Whiplash causing Hypothyroid and Adrenal Fatigue

[SA375]

I am curious to know if anyone has developed thyroid or adrenal issues following a car accident. I walked away from 2 shunts at 70mph with whiplash. I have seen chiropractor physio acupuncturist and kinesiologist to heal rather than pain meds. I have low cortisol levels - adrenal fatigue and have 80% of the symptoms of hypothyroid not yet formally diagnosed. This is a nightmare going through getting to the bottom of symptoms. Somedays I really dark. I am hoping there are some veterans out there that can advise.

[lynmynott Partner Thyroid UK]

Dr Peatfield always used to say that whiplash caused hypothyroidism.

Here is some research:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/129...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/262...

To me, it seems common sense that if your head is thrown back forcibly, something is going to happen to your thyroid.

[humanbean]

As well as the thyroid getting damaged by whiplash, the pituitary and/or hypothalamus can be damaged as a result of accidental injuries of all sorts.

Depending on what damage is done, and to which organ, it is possible to develop primary hypothyroidism (from thyroid damage), secondary hypothyroidism (pituitary damage) and tertiary hypothyroidism (hypothalamus damage). Secondary and tertiary hypothyroidism are collectively known as central hypothyroidism.

If you google "hypothyroidism and whiplash" you'll find loads of articles on the subject.

[DippyDame]

Me too....very similar incidents but about 40 years ago resulting in whiplash injuries. One orthopaedic comedien told me back then that there was no such thing as whiplash!

Diagnosed with fibro and CFS, back pain, fatigue.... all the usual suspects

Treatment with chiro, physio, acupuncture, dry needling . I could go on!

I kept going for years pretending I was coping through work, married life childbirth misc. illnesses and on into retirement with my supportive husband all along the way.

Some dark days but always convinced there was light at the end of that long tunnel.

Repeatedly told GPS that I was convinced my metabolism was compromised....blank looks!

Eventually persuaded one to test my thyroid function...result, hypothyroidism!

GP's response....just a little white pill every day and you will be well. Not always so!

Tested over years....results...."normal"

So onward to about 2 years ago when I was no longer coping...more tests...."normal"

Refusing to be written of as a worn out specimen aged 70 I turned to the internet (wish it had been with us many years ago!) and started to study hypo ....until I found this forum.

Loads of info and valuable advice and support.

I asked many questions...some very ill informed ones at first, but nobody judged me on that count and I continued to learn. That alone gave me confidence to keep going.

I had all the blood tests advised here and discovered that I had various mineral and vitamin deficiencies which I'm now addressing.

I have had thyroid function tests (some private) which have been analysed by the well informed people here and followed advice here.

I have discovered that I am not converting inactive thyroid hormones to the active type

I have learned about this and about how to start treating this problem

I have learned that despite the miracles that NHS staff can perform when it comes to thyroid treatment there is a massive black gaping hole!

I have also learned that there is no quick fix and that patience and determination are key

Hopefully, though I am still struggling, I am now very slowly turning things round...at least to the extent that I will be a reasonably well functioning old girl!!

I'm maybe just one of the veterans you are looking for, I guess others will pop up in due course.

I apologise if this rather scrappy, hastily written rant is not the response you hoped for but I can only advise that you stick with the folks here, listen to your own body and progress as you learn the results of the questions you ask on here.

Don't sit back and suffer....l'm convinced there is a whiplash/thyroid connection. I'm not in a position to advise on treatment...I'm just an advocate!

Rant over!!

