Does anyone get bad cramps in there legs an toes - Thyroid UK

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Does anyone get bad cramps in there legs an toes

kagz profile image
kagz
20 Replies

I had a full thyroidectomy 9yrs ago now and been on 125mcg throxine and recently was having palpatations and really cold all the time,so got my levels checked and now they have reduced the throxine to 100mcg which I thought was strange after so long being on the 125mcg dose has this happened to anyone else. X

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kagz profile image
kagz
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20 Replies

Yes I suffered really bad cramps in legs and toes especially at night, i now take a small gladd of tonic at night which has helped. I have heard that magnesium is also good and there is a spray you can use instead of tablets. I would stress that best to check with the doctor as it may affect medication you are on. Hope this helps

Sorry bad spelling , should be small glass

kagz profile image
kagz

Thank you, will look into that

Silvers profile image
Silvers

Have you had your Vitamin B12, ferritin, folate and Vitamin D checked?

Kaymac profile image
Kaymac

I had terrible cramps in my legs and toes...so bad it wuold wake me up from a deep sleep, really very painful and difficult to relieve. Did a little research and as a result supplimented magnesium...did the trick for me...just make sure you use a chelated magnesium suppliment and of course as Wednesday said probably best to check with your Dr. first.

Hope you get rid of them.

K x

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply to Kaymac

Same here, it is absolutely agony, always comes when I am lying down and my legs even hurt for most of the next day. Need to get myself tested for the usual suspects

.

Liz

tress profile image
tress in reply to Fruitandnutcase

Yes I suffer big time with cramps in legs and toes, always in the evening. I am going to try the tonic

kagz profile image
kagz

Thanks all it just show's you how much we don't no, or get to no untill you speak to other people with the same thing x

marram profile image
marram

Kagz, I suggest you read my blog 'My Journey from Misery to Hope' or go to the main Thyroid UK page and look at 'Success Stories - Marie's Story' I was on 150mcg for 23 years after TT and after a 'test' it was reduced to 100. This is my story.

If you felt really cold all the time, and you had palpitations, why did you go to get your levels checked? did you think you were taking too much thyroxine, or too little? Were you surprised that your thyroxine was reduced? For someone who has no thyroid, 100mcg is a pitifully low dose.

One of my problems on the low dose was constant cramp in legs and toes, it kept me awake most nights and stopped me walking most days. but as you read you will see it was the least of my problems.

It has improved lately but is one of the not-completely-resolved issues I am still working on.

Please do read my story, because I wrote it for the very reason that what happened to me is happening to people like you all the time. When you have read it, please do look at your own situation and think about your future.

Marie xx

kagz profile image
kagz in reply to marram

Hi I got my thyroids checked, as when I was getting up in the mornings I was getting bad shakes in my hands an palpitations which I no when I had an overactive thyroid they were some of my symptoms so when I rung the gp for my results they told me to reduce which I was suprised,I have to go bck in a mnth to get checked again x

Stourie profile image
Stourie in reply to kagz

What were your results and could you post them on here for more words of wisdom

Jo xx

kagz profile image
kagz in reply to Stourie

I was just told by the receptionist to reduce but I will ask for a copy of the test if they will give me one an post them on here

Stourie profile image
Stourie in reply to kagz

What could a receptionist possibly know, when a dr does about 6 years training and doesn't even know. They have to give you a print out of your results. Its the law.

Jo xx

Stourie profile image
Stourie in reply to kagz

Plus the drs are supposed to talk your meds over with you and discuss to see what you think too. That's good dr practise.

Jo xx

kagz profile image
kagz in reply to Stourie

I'm going to go to docs this week jo got a week off work,feeling really tired an no energy since the change in meds x

Like Marie, I also get night-time leg cramps (along with other symptoms) when I'm on too low a dose of levo. My cramps always go when I take a slightly higher dose of levo.

I too low dose of levo will have consequences for every cell in our body and there will be issues with every type of function - including muscle health and recovery.

Your cramps could be a vitamin difficiency, or build up of lactic acid, not stretching after exercise or simply not enough T4 replacement.

Hope it gets resolved soon.

jaxbubbles profile image
jaxbubbles

I was told last year I have graves, with an overactive thyroid. A few months into first knowing this I started to get terrible cramp in my hands feet and legs, one morning I thought I was having a stroke as my mouth wouldn't work and I could swallow my neck felt like I was being strangled and I could hardly breath. I rushed to A&E where various tests were done and it turned out my calcium was in my boots, the doctors words not mine. Lack of calcium affects your smaller muscles hence the cramps in my hands, feet, face and neck, I was lucky it was discovered as it can also affect heart muscles etc. I am now on One-Alpha capsules for the rest of my life but I can live with that. I am not trying to scare you but things like simple cramps should be looked at.

On a happier note, my thyroid is normal, I don't take any medication now for it, I feel better than I have in a few years.

Jackie profile image
Jackie

Hi Cramps are usually low sodium level, below range, it should be low in range. It is an electrolytes so likely to effect the heart electrics. Other electrolytes are Potassium ( also U`s and E`s , renal function), magnesium ,separate test tiny range and corrected calcium, ( often called bone profile)these all need testing, especially calcium if on vit D. These must always be in range, no matter what. Do not take supplements of these without medical supervision and frequent blood tests. Eating them in food is fine.Too much calcium causes shakes. Most of these problems are not very obvious, unless blood tests. until cause a major problem, so important to have them checked.

Best wishes,

Jackie

Was tortured by it for decades from being teenage until I started supplementing Magnesium.

Hard to overdose orally as diarrhoea will come first.

If in doubt get it tested.

Info on Dr Myhills site drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Magnesi... she also has info on testing.

I use magnesium chloride (see Ebay!) made into a solution as she suggests and applied transdermally.

Twirlydoughnut profile image
Twirlydoughnut

Hi I have toe cramps pretty much 24/7

I feel like I need to stretch all my toes out and pull them. I am constantly wriggling them to try and get rid of the horrible cramping sensation. Weirdly and thankfully it doesn't travel up my legs it is just my toes!

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