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Foot Cramps
I've been having constant foot cramps. Podiatrist recommended some stretches and stuff, but also suggested a thyroid test.
FT3 is 3.22 (2.57-4.43)
FT4 is 1.17 (0.64-1.77)
TSH is 4.24 (0.27-4.2)
Anti-Tg is 41.14 (1000 (<5.61)
So the TSH is just a hair too high, but the anti-TPO is off the chart. Is there a thyroid problem or not? What does this mean? I've got an appointment with an endocrinologist, but I just want to get ahead of the game.
FT3 is 3.22 (2.57-4.43)
FT4 is 1.17 (0.64-1.77)
TSH is 4.24 (0.27-4.2)
Anti-Tg is 41.14 (1000 (<5.61)
So the TSH is just a hair too high, but the anti-TPO is off the chart. Is there a thyroid problem or not? What does this mean? I've got an appointment with an endocrinologist, but I just want to get ahead of the game.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Low potassium levels can also cause the cramping. I get horrible cramps if I don't take a daily potassium. You should ask your doctor to test your levels to make sure it's adequate.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause brain fog, so that's another test you might want to get.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause brain fog, so that's another test you might want to get.
I could write a book on Hashimoto muscle pain / cramps - but I'll keep it simple. Plus at this point its tough to say if that is the source of your foot cramps, but as you suspect it might be since you do have the start of Hashimoto.
Podiatrist usually know a few simple stretches, but they are usually not as effective as other types. 90% of foot cramps and even planter facitis is related to tight calf muscles. But most Podiatrist completely ignore this fact since there narrow little world is concentrated only on the foot. All muscle are connected by fascia tissue overlapping them all.
Hashimoto is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder that among many other symptoms can upset the actual chemical balance in muscle and tendon tissue. The result is an abnormal build up of lactic acid in this tissue that causes a circulation problem in the fiber causing tightness and knotting. As noted above, stretching the whole body helps by forcing circulation in the muscles, thus removing lactic acid.. But actual knots can be very difficult to stretch, sometimes impossible.
The highest quality of magnesium (mag glycinate, mag taurate or mag malate) taken at night will help the chemical imbalance and tight muscles by helping release the trapped lactic acid. Mag citrate is the only other magnesium that does anything for muscles but have a more obvious effect on quicker digestion with most people. Dont bother with the more affordable forms of magnesium as these will do nothing for you other than have a laxative effect since they will not be absorbed past your stomach at all.
Bad cases of muscle tightness in the feet or anywhere else will benefit from very deep combination of massage and stretches used in trigger point release or Active Release Technique (Google these). For feet, you want to feel for tight muscles in the feet and calves. Contrary to the very old school of thought, the harder you massage and push with your thumbs or a golf ball, the more positive effect it will have.
Brain fog can be cause by many things, and it is one of the symptoms of hypothyroid also. Certain food allergies, intolerance's can also cause this in certain people. When your stomach doesn't feel so good, your whole body is experiencing a toxic effect.
Podiatrist usually know a few simple stretches, but they are usually not as effective as other types. 90% of foot cramps and even planter facitis is related to tight calf muscles. But most Podiatrist completely ignore this fact since there narrow little world is concentrated only on the foot. All muscle are connected by fascia tissue overlapping them all.
Hashimoto is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder that among many other symptoms can upset the actual chemical balance in muscle and tendon tissue. The result is an abnormal build up of lactic acid in this tissue that causes a circulation problem in the fiber causing tightness and knotting. As noted above, stretching the whole body helps by forcing circulation in the muscles, thus removing lactic acid.. But actual knots can be very difficult to stretch, sometimes impossible.
The highest quality of magnesium (mag glycinate, mag taurate or mag malate) taken at night will help the chemical imbalance and tight muscles by helping release the trapped lactic acid. Mag citrate is the only other magnesium that does anything for muscles but have a more obvious effect on quicker digestion with most people. Dont bother with the more affordable forms of magnesium as these will do nothing for you other than have a laxative effect since they will not be absorbed past your stomach at all.
Bad cases of muscle tightness in the feet or anywhere else will benefit from very deep combination of massage and stretches used in trigger point release or Active Release Technique (Google these). For feet, you want to feel for tight muscles in the feet and calves. Contrary to the very old school of thought, the harder you massage and push with your thumbs or a golf ball, the more positive effect it will have.
Brain fog can be cause by many things, and it is one of the symptoms of hypothyroid also. Certain food allergies, intolerance's can also cause this in certain people. When your stomach doesn't feel so good, your whole body is experiencing a toxic effect.
I have read on here about brain fog. I have been in a brain fog my whole life. About 5 years ago, I tried taking ritalin and it felt so right for the first time in my life. Unfortunately, the effect only lasted a few weeks and I kept going to higher doses. Eventually I gave up. Could that be related to my thyroid or does the lifelong nature of brain fog imply otherwise?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Yes, there's a thyroid problem. Your antibody results indicate that you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune disease in which the body sees the thyroid as foreign, so produces antibodies to destroy it.
The disease is progressive in that as healthy thyroid tissue is destroyed, it produces less and less hormones and the patient eventually becomes totally dependent on thyroid hormone replacement.
Your TSH is only slightly elevated and your FT3 and FT4 are a bit low, but not all that bad. You could probably benefit from a low dose of thyroid hormone.
Many doctors don't like to treat until TSH is much higher and FT levels are much lower, so whether your endo agrees to start you on med, is up for grabs. Unfortunately, symptoms often show up months or years before labs indicate a real problem.
I agree with continuing the stretches, etc. You might also think about trying yoga. I have a peppermint lotion that often helps ease the cramps, plus it makes the skin feel nice and cool.
The disease is progressive in that as healthy thyroid tissue is destroyed, it produces less and less hormones and the patient eventually becomes totally dependent on thyroid hormone replacement.
Your TSH is only slightly elevated and your FT3 and FT4 are a bit low, but not all that bad. You could probably benefit from a low dose of thyroid hormone.
Many doctors don't like to treat until TSH is much higher and FT levels are much lower, so whether your endo agrees to start you on med, is up for grabs. Unfortunately, symptoms often show up months or years before labs indicate a real problem.
I agree with continuing the stretches, etc. You might also think about trying yoga. I have a peppermint lotion that often helps ease the cramps, plus it makes the skin feel nice and cool.
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