All the very best

DD

[CS1964 in reply to DippyDame]

Hi DippyDame....I saw this post and went Wow!...in1993 I drove my car at speed down a 20 foot embankment ( I hastily add it was an unfortunate accident) I suffered whiplash from which an MRI scan showed significant nerve damage. I spent the next 2 years in agony then had a crystal healing over a period of 3 months and my pain was gone, but reoccurred often. I did Raiki 1 and 2 and use this often for pain. Fast forward to May 2017. where years of blaming menopause (I’m 54yrs old) depression with suicidal thoughts every day...I finally plucked up the courage to visit G.P. I told her I was depressed...she listened and said that she would take bloods....she knew that I saw gynae every 3 months for lichen sclerosis ( auto immune condition).I also have allergies..perennial rhinitis and asthma...my bloods returned a verdict of being hypothyroid.... me not knowing too much about it..she said it was auto immune... and put me on standard dose of levo 50mc.....4 weeks later...upped to 75mc..... 4 weeks later upped to 100mc.....I wasn’t feeling better I told her I was choking daily on my food and water...and sometimes on my own saliva.... she reviewed my asthma meds... and sent me for an endoscopy...this revealed I had Ceoliacs disease. On a gluten free diet... the Speech and language nurse said that stress was causing me to choke, that and thyroid gland....I was struck when I saw your link to whiplash...as I thought my pins and needles In my fingers, palms and wrist were down to that accident 25 yrs ago and I just lived with it. This forum and Ceoliac Uk site are heavenly sent.. I know now I I have peripheral neuropathy...again auto immune....and linked to hypothyroidism... the gluten free diet is helping and I remain on levo....However i have severe brain fog that is debilitating as well as mortifying as my job means I have to speak legibly in front of hundreds of staff ...when in fact I stumble over my words...and forget my train of thought....I have a slur in speech...and I see people looking at me like I’m drunk......so now I’m thinking if only I had known that the car crash had been the catalyst for a whole host of autoimmune conditions I wouldn’t have believed it.......

[SA375 in reply to CS1964]

Thanks for your reply. I was 45yrs old with bad peri menopause symptoms and had just started bio identical hrt. I was being tested for ectopic heart beat and then had a car accident that thankfully I walked away from. Since then I have had inexplicable symptoms.

Unfortunately my solicitor isnt convinced by my suspicions but was happy to send me for psychotherapy. Knowing a little bit about mental health I wasnt prepared to be written off as my symptoms are not solely depression. The psychotherapist wanted me to see psychiatrist for strong medication. No thanks I will wait for endocrinology results before I write off my mental health!

I now have low cortisol levels a year after the accident and it has been a decline since the accident. Losing 2 jobs in the process due to my performance.

[CS1964 in reply to SA375]

It’s awful when I thought I was going insane for so many years...I never thought about the crash at all.... but with many symptoms and the bush fire of increasing autoimmune conditions, I know where to get support..this forum is excellent...thanks for sharing SA375....I’ve learned loads from you today

[DippyDame in reply to CS1964]

Hope you are improving...you certainly have had a rough time.

As the saying goes, "Hindsight is a great thing"! With that, the world would be in a different state!

In the end we have to take responsibility for our own health...it can be hard but sometimes it's the only way forward.

Have you had all the blood tests recommended by the good folks here....it may be that your thyroid condition remains undermedicated.

Good luck

Best...

DD

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Essential to test thyroid antibodies, FT3 and FT4 plus vitamins

Private tests are available. NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's

Whiplash links

wellnessresources.com/news/...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/c...

stjohn-clarkptc.com/conditi...

[SA375]

Wow I am quite overwelmed at the response to my post. Thanks guys! You all seem to say that NHS support leaves you wanting. With no energy and a brain that wont work. How do you find the answers? I have an endocrinology appt 4th April and hope to find out more but instead of feeling hopeful I feel nervous that I am almost going into battle because I really want a diagnosis but I dont want synthetic drugs. I have lost my job and penniless and cannot take the preferred holistic route. I eat and live like a monk. It is so frustrating and to those who have suffered for many years I can only applaude you.Really appreciate all your responses.

[Poppy_the_cat]

Apologies, this may be a bit long...

At age 26 I suffered a serious horse riding accident. I was not happy with the condition of the horse but was assured there was not a problem; whilst out the horse just went berserk and I was thrown at a gallop narrowly missing a barbed wire fence. Later when the horse was found it was bleeding from its anus! I fell plumb centre on my head, so essentially my head and neck compressed into my thorax, with a slight twist to the right.

