Awful leg cramps

[Jojo1411]

Hi

I am new to this forum and was wondering if anyone else has leg cramps? I was diagnosed about 6 years ago and am on 150mg of levothyroxine. I know cramps are a symptom of hypo but mine are extremely sore and take ages to leave. Any suggestions wd b greatly appreciated.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum. Yes cramps can be common.

First I suggest you get a new blood test. It should be the earliest possible and a fasting test (you can drink water). Leave about 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards.

Tell your GP you want a Full Thyroid Function Test as you don't like the painful legs you have and that you want to make sure it is the thyroid hormones which need adjusted and not medication for the symptom.

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3, Vit B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate

If he (sometimes the lab) wont do all of them but you get them done privately from one of our recommended labs and go from there. We have to take things into our on hands as most think a TSH anywhere within the range is o.k. when it should be 1 or lower.

Get a print-out with the ranges and post for responses.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Often due to low magnesium. Many of us supplement. If you search magnesium - lots of postings.

Standard magnesium test unreliable, so not a lot of point testing. You can do privately a magnesium RBC test - supposed to be more accurate.

Low vitamin D also implicated. Have you been tested? Common for us to be low. We need it to be at good level (typically about 100 in uk range)

If GP has tested and your result right at bottom, but in range the result will be classed "normal"

Always get your actual blood test results including ranges as each lab ranges vary ( figures in brackets after the result)

Also do you know if you have autoimmune thyroid - due to high antibodies? have you had thyroid antibodies checked? There are two sorts TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) Both need checking, if either, or both are high this means autoimmune thyroid - called Hashimoto's the most common cause in UK of being hypo.

If you have Hashimoto's then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies too.

[Jojo1411 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for taking the time to answer me, u have been really informative and helpful.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

vitamindcouncil.org/tag/aut...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

[Hidden]

Hi, I agree with the good info given by shaws and SlowDragon . Just to rule this one out though are you taking statins of any kind?

[serenfach]

Good advice above - and one simple thing you can try that helped me - add a tablespoon of Epsom Salts to a bath once a week. Cheap, but it worked for me!

[sibelius]

Yes, try magnesium supplements - a lot of people are Mg deficient, and you can't really overdose on it if you stick to the label. Don't use Magnesium Oxide, though, because it doesn't absorb well - there are plenty of others and I find Magnesium Citrate works well.

I take it for atrial fibrillation, too, but I have found my general wellbeing has improved.

Also consider potassium, H&B do a 99mg one, and I find they really help. Or eat more bananas!

Good luck with this quite horrible condition.

[MariLiz]

Magnesium oil rubbed into the legs before bed works well.