Muscle weakness in specific areas

[Vitaman71]

Any of you with low Vitman D experience muscle weakness in specific areas?
Also, have certain areas of muscle weakness been worse than other areas?
I have noticed weakness in both hamstrings, the front of both knees, behind both elbows, and both sides of my rib cage. However, I noticed that the weakness has been worse above my right knee, my right arm, and rib area on right side. Since I am right handed I do notice that I use these areas more as well as my right leg while driving. It "appears" to me that the muscle I tend to use more "seem" to be affected more.

[Vitaman71]

I am roughly 11 weeks out now on treatment and I am still having issues with muscle weakness. As I have read through some of the older posts on this forum, it appears several people have mentioned having ups and downs during the recovery. They mentioned feeling good for a week or two and then feeling worse for a week or so. I believe one poster stating it took a good 7 months before things normalized. I hope I can feel normal again soon. You would think getting these high doses of Vit D would resolve these issues immediately.

[JerseyPhil2]

50,000 IU a day seems excessive. I take 50,000 IU/wk and also add a 2000 IU capsule now and then. I think the issue is that the blood levels can rise in a couple of months, but the vitamin D receptors all over the body need to absorb and rebuild. And that can take a few months (I understand)..

I live near NYC and am looking forward to some sun (finally) later this week.

One other factor is body fat. They say you may need twice as much D if you are "obese." I'm modestly overweight so adding the 2000 IU seems to make sense.

I wonder if you want to consider a home mail-order D test instead of waiting 24 weeks. They ask for a finger prick of blood and you mail it back...

[Vitaman71]

My GP had tested my Thyroid, Testosterone, and Vitamin D. Only my Vitamin D was abnormal. My doctor stated that I should have my levels checked after the 24 week has passed.

I often wonder if I should be taking more than Vitamin D3 than 50,000 IU once a week? I have been taking an additional NatureMade Vitamin D3 (1,000 IU) once a day for 5 days during the week as well. As I previously stated, one of my co workers is taking 50,000 IU "every day for two weeks", then 50,000 IU once a week for several weeks after that. Seems like my doctor is looking for a slow gradual treatment, while my coworkers doctor is taking a speedy treatment. I am not so sure most doctors are on the same page on how to treat Vit D deficiency.

I do seem to feel better if I get outside and soak in some sun. Hoping Spring will break out soon, so I can get some more sun.

[JerseyPhil2]

Now that 10 weeks went by, did they not do a blood re-test?  I am only in week 3, but the Endo wants me to re-test at week 8. How aboot other tests (e.g. thyroid)?

As far as the muscle weakness, mine is both weakness and an aching pain in muscles that I use. If I go for a walk then the legs stay sore for hours. If I carry the groceries in, then the arms are sore soon after..

One other symptom I think I have is occasional bone pain. When I rub my legs, if I rub the front of the tibia (shin bone) then it hurts and there aren't really any muscles there. Same if I push on my ribs, it seems to hurt the actual rib bone. That might be osteomalacia (due to Vit D deficiency)? But my Endo thinks that is for folks with really bad deficiencis (e.g. 5 ng/ml; I am at 15).  We'll see.

Overall, I get the feeling that is I were to try to run or throw a ball, I would keel over in pain...

And now my GP thinks it is driven by mild depression. I try to tell him that I am normally a happy guy and am really only depressed since I ache all over...

[Vitaman71]

JerseyPhil2,Like yourself I am concerned about muscle weakness. I am really surprised that Vitamin D could cause such issues. After 10 weeks if taking 50,000 IU D3 once a week, I thought I would be fully recovered by now. If I stand for any length of time my leg muscles still seem to fatigue more easily than they should.

I am scheduled to take my Vitamin D3 once a week for 24 weeks. I assume this will be a slow ride to recovery. Ironically, one of my coworkers was recently told that his Vitamin D was 15. His doctor put him on 50,000 IU D3 "EVERY" day for two weeks and then once a week for several weeks after that. It is interesting that he wasn't complaining of any symptoms but just found out his Vit D was low from lab work for his physical.


  

[deksman2]

Here... read this:
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/84/4/694.full

But yes, I would recommend you switch to 8000 IU/day of D3.
If possible, increase that to 10 000 IU/day though.
Rounding up the dosage in this case is a good idea and it should increase levels faster.