To say I saw stars was in understatement. I was with a friend who saw to it that I got home. The riding stable ignored me and fobbed us off! At that time do much was going on in my life with a parental divorce spanning continents, that I hid from my mother for about two or three days. I definitely had concussion but I do not want to worry people any further.

Clearly the riding school were at fault start to finish. I was innocent at 26 and was just thrilled not to have sustained spinal injury, so I kept quiet.

In retrospect considering all the things that could have gone wrong, post fall even, I consider I have a charmed life!!

Some weeks later I went to the doctor and was sent for physio. I was given traction!&£#@ Oh dear, the pain was off the scale. I was forced to endure it for several sessions, being told it was good for me, but after 4 I just refused any more torture visits!!!

It turns out I damaged the Atlas and the Axis vertebrae. No surprises there.

My parents very nasty and very cruel divorce took just over 10 years to resolve, with court appearances in four different countries. The level of stress my brother, my dear mother and I endured was criminal. On several occasions emotional cruelty was sited. To cut a long story short, the combination of incredible stress (including nursing my mother for a second round of ovarian cancer; her survival was a great disappointment to my father)...And the results of the horse riding accident was when, now in retrospect, I consider it all started to go wrong.

Still under intolerable stress, I then at 36, ten years later, had a car accident. I skidded on ice, narrowly missing a tree and over turned the car. Totally in a state of shock and confusion, my immediate response was to check that all my limbs were intact and everything else was working... I needed to get out, so I made the mistake of releasing the seatbelt and of course fell into my head! How stupid, I know.

Then things really, really started to go wrong. The American Corporation where I worked did not think much of it and because I appeared 'whole' expected me back to work the next day!

Within a very short space of time I became very ill. So much pain everywhere, but my head and neck and shoulder socket were on fire! First they said I had RSI....Then the neon lighting started to cause me problems...I would have to wear fun glasses at my desk. Then I started to feel that all the test file servers for beta testing and all the computers around my desk were somehow making me feel even more unwell... Eventually I could not hold and empty handbag as it would provoke such crippling pain in my head and neck; at times I felt death would be a preferable option! Morphine did nothing whatsoever!

Then I developed Epstein Barr and spent an entire summer, every day, on a sun-lounger in the garden covered up with blankets and I was do cold, and being read to by my dear mother.

I was eventually given a diagnosis of this mysterious illness Fibromyalgia. I felt relieved that I was not going mad! But equally disappointed as so little is understood about it. Being told to "pace myself" bring me out in a rash of pure rage!!! I don't know the meaning of the words! What rubbish. That approach keeps us sick. It is pure submission and not action!

I have learned a great deal over the years. And my thoughts and firsthand understanding of Fibromyalgia does not go well with the Medical establishment... But that is another post.

Years of struggling in the wilderness with fibromyalgia followed. I have experienced contempt, disbelief, accusations of being a malingerer I'm not so many words by the husband of one of my close friends, who of course works in the field of Insurance. He world of Insurance denies the existence of fibromyalgia and insists it in 'our heads!!!'.

Then... 8 years ago for Mother's Day, I was a passenger in a 5 car pile up.

That was the final straw.

The car that caused the impact was an automatic that had been borrowed for the day by a driver that had no experience of driving an automatic car.

We were following this car, on a straight road, perfect visibility, within the 40mph speed limit.

Suddenly the car just stopped. There were no brake lights and it just virtually nailed itself down!!

Clearly the driver either absentmindedly pushed the stick shift/gear stick and either went into neutral or park!!

There were never any brake lights.

After impact the drivers wife admitted her husband had borrowed the car from the company car pool and he had no experience of driving an automatic. The police were never able to establish anything; when tested in a garage there were no problems with the brake lights, the police could not figure it out; I don't think anybody tried hard enough because I know what happened to me!

