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Demonstration of Cutaneous Allodynia in Association with Chronic Pelvic Pain
Published on: June 23, 2009
Abdominal pain caused by diabetic radiculopathy
Annals of Internal Medicine
|February 1, 1977
Summary
Diabetic patients experiencing abdominal pain may have thoracic radiculopathy, a nerve root condition. Electromyography (EMG) confirmed this often-missed diagnosis, leading to full recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Diabetology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus can cause lumbosacral radiculopathy, leading to lower extremity pain.
- Thoracic radiculopathy as a cause of abdominal pain in diabetics is not widely recognized.
- Diabetic neuropathy can present with diverse and sometimes atypical symptoms.
Observation:
- Four diabetic patients presented with abdominal pain, initially mimicking serious conditions like malignancy.
- Extensive diagnostic workups, including invasive procedures, failed to identify the cause.
- Clinical presentation strongly suggested malignancy, delaying the correct diagnosis.
Findings:
- Electromyographic (EMG) examination was crucial in diagnosing thoracic radiculopathy.
- Radiculopathy was the underlying cause of abdominal pain in all studied diabetic patients.
- EMG confirmed nerve root involvement in the thoracic region.
Implications:
- Recognizing thoracic radiculopathy is vital for accurate abdominal pain diagnosis in diabetics.
- EMG can differentiate radiculopathy from other causes of abdominal pain, avoiding unnecessary procedures.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment of thoracic radiculopathy lead to complete patient recovery.
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