DIABETES-RELATED JOINT PROBLEMS:
Trigger Finger & Frozen Shoulder | Dr. Edelman TCOYD
Join endocrinologist Dr. Steve Edelman, founder of Taking Control of Your Diabetes and living with Type 1 diabetes for over 55 years, as he shares essential insights about musculoskeletal complications affecting people with diabetes. Discover the crucial connection between diabetes and joint mobility issues, including trigger finger, frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), and stiff hand syndrome. Learn practical treatment approaches, from physical therapy techniques to surgical options, presented through Dr. Edelman’s unique perspective as both a medical expert and someone who has personally experienced these conditions. This comprehensive guide explores early warning signs, treatment options, and preventive measures for diabetes-related joint problems, helping you maintain optimal mobility and quality of life. Perfect for anyone with diabetes seeking to understand and manage musculoskeletal complications with practical, actionable medical insights that go beyond basic blood sugar control.
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In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Pettus and Dr. Steve Edelman address the most common musculoskeletal and neuropathic conditions that affect people with diabetes. They explore how complications like frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, and trigger are linked to long-term diabetes, and how they can significantly impact daily life. Focusing on real-life scenarios and actionable advice, they offer strategies to help individuals with diabetes recognize early warning signs, navigate treatment options, and take preventive measures to protect their overall health and quality of life.
Many people with diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) seem to be susceptible to “frozen shoulder”. Dr. Edelman has been living with this painful condition for over a year, but physical therapy has worked wonders. Dr. Edelman’s physical therapist Reece Jensen explains the causes of frozen shoulder and gives treatment options that can thaw the freeze to get you back on track.
TCOYD LIVE Session and Q&A with Drs. E + P talking about diabetes-related musculoskeletal complications with special guest Dr. Kenneth Kalunian, Rheumatologist & Professor of Clinical Medicine at UCSD
I have had diabetes for 60 years. I have also had triggerfinger and bone spurs in the shoulder had surgery on it, and they said it was bone spurs and fluid. I totally understand what you’re talking about. I am seventy eight years old have had type one since I was eighteen years old.
Bone spurs aren’t related to diabetes, but God bless you for doing so well for so many years! Lots of inspiration for the rest of us!
I’ve had type 1 for 41.5 years. I had surgery for trigger finger on both hands at the same time (2 on one hand and 3 on the other) back in 2016. Was an easy surgery and haven’t had any issues since, have full motion of all fingers. Also have frozen shoulder, dr. back then said nothing can be done. However, right shoulder has been really hurting more and have pain in my bicep area. I’m assuming all related. I was doing PT for my back few years ago and therapist told me at my age to not lift my hands up over my shoulders as could damage/tear the rotator cuff. I wonder if that is the issue instead. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge about diabetes.
Thank you so much for your comment and sharing your story. I’m not sure what is going on with your shoulder, but I would suggest seeing a very good orthopedist that specializes in shoulders. The suggestion not to raise your hands over your head is crazy! Please take care.
I’ve had T1DM for 45 years and have had 6 trigger finger surgeries +2 carpel tunnel surgeries and 1 wrist surgery. Now my other wrist is super painful & I’m wondering if I need another surgery!!??
Definitely a question for your orthopedic doctor who will be able to evaluate your wrist in person. Whatever the decision, hope your wrist is better soon!
This is a very interesting topic to cover. I have had T1D for approximately 47 years and I have experienced adhesive capsulitis in both shoulders. My first shoulder frozen about 11 years ago and required surgery to get it moving. It also required a tendon repair from trying to aggressively move the shoulder(tenodesis). The second shoulder froze about 8 years ago and required release surgery. I have seen multiple shoulder specialists in Toronto Canada. The interesting thing….okay well painful thing is that during this whole period of time my shoulders chronically keep trying to freeze. The medical community has stated that they have never experience this before. To date I have been given 56 yes 56 steroid injection, multiple saline joint expansion injections and release manipulations. I refuse to give up and hope for long term pain relief eventually, exercise daily and stretch under the guidance of a physiotherapist. Note, since the advent of the hemoglobin A1c my range has been 5.6 – 6.3.
Wow…you have been through frozen shoulder hell! I have never heard of a case this persistent. Nonetheless, you have a great attitude, and glad you are not giving up! I thought I had it bad! Thanks for sharing.
Be careful those steroid shots etc do hav effects on ur blood sugar levels 🩸🩸💉💉💊💊↗️⬆️⬆️ Mine were higher and insulin resistant. Good luck
Hello, I have had type one diabetes for 51 years. Trigger fingers have affected both of my hands and as you mention Steve i’ve had steroids each time which unfortunately never worked, but then I had the outpatient surgery a total of four times. Now I’m having a lot of problems with my shoulder, but I’m not being diagnosed as you described. So I’m unsure if I have what you discussed in the above video.
However, I have been seeing a physical therapist and things have been improving. It’s also in my neck besides my shoulder and upper arm, so it might be a total different beast.
Thanks for the message. It does sound like a different beast with your neck and upper arm involved. Probably a good idea to see a good orthopedist who specializes in the shoulder. Hang in there, and good luck.
