Joint pain post treatment related to thyroid disorder?

[Trish77]

I keep reading about people experiencing joint pains post-treatment.  I had achy joints post treatment but figured that was part and parcel of it.  It also coincided with me throwing this 48 year old body into playing squash and figured that I was just pushing my body hard. Over the last number of months it's gotten much worse. I have stopped thinking it's the squash although a squash buddy of mine says that playing less squash hurts more than playing more squash and I've had to cut my games back to once a week the last while.  Just the same...my knee joints hurt like heck going down stairs and simply when hoisting myself out of a chair.  I'm starting to wonder if it's my thyroid, which came on as a result of my treatment and that perhaps my dosage is out of whack.  It got me thinking and reading a bit and I easily came across numerous reference linking joint pain with hypothyroidism.  

So my question to those who are still experiencing joint pain post treatment - do you also have thyroid conditions?  

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/muscle-joint-pain.htm

[meakea]

Before I started TX, my Endocrinologist told me to get a baseline bone scan and to dose up the calcium +D because of the potential for bone loss during TX.

[SnoWav]

going in for a MRI Wednesday for really bad knee pain glad I read this if it doesn't show anything. 48wks of TX relapsed 2 yrs ago. My wife is very big on me not exposing myself to the TX again/Says Ill take yrs off my life by doing TX. she could be right

[Marcia2202]

I found one of them on Medscape : http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/584281_3

Here is an excerpt of it:

Effect of Antiviral Response on Bone Mineral Density by the End of A 24-week Follow-up Period

All 30 patients underwent additional DEXA measurements by the end of the 24-week follow-up period. Compared to end-of-treatment values, BMD, T-scores and Z-scores tended to decrease in the majority of patients. There was no statistically significant difference of the mean decrease of hip and LS BMD, T-scores and Z-scores between sustained responders and relapsers, respectively. However, in subanalyses, a significant proportion of the 19 patients with sustained virological response had higher hip BMD (Fig. 2), hip T-score as well as hip and LS Z-scores by the end of the 24-week follow-up period as compared to baseline values (all P ≤ 0.02). In contrast, patients with virological relapse (n = 11) had a decrease of both hip and LS BMD, T-scores and Z-scores by the end of the 24-week follow-up period and thereafter, that did not differ from baseline values [see (Fig. 3a,b)], for simplicity of data presentation, hip and LS BMD, T-scores and Z-scores, respectively, are merged in the respective figure).

It would have been interesting if they would have kept following these people for a longer time than 24weeks. Personally I think that it would make sense if there would be a constant increase. Kind of like with the decrease of fibrosis. I've read somewhere else, the less the stage of fibrosis, the less loss of BMD.

[newleaf09]

Thanks, Marcia.  Let me know if you ever come across those studies about reversing bone loss while rambling around the internet.  I searched and found lots of Liver & TX related case studies on bone loss but could not find a one that stated that the loss reversed after TX.  I would be less anxious about turning into a crumpled up old woman if I could just see a reference that said this was reversible.   I think worrying may be a secondary side effect of TX.

I am now convinced that the knee pain is an IFN after-effect and hopefully will straighten itself out.  Looking back through my health journal, I had exactly the same extreme knee pain at 8 wks. post but it was in the OTHER knee.  It stopped so this surely will, too. Whattayagonnado?

[nygirl7]

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are known to cause what are called myopathies -- the medical term for diseases that affect skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscles are the muscles connected to your bones. An example of a skeletal muscle is your biceps in the upper arm, or the quadriceps in the thigh. Myopathies most often are seen in what are known as the proximal muscles. These are the muscles, such as in the thigh and shoulder area, that are closest to the center of the body. In myopathies caused by inflammation or metabolic conditions, such as AUTOIMMUNE THYROID DISEASE, white blood cells may attack parts of the muscle and the surrounding blood vessels, or abnormal levels of certain biochemical substances end up accumulating in your muscles, leading to weakness or pain. .

Hypothyroidism can create a variety of muscle and joint-related symptoms. Most commonly, these symptoms are due to swelling of the muscles, or swelling that is pressing on nerves. Various problems seen include:

General muscular weakness and pain, including cramps, and stiffness
General joint pain, achiness, stiffness, known as "arthropathy"
Tendonitis in the arms and legs
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-- which involves pain, tingling, weakness, achiness or numbness in the wrist, fingers or forearm. It is due to swelling of membranes that compress a nerve in the forearm.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome-- similar to carpal tunnel, with pain, tingling, burning and other discomfort in the arch of your foot, the bottom of the foot, possibly extending into the toes.

