Pain and Thyroid Disease: Could it Be Affecting You?
One of our readers wrote in with a great question today regarding hypothyroidism and muscle pain. She was experiencing sharp stabbing pain in her calf muscle and asks if this could be related to having low thyroid problems.
So here’s our Thyroid Question of the Day:
Q: Could my leg pain be related to my hypothyroidism?
A: Obviously, anytime you have pain of some sort you should consult with your physician. And even if your physician is not concerned, if your pain is not relieved or gets worse, it is a good idea to get a second opinion.
Be particularly vigilant about any leg pain if you site a lot for your job, and/or if you’ve recently been traveling. Sometimes travel or sitting in the same position for extended periods can trigger a blood clot. Your doctor will examine you for swelling and localized pain to make sure that it is not a blood clot causing your symptoms.
If you’ve been thoroughly evaluated by a medical professional and you’ve been given a clean bill of health, then let’s talk about some other causes for pain and in particular, discuss if this could be related to having hypothyroidism.
Low Thyroid Levels can cause all kinds of problems. And at first glance, these multiple problems may seem unrelated. But when you stop for a minute and think about it—it makes sense why thyroid disease patients may have more pain than someone without thyroid disease.
Since low thyroid affects all cells in the body, things like our metabolism, and the mitochondrial processes of the cells–are impacted. Here’s one example which can help understand how the thyroid is involved in our bodily processes.
When we move our muscles, there is a constant ebb/flow of things like sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium and other substances that are needed by our body to keep our electrolytes in balance. Our muscles need fuel, called glycogen, to work, and a waste product called lactic acid, can build up in the body and then these wastes need to be flushed out. You can get pains after exercising or even after walking, especially if you’re not accustomed to doing activities and there are microscopic tears in the muscle which can form and/or a build up of lactic acid and/or inflammation.
So back to the thyroid…low thyroid, affects not only the movement of fuels into the cells and muscles, but the movement out. Remember, everything slows down when the thyroid is sluggish. And depending upon your situation, those with Hashimotos, for example have increased inflammation in their body from the thyroid gland being attacked by antibodies. If waste products aren’t removed quickly enough…you can also get inflammation.
So, could leg pains be a result of low thyroid? Yes, they could, but it’s good that you brought this up with your doctor and if it continues or is problematic, it may be good to get a 2nd opinion.
Pain Interventions that You Can Discuss with your Physician:
1. Make sure you’re on an adequate dose of thyroid medication (Free T3, and Free T4 in good ranges) If you have thyroid antibodies either elevated TPO or TG Antibodies, it may be a good idea to have a lower or even suppressed TSH to reduce the attack or inflammation in your thyroid gland
2. Drink enough water, Dehydration can also lead to a build up of waste products in the cells, and hydration is important for many bodily functions including the reduction of inflammation. If you’re dehydrated, fluids can build up in the tissues, guess what? Causing inflammation, so make sure that you are drinking water throughout the day and watch out for things that can be dehydrating
3. B12 deficiencies can also cause what’s called neuropathy which can be quite painful. The unfortunate element for thyroid patients is that many times physicians are not adequately educated on the importance of B12 and/or do not understand that in the US, low normal serum B12 readings can actually lead to permanent nerve damage if not corrected in time. Furthermore, the US range for B12 is thought by some to be far too low. Japan’s range is 1.5 x higher than the US and even with serum B12 levels in the midrange, some patients report neuropathy and/or other types of pain.
B12, because of it’s anti-inflammatory properties, can be helpful for patients with various types of aches and pains. Because it’s water soluble, any excess is simply eliminated in the body through the urine. Physicians again, may not be adequately educated to do the proper testing for B12 which for those patients who are already supplementing B12, would involve a urinary MMA, serum homocysteine test, and finally, a serum B12. Folate is also generally tested along with B12 because many times deficiencies in one may also appear in another. For those physicians who are not doing all three (3) B12 tests, then sometimes just having the patient do a trial of B12 injections can be a reasonable intervention, especially if a patient is dealing with ongoing pain. Injections are preferred over oral administration of B12 because absorbability and conversion issues. Some patients may benefit from sublingual administration of B12, however, since some patients are not able to convert the B12 into an active form through sublingual or oral routes, an inject able form of B12 is sometimes used to determine if there is improvement in the patient’s symptoms after using it.
4. Look at the electrolyte levels: Low potassium levels can also cause pain. Sometimes even patients with low normal potassium could benefit from adding sources of potassium to their diet such as bananas or pure coconut water. Coconut water has more electrolytes and 15 times more potassium than the leading sports drinks and more potassium than 2 bananas.
