Joint pain

[DawnieB]

Since starting my medication a few years ago, it is towards the end of last year and this year that my levo meds doseage has been tinkered with quite a bit to find the right level and now also taking T3. Currently suffering with joint pain, never had this before, is this normal?

[shaws Administrator]

I had joint and muscle pain. It could be due to the doctors adjusting medication according to your TSH level which can cause us additional problems.

If it is possible for you to get a copy of your latest thyroid gland blood test results and post them, with the ranges, members will be able to comment on them.

Go to the date January 25, 2002 on this link to read the whole question and this is an excerpt:-

The TSH level is not well synchronized with the tissue metabolic rate. (Probably most doctors falsely assume that studies have shown that the TSH and metabolic rate are synchronized. But despite my diligently searching for years for such studies, I’ve yet to find them.) Adjusting the T4 dose by the TSH level is like adjusting the speed of your car by a speedometer that's out of synchrony with the actual speed of the car. Adjusting the speed of a car by an out-of-sync speedometer, of course, will get the driver into trouble—either with other drivers who'll object to the car traveling too slowly, or with a police officer who'll object to the car going too fast. And adjusting the thyroid hormone dose by the TSH level gets most patients in trouble—almost always because their tissue metabolism is so slow that they are sick.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[Marz]

We are all so different - so what is normal for one is not for another. Joint pain usually indicates inflammation. Have you had your VitD tested ? It needs to be HIGH in the range. VitD is anti-inflammatory and also a steroidal pre-hormone with many roles within the body and more and more being discovered ....

Posting your last results with ranges may give someone a clue - and we will be able to help you a little more. Perhaps your GP has missed something.....

When I introduced T3 with the T4 I did not feel right - and so I now take T3 only....am not saying that will work for you - just sharing my experience. Take a look at my Profile to save me going into detail :-).....still have painful joints but managed to take a yoga class this morning.... and it certainly helps to open up the tendons and ligaments that are inflamed. They become stuck with inflammation and inhibit the movement making it painful....

Do hope you can soon find an answer....

[Hidden]

I agree about getting your vitamin d and calcium levels checked and aiming for high in the range. But with joint pain you should also get your inflammation levels checked (ESR and CRP) and rheumatoid factor too because it could be a form of inflammatory arthritis - and this needs treating early if possible.

[DawnieB]

Hi

Results from bloods taken on 14 Jan taking 125mcg levothyroxine are:

FT4 19.6

FT3 4.62

TSH <0.01

Total Thyroxine 128.0

Endo has added T3 meds at 5mcg twice a day and reduced the levothyroxine to 100mcg per day as still suffering with very dry skin, dry burning eyes, brain fog, two lots of antibiotics to clear an ear infection over Christmas. My first post on here last week was that I was feeling VERY rough and have taken the advice of reducing the levothyroxine by 12.5mcg for a bit and then drop the last 12.5mcg whilst only taking 2.5mcg twice a day of the T3 and then increase it to the full dose when I drop the last 12.5mcg of levothyroxine. Started the "tinkering" on Saturday and already feel a bit better. Just the painful joints and today a bit of kidney pain, right hand side (had the sort synacthen test last year and the results were clear).

My thyroid antibodies readings when I first saw the Endo last year were high, in excess of 1100. No reading for that on the latest results though. Any advice greatly received. Thank you.