Aa
Muscle Cramps related to Hypothyroid?
Hi everyone!
I am new here and just had a quick question. Ofcourse it's one of those questions that doesn't make sense without some background information, so here goes....
I am 29 years old, about 12 years ago, at age 17, I was diagnosed with Grave's Disease (hyperthyroidism). At that time I really didn't realize what that meant and a lot of me just really didn't care. After 12 years of these symptoms I decided to go back to my endocrinologist and do something about it. So in November I went to see Dr. D (my endocrinologist) and after him yelling at me for not coming back sooner and some labwork, sure enough I still had Grave's Disease. Out of the couple of options he gave me to "cure" the condition. I decided with the radioactive iodine therapy.
On 12/4/2008, I took one little pill and my life has been worse ever since. My follow up with him was 6 weeks later. When I saw him in mid January and he asked about my symptoms, Dr. D decided that my thyroid levels probably was not low enough and he wouldn't draw my labs that visit. He said he would wait another six weeks and then maybe draw my labs. About a week later everything hit me like a ton of bricks....I had absolutely no energy, I was constipated and depressed just to name a little. Without realizing it, I had also gained about 15 pounds. So I called up Dr. D. He told the nurse to have me come in for labwork. The following morning I arrived for my labwork and later that afternoon they called me to ask where I would like my Levothyroxine script called into. I started on 100mcg per day, the following day.
About a week later I started having muscle cramps. There really wasn't a trigger at all, I could just be sitting on the couch reading and get a huge cramp in the side of my neck. Or try and prop my leg up and my thigh would immediately cramp up. No area in my body was safe. I just would cramp up without any warning. This went on for a week and I called Dr. D's office. I told the receptionist my symptoms, after speaking with the nurse, she spoke with Dr. D, who said to cut my Levothyroxine in half and only take 50mcg daily for a week and then continue with the whole dose. I took the new dose for a week without really seeing any relief for my muscle cramps. Then started taking the whole dose again.
By this time I was starting to have different symptoms. The best way I can describe the new symptom was racing thoughts. I would wake up in the middle of the night with my brain just racing away with thoughts and I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. It didn't matter what time I woke up, my head would just be going crazy with thoughts. I couldn't keep my thoughts straight either when I was awake. So I called Dr. D's office again, only for the nurse to tell me that it takes a good month for Levothyroxine to get into your system and that she didn't think the racing thoughts had anything to do with the med. She spoke with Dr. D and he said for me to go to an outpatient lab and have my labwork drawn. The next day I got a call from the nurse who stated that my thyroid levels were just where the doc wanted them and maybe I should see my primary care physician or a psychiatrist for the symptoms I had been having.
Now completely frustrated, I called up a PCP, since I didn't have one to begin with who made me an appointment for later in the week. On 2/20/2009, I went and saw the new PCP. I told her about the muscle cramps and the racing thoughts. She attributed my racing thoughts to my recent trial of Chantix and told me that it was the medication still in my system. (I had taking Chantix back in late november to try and quit smoking, but had broke out into a rash). For the muscle cramps she was certainly perplexed. She decided to draw a whole bunch of labwork on me. That afternoon she called me to let me know my CK level was 1,683. She asked if I was dehydrated and I let her know I drank plenty of water. She told me to watch my NSAID use and she would see me the following week in her office. Last tuesday I went to see her and she stated that she found articles for correlation between muscle cramps and hypothyroidism. I told her I had found the same articles online and they stated that once your thyroid levels came back into range the muscle cramps would stop. Mine hadn't stopped and according to my endocrinologist my thyroid levels were good. She then stated that she thought the muscle cramps were coming from my high CK levels and that once my CK levels came down the muscle cramps would stop.
I guess somewhere in the beginning of all this I should have let you all know that I am a registered nurse, who worked a cardiac unit before changing over to a dialysis clinic awhile ago. I guess I could be incorrect on this one but I was always taught that CK's were enzymes that lived in muscles in your body and are released when that muscle is damaged. So I guess this is where I am getting confused???? How can an enzyme that lives in your muscles until they are damaged or cramped be causing the muscle to cramp????