Magnesium is another viable intervention, especially in the form of magnesium glycinate, more readily absorbable. Magnesium oxide is not advised to be used as it is very difficult to digest and hard on the gastrointestinal system. Sometimes a warm bath with Epsom Salts is a good way to relax the muscles, as well as get some magnesium into the body through the skin during the bath. Low calcium levels or even low normal calcium levels can cause leg cramping or pains, so trying a calcium supplement with your doctor’s permission can also be helpful in some patients.
Pain is generally your body’s way of telling you that something is going wrong. Ignoring pain is not wise,and it’s always a good idea to talk with your doctor if you’re experiencing any type of pain. And to follow up with another doctor for a second opinion, if you did not feel like your concerns were addressed appropriately or that your pain was dismissed.
Low thyroid, or hypothyroidism can affect the body in multiple ways. Making sure that your hypothyroidism is treated appropriately will help you not only avoid pain, but can help you feel better in all aspects of your life.
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In my previous comment I meant to say I wasn’t as active since I’ve been off work.I don’t know if that is the difference.Also I’m not taking the meds on as much of a set schedule as when I’m working.Maybe this could contribute to the above symtoms.
i am also suffering from pain, not only in the leg but also in the whole body, and i am very much sure that it is because of Hypothyroidism
I have your symptoms as well and I also have hypothyroidism. Frequent leg cramping with a burning sensation in both calves..widespread body aches that mimic how one would feel if they had the flu. I was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It has many overlapping symptoms with hypothyroidism. You may want to check with your doctor to make sure this is not the case for you too.
I was also having stabbing pains and severe muscle cramping. After finding a new physician I found my hypothyroidism was being undertreated. I was on 25 mcg of levothyroxine.
I am now increasing my medication, under the supervision of my primary. I am starting to feel so much better. This is taking a long time. I have increased medications for over a month now. But, I can say the stabbing pains and severe muscle cramps are gone. There are some residual issues but I am confident that all will subisde with some more time.
BTW I did end going to a rheumy for fibromyalgia testing. We decided to try a different thyroid medication (Armour) to rule it out and that is how I stumbled upon being undertreated.
I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroid disease 14 months ago and have been taking Methimazole. I was going to Dr. and blood tests every 6 wks, but been 2 months now since last Dr. appt as Dr. said I was regulated and all tests looked great. He kept me on 10 mg methimazole and I don’t go back for 2 more month.
5 nights ago I started having pain in both legs and couldn’t sleep for the pain. The pain is there 24/7 but only bothers me when I sit to long with nothing on my mind or when I got to bed at night. I have no pain when up and walking etc that I notice. I was wondering that if my thyroid has gotten to low and what to do for the pain.
So far, ibuprofen or vicoden has been no relief. Hot baths help but very short lived relief.
I have been researching leg cramps related to thyroid function about 2 hours now. So far I have read that if your thyroid has dropped too low..muscle cramping is common, especially at night, which i experience as well. I’ve read that eating bananas for potassium, taking b-12 and drinking tonic water can relieve your symptoms. My doctor prescribed me topical voltaren gel, which is an anti-inflammitory gel that does give me some relief.
I am suffering from muscular pain in my both legs. I was put on vitamin D supplement (calcerol sachet).That gave me relief but now that pain has bounced back with full force. Since about a month I have this pain 24 hrs a day.My thyroid is fine. HB is 11.6. No sugar.I am taking calcium 1000mg daily.Plus Glucosamin for my knee problem. Diagnosed OA in right knee. But it is manageable as i only feel pain while climbing stairs.
I am 47 years old female. Kindly tell me how should I get rid of this pain. I go for walks regularly.
Please help.
Ok, so I have hypothyroidism but was not tested for any Vitamin D problems until this past week. My family doctor called me yesterday and said he wanted to put me on a prescription Vitamin D supplement. My numbers are below what’s normal and he said that could be causing the joint pain. I have already been sent to many other specialists so why did they wait for 5 years to test my Vitamin D? This seems like such an easy thing to do. I am upset that it wasn’t done until now. On the positive side, I guess I’m glad someone thought to order this test. Anyone else go for a long time before having their Vitamin D checked and identified as a problem for joint pain?
How long after beginning thyroid medication should it take for the joint and muscle aches to go away? Will Synthroid work to reduce the muscle pains?
Muscle pains, headaches, hair loss, tiredness. All of the above were going on in my life when I was hypo. I’m feeling slightly better on compounded natural thyroid, but still not 100%.
I have got all of Amber’s problems plus other problems I have my 3rd blood test next week, I think I had this under active tyroid for years. Once I get onto medication how long wil it take me to see myself feeling like me?
