Thyroid & PMR

[maxismall]

Stone cold feet/pins & needles/numbness in feet creeping up legs/stiffness around ankles. Pins & needles now in hands. Persistent fatigue. Have had episodes of neuropathy in feet before including pre PMR but not this bad. Thyroid checked in January TSH = 1.4 (ref range 0.27 - 4.2) serum ferritin = 17 (13-150). Marked as borderline - GP said was OK. But, I am suspicious I might have thyroid issues - Mum was hypothyroid. Coping with PMR & whatever is going on in my feet is causing difficulties walking. Am I right to suspect thyroid function has something to do with this? Pred has been increased from 6mg to 11mg as of this week - I have had to accept I am too active at lower levels. Thank you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Given the TSH I honestly don't think you get any doctor to accept you might be even borderline hypothyroid. That is low by any standards so not suggesting any malfunction of the thyroid.

The dose of pred you were on would account for most of what you describe as part of adrenal insufficiency, 6mg is firmly in adrenal tiger territory so being on 11mg should improve things over the next few weeks.

[maxismall in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. I didn't realise having blocks of ice for feet might be an adrenal issue.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to maxismall]

Not sure if doctors think of it but if you look online you will find all the "adrenal fatigue" sites mention cold hands and feet - what they mean is insufficiency, there is no such thing as "adrenal fatigue" due to over use, if you have poor adrenal function there is a reason and in our case is secondary to long term pred use.