muscle cramps and numb fingers

[North48]

I'm very new but I have a question does anyone experience muscle cramps in the hands from hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism?  My hands start to cramp up when I do something repetitive even holding on to the steering wheel. I've been diagnosed with a pituitary tumor and I've been having cramping and numbness in my fingers.   6 months ago my FT4 was .09 and tsh was 1.5 so they say my thyroid is o.k. Any comments is greatly accepted. Also shouldn't they be checking my FT3 and all the anti bodies and what other test should be run?  My family has alot of thyroid trouble.

[gimel]

It is necessary to check not just total T3, you need free T3, because of it being the active component that affects metabolism most.  Also, if you read enough of these messages, you will find numerous people who have trouble converting T4 to T3, so an adequate level of T4 is not  enough to be sure.  You need a free T3 test to really know your thyroid state.  

[North48]

Thanks again for the responses. I find it very interesting with all the talk about vit B.  My grandmother had Hashimoto and had to have vit B shots.  Aunt had Graves and vit B shots. My son has hashimoto and Type 1 Diabetes. I have the pituitary tumor and many symptoms of hashimoto or maybe it's vit B.  They did found I have low vit D.  I'm still in the process of checking the blood levels of all the other hormones like cortisol, growth and tsh which I can't believe the hoops I have had to go thru. First they checked me for depression twice.

What I can't believe is that after all these years is nobody has recommended that the anti bodies to be checked for thyroid.  I did ask a endo dr to check my T4 and T3 but he told me that there was no need to check T3 because T4 converts to T3 and if there is enough T4 no need to check any further.(?) This was before the tumor was found and I had been so tired and issues with my weight.  I Still have all this.

Sorry to go on and on but it's been a nightmare.  Now that I'm fortyeight they're trying to tell me this is menopause because of periods on and off.  I'm just not handling menopause well -  go figure.

[jojo449152]

I do have muscle cramps in my hands and alot in my wrists, also behind my knees.  If  I have a strenous day, I can't even lift my arms.  Was better after taking synthroid, then went on an antibiotic for an infection and the cramp pains are back.  I am on Vit D.  I take Naproxen for the inflammation, but doesn't really mask the cramping.  I will have to check the Vit B12.  My doc likes to tell me I am aging and will have pain, and I do have high sedation rates on account of inflammation,  I tell him it is the thyroid, last time I saw him I was feeling great, not so much now.

[Barb135]

I know that grapefruit or grapefruit juice should not be eaten/drank with some types of med, especially some cholesterol meds and I know there are others also,but I've never heard that you shouldn't eat them with thryoid med.  I'm sure the info sheet that comes with my synthroid doesn't say anything about it, but I'll check it with my pharmacy as the grapefruit are about ready to be picked and are one of my favorites!!  

I think there could be a whole host of things going with North48, but certainly that pituitary tumor could be a major consideration.  Do make sure your doctor is aware of the cramps.  

[Cherie762]

many otc meds and most cough/cold meds state not to take if hypo thyroid..I have heard not to eat grapefruit or drink the juice of anyone else heard that??

[Thypatient]

Could be anything touched on above; or a whole host of other things.  But still, I'd think your diagnosis of a pituitary tumor has got to be playing a significant role here.

Here's my experience of not long ago:  I had a cold and took a medicine that I forgot to read the label on.  All I can say is, I woke up in the middle of the night and my fingers and whole hand were cramped and numb.  It was scary.

Hope you get more answers and that things get resolved for you.

[Barb135]

If your B-12 level is 383, that might be too low for you.  My levels were just above 300 (range 200 - 1100), so technically, I was in the normal range.  Yours might be another incident of your doctor looking only at the numbers rather than evaluating your symptoms along with it.  Even though my levels were technically in the normal range, my dr started me on B-12 shots - one weekly for 3 weeks, then monthly.  After several months, we tested again because I was still very tired and had symptoms - my levels had only come up to around 500, so I am now at every 2 weeks - my latest levels were slightly over 700 just a couple weeks ago.  I still don't think that's high enough but my doctor does, so I'll stay at every 2 weeks.  

Also, low potassium levels will also cause cramps.  I used to be on a pretty powerful diuretic, so my doctor also gave me a script for potassium to take whenever I took the diuetic.  

.Also dehydration will cause cramps - this used to happen to me if I decided to party a bit too much and drank too much alcohol.  I rarely drink alcohol anymore, but if I don't drink enough water, I have a problem.  

All that said - even though all these other things seem to help, I still get cramps sometimes for no apparent reason and there is nothing I can do get rid of them except try to relax, although sometimes it helps to run cold water over the affected area or aspercreme sometimes helps.  I never know if something is going to help or not until I try it.  So maybe the hypothyroidism is the common link and when that's under control, the cramps will be under control???  

