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levothyroxine and hip pain

Can Levothyroxine cause hip/joint pains, problems?
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798555 tn?1292787551
If your T3, measured by the Free T3 test, is low but 'in range', you can have muscle and joint pain. This pain usually subsides when Free T3 levels are in the upper third of the range - many have noted this.

Levo is a synthetic T4 med, but if you are on too low a dose, or dont convert T4 to T3 efficiently, this could be the cause.

If you had free T3 tested, post the results with the range used by the lab for some experienced interpretation.

Do you have other hypo symptoms as well?

If you levels are good (again please post) but hypo symptoms still persist, try another brand of T4 med. The new one is a gel tab only T4 - Tirosent (spelling), works wonders but you take less of it.

Last step - If that still doesn't relieve hypo symptoms, then try natural dessicated thyroid med with T3 and T4 combined, such as Armour, Nature Throid of Erfa from Canada (the best)..
Helpful - 2
Avatar universal
I have experience this same problem with many thyroid medications over the last 10 years or so.  I believe it has something to do with the overstimulation of the nervous system and it affects the sciatic nerve and spine.  I also experience constipation and sometimes shingles or other herpes in the groin area.  I can't understand why doctors don't connect this pain to the medication.  The evidence is there, with the drugs it flares up, without the drugs it goes away.  Sure enough, every time I feel overmedicate, I back off the meds or stop them all together and it goes away.  I do fine on non-Rx thyroid glandular, and also did great on the Nature-throid before the FDA overhaul.  Now I can no longer take NT as it causes the same problem.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I used Tirosint and it def exacerbated my hip pain. I went from walking w/mild left hip pain to full on pain (as soon as I started using it) and it got so bad I literally had to get my hip replaced!  Been using Levo for 7+ years. Tirosint was horrible.
Avatar universal
I just switched from levothyroxine to another thyroid med due to hip pain. I had dull left hip pain (varying level) for 5 months blood levels on the med were in the correct range. Asked my doc if it could be related to the meds when the pain started and he said it was highly unlikely. I'm a very active cyclist so I though it might be related to imbalance in my muscles. Saw an orthopedic doc and he said it was tight ham strings and tendonitis in my hip flexor and recommended physical therapy. The pain/tightness started spreading to left ankle and achilles so I stopped taking the levothyroxine for 1 day and everything, including lower left leg felt better by the afternoon and the next day even better. Doc has noe put me on something else and at a lower equivalent dose. Fingers crossed for no side effects on this one!
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
what did you switch to?  When I was on levothyroxine I ached so much in my hips and legs I could hardly move.  Skipped a dose and by that afternoon I felt better.  Within 2 more days of skipping I was out painting with my friends.  I switched to Nature-throid and again experienced overall body aches.  Reduced the dose and my hips are better but I still have aching in my hands so bad it is hard to hold a pen.  The next thing I am trying is WP West-throid Pure.
Hi. I had thyroid removed 6/21. Started Tirosint. Purer form of levothyroxine. Only 4 ingredients. After I started I got ankle bursitis and left hip bursitis. Now it’s right hip too. Also hamstring leg cramps. I’m in agony but nobody knows what to do about it. What is wp or west thyroid pure?  
798555 tn?1292787551
Well,, unfortunately if you stopped the med recently, and plan on thyroid testing next week, the levels will be relatively useless, very inaccurate.

If you resume meds and retest in the future (on another brand maybe?) , tests are only accurate after about 5-6 weeks minimum from starting meds. Free T 3 and Free T4 (what you need) are not the same as just T3 , T4, or total T3.

I've had bursitis in the hip / glutes area when hypo. Myfacial muscle release  or 'trigger point muscle release' (goggle it) while laying on a tennis ball for 15-20 sec at hip on the floor relieves it after a week or so, 2x per day.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just started taking levothyroxine at the end of August..At that time my TSH was 4.95. I have had hashimoto for the past 10 years and after my TSH levels were consistanly high on my last 3 blood test the Endo told me that I am starting to stay Hypo, and so I started on .50 levothyroxine.. Towards the end of Sept. i started getting pain in my left hip, which got so severe by Oct. that i went to an Orthopedic who said I had bursitis. after taking anti inflamitory for a month with no relief, i went back and got cortisone injections in left hip, that didn't really help either, and then it started moving to the right hip also, got MRI and it says bursitis in both hips, and fluid build up..My endo has never run T3 tests..But my appt with him is next week and I will tell him I want t3 and t4 test besides TSH.. I have stopped the levothyroxine for this past week and my hips are really feeling alot better..so I am thinking it has something to do with that med.
Helpful - 0
1531157 tn?1294211807
Hi, Im not too sure about the levothyroxine, but if you levels are off, it can cause that pain.  I too have been dealing with this issue for quite a while.  I too take the levothyroxine.  :)
Helpful - 0
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