Muscle weakness

[nin1]

I have been having intermittement muscle weakness and joint pain for about 2 months now. Have had a spinal tap (negative) and two MRIs - some lesions seen but neuro says they are "insignificant". MS has been ruled out. The only blood tests that have come back abnormal are for active epstein-barr, vitamin d deficiency (level is 10), thyroid underactive and cortisol underactive. I am extremely exhausted and anxious alot of the time. Can any of these abnormal blood tests explain the intermittent muscle weakness/joint pain?

[nin1]

Thanks for the responses. Doc did check for Rheumatoid Arthiritis, Lupus and found nothing. On MS - I am still confused and still live in fear of it but 4 neuros said I don't show "clinical" symptoms or clinical weakness, LP was clean and the lesions are "doubtful". I've given up on going back because they make me feel as if I'm just a hypochondriac. I was even told that I have all these symptoms due to "anxiety". Doc who ran all these tests said it is indicating to him that I have "polyglandular syndrome" or that there is something wrong with the pituatry gland. He said to take the treatment for boosting thyroid, vitamin D, cortisol for 6 weeks and take it from there. Twopack, I am interested to know which symptoms of MS are mimicked by hypothyroid?

[Red_Star]

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms include joint pain and muscle weakness. Vitamin D deficiency is common worldwide but is found deficient in 98% of patients suffering with autoimmune thyroid disease due to defects in the receptor site for vitamin D.  Typically, autoimmune patients need levels at 80 - 100ng/mL or 200nmol/L - 250nmol/L. An autoimmune cause accounts for approximately 90% of adult hypothyroidism, mostly due to Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.


"Muscle and Joint Pain With Thyroid Disease:

Symptoms for those with hypothyroidism 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

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."


In a study published in 2008 in the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, researchers found approximately 40% of 116 patients with hypothyroidism were found to be deficient in vitamin B12.  Optimal vitamin B12 serum is over 800pg/mL or 600pmol/L.  The number one deficiency symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency is fatigue. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause of lesions on the brain not to mention mimic MS.


From stop the thyroid madness:

"And for thyroid patients all over the world, including you, the risk of reactivation of the Epstein Barr Virus is a constant threat. It can result from one or more of the following biological stresses:

Being undiagnosed thanks to the inadequate TSH lab test

Being on a T4 medication like Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothyroxine, Eltroxin, Oroxine, etc

Falling into low cortisol from adrenal fatigue

Having chronic side issues pulling your body down such as gluten intolerance or celiac, low ferritin, poor digestion, or making mistakes in your treatment."


"Below are those patients recommend you insist to your doctor that you want, or take with you when you visit your doc.

TSH But this lab is only for diagnosis of hypopituitary, NOT to diagnose or dose your hypo by.

Free T4 and Free T3 (note the word “free”–important since it measures what is unbound and available.)

Reverse T3–to be done at the same time you do the Free T3. Then calculate your ratio with the results and measurements.

Thyroid Antibodies (anti-TPO and TgAb. YOU NEED BOTH.)

Four iron labs, which include Ferritin, % Saturation, TIBC and serum iron

Adrenal Cortisol levels (but we strongly recommend saliva tests, not the one time blood test your doctor will do. One result does not tell the whole story.)

B-12 and Folate

RBC Magnesium and Potassium (rather than serum), plus Calcium, Sodium, Glucose (all the latter are part of the Comprehensive Metabolic Profile (CMP blood test) which you can ask for, but the CMP will only test your serum levels of Magnesium, Potassium, so you’d have to do the RBC separately)

Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D lab test…

…plus others your doctor may recommend."