Joint Pain

[KBird]

I have been on thyroid medication for 22 years.  In the last 3 - 4 years I have experienced pain in my toes, heels, ankles, and hands.  At first my General Practitioner and Pediatrist thought I broke my toe.  For a year I saw an Orthopedic that treated me for what he thought was scar tissue in my foot.  I also saw a Physical Therapist during that year to help me recover from this broken toe....that really was not a broken toe.  I then went to a rheumatologist who diagnosed me with Psoriatic Arthitis.  For the past year I have been taking medication for this with no significant improvements.  It has actually gotten much worse in the last 3 months since the birth of my son.  My TSH levels are tested at least every year and consistantly come out normal.  I currently take 200 mcg a day of levothyroxine.  Could my joint pain be a result of my hyperthyroidism?  

[LadyVelvet]

I'm not sure but before I was diagnosised hypothyroid every joint and muscle in my body hurt.

[KBird]

Have you ever taken Armour Thyroid medication?

[SuzQ14]

I too have been have extreme pain in my hands after being on Synthroid for 20 plus years. After discussing with various doctors including Endro Dr, it was my OB/GYN that not only suggested Armour thyroid, but also prescribed. Week two and feeling better.  

[rohit_786]

I also diagnose Hypothyroid /Hashi in May 2006 since then i am taking Levoxyl . I did have joint /muscles pain in the begining  , however since laast 2 months my joint pain is lot specailly in my toes/heels , ankles and hands which is similar to what you describe . I am going to see rheumatologist. I am wondering ,is it common to see in Hypothyroid this kind of pain.

[KBird]

That sounds exactly like what I am experiencing.
Through research on the internet, my husband found some interesting information regarding synthetic thyroid replacement (Synthroid, Levoxyl, ...)  It seems that for some people the synthetic replacement does not work well and the original symptoms of hypothyroidism linger even though the TSH levels seem to be normal.  When this happens the doctors tend to tell their patients that it must not be the thyroid, it is something else....go see that specialist.  However, when these patients switch to a natural thyroid replacement the symptoms and joint pain go away.  I have chosen to try Armour Thyroid...a natural thyroid replacement.  I have only taken one dose so I can't really say if it has had any effect or not.  Good luck!

[rohit_786]

Well it is really to have our doctor believe us . My doctor told me it is not thyroid and make me run all around but at the end i still don't have an answer.
It seems like once you get Hashi/Hypo you have to live with all kinds of residual symptoms , i am tired and it seems like it is now dream to feel same way as before.
If you have any improvement  with Armor please do let me know, based on my research i am not really a good fan of Armor.

[KBird]

What about Armour don't you like?  I am new to it and could use any information you have.  Thanks!

[rohit_786]

May that help you

http://www.altsupportthyroid.org/treatment/hypomedcomp.php

Armour has other hormone as well which you may not need it so these days doctors try to use T3/T4 combo rather use Armour . Let me know if you have success with armour.

[suzy656]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in January. Was put on levothyroxine too.  My ths is normal with it.  After two back surgeries and an deadly infection, I started having muscle pains mostly in my legs.  I attributed it to the atrophied muscles.  By July it was much worse and my neck started hurting and then my arms.  Had a ton of blood work, bone scan, x-rays etc take and was found to have Hashimotos and an autoimmune arthritis.  The bone scan showed inflammation throughout my body.  After months of tests, I just started Celebrex and I am finally able to turn my neck (though I still hear it cracking) and live fairly pain free.   Unfortunately the arthritis is progressive so I don't know what happens when it get worse, but answers do help.

[mamakittyof3]

I strongly believe levothyroxine is causing these promlems in many of us. The Doctors are running around thinking we have RA or something else but reading your posts and going off my meds for 2 days I believe it's the levothyroxine I am 32 years old and have been on levothyroxine for over 3 months and I am very ill. My blood test show normal throid levels but my heart races, pulse is high,I get out of breath, I have night mares, hot flashes and my joints hurt very bad can harldy move, stiff neck and head aches terrible so bad I cry all the time. My kids are scared and are worried as is my hubby.
My Doctor say my levels are fine. I aked him if it could be my levothyroxine he says he doubts it. But its funny that  it all came on me 5 weeks after taking the medication. He switched me to the actual sinthroid to take now and I'm so scard that too will keep me in a 100 year old body.
Im living on steroids for pain and the Dr. is thinking of sending me to a  Rumatholigist.
I don't know but I think these medications have bad reactions in some people. My sister seems to do very well on levothyroxine. Go figure!
Anyone else want to chat about this. Email me please!
***@****

[lunchladywhms]

Did you also have any problems with getting to sleep and staying asleep?   I have been plagued with insomnia for 1.5 years and it started when I was taken off synthyroid for 8 weeks for a body scan.  I also have nighmares and joint stiffness is terrible. I do get relief from the stiffness when I take Excedrin, and I'm able to sleep with 50mg of an anti depressant.  The Gp said that I have low yet elevated levels of an enzyme that gathers in the joints and eventually I will develop Lupus.   Does this happen to you?

