Aa
Severe leg and knee pain on Synthroid for Hoshimotos.
Knee and leg pain while on Snythroid for Hoshimotos. Is there anything else I can take that won't affect my muscles? I run 4 days a week and walk 3-5 miles 7 days a week but now I can barely walk 2 miles without pain. I am afraid at this rate, I'm going to need a cane in a few weeks.
Sorry about all the questions, but need to know some more. What are the reference ranges shown on the lab report for the FT4 and FT3? Did you tae the Levothyroxine in the morning before the blood draw for those test results?
2 Comments
FT4 .8-1.8 FT3 2.3-4.2 and yes I took Levothyroxine before the test.
So your FT4 was at 60% of its range and your fT3 was at 47% of its range. Both of these results would be regarded as false high results due to taking the Levo before the blood draw. Doing that causes a short term spike in thyroid levels, which then suppresses TSH for most of the day. I have yet to know of a doctor that tells patients to delay the morning thyroid med until after the blood draw, yet that is even recommended by the American Thyroid Association.
TSH is useful as a diagnostic only when it is at extreme levels indicative of hypo or hyperthyroidism. That is because of the weak correlation of TSH with the thyroid hormones, and the negligible correlation of TSH with symptoms typical of hypothyroidism. Diagnosis is best based on an evaluation for symptoms typical of hypothyroidism along with Free T4 and Free T3. Having a number of typical symptoms, along with FT4 and FT3 in the lower part of their ranges is strong evidence of hypothyroidism. For treatment FT4 and fT3 levels should be increased enough to relieve hypo symptoms, without creating any hyper symptoms. That sweet spot is called euthyroidism.
Doctors erroneously think that TSH is the perfect diagnostic by which to determine a hypo patient's med dosage. That is totally incorrect. Dosage should be determined as detailed above. Adequate doses of thyroid med often will suppress TSH below range. This does not mean the patient hs become hyperthyroid, unless there are also symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
If you want to confirm what I have said, please read our paper in this link.
https://thyroiduk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Patients-Guide-Final-V5.pdf
So you should get tested as soon as you can and ask for Free T4, Free T3, B12 and ferritin. Don't forget to delay your morning dose of thyroid med. If you should forget, just cancel the tests until you can make that happen. Your Vitamin D is fine at 55. At this time I suggest you also give a copy of the link to your doctor and ask to be treated clinically as described. If the doctor refuses to do so, you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will.
TSH is useful as a diagnostic only when it is at extreme levels indicative of hypo or hyperthyroidism. That is because of the weak correlation of TSH with the thyroid hormones, and the negligible correlation of TSH with symptoms typical of hypothyroidism. Diagnosis is best based on an evaluation for symptoms typical of hypothyroidism along with Free T4 and Free T3. Having a number of typical symptoms, along with FT4 and FT3 in the lower part of their ranges is strong evidence of hypothyroidism. For treatment FT4 and fT3 levels should be increased enough to relieve hypo symptoms, without creating any hyper symptoms. That sweet spot is called euthyroidism.
Doctors erroneously think that TSH is the perfect diagnostic by which to determine a hypo patient's med dosage. That is totally incorrect. Dosage should be determined as detailed above. Adequate doses of thyroid med often will suppress TSH below range. This does not mean the patient hs become hyperthyroid, unless there are also symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
If you want to confirm what I have said, please read our paper in this link.
https://thyroiduk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Patients-Guide-Final-V5.pdf
So you should get tested as soon as you can and ask for Free T4, Free T3, B12 and ferritin. Don't forget to delay your morning dose of thyroid med. If you should forget, just cancel the tests until you can make that happen. Your Vitamin D is fine at 55. At this time I suggest you also give a copy of the link to your doctor and ask to be treated clinically as described. If the doctor refuses to do so, you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will.
Before going further, please have a look at the following list of symptoms typical of hypothyroidism and tell us which ones you have.
Tiredness.
More sensitivity to cold.
Constipation. (need laxative and/or fiber)
Dry skin. (need to use skin creme)
Weight gain. (difficulty losing weight and maintaining)
Puffy face.
Hoarse voice.
Coarse hair and skin.
Muscle weakness.
Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness.
Menstrual cycles that are heavier than usual or irregular.
Thinning hair.
Slowed heart rate, also called bradycardia.
Depression.
Memory problems.
Tiredness.
More sensitivity to cold.
Constipation. (need laxative and/or fiber)
Dry skin. (need to use skin creme)
Weight gain. (difficulty losing weight and maintaining)
Puffy face.
Hoarse voice.
Coarse hair and skin.
Muscle weakness.
Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness.
Menstrual cycles that are heavier than usual or irregular.
Thinning hair.
Slowed heart rate, also called bradycardia.
Depression.
Memory problems.
1 Comments
Tiredness, sensitive to cold, constipation, thinning hair, muscle aches and pain and memory problems.
Knee and leg pain is sometimes related to inadequate thyroid levels. What, if any, other symptoms do you have?
What is your daily dose of Synthroid? Please post your thyroid related test results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report. If tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin please post those as well.
What is your daily dose of Synthroid? Please post your thyroid related test results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report. If tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin please post those as well.
2 Comments
TSH .29, T4 1.4. T3 is 3.1. I was on 75 Levothyroxine but my TSH was 8.57. Increased my Levothyroxine to 100 and my TSH went to .04. Now it is .29 and he switched me to 88 of Snythroid. I have had leg and knee pain for the last 2 years. Vit D is 55. I wasn’t tested for B12 or ferritin. I also have high cholesterol 271 with LDL at 165, trig 129 and HDL at 80. My urea nitrogen is high at 28 and my bun/creatinine ratio is high at 28. I asked about it but no one is concerned. He said I’m probably dehydrated. I drink 100 oz to a gallon of water a day. I’m not dehydrated.
I should also add that if I take an anti-inflammatory drug like prednisone, the pain subsides.
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.