I now have triggerfinger in my left my left middle finger. I have forcefully pills it back up, and that hurts. I have had DM2 for 30yrs and experienced a broken left foot (charcot) in 12/23. I literally heard and felt the tendons and ligaments rupturing as my foot collapsed. I am now experiencing pain on the right, question what is recommended for foot tendon/ligament strengthening health? I think this may effect the triggerfinger problem
Hello and thanks for your note. Your situation sounds complicated, and you have multiple parts of your body affected. I am not sure the foot issues can lead to trigger finger, but the underlying causes may be similar. You need a good rheumatologist, hand surgeon, and physical therapist for sure. GOOD LUCK!
Trigger finger – Tried the cortisone shot helped for about 2 months. Ended up getting the surgery on my middle finger of dominant hand and it worked. Now I’m getting trigger finger in my index finger in my dominant hand. I will have to do surgery again.
Frozen shoulders – I’ve had it on both sides. 1x on my left, 3x on my right. I had only 1 cortisone shot and multiple physical therapy each time it came back
Is TCOYD ever coming back to Hawaii for an in-person conference?
Hi Cheryl,
Musculoskeletal problems are tough! But you are not alone in what you are going through. We don’t have plans to come back to Hawaii for an in-person conference unfortunately, but we sure miss you all! Aloha!
I have had type 1 for 30 years and have had trigger finger surgery on my right thumb. I had an awesome hand surgeon. I am now experiencing many other stiff joints; hips, thumbs again but not the same a trigger finder, strength in my hands over all is very poor. I don’t think it is talked about too much how we become overwhelmed with all of the medical visits for our regular health concerns and then you add Diabetes and its complications to the mix and it can become too much. I have had a few retinal bleeds and are now controlled with tighter control and a few injections.
Burn out feels so real sometimes, but my will to live the healthiest life possible out weighs everything! Keep up the great work with your encouraging videos, it helps us feel not so alone.
Thank you so much for your comment, Teri. Burnout is definitely real. Knowing there are others going through the same thing and having support from a community does help. Appreciate you sharing what you are going through! If you have not yet been to our ONE conference, hope you can join us sometime. Take good care.
correction to my comment above – meant to say it is NOT talked about very much” how we can feel overwhelmed by all the “normal” medical visits and add Diabetes and it’s complications and it becomes a lot to deal with.
YES!!!
Hi Steve. Have had type 1 for 53 years this month. Glad to hear you can only get frozen shoulder once in each shoulder so I’m done. One a chiropracter worked out with heat and massage over 3 months, the other was laparoscopic surgery. I have also had a trigger finger. How about Dupuytren’s? I have a number of small pulls in my hands. Is this also a complication of diabetes?
Riva,
Yes Dupuytren’s is a complication of diabetes. Alcoholics get it as well. All due to the fibrosis, inflammation, and scarring. I have it as well. If it gets really bad it can cause a claw hand. ANYTHING WE DO NOT GET??
I became diabetic when I was 21 and I am now 70. In my mid 50s I had two extremely frozen shoulders and I had them both almost completely cured with twice a week acupuncture for a year. Just letting folks know.
Thanks for sharing what worked for you – glad it helped!
I have had Type II diabetes since 1989. I have received so much advice from TCOYD over the years to keep my Diabetes well controlled, Thanks so much!!
In 2007 I had a frozen right shoulder and received 3 weeks of physical therapy which brought it back to normal and I’ve not had any recurring pain since then. Now my left shoulder has begun to hurt somewhat, so I’m trying some exercises shown on YouTube for frozen shoulder to try to keep the pain from worsening. Let’s hope I can forestall needing any further attention.
That’s awesome that the PT helped, and hope it does the trick for your left shoulder as well!
Thank you for the video!!
I’ve been Type 1 for 53 years and have had 2 carpal tunnel surgeries and 3 trigger finger surgeries. I also feel like I may be getting frozen shoulder as it’s difficult to pull shirts over my head.
But, seems like every joint in my body has an issue of some sort: ankles get a pain when walking on occasion, knees hurt with arthritis and sometimes they feel like they bend the wrong way, right hip hurts with bursitis, both elbows are crooked and don’t straighten or bend all the way. (I’m a challenge for phlebotomists!) The right elbow can cause my arm muscles to hurt. I have a loud neck, too.
I relate quite strongly with the phrase, “I remember being able to get up without making sound effects when I was younger. Good times.” 😉 I don’t know who wrote it, but I relate!
Haha! Totally! And getting into and out of cars…😉
I have been a Type 1 diabetic for 44 years. I had trigger finger in 6 fingers. Fortunately for me, I found a terrific hand surgeon and have had no issues after the surgeries. My fingers work great. Thank you for all you do.
Thanks for sharing, Tim. Glad you found a good surgeon and have had no issues post surgery!
I developed Type 1 just before turning 6, and am now 77 and in relatively good health. I had two carpal tunnel surgeries around age 40 (unfortunately that was before they started using minimally invasive surgery, but the wrists have been fine since then). Since then I’ve had 7 trigger finger releases, and two frozen shoulders. Thanks for letting us know it only occurs once per shoulder because it really hurts! I’ve had good luck with squeezing exercise putty and just making/releasing a fist to ward off more hand stiffness. Thanks so much to TCOYD for advice on so many aspects of “taking control”. It is always spot-on!
Thanks Mary! Very kind of you!