[JerseyPhil2]

I see several people referring to D3 supplements being more effective than D2 and I am considering switching back to 8000 IU/day of D3 by the time next week's dose is due. But then I see the Godfather of Vitamin D, Dr Holick, present data that shows them to increase blood serums levels just as quickly (he tested D2 alone, D3 alone, D3 + D2).  In any case, I may switch since enough other people claim D3 to be better and he says it doesn't matter, so no harm in switching. Now that April is almost here, I'll be out in the sun more too (I live outside NYC)

I'm actually concerned about the muscle symptoms of my deficiency. I've had neurologic, endo, and rheumatalogic Dr visits with all sorts of blood tests (Lupus, Lyme, Testosterone, TSH, CK..) and the only thing out of whack is the vitamin D.  So, are there lots of others out there who have leg and arm muscle "tightness" and pain that are also Vitamin D deficient? I also have the rib pain that vitaman mentions. Have many folks gradually recovered? I know it will take several months.

Thx!

[deksman2]

Vitamin D2 is a synthetic form which our bodies have little to no use for.
It WILL get converted into D3, but the quantities will be too small for a measurable effect.
Also, D2 in high concentrations can be dangerous.

I recommend you ditch the 50 000 IU D2, and switch over to 10 000 IU D3 daily (or 70 000 IU weekly).

Keep up with the magnesium, but, magnesium supplements can be tricky seeing how many are less than effective (you'd have to find the correct supplemental form of Magnesium which was demonstrated to have measurable effect in the body - pubmed often has such studies). Although, you can get magnesium from diet... richest source being almonds.
Another great source of magnesium are cottage cheese and yogurts (pro-biotics) and leafy greens.
Just make sure to eat them on a regular basis throughout the week and you should be fine.


Vitaman71  

It will take a while for the Vitamin D levels to stabilize.
It can take about 3 months or more... but then again, regular doctors have a relatively low threshold for what is considered the 'norm' for Vitamin D levels (that being usually in the range of 30 ng/ml).
Per Vitamin D council, a much better Vitamin D range would be at 50 or 60 ng/ml... with 80 to 110 ng/ml being the maximum limit for 'superb health'.

I would also surmise that the higher the Vitamin D levels in ones body, the easier it will get to raise them further - especially if the body has enough magnesium and other minerals to work with.

:-)

[JerseyPhil2]

I read your post with great interest as my muscle weakness sounds a lot like yours. It started out as neck pain and some forearm pain, but has gradually been overtaken by calf, achilles tendon pain and tightness above the knees, mostly on the right side. It feels like I just ran 5 miles (I'm not runner).

My Vitamin D level is 15 ng/ml and I started taking the Rx of 50,000 IU/wk (of D2). This is my third week and I can't say I feel any better. I also take some magnesium.

In general, the muscles that I use most are the ones that ache afterward for hours. And I'm not talking about going to the gym; just lifting a gallon of milk or picking up a chair or walking down the block...

[Vitaman71]

Thanks for the article. I have been on 50,000 IU of D3 once a week for 10 weeks now after finding out my Vitamin D was 20 ng/ml. By my 3rd or 4th week of treatment I really began to feel better. My fatigue improved dramatically and the various muscle twitches throughout my body practically disappeared. My muscle weakness improved as well as I no longer had difficulty climbing stairs or getting up out of my chair. I have been feeling fairly normal over the past month, but it seems I have hit a setback this week. I have had some muscle twitching return at various locations (although not near as bad as before). Also, I have had some muscle weakness return in my legs. The muscle weakness is above both knees but it is worse in my right leg. Luckily my hamstrings have fully recovered with no issues. Before treatment my muscles that were weak seemed sore to touch.

The 2nd patient in the article you listed had his Vitamin D levels return to normal after 1 month but he was still experiencing some muscle weakness at 4 months out. I guess it is slow ride to recovery. Maybe I am expecting too much of a recovery at 10 weeks. I am scheduled to take the Vitamin D for 24 weeks. Also, based on the time I have been experiencing symptoms, I believe my Vitamin D has been low for 12-18 months.

[amealer]

The weakness tends to affect proximal lower extremities the most, and can make it difficult to climb stairs and stand up from a sitting position.  Rib and back pain is also common.  Check out this journal article :
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1304730/?page=1