What helps for aches and pains?

[elkclan]

I guess I've been a bit more symptomatic since Dec or January....fatigue, weight gain, blah, blah, blah...but what I'm asking here about hip pain. I can't swear that it's related to hypo but it seems to come and go, came on in January and also seems a bit less since I started taking levo a few weeks ago. My hips feel 'freer' a lot of days. But I still have had some trouble with the pain and stiffness (I'm not sure that I'm actually stiff or if the pain just stops me).

Anyway, I play rugby and I'm a prop, so I need to be able to get LOW so my hips are very important, plus sometimes it hurts when I run. I'm having trouble with off-season fitness and I'm really worried about pre-season.

Has anyone had this issue and can physio help with this?

[shaws]

What can help with pain? Some decent thyroid gland medication is my answer.

If you haven't had a recent blood test ask for a full thyroid function test plus Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. We are usually deficient.

You could be undermedicated - even if GP says you are in 'range'. Normal range varies from person to person and the aim should be to make the patient symptom free.

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[Clutter]

Elkclan, Post your recent thyroid results with the lab ref ranges and how much Levothyroxine you're taking and we'll see whether you are optimally medicated. Undermedication can cause the symptoms you describe.

Have your ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate been tested recently? Deficient/low ferritin and vitamin D in particular can cause bone, joint, muscles pain and fatigue. Vitamin and mineral levels often drop in the year prior to hypothyroid diagnosis.

[elkclan in reply to Clutter]

My thyroid results are only pre levo as I haven't had my follow-up bloods done yet.

[Clutter in reply to elkclan]

Elkclan, thyroid bloods should be retested 4/6 weeks after starting Levothyroxine as the starting dose is rarely sufficient and an increase is usually required. Increases/decreases are usually in 25mcg increments until symptoms resolve and a follow up thyroid blood test should be done after every dose change.

Levothyroxine should be taken with a large glass of water on an empty stomach one hour before food and drink or 90 mins after for men as their stomach empties faster. It should be taken 2 hours away from other medicines and supplements and 4 hours after iron and calcium.

[elkclan in reply to Clutter]

I've been taking it first thing in the morning before eating. I haven't even been on the levo for four weeks yet. I am seeing some reduction in symptoms which gives me a lot of hope, but not as much as I'd like! I know I'm terrified that they'll take me off it.

[Clutter in reply to elkclan]

Elkclan, It's extremely rare that Levothyroxine would be withdrawn as hypothyroidism is a lifelong condition requiring daily thyroid hormone replacement.

It probably took a couple of weeks for the levothyroxine to start working so a slight improvement in symptoms is good. How much Levothyroxine are you prescribed?

[hwbrand]

hi, i suffer from athritic pain and have found Turmeric ( Curcumin) capsules to help - they work as an anti infammatory, apparently.

[Soldieress]

Hot bath with Epsom salt (magnesium) fairly cheap, found in most chemists/pharmacys, good massage, stretching - yoga xxx Best of luck

[Stourie]

I have had hip and groin pain on and off for ten years or more and am now waiting to hear when my hip replacement will be. Mind you I am 61 and you are obviously a lot younger as you play rugby.