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/muscle-joint-pain.htm

[Marcia2202]

I'm sorry to hear about your condition. I was worried about this during tx and had my hepa order a dexa scan. Fortunately the results were all good for me. But I had done quite a bit of research on the matter before doing the scan and found some interesting reads. This might come as some good news for you. It has been proven that successful treatment does reverse some of the loss of density. Unfortunately I do not have those studies, nor links to them anymore, as my hard disk died on me, just a few months after tx. I lost all my hep c related stuff.
Wishing you all the best.

Marcia

[BklynBoy81]

post tx sides have Lots.. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, Joint pains, weird numbness in my hands and feet.. pain in the middle right quard so got abdomen ultrasound.. liver, gallbladder, kideys, pancreas are good... the Spleen not so good splenomegaly enlarged spleen measures in 14.3 cm have not seen doc about this yet.. dont know what is casuing the middle right quard pain, i think its my colon cause i still get the diarrhea and dont know what is causing it.. also been sick 4 times after tx...  i never get sick... the plus side is i have more energy and i was UND 3 months post...  what kind of test would you guys recommend me getting to see if there is anything else wrong with me???

[jonney4141]

yes newleaf i get worried too--- did i make right decision in taking this stuff, and than i have to think either way i cannot sit and do nothing. at least we tried. this is some very powerful medicine, and i have gone thru so many things, i had the joint and whole body pain a couple of years before i tested positive, i thought that i would be crippled in 5 years, i could not hardly make it up my stairs, i am undetectable now, but still in pain, and i have a horrible rash on my lower leg that will not heal, i broke out in some sores on my scalp face chest and right arm, when exhaling i have a wheezing whistle sound and i know there is fluid in my chest that won't come up, i also have swelling in ankles feet and lower legs. my hair did start to come out, but Thank God that did not last long, and it seems like it is thicker (lol). still cannot get to sleep until 3-4am, and i have always been a morning person (i hate sleeping late) but anyways let me stop rambling. I hope we all find out what is causing this....

[newleaf09]

6 mos. post TX.  I had lots of goofy transient things pop up in the first 3 mos. post TX.  The most annoying were peripheral neuropathy (came and went twice, then stayed gone), and a few months ago, one of my knees was just killing me.  I did not seek medical attention because I know my knees are fine and sure enough, it lasted about 4-5 days than disappeared.  Last week it came back with a vengeance in the knee and both legs are stiff and achey after sitting.  Intellectually, I know this is just more of that same stupid phantom post-TX IFN B.S. but when is it going to stop this time?

My reason for seeking an endocrinologist is because I went for a bone density scan to set a baseline for the future (I'm 57). I came away with near osteoporosis in 2 vertebrae, a shock since my only risk factor is being post-menopausal (and I haven't been that for long).  High dietary calcium intake, plenty of time in the sun to make vitamin D, regular exercise.  High blood calcium levels throughout TX and a recent vitamin D test was in the low end of normal.  

Was my liver too damaged to process the Vit. D before now?  Did my parathyroid malfunction during TX and stop activating Vit. D so I could use all that calcium?  Did the ribavirin stop absorption of calcium in the gut or was it the protease inhibitor (bone loss is very common in AIDS patients on PI's)?  God, I'd love to have some answers about all of our questions.

We are in the unenviable position of having taken several miracle drugs that have saved our lives but, let's face it, are very poorly understood about what all they do to the human body.  I'm sure these things will probably all be understood in another 10 years or so, but I for one would like to know now.

[lacyjane67]

9 weeks post tx. This is very disappointing to hear this from so many. My body gets so stiff and joints ache so bad when I am still. I too think its my body  getting back as active as I am now. I have so much energy, not sure if its cause when I get still its hurts so bad to get going again or what. Feel so much better off tx but body really hurts. Not giving up hope, and still undetectable.

[jonney4141]

Hi rocker you may be on to something with the way you have been taking care of yourself. i have friend who insists on eating right--vitamins, no red meat, no junk foods, no soda's and i have to say i find her amazing and she is in her 60's and looks like she's in her 40's

[copyman]

seems you are one of the rare cases of no post sx. maybe it is the blue-green alge. keep up the good work.