[gimel]

So many times here we have people asking if certain symptoms are related to being possibly hypot.  and not really knowing if they are still hypo t or not.  In the absence of the right kind of thyroid tests, or recent test results, you can get a good idea of your situation by using the body temperature test.  All you have to do is check your normal temperature numerous times and compare the average to the optimal of 98.6.  Temperatures that are below 98.6 are an indication of low metabolism/low thyroid that should be followed up with blood testing by a good thyroid doctor to determine free T3 and free T4 levels, along with TSH.  Here is a good link to body temperature testing.

http://www.drrind.com/tempgraph.asp

[Cherie762]

we are on to somthing here way too much to be a coincidence...my vitamin levels are good..the finger tingling /numbness is radom..and not so severe that i need anoters help\

the elbow to finger numbnes at night has been severe I hav had to pick up effected limb and move it with the other scary..in my case as stated its not the heart thats the first thing docs think when they hear these symptoms..
We all have a common link hypo thyroid..

[blksapphire]

I get those same muscle cramps and my hands cramps so bad that I have to have someone  pull my hand open and my fingers apart.  

I'm told that my potassium level is very low.  I have been taking a supplement and my second set of blood work and the potassium is still low.  Waiting for the next step now.

Keep us posted

Terri

[gimel]

After many years on Synthroid, I recently reduced meds. and got back into hypo t.  One of the side effects I noticed was muscle cramps in the legs.  My doc was switching me over to Armour thyroid to try and get my free T3 level up.  After only two days on Armour, cramps went away.

[North48]

Thanks for all the responses.  They have tested me for b12 but that came back normal  383 (180-914).  I was low in vit D so now I'm on supplements but still having the numbness and cramps. The dr's also did a nerve test for carpel tunnel but said I didn't have that either came back normal. I just keep wondering is there is something with the thyroid that there just not catching.  

Thanks again for all your help

[Jennifer1987]

I also get numbness in my face!!! And then a tingling feeling. Scared the life out of me when it first happened! Thought I was having a stroke or something! I think its all part of it tho!

[Cherie762]

wow very interesting I wake in the night with numb arms..get numb fingers often.have Hashimotos....no heart problems even had doopler done of carodic artery,,,,no endo has ever told me this could be hypo related....does b 12 help??

[Barb135]

I sometimes get cramps in my fingers (especially the little finger on my left hand - where it will just stick straight out and I can't move it for anything), but also in my legs and toes.  

For some time I had been having other symptoms as well - tingling/burning in fingers and toes; and of course, I was dead tired all the time.  I was sent for a bunch of neurological tests that all came back normal, then was sent for blood work to test B-12, which came back very low.  I was started on B-12 shots (currently every 2 weeks) and now I'm much better.  I still have some peripheral neuropathy, but I think that's permanent damage because I'd had this for many years before I was diagnosed.  

Currently, about the only time I have a problem with cramps is when it's nearing time for my next shot.  

I also have hypothyroidism (Hashi's) and am on 75 mcg synthroid.

[Barb135]

I sometimes get cramps in my fingers (especially the little finger on my left hand - where it will just stick straight out and I can't move it for anything), but also in my legs and toes.  

For some time I had been having other symptoms as well - tingling/burning in fingers and toes; and of course, I was dead tired all the time.  I was sent for a bunch of neurological tests that all came back normal, then was sent for blood work to test B-12, which came back very low.  I was started on B-12 shots (currently every 2 weeks) and now I'm much better.  I still have some peripheral neuropathy, but I think that's permanent damage because I'd had this for many years before I was diagnosed.  

Currently, about the only time I have a problem with cramps is when it's nearing time for my next shot.  

I also have hypothyroidism (Hashi's) and am on 75 mcg synthroid.

[kitty9309]

The muscle cramps makes me think of low Vitamin D. My level is low and I started to get cramps in my calves. Most people are low in Vitamin D.

[azqtpies]

I am hypo and have really bad muscle ache muscle weakness joint pains, and have numbness in fingera as well as carpal tunnel along with host if other symptoms! like the other poster!

[graveswoman]

Did you every have your Vt B12 checked? before thyroid issues started for me i would have pain in hands, numbness they checked carpal tunnel first, then ran blood work, they couldn't even get a reading from the blood, i was completely depleted. just a thought.

[Jennifer1987]

I get really bad finger pain and numbness...Im hypoT and its jus getting out of control now! Also all my other muscles ache...Along with everyoother symptom! Its all part of it Im afraid Jen x