Endocrine Disease May Also Be the Cause of Bone, Joint, and Muscle Pain

Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist stated that endocrine diseases bring along orthopedic disorders and said, "Endocrine diseases may lie under complaints such as bone pain, nerve compression, heel pain."

Endocrine system disorders, which are caused by improper functioning of the internal secretion glands and result in under or overproduction of hormones, cause many diseases such as thyroid, diabetes, osteoporosis, and hypertension. When these diseases cause edema in the tissues over time, it prepares the ground for some orthopedic problems. Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist said that endocrinological and metabolic problems must be corrected in order for orthopedic treatment of these patients to take place. Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist said, "Joint pain, tightness in the tendons around the joints, and bone pain are among the common problems in patients with endocrine disorders. For this reason, it is necessary to know the patient's history very well before starting treatment. Physicians need to inform patients with hormonal problems and such pain about their existing diseases and non-orthopedic complaints."

The Incidence Rate is Higher in Women

Stating that the incidence of orthopedic problems due to endocrine problems varies according to the form of the disease and that these can be easily overlooked, Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist said, "We see such problems more frequently in female patients."

Pointing out that hormonal conditions that change with pregnancy in women can also cause joint, muscle, and tendon pain, Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist explained the following:  "For example, during pregnancy, there may be a condition called temporary bone marrow edema, which is characterized by severe pain in the hip bones and renders patients unable to walk. If this condition is confused with a different condition that disrupts the hip bone, the patient may undergo unnecessary surgery. Therefore, it is important to question patients very well and in detail in order to make the correct diagnosis. Patients should also provide detailed information to their physicians about all health problems and other accompanying diseases."

Children May Experience Leg Curvature

Reminding that problems in the endocrine and metabolic system can also cause vitamin D and calcium deficiency, Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist continued his words as follows: "In vitamin D deficiencies or in cases where vitamin D cannot be activated by the sun, the calcium we take cannot be absorbed from the intestine. For this, the body has to pull the calcium it needs from the bones with the hormones it secretes, and in such a situation, the bones begin to weaken. If this happens in childhood, children's legs curve over time. In adults, this condition causes widespread bone pain and easy fractures."

Another problem that may occur in children is short stature due to growth hormone deficiency. In this case, the underlying endocrine problem needs to be resolved.

May Result in Numbness and Hip Fracture

Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist, pointed out that patients who have had this condition over the years and who do not receive the right treatment have the risk of encountering widespread osteoporosis and continued his words as follows; "In this case, patients may also face serious risks such as hip fractures in the future.  If these problems, which can be easily solved with medication or rehabilitation treatments, are not recognized in time, the problem becomes unsolvable even if an improvement is achieved years later. Eventually, surgery is required. Tendon problems involving the shoulder, wrist, and fingers as well as muscle and joint diseases are common, especially in diabetic patients with uncontrolled blood sugar. In addition, due to uncontrolled diabetes, sensory defects that can lead to complete numbness, recurrent surgeries due to wounds on the feet, and even serious and life-threatening problems that can cause loss of the leg are also frequently seen in these patients. " he said.

Thyroid and Diabetes Patients Beware!

Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist said that problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome, that is, nerve compression disease in the hand-wrist canal, trigger finger where the fingers closed and lock, tennis elbow, which manifests itself with pain in the elbow; pain in the heels, inability to step on it in the morning and Achilles tendonitis occur very frequently, especially in patients with thyroid hormone insufficiency, and warned patients to understand themselves well. He said, "The patient comes with shoulder pain, but this problem cannot be solved without treating the underlying disease. Sometimes the person knows that he/she has thyroid disease or diabetes and receives treatment for this but the treatment may be inadequate. For this reason, both physicians and patients have important duties in diagnosing, treating, and revealing the relationship between endocrine diseases and orthopedic diseases. After all, the human body is an enormous structure consisting of interrelated organs and systems. For this reason, when evaluating diseases, we should not only consider the event as a muscle, tendon, or bone that causes pain. Solving the underlying hormonal disorder can protect many of these diseases from surgery."