered your problems.

     

    For you and others: It's a good idea to run your entire drug regimen through a medication checker, which can flag some of these pernicious interactions.

     

    Again, thanks for the comment. By caring for yourself so assertively, you're clearly in good hands.

     

    Craig

    Reply
  • Font size
  • Bookmark
  • Thank you for your input
  • Save
  • RSS
  • Report Abuse
The breakdown of cartilage in the knee can lead to bony protrusions called spurs and considerable joint pain.

Ask a Question

Get answers from our experts and community members.

View all questions (535) >