If the muscle cramps are related to my hypothyroidism and that my levels are too low, why did my endocrinologist decide to LOWER my levothyroxine dose for a week, instead of raising it or drawing my labwork first....
My PCP decided to draw my CK level on my last visit 3/4/2009, she stated she would be happy with when she saw a downward trend. Now on the day I went and had my labs drawn I hadn't had a cramp in 2 days. I could have told the lady that the result would be lower because I knew I hadn't had a cramp in a couple of days. Low and behold when the result came in at 460, my doc called me with the happy news and pretty much said call us if you need anything else......
Errrrrrrr, this is very frustrating.....
My endocrinologist doesn't want to see me until april/may.....I guess I'm just supposed to live with the muscle cramps for the rest of my life. They don't happen everyday, but when they do they are pretty much debilitating for hours. It's annoying....
Anyone been through this situation or have suggestions as to what I should do?? My husband wants me to go to another Endocrinologist and PCP.
I am new here and just had a quick question. Ofcourse it's one of those questions that doesn't make sense without some background information, so here goes....
I am 29 years old, about 12 years ago, at age 17, I was diagnosed with Grave's Disease (hyperthyroidism). At that time I really didn't realize what that meant and a lot of me just really didn't care. After 12 years of these symptoms I decided to go back to my endocrinologist and do something about it. So in November I went to see Dr. D (my endocrinologist) and after him yelling at me for not coming back sooner and some labwork, sure enough I still had Grave's Disease. Out of the couple of options he gave me to "cure" the condition. I decided with the radioactive iodine therapy.
On 12/4/2008, I took one little pill and my life has been worse ever since. My follow up with him was 6 weeks later. When I saw him in mid January and he asked about my symptoms, Dr. D decided that my thyroid levels probably was not low enough and he wouldn't draw my labs that visit. He said he would wait another six weeks and then maybe draw my labs. About a week later everything hit me like a ton of bricks....I had absolutely no energy, I was constipated and depressed just to name a little. Without realizing it, I had also gained about 15 pounds. So I called up Dr. D. He told the nurse to have me come in for labwork. The following morning I arrived for my labwork and later that afternoon they called me to ask where I would like my Levothyroxine script called into. I started on 100mcg per day, the following day.
About a week later I started having muscle cramps. There really wasn't a trigger at all, I could just be sitting on the couch reading and get a huge cramp in the side of my neck. Or try and prop my leg up and my thigh would immediately cramp up. No area in my body was safe. I just would cramp up without any warning. This went on for a week and I called Dr. D's office. I told the receptionist my symptoms, after speaking with the nurse, she spoke with Dr. D, who said to cut my Levothyroxine in half and only take 50mcg daily for a week and then continue with the whole dose. I took the new dose for a week without really seeing any relief for my muscle cramps. Then started taking the whole dose again.
By this time I was starting to have different symptoms. The best way I can describe the new symptom was racing thoughts. I would wake up in the middle of the night with my brain just racing away with thoughts and I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. It didn't matter what time I woke up, my head would just be going crazy with thoughts. I couldn't keep my thoughts straight either when I was awake. So I called Dr. D's office again, only for the nurse to tell me that it takes a good month for Levothyroxine to get into your system and that she didn't think the racing thoughts had anything to do with the med. She spoke with Dr. D and he said for me to go to an outpatient lab and have my labwork drawn. The next day I got a call from the nurse who stated that my thyroid levels were just where the doc wanted them and maybe I should see my primary care physician or a psychiatrist for the symptoms I had been having.
