Headache and stiffness after physical stress - Thyroid UK

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Headache and stiffness after physical stress

Justiina profile image
14 Replies

I've been battling with this pretty much a decade or more. It's always the same, if I over do anything I dont only get tired but headache with full body stiffness.

I know muscle issues can be down to thyroid (in my case it seems to be poor conversion) I am getting my lactic acids and pyruvate level tested to be sure it isn't something else.

For over a decade I have had tensed, stiff muscles and never felt good/normal during this time. My muscles also just feel empty , no energy stored.

I am just wondering if anyone experienced this and did T3 help with it? Is there any hope?

I am on iron, B12/B6 D3/K2 and amino acids. Those all help otherwise but the muscle emptiness, stiffness and headaches just stick like bubble gum on your hair.

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Justiina profile image
Justiina
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14 Replies
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I would get a Free T4 and Free T3 blood test and I will give you a link and read why we need these two in particular.

When we exercise and are not on an optimum dose we reduce T3 in our body. T3 is the only Active Thyroid Hormone and is depleted if we're not optimum and exercise.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

We have millions if not billions of T3 receptor cells in our body and every one need T3. T4 is inactive and has to convert to T3 so sometimes aren't on a sufficient dose of T4 and many doctors don't increase if it is 'in range'.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Mamapea1 profile image
Mamapea1

Hi Justiina ~ I had daily headaches and migraines about twice a week for years. I still get the odd one, and I've still got loads of other fibro symptoms, because I haven't started taking T3 yet, but I think taking magnesium has really helped the headaches. It could be one of the other supplements, B12, etc., but you say you take that already. Also, it could be that the magnesium cured my lifelong constipation, and that in turn helped the headaches. Still, I think it's worth a try if you're not taking it. Magnesium oil is also good for rubbing into muscles, I use both, and flakes in the bath! 😊. xx

Justiina profile image
Justiina in reply to Mamapea1

Yeah I have magnesium oil and I love love love it :D it does help to a certain point, like B12, had different aches before B12.

KT77 profile image
KT77

I had the muscle stiffness. Awful. Half an hour of brisk walk or a short workout and shortly after the pain came and I spent the whole day trying to recover from that. By the time the evening came I could barely walk upstairs and still felt it in the morning after getting up. It all went away on NDT.

Trifida profile image
Trifida in reply to KT77

What’s NDT ?

KT77 profile image
KT77 in reply to Trifida

NDT - thyroid medication

Justiina profile image
Justiina in reply to KT77

Sounds familiar! No matter how much I try to warm up or relax my muscles before walking with dog I always end up being stiff. It doesn't help that over here in Finland winter is cold so that worsen it and with the dog you can't choose, must walk no matter how cold it is.

Good to hear NDT helped!

KT77 profile image
KT77 in reply to Justiina

For me the weather made no difference. Hot or cold, winter or summer I was crippled regardless. Vitamin D helped and for about 2 weeks the stiffness disappeared but came back again. I love winter and cold and snow and would love to be in Finland now : ) Good luck with finding the solution.

Justiina profile image
Justiina in reply to KT77

Thanks :) I do love winter too but for me coldness worsen the stiffness especially when it can be -20 or more for long periods. -35 is awful :D but I do have sensitivity or more my joints are sensitive to cold because of yersinia enterocolitica that went to my joints. No damage done but sensitivity after inflammation.

Justiina profile image
Justiina

Good to hear, if all other muscle diseases are ruled out for me there is hope that fixing conversion issue could finally bring relief to this awful stiffness!

I had a thyroidectomy 14 months ago and I've been riddled with pain in my tendons in different parts of my body ever since. The pain mainly has taken residence up in my feet but after 14 months my feet cleared up a lot and now It has move to my Right hip and knee, horrible pain. I've seen (3) Endos, (2) Rheumy (1) Neurologist over these 14 months and recieved no relief and inspite of being on T3 and Synthroid for several month I'm still in pain.

Im starting to believe that this is as good as it's going to be I'm 47 yrs old and I walk around like I'm 77 yrs old....just awful and totally cruel.

Hillwoman profile image
Hillwoman

Yes, I found T3 helped with these and other symptoms, but I need a high dose due to peripheral resistance to TH, so my case may well not be directly comparable to yours.

Justiina profile image
Justiina in reply to Hillwoman

Yeah I know it's not 1:1 with everyone, I was just generally curious how many had these symptoms and how many got help from T3. I am getting tested for other stuff just be sure but it sounds like these type of symptoms are very characteristic to low t3.

Hillwoman profile image
Hillwoman in reply to Justiina

Yes, I would say so.

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