[mamakittyof3]

Yes I get up a lot toss and turn and pee tons at night. LOL
I just got off the synthroid today was my first day off it I will let you know how I do. I took my last Prednosoine steroid for pain day before yesterday. I found this really good web site look into it.
I think Im going to talk to my DR about Armour see what he says if my numbers go low again. I had night mares too and the stiffness is the synthroid after looking at this sight Im convinced check it out! I even had a stiff jaw and neck. I was living on advil till it got so bad they put me on steroids I hope this all clears up. I too take a anti depressent. Are you off synthroid?

http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=21402&name=SYNTHROID

[WILDFLOWER75]

Im doing great now! I was off the synthroid 2 days and I was terrible I was so tired and weak I knew it was the wrong thing to do. I went back on it day 3 ( cant believe I felt it that fast) I saw my Dr. I did all kinds of research on the web before I saw him, so I believed I needed to try a medication with T4 and T3 and so I saw my Dr. He said I could be right and looked at my blood work and low and behold my t3 was on the lower end.  He said ok lets give it a shot you could be a low converter to t3. My Dr put me on Cytomel with my sinthroid just .05  added to my .50 Synthroid and it worked! Im back to myself but better! No joint pain no curple tunel my hands feel great my body feels normal again. NOw I hope this weight comes off!  Hey all this could be whats going on if you are going through joint pain and curple tunel still after going on synthroid.
Good luck all!

[SuzQ14]

Cytomel does what?

[WILDFLOWER75]

To add to my post it took a good week before the joint pain went away. And just yesterday, day 7 is when I noticed my hands and wrists were not in pain and normal. It takes a bit  to work but OMG its so wonderful!

[stella5349]

It is very common in Hypo patients to experience joint pain and stiffness. "Pain in the neck" should be out slogan. I will say I started out on Synthryroid 4 years ago after RAI. Amoungst other aliments /pain in the joints was terrible. I never had great sucess with the Synthryoid and wanted to try Armour. I really do feel better on that. Pain and the "fog head" has really been better.

Not sure if this helps you - but good luck

[Thyroid78]

I've had Hashimotos for 30 years.  About two years ago by thumb joint all of a sudden went stiff (could move it forward but not back).  Then the other one started the same thing.  Got a cortizone shot in that one that helped for a while.  I take Aspirin or Aleve (seems to help the inflamation) - trying not to take more than I need because of the NSAIDS long-term warnings for stomach upset etc.  Now starting to have pain in the other fingers (particularly when I first get up).  Endo says my levels would have to be way off to cause this - they were high (around 6).  Think it's time to see a Rheumatologist to see what's going on.  Sounds like it could be related to Hashimoto's to me.  

[stella5349]

Your endo is wrong.

If your ( I stress the word your) levels are not right for you the body will start to send you warnings signs.

This may be how your body talks to you.

[magpieannie]

My daughter is 8 born without thyroid. She was on Synthroid until we switched her to Armour 5 months ago. her weight gain has stopped, appetite under control, PVC's deminished if not stopped,happy and more energetic. Only problem now, bad ankle aches and joint poping when she rotates foot. Her last blood draw on 120 mg Armour was ***@****, free ***@****, and ***@****. What do you think? Any ideas?

[magpieannie]

Why won't this site let me post Lab result numbers?

[sheker]

I have pain almost every where in the body(wrist,hand,elbow,hip,thighs,knee,foot,leg,arm  and ankle).I am Hypothyroid,i posted many times in medhelp,i don't see any clue and if i see the doctors very oftenly they are giving many anti deppressents making me more sick.
I have tried  Amytriptyline,CYMBALTA,ULTRAM and Zoloft also pain medications LYRICA and CELEBREX.Nothing worked for me.My TSH,T3 and T4 are in the range.

what could be the hidden cause ?

[gimel]

Please post the actual results and reference ranges for your T3, T4 and TSH tests.

[magpieannie]

Are you on Armour by chance? If not, what thyroid meds are you on?

[goolarra]

I don't know how you're posting your labs, but there is some censorship on the forum..."nasty" words for sure and anything that looks like an email address...I suspect that's your problem because of the @ signs.  Try again...we post labs all the time.

[magpieannie]

labs  taken on 6/5/09
TSH      0.142 (ref. range 0.360-5.800)
Free T4 1.13 ( ref. range 0.82-1.58)
Free T3  4.5 (ref. range for 6 to 10 year old: 2.7-6.2)

Labs done by LabCorp
daughter is 8 born without thyroid gland
increased Armour dose from 90mg to 120mg on 5/5/09: lots of ankle and joint aches since increase.

[goolarra]

Her labs actually look really good.  FT3 is right in the middle of the range and so is FT4.  If the symptoms came on after the increase, it would be logical to assume that perhaps the increase was a very little bit too much.  On the other hand, her FT3 and FT4 are both mid-range, so it's also possible that they need to be nudged up a bit to relieve the joint pain.  I hate to be so wishy-washy, but it's really hard to say.  The FT3 is a bit high with regard to the FT4, and although I don't know how children react specifically, usually they shoot for a mid-rnage FT4 and a bit higher FT3.  It's so hard with kids since sooo many things are going on.  If all her other symptoms were relieved, do you think it could be something else?  Or do you think it might be residual and will go away after the new dose really stabilizes in her system?

You might ask her doctor about cutting back ever so slightly to see if the joint pain is alleviated.  Perhaps going back to 90 every third day, or twice a week?