Question: I had Cushing’s due to a pituitary tumor. I have a slipped disc and numerous tendon and ligament problems in my back. Did Cushing’s cause this? 

Answer: Cushing’s disease can certainly have a number of complications for the muscles and bone. For muscle, Cushing’s disease causes muscle weakness, particularly in the shoulders and hips. For bone, Cushing’s disease causes thinning of the bone, resulting in osteopenia or osteoporosis, which increases the risk of bone fracture. There are no particular effects on tendons and ligaments. 

By Dr. Laurence Katznelson, Summer, 2014