Hashimotos and muscle spasms

[Doodeet]

Interested in what people with Hashimotos do about muscle spasms, especially in neck and shoulder. It's really ruining my life from the constant pain.

[Allyson1]

I developed tension in my shoulders and neck around the time my hypothyroid symptoms appeared when I was 14. I had knots so bad I have nerve damage. It got so tight it kept me up all night. I would just cry in frustration.

Physical therapy helps, depending on the therapist. I got the most relief from massage. I went for several months of twice or thrice weekly deep tissue massages. It was EXTREMELY expensive but gave me 75% relief that has lasted years. And no bad side effects.

I noticed my potassium can get low and that causes major shoulder and neck cramping. It's torture. It got real bad when I started b12 supplements. I literally could not get my shoulders down from my ears.

I get terrible muscle cramping with low magnesium too. Epsom salt baths help.

I think potassium and magnesium varies with meals, but there are blood tests.

[humanbean in reply to Allyson1]

I second the suggestion of magnesium and potassium for muscle tension, spasms, and cramps. I would also add iron to the list too, if ferritin is less than optimal.

If you want to take a magnesium supplement (rather than use sprays, or epsom salts in the bath), avoid magnesium oxide - it is very poorly absorbed. I use magnesium citrate which works for me.

[Allyson1 in reply to humanbean]

I think it's best to get blood tests first, even though potassium and magnesium can vary.

Iron supps can be dangerous without supervision. Iron toxicity is not good my dr says.

I'm low in iron, so we're trying to get it back up with diet.

I had a naturopath overdose me on magnesium, and it did give me the runs for a while, but no long-term harm.

[Skeeter1956]

I suffered from painful neck and jaw spasms . Blood test showed I was low in ferritin . GP prescribed ferrous fumerate ,spasms have all but gone . Coincidence ? Not sure but it seemed to work .

Cheers Skeeter

[valathome]

Hi I'm so sorry to hear you are having so much pain. I had a problem with this too. I find a bottle of tonic water will help. This has quinine in it, so its not a good idea to overdo it but it really seems to help.

[Afaghieh]

Hi

Well i have had to call 111 twice and 999 in the last 3 weeks so bad my neck was that due to intra cranial pressure had to have emergency op for one eye. Mine is due to my cervical spine.

It may help by having X-ray or MRI of your cervical spine.

Hope you find the solution soon.

[DonnyJam]

Wow I've been suffering with neck and shoulder problems since around the time of diagnosis but I've never made a connection between hashimoto's the problems in my neck and shoulders

[Hidden in reply to DonnyJam]

How strange same here i was told i had spondylodisis n osteoarthritis but reading this post ive only just recently been diagnosed with Hashimotos n PA maybe it is connected

[DonnyJam in reply to Hidden]

Yeah my phsyio told me I have rotator cuff tendonitis but now I'm wondering if it's related to my hashis

[Allyson1 in reply to DonnyJam]

I think plantar fascitis is a symptom of low thyroid function. Also carpal tunnel. Why not rotator cuff?

I was always getting strain injuries in my legs as a teenager running. It was like my connective tissue was brittle. I ended up with compartment syndrome and surgery (bad idea). I've been meaning to do a post asking others.

I think hashis mucks up muscle and connective tissue health throughout the body, and drs aren't awake to it.

[Doodeet in reply to Allyson1]

I agree. I think therapeutic massage therapists are well aware of it. I would be immobilized without her. My body doesn't rid itself of the normal scar tissue that develops in response to inflammation. I'm guessing this is because my body is always inflamed. This locks down my moving parts just enough to cause pain...hence the muscle spasms.

[Allyson1 in reply to Doodeet]

Yeah I scar badly too. I do have a lot of inflammation still but I'm going to hey more diet changes to see if that helps.

[hogghead]

has anyone heard of dystonia

[Doodeet in reply to hogghead]

Why do you ask?

[docbernie]

muscle cramp is usually due to low magnesium and potassium levels. I would recommend taking magnesium citrate daily -increase the dose until you get diarrhoea ,that means that your body has reached tolerance. Then reduce to a pre-diarrhoea dose. Also it is good to apply magnesium oil 7-8 sprays to the affected muscles . An Epsom salt bath before bed is also effective . Add potassium 900mg daily to your supplement regime and a B complex

If not effective get a red cell magnesium level done-you may need magnesium injections

[faith63 in reply to docbernie]

I don't believe most is! If it was, it wouldn't suddenly stop, without supplementing.

[Doodeet in reply to docbernie]

The potassium available in the Us would require about 15 polls for that much. They seem to think it's dangerous. I do take a high b supplement. Thank you for your help!

