Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

chronic tendonitis and hypothyroidie

I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto disease and have been taking Levothyroxin (100 mcg/day) since 2006. Last year I started a course of Accutane for acne; after 3 months of treatment, I developed wrists and ankles tendinitis. I tried NSAID, PT, cast at the wrist and iontophoresis, but nothing helped. After 5 months of treatment I couldn’t move my arms anymore. Doctors were useless. After long searching, I read that non treated hypothyroidism could lead to endless tendinitis, especially when T3 are needed. Because my doctor didn’t want to prescribe me Armour, I decided to buy Thyro-Gold, an OTC thyroid hormon. My PCP told me to change abruptly, the change was extremely painful, I developed migraines and depression and the tendinitis at the ankles came back. After 3 weeks of treatment, I’m feeling better but the tendinitis are still there.
Do you know how long it takes for the T3 to be beneficial or do you have any symptoms? Thanks a lot.
7 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Click on your name and go to your home page, and then click on messages.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
with pleasure i have been looking for a doctor without any success
Thanks a lot
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If you are interested I have the name of a doctor in your area that is reported to treat patients, not just test results.  If you want I will send name by PM and you can find out if your insurance is accepted, etc.  and go from there.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thanks for your answer. Yes my doctor refused to prescribe me Armour but was ok with an OTC medication. And of course she didn't asked for any lab test except tsh. I am changing PCP hoping to get better help.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So much for control of T3 and T4 in the supplement industry apparently.

The message is obviously that you have no idea what you might be taking when taking OTC supplements or if there is any consistency from one batch to the next.

T3 is fast acting, but it can still take time to relieve symptoms.  Once we've been hypo for a while, our bodies need to heal before all symptoms will go away.  As you know, something like tendonitis can be slow to resolve.

Did your doctor actually refuse to prescribe Armour and then counsel you in how to switch from levo to the OTC supplement?
Helpful - 0
1756321 tn?1547095325
Are you still taking accutane? One of the listed side effects of accutane is tendonitis.  A study was done on the thyroid hormone content of 10 of the most popular OTC "thyroid support" supplements. 9 out of 10 supplements contained measurable hormones which is interesting. They don't mention the listed OTC brands unfortunately.

***

"The amount of T4 and T3 was measured separately for each supplement sample. Nine out of ten supplements showed a detectable
amount of T3 (1.3–25.4 mcg/tablet). Taken at the recommended dose,
five supplements delivered T3 quantities of greater 10 mcg/day, and
four delivered T4 quantities ranging from 8.57 to 91.6mcg/day.

Among the five thyroid supplements labeled as containing bovine
thyroid tissue, extract or concentrate, one had no detectable level of T3
or T4, two contained T3 only, and two showed detectable amounts of
both T3 and T4."

American Thyroid Association Annual Meeting, 2011 - Kang, G.Y. "Thyroxine and Triiodothyronine Content in Commercially Available Thyroid Health Supplements"...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If Thyrogold is OTC and sold in the U.S., it contains NO measurable T3 or T4.  If you were really taking T3, its effect is almost immediate.  Unlike T4 meds, T3 is fast-acting.

Do you have recent labs to post with reference ranges?
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community

Top Thyroid Answerers
649848 tn?1534633700
FL
Avatar universal
MI
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.