Now completely frustrated, I called up a PCP, since I didn't have one to begin with who made me an appointment for later in the week. On 2/20/2009, I went and saw the new PCP. I told her about the muscle cramps and the racing thoughts. She attributed my racing thoughts to my recent trial of Chantix and told me that it was the medication still in my system. (I had taking Chantix back in late november to try and quit smoking, but had broke out into a rash). For the muscle cramps she was certainly perplexed. She decided to draw a whole bunch of labwork on me. That afternoon she called me to let me know my CK level was 1,683. She asked if I was dehydrated and I let her know I drank plenty of water. She told me to watch my NSAID use and she would see me the following week in her office. Last tuesday I went to see her and she stated that she found articles for correlation between muscle cramps and hypothyroidism. I told her I had found the same articles online and they stated that once your thyroid levels came back into range the muscle cramps would stop. Mine hadn't stopped and according to my endocrinologist my thyroid levels were good. She then stated that she thought the muscle cramps were coming from my high CK levels and that once my CK levels came down the muscle cramps would stop.
I guess somewhere in the beginning of all this I should have let you all know that I am a registered nurse, who worked a cardiac unit before changing over to a dialysis clinic awhile ago. I guess I could be incorrect on this one but I was always taught that CK's were enzymes that lived in muscles in your body and are released when that muscle is damaged. So I guess this is where I am getting confused???? How can an enzyme that lives in your muscles until they are damaged or cramped be causing the muscle to cramp????
If the muscle cramps are related to my hypothyroidism and that my levels are too low, why did my endocrinologist decide to LOWER my levothyroxine dose for a week, instead of raising it or drawing my labwork first....
My PCP decided to draw my CK level on my last visit 3/4/2009, she stated she would be happy with when she saw a downward trend. Now on the day I went and had my labs drawn I hadn't had a cramp in 2 days. I could have told the lady that the result would be lower because I knew I hadn't had a cramp in a couple of days. Low and behold when the result came in at 460, my doc called me with the happy news and pretty much said call us if you need anything else......
Errrrrrrr, this is very frustrating.....
My endocrinologist doesn't want to see me until april/may.....I guess I'm just supposed to live with the muscle cramps for the rest of my life. They don't happen everyday, but when they do they are pretty much debilitating for hours. It's annoying....
Anyone been through this situation or have suggestions as to what I should do?? My husband wants me to go to another Endocrinologist and PCP.
I have graves disease (hyper Thyroid). I opted for the radio active iodone uptake. I had too. I was suffering from heart palputations, vision problems, breathing problems when playing tennis, sweating. After 6 weeks, I would get severe muscle cramps if I excerted a muscle while playing tennis. It would cripple me. This forum is a relief to me to know that I can tell people it's is not my hydration intake but the disease. Plus I can now tell my doctor that this seems to be a common problem.
arghhh..I am having the same experience. did the RAI treatment only 30 days ago and my levels droppped in half in 4 weeks, which is too fast in my mind, as it should take a year. The cramps started last week during yoga, reaching for things, putting on seat belts. Im pissed off! I lived with Grave;s disease for 8 years and had some slight annoyances, but no major life disturbances. My family and DRs. convinced me to do RAI and that I would " feel so much better" even though I didnt feel bad. Now Im getting fat and cant even exercise! So my skin's cleared up a bit and Im sleeping better, but I feel like I should have listened to my gut (my chubby aching crampy muscled, diarrhea gut) hope that wasnt too much info. I had my DR do extra tests, as I am a Dietitian and one of my Vitamin D levels was borderline low. Im also thinking that muscle build-up has been extraordinary for me over the past month since treatment and my body cant keep up. I hope its fixable because my levels are not yet close to normal, but Im already having hypo symptoms. The left chest and left arm spasm was lots of fun at gym today. Its frustrating that my heart rate ran at 120 resting for years and now, at 80 resting I get to feel what a heart attack might feel like. Im venting and Im annoyed and I hope it gets better for all!
First, I want to say thank you to everyone who has posted here. I have been experiencing these horrible spasms for a couple of months now and my endo has offered me no real confirmation that this is due to my hypo state. He has said that it could be related but that he has never heard of someone having the severity of the muscle spasms that I am having. While I don't wish this on anyone, it comes as a great relief to know that I am not alone, that there are answers to what is happening to me and that this will not go on forever.