[imagisal]

I have Hashis. My neck, shoulder and upper back muscles used to get so tight and painful. Hot packs used to help, deep tissue massage gave temporary relief but is expensive. I had a massive improvement coming off Levo and going on T3 and then NDT. I hope you found some helpful ideas in these replies. Best wishes

[rhultra]

Endo waist of time same with GPS muscular or joint pain has nothing to do with thyroid and since my blood shows levo levels OK all other symptoms are not related so you must be needing treatment for anxiety and depression no thanks I would rather remain I'll until you doctors become educated about thyroid problems if patients keep telling you over and over about how they feel maybe it's because the treatment for it is utter rubbish lost faith in the medical world as it is here in UK

[guysgrams]

I have had those same issues for several years. At one point the pain going from shoulder to top of my head was so excruciating I didn't want to live that way. Told my husband it was far worse than giving birth and I have a high pain tolerance. I started with chiro which was really no help then started massage. Very costly but after many treatments it really did help. I continue to go to keep things good.

[Allyson1 in reply to guysgrams]

I thought I was the only one!!

It's such a huge psychological toll to never have your body relax..I actually turned to alcohol in desperation several times prediagnosis, just to get my muscles to relax. I knew my body just didn't feel normal and I missed feeling good so much. (I wouldn't recommend drink obviously, and it wrecked havoc on my b12)

[beaton]

Yes, me too. I was sent for physio and on the fourth session nearly hit the roof. She seems to find the spot deep in my shoulder (both sides) the pain traveled right down my arms into my hands. But in the long term, not much relief.

[conniemeg]

I take Vit E and calcium whenever I get muscle spasms and it has always resolved it right away. Occasionally I also take magnesium malate, calcium, and a small amount of potassium to regulate my blood pressure. That also resolves it right away. Since I only have one kidney, I don't overdo any supplements, as they can be hard on the kidney.

[conniemeg]

What is NDT?

[Eddie83 in reply to conniemeg]

NDT="Natural Dessicated Thyroid". A dried preparation of animal thyroid, sold under various brand names such as "Armour" and "Naturethroid".

[Eddie83]

Most alternative/functional medicine types emphasize that autoimmunity starts in the gut. That means stuff getting in the bloodstream that should not, and malabsorption of vitamins, minerals, proteins. I tried minerals for muscle cramps, but it did not work in my case. I noticed that my tests included Total Blood Protein, and it was below range. (Doc didn't notice this.) Supplementing with a free essential amino acid blend (9 aminos) stopped the muscle cramping, as well as providing much better sleep, without the side-effects of sleeping pills.

[Doodeet in reply to Eddie83]

Never heard of free essential amino acid blend. Is this a health food store item?

[Eddie83 in reply to Doodeet]

There are many amino acid blends available from supplement websites. I use the NOW Amino-9 Essentials, which at 7 US cents per gram isn't one of the expensive choices.

[Allyson1 in reply to Doodeet]

Interesting to hear Eddie83's experience. I had a functional md prescribe an amino acid blend specifically formulated for my deficiencies, supposedly according to blood tests. It cost about $300 from a compounding pharmacy.

I didn't take it long though because I left that doctor soon after, for various reasons. I was feeling really overloaded with supplements, had kidney pain and frequent urination. So I was wary of taking anything more. So I could not tell my experience.

Autoimmunity may start in the gut, but I'm wary of practitioners whose next question is 'which supplements will heal the gut?'

I think the FIRST question is 'what's irritating the gut in the first place?'

While seeking out the answer, it may be necessary to supplement anyway.

[Eddie83 in reply to Allyson1]

The thing that was irritating my gut was principally gluten. But even after being off gluten and some other foods for a while, my body still could not efficiently digest proteins, probably because I had gluten intolerance such a very long time and it did so much damage, plus I am now reaching that age where people don't digest protein very well anyway. So I was tickled to discover that adding amino acids to my supplement regimen, has such a positive effect.

[Chrystalheart]

This is often caused by a defiency. Check Vit d, Vit b12, potassium and salt. Altwrnatively/, try drinks ng a Gatorade they are designed to provide electrolytes. If that works, you probably have a deficiency.

[DonnyJam]

Plantar as well. I've had quite bad pain in my feet recently but I just put it down to not being used to being on my feet all day. I have wondered about my shoulder though as physio hasn't really helped.

[beechmount]

What a interesting post, I have had trouble with my neck and shoulders for about 5 years and for the last year had a headache on the right side going into my forehead and cheek which I thought was Fibro rather than my hashimoto's. I went to a physio and she said my shouders were very high and she used to tape them down? I am going to see a private Endo in Jan who also looks into fatigue, thyroid and diabetes which I also have. I have got all my information from you kind and informative people. I will post again after my appointment if I get help that could help others. Her name is Dr Annice Mukherjee she also does NHS work at Salford Royal Hospital. Best wishes to you all xx