[Rockerforlife]

Sorry to hear about the joint pain and other problems post TX,but im cirious,is it so painful that you cant work and are on disability?I dont seem to have any problems at all physically,mentally maybe another story.Am i the only person in the world who dont have any sides after doing 2 years of tx?

[meakea]

Yup, I'm a muscle and joint pain sufferer now too...since ending treatment.  I am hypothyroid (it started JUST BEFORE I started treatment) but my thyroid levels are perfect with the thyroid meds...and I still have the joint/muscle pain.  I'm also taking 1600 of Vit D a day by way of supplements...still the pain.  

Some days I notice I hardly have any pain and then, BAM!, the next day I will ache from head to toe and it's hard to get motivated to even try to move around -- but I do it anyway.  So far, I can't find a pattern.  I've been taking notice of the foods I eat, the pills I might take, the things I do, the sleep I get and nothing seems to matter.

I met with two "net Hep C" friends yesterday (first time I met them in person) and both of them complain of the same pains.  One is 6 months post treatment and has relapsed, one is mid-treatment of her 48 weeks and I am 3 mos post treatment with most recent VL still being UND.  So, we were a mix and all have the pain.

I do remember have sporadic aches prior to finding out I had hep C but it was never enough to mention to my doc.  Since treatment, those aches are magnified x 10 and occur more days than not.

[Marcia2202]

My hepatologist was convinced that my pain is due to the interferon, as there is nothing else wrong. At my last visit she said that I was the 3rd person who had come into her office that same day who had this problem post tx.

[charm27]

Glad you posted this. I have been off tx 11 months and have severe joint pain and stiffness, I cant hoist myself up out of the car...Sleeping is the worst.

My thyoid has been fine so far.
I attribute my chronic pain DEFINTELY ro tx.

Im hoping this goes away, the sooner the better.
Never had pain b4 tx.
Regards TO ALL

[annieCinMD]

Good thread. I have been having some joint and muscle pain myself. Initial thought is that I am still out of shape post tx, which is probably true at least somewhat. I took a long power walk last weekend and could barely walk before it was even over. 70 degree weather again today, so plan on doing it again. I am having a terrible time with my shoulders when working out in the gym. I have always had rotator cuff issues from prior job repetitive motion, but it seems to be quite a bit worse.

[virgocharm]

i have the knee leg joint pain.  i dont like taking pills. took 1 naprosyn all pain left. i think i developed arthritis on tx. but it helped a lot.

[Trish77]

Thyroid impact aside, I'm starting to think so too, that it's a leftover of interferon.  Far too many of us reporting that post-treatment side effect.

[copyman]

I have had joint pain mostly in my knees post tx. I have had thyroid checked before, during and after tx and all tests normal. I beginning to think it is a permanent sx of interferon.

[GSDgirl]

I have the joint pain and muscle pain almost 2 years post TX.  Been through a ton of tests all normal.  

The last Doc diagnosed Fibromyalgia.  The docs give drugs. My mother thinks thyroid, today she painted a patch of iodine on my arm to see if it disappears. There is a specific vitamin for this, not sure what it is yet, she has some coming for me.  This seems to be a controversial "test" for thyroid problems.  I figured what the heck, nothing else seems to help.  

Denise

[Isobella]

On paper, I look great.  All my levels are normal.  The joint pain is real, tho.  It's what led to my diagnosis in the first place and post tx it has come back even worse.

I get way too much beach time, so I'm thinking I'm ok with the vitamin D,  But I do find balancing excercise is crucial.  Too much=bad.  Too little=bad.  

Every morning my hands are soooo painful.  All day long some of my fingers are bad.  Feet are getting better with some really good orthotics, so at least I can walk ok.  

I am getting a bone scan Monday.  Curious to see if anything shows up. I'm wishing I had a baseline before tx to compare it to tho.

[jdwithhcv]

I have tx related thyroid dmamge and since tx I have had joint pain in my shoulders.  My docs have me taking Vitamin D, and if I ever get good about taking it I'll post how it affects my joints.  Thanks Trish, I never thought my thyroid might be the culprit but I will ask the docs.

[Tippyclubb]

I've was hypo thyroid going into tx and had been for 15 years, with very few symptoms.  Doc pretty much kept the tsh at normal levels and I did not have any joint pain, although I have read this is a symptom of high tsh.

While on tx I switched to hyper and am still hyper 5 months later.  Now, I have joint pain along with various other post issues.   I do not contribute the joint pain to my thyroid seeing as I've never had it before.  I feel the culprit is Interferon. Hard to really know though.