I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism this past June. I went to three endos and decided that the third one seemed the most pro active in helping me. I went on methimazole to lower my levels and had RAI treatment in late September. I had been working out regularly all Fall because I am getting married in March. I suddenly noticed that I was struggling on the treadmill. My lower back would stiffen up and eventually I had to stop going to the gym. Around the same time I started having these random cramps that seemed to arrive with the slightest of movements. At first they were mostly in my neck, shoulders and upper arms. Now they are in my legs as well. They last a minute or so but are excruciatingly painful and there is no way to know when they are coming.
In addition to the cramps I am experiencing an overall stiffness and discomfort in my lower back once I have been on my feet for any length of time. It makes it very uncomfortable and hard to walk. Once I sit I am relieved of the pain. Does anyone have this type of lower back pain? I never had this pain prior to my thyroid issues. I am going to see an ortho doc this Friday to rule out any other problems, mainly because at this point I am worried I won't be able to stand, let alone dance on my wedding day.
I go back to my endo in one week for repeat labs and am going to ask to have all of these vitamin levels checked out, and for the methimazole to be stopped and some type of thyroid hormone treatment started. My levels clearly indicated hypo three weeks ago, at which time my doc cut my methimazole dose by 2/3 and said he wanted to retest me in 4 weeks to see if I was hypo because the RAI treatment has worked and/or I was on too high of a dose of methimazole.
Bottom line I'm hypo and I want to start heading into the normal range!!!
Many thanks again for making me realize I am not alone in this.!
I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism this past June. I went to three endos and decided that the third one seemed the most pro active in helping me. I went on methimazole to lower my levels and had RAI treatment in late September. I had been working out regularly all Fall because I am getting married in March. I suddenly noticed that I was struggling on the treadmill. My lower back would stiffen up and eventually I had to stop going to the gym. Around the same time I started having these random cramps that seemed to arrive with the slightest of movements. At first they were mostly in my neck, shoulders and upper arms. Now they are in my legs as well. They last a minute or so but are excruciatingly painful and there is no way to know when they are coming.
In addition to the cramps I am experiencing an overall stiffness and discomfort in my lower back once I have been on my feet for any length of time. It makes it very uncomfortable and hard to walk. Once I sit I am relieved of the pain. Does anyone have this type of lower back pain? I never had this pain prior to my thyroid issues. I am going to see an ortho doc this Friday to rule out any other problems, mainly because at this point I am worried I won't be able to stand, let alone dance on my wedding day.
I go back to my endo in one week for repeat labs and am going to ask to have all of these vitamin levels checked out, and for the methimazole to be stopped and some type of thyroid hormone treatment started. My levels clearly indicated hypo three weeks ago, at which time my doc cut my methimazole dose by 2/3 and said he wanted to retest me in 4 weeks to see if I was hypo because the RAI treatment has worked and/or I was on too high of a dose of methimazole.
Bottom line I'm hypo and I want to start heading into the normal range!!!
Many thanks again for making me realize I am not alone in this.!
I had a terrible time with muscle cramps and spasms, side of the neck, cramps at the base of my calves, severe pain in my legs and hips when I went to bed at night. I found from reading this forum that many people with Hashimoto's had the same symptoms, I also found several of them had taken Vitamin D, Magnesium and B12, I was ready to try anything (I had not been tested for a lack of these vitamins in my system) I started taking all three about 5 Days ago, and what a difference! all I have now is a little stiffness on the right side of my neck and that seems to be improving. I would bet that Thyroid problems has something to do with muscle aches and pain, I never had this problem prior to Hashimoto's, so there has to be a connection, all these people suffering from the same symptoms cannot be wrong, even if some MD's will not connect the dots. (Just my opinion)
I'd watch the CK levels closely. Start requesting copies of all your labs. Normal mag reference ranges for some labs can be on the low side, I know that I see doctors wanting levels of 1.8 or higher, so a level under 1.8 could cause spasms, IMO.
