Joint problems

[Doreen313]

Hi,
I was diagnosed w/Hashimoto's last August after going for a physical (had a noticable multi-nodular goiter), having bloodwork done, and being referred to an Endo MD.
Since October I have been having terrible joint pain... mostly now in my shoulders.  I was sent for physical therapy due to a mysteriously appearing (no known injury) pinched nerve in my neck (shoulder and right arm burning/numbness). That was resolved with the PT, but for the last few months my left shoulder has gotten lots worse and the PT says it is "frozen shoulder"; right shoulder is starting to be the same, with same areas of pain with movement.
All of this just started on its own... no injury, no reason.  Can anyone tell me what is going on??  Could this all be from the Hashimoto's?  I found some info online saying it's possible that the Hashimoto's can "attack" other parts of the body.  Has anyone had any problems like this?
I am on 125 levoxyl and still being "regulated" (dose gradually increasing).  Endo says joint pain has nothing to do with thyroid problem.  My TSH is 2.57, but I'm not sure what that means.  How is Hashimoto's diagnosed?  What are the T3 and T4 that everyone talks about?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

[pvmuse]

Hi, you mentioned that you are having alot of problems with hot flashes and fever.
Remember that the thyroid med's are eating up all of your estrogen, the hot flashes do not go away, it is a matter of getting used to them. I have just started with the estrogen ring, since I cannot take HRT in pill form. They say it is the least dangerous of all hormone treatment, so keep it in mind if syptoms don't improve. i hate taking med's at all. it does not seem right to be taking medicines to offset the impact from  other med's. keep me posted. I am seeing a new endo next week.

[Doreen313]

Wow,
I never thought about the possibility of my thyroid meds CAUSING my joint pain.  But, now that I think about it, I didn't start with the really bad pain until my meds started being raised.  I just assumed I needed higher meds to get better.
And actually, every time my endo raises my dosage (at 125 now), my TSH goes UP.  I go back to him next month, but he seems to just be content with taking blood, and mailing me a new prescription four days later.  How can he say that the "mysterious" pains I'm having have nothing to do with the thyroid problem at all?  Every online site I go to says it IS related.  Very very frustrating.
I'm on celebrex and cymbalta now... too.  I had a fever in the GP's office, and have been having very bad hot flashes for over a week now.... used to be cold constantly, now only sometimes.  GP says these meds won't affect the thyroid meds or problems... hopefully he's right.
Let me know how you're doing pv, and if you find any answers.  Take care.

[pvmuse]

Hi Doreen, After reading your post's I thought I would add my comments. I too was diagnosed with Hashimoto's last year. At first they thought Lupus, or M.S. but the only antibodies I

[Doreen313]

Hi,
My dosage for Hashi's has been upped from 25/75/112/to 125.  Not sure why the March to June wait either.  The pain in my shoulders is worse... I believe it's got to be the thyroid going wacky.
I went back to my gp.. he put me on celebrex... an anti inflammatory, and cymbalta for "pain management". He said it's an anti-depressant that affects how I "perceive the pain"??? He also told me to stick with the physical therapy.  He seemed to be leaning toward the thyroid causing these problems for me.
So why doesn't my actual Endo think so?? It's almost like it's easier for him to ignore it, than to help.  Is an appointment in June "normal" if I saw him last in March?  I could see it if I was "all better", but he is still trying to get my numbers "normal". And how high up do these meds go?

[childrenrtreasures]

I also have a lot of joint pain. Particularly in my shoulders and hips (can't touch my right hand to my left shoulder at the moment).

I have had a complete rheumatological eval twice and have seen a neuro (he tested me for myasthenia gravis and polymyositis; had an MRI to screen for MS). I've been tested for rheumatoid factor twice and lupus 3 times (ANA). All testing has been neg. except my thyroid antibodies.

I strongly feel mine is related to the Hashi's (what else could it be??).

Usually it's only 6wks between dosage changes...not sure why they're having you wait 3 months.

It's so frustrating...I'm sorry you're in this boat! Is there a reason your dr prescribed tylenol rather than the NSAIDS (Advil, Aleve etc...)? My mom can only take tylenol due to her heart condition (or because of the meds for it...not sure which) and it doesn't help her chronic pain much. She said the anti-inflammatories worked much better.

Kelly

[Doreen313]

It IS very frustrating.  My (2nd) ortho says just go to physical therapy. My endo poo-poo's it all.  I just saw my gp yesterday... he says it may very well be my thyroid... but since they are still regulating my dosage there isn't anything I can do.  I have to wait until the end of June for them to test me again on the 125mg.  When I showed him my last 3 bloodtests, he mentioned that with each higher dose of meds, my TSH has gone higher also!  He said it's like the endo is chasing the problem, and until he catches up to it all I can do is wait.  And be in pain.  He suggested an anti-inflammatory 1x/day and an anti-depressant 1x/day then 2x/day after a week.  He said that will help to manage the pain.  I can't even put on a seat belt or brush my own hair without feeling like I want to pull my arm off.  And now it is affecting my sleep by waking me up in the middle of the night.  He also suggested taking FOUR grams of tylenol a day... (2 of)500mg four times a day.
Why do they have to wait so long (3 months) in between dosage changes for an underactive/hashi thyroid??

[Jennifer_C]

I to has Hashimoto's and I also have severe joint and muscle pain in my shoulders and neck. I've been trying to find a link between the Hashi's and this pain.I't as if the DR.s want to just pass the buck from one DR to the next I'm getting pretty tired of it all and want some answers.

[Doreen313]

Thank you both very much.  I am seeing my original GP today and will bring him the endo's test results.  I may also ask him about seeing a rheumatologist now.  It's just so weird that these things are appearing out of thin air.  I also have really bad "collar bone" pain... very achy.  I haven't been able to find ANYTHING online about it, so maybe that's part of the thyroid problem too.
How does one approach the endo about raising my med dosage again?  He doesn't want to see me until the end of June!  I am taking B12 daily and seem to have significantly more energy than I did last year, but I still have some of the other "original" symptons (losing hair by the handfuls,can't lose weight, dry skin, crazy menstrual problems, etc).  I've already told him about these.
Also, the endo told me last October that my aches and pains didn't have anything to do with my thyroid... pretty much "poo-pooed" the whole idea.  I had swollen legs too, and all he said was stop using so much salt on my food. (I don't put salt on anything)
If anyone knows of any good endo's near Manchester, CT, please let me know.  Thanks again.

[graywings]

Doreen313,

I am not a doctor, but I also had alot of should pain.  I do definately believe it is part of thyroid problems.  No doctor could diagnose.  Also had on and off pain in certain joints in fingers.  I have been on Snythroid for about eights weeks, only at 50mcg and after I got through virus I have no pain.  If you read enough you will find out it is a symtom of thyroid.  I just was switched to Armour yesterday and found out my ferritin levels are low and DHEA levels are low.  I think it is important to get your doctor to test you for TSH, Free T4 and Free T3, ferritin and DHEA.  There are other hormone tests out there also.  If your ferritin is low, the thyroid medication won't work well until you get levels up.  Good luck!

graywings

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Your TSH is slightly high (should be 0.5-2.0) - may need 137mcg of levoxyl.  This may help joint pains. Hashi is diagnosed based on positive anti-thyroid antibodies, thyroid biopsy or thyroid ultrsound.  If shoulder/joint pains persist consider rheumatologic eval -- sounds like it could be polymyalgia rheumatica or rheumatoid arthritis -- easy to exclude by seeing a rheumatologist.