Side of Neck Pain

[BillBecker]

In 2008 I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and had 3 and 3/4 of my parathyroids removed. Come to find out, they took too much and now I have hypothyroidism where my body does not make enough calcium so I have to take calcium pills to balance my levels.  About 6 months ago I started developing pain in the side of my neck.  At first I thought it was a toothache because my lower back jaw and my ear hurt as well.  I can barely touch the side of my neck and if feels like I have a sore throat when I swallow.  This goes on for about a week and them the symptoms disappear.  Then I will get the same pain back right around a month later.  This has been going on for about 6 month now?  What is causing this pain in my neck?  

[Barb135]

Calcium isn't what causes hyperthyroidism; excess thyroid hormones cause hyperthyroidism.  The parathyroids are related to calcium and most of us have 4 of them.  I've never heard of them taking 3 and 3/4 of the parathyroids; typically, they don't take part of a parathyroid. They take the whole thing.

Have you had your thyroid removed?  If so, you'd have to be taking replacement thyroid hormones, such as Synthroid, levothyroxine, etc.  Calcium doesn't alleviate hypothyroidism, only thyroid hormones will help that.

If you can please clarify the medications you're taking, that would be most helpful...

[BillBecker]

Barb135 - Sorry I did not mean hyperthyroidism.  I guess I was reading all the posts and that stuck in my head as I was typing my question.  I had Hypercalcemia and they took all of my parathyroid glands out but left a small piece in hopes that it would regrow a little and produce enough calcium my body needed.  Did not work.  So now I am hypocalcemic where my body does not produce the levels of calcium my body needs so I have to take calcium supplements to reach the normal levels.  Sorry for the confusion.

[Barb135]

The parathyroids don't "produce" calcium.  Calcium isn't made in the body; it comes from the food we eat. The parathyroids simply regulate calcium levels in the blood by producing a hormone called Parathyroid hormone (PTH).   Without the parathyroids to regulate blood calcium one, typically, has to take calcium supplements following the removal of the glands.

I'm not sure about the pain in your neck; since it's lasting so long, it would be a good idea to talk to your doctor and have them make sure everything healed properly.  

Also, make sure you don't rub or palpate the incision area or do anything that could irritate it further.