The high CK can also cause muscle spasms. Did you have your urine checked? If your UA shows blood but the microscopic analysis show low or no RBC's, it could be indicative that your spilling another compound, like myogloblin, that is read as blood on the basic UA. There are several metabolism disorders and myopathies, like McArdle's syndrome, that can cause high CPK/CK and rhabdo with even small amounts of physical activity. It may be something you've had for a while, but has become aggrevated by your thyroid.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000329.htm <--McArdle's
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000473.htm <--- rhabdo
I've seen Chantix really mess some people up- would it cause elevated CK so long after discontinuation?
Are you taking any medication or herbal supplements that can effect the liver? Were your liver enzymes ok? I'm guessing your BUN/CR levels were ok since labs were normal. Seriously, I'd be more worried about the CK then thyroid right now- it can cause damage a lot faster. It also worries me that your doctor isn't worried. Did they check your troponin and CKBM when they checked the CK? Or a lactic acid level? Have you had an EKG?
Just my opinion... and I am by no means a doctor. Good luck!!
The high CK can also cause muscle spasms. Did you have your urine checked? If your UA shows blood but the microscopic analysis show low or no RBC's, it could be indicative that your spilling another compound, like myogloblin, that is read as blood on the basic UA. There are several metabolism disorders and myopathies, like McArdle's syndrome, that can cause high CPK/CK and rhabdo with even small amounts of physical activity. It may be something you've had for a while, but has become aggrevated by your thyroid.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000329.htm <--McArdle's
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000473.htm <--- rhabdo
I've seen Chantix really mess some people up- would it cause elevated CK so long after discontinuation?
Are you taking any medication or herbal supplements that can effect the liver? Were your liver enzymes ok? I'm guessing your BUN/CR levels were ok since labs were normal. Seriously, I'd be more worried about the CK then thyroid right now- it can cause damage a lot faster. It also worries me that your doctor isn't worried. Did they check your troponin and CKBM when they checked the CK? Or a lactic acid level? Have you had an EKG?
Just my opinion... and I am by no means a doctor. Good luck!!
With a TSH of 5.82 you are most definately Hypo.
I have had muscle cramps when both Hypo or Hyper so I got my vitamin levels checked and was found to be deficient in Vitamin B12, D and Calcium after having RAI last June.
I have since stabalised my levels and went on a D/Calcium and B12 everyday.
Since then I have found the cramps subsided and I wasnt so bad.
'Get your vitamin levels checked and ask for the FREE T's to be done next time , not the T3 and T4.
Free T3 and Free T4 are much more accurate and what may be 'normal' in your Endo's eyes are ...your levels are 'within range' but that doesnt mean they are 'normal ' for you.
I am better with my TSH around 2.3...any higher or lower than that, I feel cr@ppy.
Log your symptoms each day then gradually you will see a 'pattern' emerge.
Thats how I got my levels good and they have been stable for many months now.
I too suffer with Graves Disease (which isnt curable, by the way) and hyperthyroidism prior to RAI in June 2008.
My antibodies went down under normal range after RAI which was a relief.
Let us know how you go.
I have had muscle cramps when both Hypo or Hyper so I got my vitamin levels checked and was found to be deficient in Vitamin B12, D and Calcium after having RAI last June.
I have since stabalised my levels and went on a D/Calcium and B12 everyday.
Since then I have found the cramps subsided and I wasnt so bad.
'Get your vitamin levels checked and ask for the FREE T's to be done next time , not the T3 and T4.
Free T3 and Free T4 are much more accurate and what may be 'normal' in your Endo's eyes are ...your levels are 'within range' but that doesnt mean they are 'normal ' for you.
I am better with my TSH around 2.3...any higher or lower than that, I feel cr@ppy.
Log your symptoms each day then gradually you will see a 'pattern' emerge.
Thats how I got my levels good and they have been stable for many months now.
I too suffer with Graves Disease (which isnt curable, by the way) and hyperthyroidism prior to RAI in June 2008.
My antibodies went down under normal range after RAI which was a relief.
Let us know how you go.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
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.
