weight Gain, upper back pain, neck stiffness, random fatigue

[irish797]

Hello,

Let me start by saying I have been is mild to moderate pain for over a year.  The pain started in my left shoulder and pain.  I went to the doctor, gave me naproxen.  This provided little relief.  The pain then continued to my shoulder blades and up through my neck.  I was referred to a spine center.  They did some MRI's, xrays etc but could not find any real reason for my pain.  I must disclose I was born with a 30% curvature in my upper spine that has never caused me an issue.  I am 35 years old.  I saw a chiropractor, been given many prescriptions of which none gave lasting relief.  I have been to a rheumatologist, GP, spine specialists, chiros, along with physical therapy.  All told at least 20 visits over the last year.  Here I am still in the same pain.  Just went in for my yearly physical, doctor says, just take 2 aleve, everything looks great.  I need SOME ANSWERS.  Sick of being sore when I wake up.  I constantly worry that this will become debilitating.  I stay active but have noticed a weird trend, I have gained 15 lbs in the last year, yet work out more.  Exercise makes me feel better and loose.  Anyone have any ideas?  I am throwing around the idea maybe it is a thyroid thing or bad stress?  When I have stress, which is daily, it is worse.  Just achy and worried.  Thanks for the advice in advance.

[pavi834]

i am 35 years old lady i am having thyroid from past 10 years and controlling it by doing yoga for 9 to 10 years well it was good but i observed something when i am reducing my weight i felt good but sometimes when i have the food much i will have neck pain and the back pain leading to sleepless nights.  sometimes my weight also gains basically,i am having joints pains also.  Eating too much heat generated food items i reduce my weight but that heat is resulting pain in the middle of my upper stomach which is making me sleepless.  Due to lack of time in the morning i stopped doing yoga in the morning session.  Again my weight has gained  and i dont have that much strength to perform execise vigorously,i use to take vitamin E tablets which helped me earlier but now not so much.  My skin is also loose when i have reduced my weight from 108kgs to 70kgs i want to make my skin tight by reducing my weight much. Please suggest me the best thing to do.        

[pavi834]

i am 35 years old lady i am having thyroid from past 10 years and controlling it by doing yoga for 9 to 10 years well it was good but i observed something when i am reducing my weight i felt good but sometimes when i have the food much i will have neck pain and the back pain leading to sleepless nights.  sometimes my weight also gains basically,i am having joints pains also.  Eating too much heat generated food items i reduce my weight but that heat is resulting pain in the middle of my upper stomach which is making me sleepless.  Due to lack of time in the morning i stopped doing yoga in the morning session.  Again my weight has gained  and i dont have that much strength to perform execise vigorously,i use to take vitamin E tablets which helped me earlier but now not so much.  My skin is also loose when i have reduced my weight from 108kgs to 70kgs i want to make my skin tight by reducing my weight much. Please suggest me the best thing to do.        

[flyingfool]

If you didn't get any thyroid levels other than TSH there is not much to help with.

Many people need to have their Vit D at least in the middle of the range.  Not knowing what the range is hard to comment.

Also Vit B-12 is also another thing that can cause fatigue.  Both low Vit D and B-12 are pretty common with people who have low thyroid.  Don't know that they are causal or just a coincidence but just seems to be the case.

[irish797]

Hi,  Thanks for the comment.  I got my labs back.  TSH of 1.32, Vitamin D 28, Calcium 9.4 Nothing else was tested.  Your thoughts?  

[flyingfool]

Joint pain is somewhat common symptoms with being low or Hypothyroid.

Sudden onset of weight gain can also be Hypo but may be other things as well.

Do you have any other symptoms.

Thyroid affects your metabolic rate.  Some of the most common symptoms of Hypo are:

Fatigue
cold intolerance - cold hands/feet
hair loss/thining
"Brian fog" or inability to focus
dry skin
constipation
high cholesterol
Menstrual irregularity frequency and flow
lack of sex drive
dizziness
joint pain

Some additional symptoms that are can be either hypo or Hyper (too high) thyroid are:

Heart arrhythmia's
ringing of ears
anxiety
depression

You may want to go in and get a blood test.  If so be SURE to ask for and even demand that you get the FREE T4 and FREE T3 tested.  Many Dr's will not want to do this and only check TSH.  Don't let that happen to you if at all possible.  Stick up for yourself!  Also demand that you be provided with a copy of the lab results.  The Dr is legally required to give them to you if you ask for them.

Also in addition to the two Free thyroid hormones.  You may also want to check for Vitamin D, Vit B-12 and iron.  People who are Hypo are also commonly low in one or more of these as well which also present fatigue issues.

When the results come back please post them here along with their reference ranges.

Finally you may also want to be tested for the two antibodies to check for Hashimoto's disease. These are TPOab and TGab.  Hashi's is an autoimmune disorder where your immune system thinks your thyroid is a foreign invader and goes about attacking and killing your thyroid. It is the most common cause for being Hypo in the modern world.