Regarding pain with hypothyroidism—you bet it can and does cause pain. I sent this article to my doctor and his nurse for them to read. I was sent to a rheumatologist and was told I likely had Lupus or some other awful disease. But, my Vitamin D level was very very low, and I had Hashimotos. Which, for years, was never diagnosed because no one in my medical office ever took the time to do the correct testing for Hashimotos. Luckily my rheumatologist did these tests, but it should not have taken 15 years of going without a diagnosis to get to this place. And my family doctor could have easily tested for both the Hashimotos and the low Vitamin D if only they would have taken time to read a bit.
Re: Visit with Endocrinologist did not go well
I’m so upset. Had a visit with my endocrinologist and he refuses to test anything other than the TSH. And he tells me that my TSH is “fine”. Blood work looks good. I have gained 15 more pounds and can’t go on feeling this way. I am certain there is something wrong. I exercise hard and eat the proper number of calories. I even setup an appointment with a nutritionist and even she is perplexed. The nutritionist said she thinks it is my thyroid. Please help.
I was misdiagnosed for 7 years and recently found out I had hypothyroidism. I had positive thyroid antibodies that were never caught before because all my doctor had done for many years was to test my TSH. Also had below normal Vitamin D levels. I am taking a supplement and starting to have less pains in my muscles and joints.
Great, one more thing I can chalk up to my being hypothyroid. Does the list of bad symptoms ever end? If more doctors could recognize this horrid disease earlier we’d all be better off. My muscles are always sore.
I am also so so thankful that I found this post. I have had severe muscle pains in my legs and arms so badly. My mother had thyroid disease as well as Hashimotos, so I think I could check into this with my physician’s assistant and see what he says.
I wasn’t having muscle pains until I found out that Armour Thyroid had changed their formula. I don’t think my thyroid medicine is even working at this point with taking the Armour. My muscles are so sore all the time, it’s as if I had run a marathon. This never happened to me before. I will be making an appointment with my doctor to discuss this and ask to be switched to another natural thyroid medication. Does anyone have recommendations on which other natural thyroid is the best now? Thank you.
Very interesting to read this. I have been telling my doctor for the past few years that my body always hurt. He sent me to a Rheumatologist and I was given numerous diagnosis etc. This week I went to a new primary care doctor and found out I’ve been hypothyroid all along. I wonder if my muscle and joint pain will go away once I’m on thyroid medicine. My new doctor seems to think so.
I’m getting my Vitamin D level tested this week. Mainly because I read about this on your website. My family doctor never brought it up, so I came to my appointment last week with a list of things “I” wanted him to check. I mean who could of thought that I would have to be more informed about these things than my doctor? Anyway, I’m just fortunate that there are other people and patients who are starting to talk and share. I’m really hoping that my Vitamin D comes back low–if nothing else because it would explain why my muscles ache so badly. And if it’s low at least that is something I could fix!
I finally found out why my muscles hurt so badly. I had the thyroid problem and one doctor figured it out. He also told me that my Vitamin D was quite low and that it also definitely contributed to the muscle pain.
My muscles and joints have been aching for close to 3 years now. My doctor tells me I could have fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue but I’m beginning to wonder if I could have a thyroid issue causing these symptoms. I’m very glad I came across this.
Hypothyroidism is something that I’ve dealt with for 5 years now. I was initially on the Armour throid medication, until it was changed. Once Forest Labs changed the formula–alll my hypothyroid symptoms came back. Muscle pains, hair loss, exhaustion. You name it–I had it. Also bad heart palpitations. I can’t take synthroid so I changed to the NatureThroid. And that’s working out pretty well I think. Muscle pains are not so bad and my energy is slowly coming back.
For several years I had muscle pains that I was told there was nothing to be done, however, not only was I very hypothyroid, but I was also very low in Vitamin D. I was within the limits for what was supposedly normal for Vitamin D, but at the bottom end of the lower limit. Now I’ve learned that even within the supposed normal limits of Vitamin D, you can have these severe muscle pains, fatigue and exhaustion too. So everyone should definitely get their Vitamin D tested and take action on supplements if yours is at the lower end of normal.
I’m up reading these comments and thinking how much they relate to me. I was diagnosed with hyothyroidism a few months ago and was immediately put on a low dose of synthroid.At first my symtoms of extreme exhaustion got much better and my heart was racing a lot. The last blood test I had showed my levels were normal again but I would have to continue with the meds to keep it that way.However, I have been off work for a few weeks and have been as active as I normally would be.I’ve noticed I get up feeling tired,my heart is racing again and I’m having a lot of dull pain in my legs and arms.I’ll admit I was getting a little freaked out about why til I happened to think of the thyroid.This gland truly affects your whole body….Prayers for us all who have this problem….. Thanks
I meant to say I haven’t been as active as when working.