It was a slow shunt the lawyer explained and as such the airbags do not deploy...and the seatbelt did not retain me, instead I was thrust forward into the seatbelt, to its maximum extension, which felt like I was snapped in two by cheese wire. And then of course there was the whiplash impact from the van behind us.

The pain was instant.

I cracked my sternum. I could hardly breathe. I tumbled out onto the grass verge. Within the other four vehicles there happened to be a doctor present who was wonderful. I went into an uncontrollable shake with the shock which was agony as I could hardly breathe for pain.

My recovery was very arduous and took almost 6 months. Everybody was surprised that it took me as long and that I had so much pain.

I would also like to mention that for being 5'2" the WV seatbelt design is not at all suited to a petite stature. The seatbelt strap can potentially catch you across the throat, where the thyroid is! I have no doubt that this impact caught my thyroid.

After 6 months I ballooned from a size 10 to a size 18. Only because a friend who had had a similar car crash / sternum injury urged me to ask, did I request a Thyroid blood test from my GP. The results came back as borderline, but her offered me a trial of Levothyroxine.

He also said maybe I should go on a diet!!!!!

The week after my being diagnosed, after having endured so much stress as well as my being unable to work had impacted the whole family business..my dear mother had a heart attack!

Thankfully she survived. She had a stent operation which saved her.

I pursued an insurance claim for the car accident, much to my partner's chagrin- he did not understand that I was not blaming him, but that it was an insurance company to insurance company debate... That took it toll on me.

I knew that the accident had caused me problems. I did my research. Many we enlightened folk pronounce their belief that whiplash, seatbelt injury sustained in car accidents contributes to endocrine issues... But we are up again the ghastly Insurance companies again. They deny it...here in the UK at least. Maybe in recent years there might have been a shift? At the time I found that I'm America there was supportive, accepted evidence that this is in fact the case, but my English lawyer said that we could not fight it on these grounds as the opposition would not accept it. So I was unable to prove in court that the accident had provoked my endocrine issues.

I most definitely have Adrenal fatigue and have to treat myself for it.

However, forget the labels we get awarded, be if Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto's or whatever. We are very complex organisms! We are also incredibly accommodating! By that I mean that the body continually compensates. For example, back to the Car!.... If your window does not work properly, you can still drive the car. If the wipers don't work...as long as it's not raining, you can still drive it...if one of the fuses goes on the brake lights, you can still drive it! We are the same.

We limp along, we compensate. The body keeps on going... But it all adds up. There are other issues that may seem unrelated but they are the hidden clues. Once these apparently unobtrusive incidents reach a critical mass...then we grind to a halt.

Given the huge stress I have had to endure..and continue to do so...the physical injuries, the illnesses such as Epstein Barr, Scarlet Fever, Mumps twice! The large amounts of Antibiotics I have had to take, causing gut biome suicide, the tonsils I had out as a child, the ruptured appendix I suffered 13 years ago, which totals a considerable loss of lymph tissue...all this equally a compromised gut biome and autoimmune issues culminating in endless food intolerances, a gut that does not absorb nutrients and vitamins adequately...and here I am! As we all are.

It's a huge, multi faceted issue and neither can the medical profession comes to grips with it, or the Insurance companies. Both would lose out financially! The Medical mindset wants us to remain ill so we can be medicated as nauseam, literally and the Insurance companies don't want to admit liability!

The irony is if things were thought out differently, if instead of treating symptoms and keeping us ill and over medicated, we had proper insight into the root causes and were treated accordingly, our NHS would be in profit. We would live better, healthier and more productive lives and need less insurance!! Oh dear... This has stayed somewhat from car accidents, seatbelts and compromised endocrine consequences!

As Chris Kresser says we need to become "our own citizen doctors" which I think is an excellent way of saying we need to learn and reasesrch as much as we can.

I personally am focusing my efforts on healing the gut biome, which in turn will benefit nutritional and vitamin uptake, as well as calming down my Autoimmune response by eating accordingly, in other words avoiding aggressors like wheat, gluten cow dairy and soya to name but a few. I also take bovine thyroid extract and bovine Adrenal support extract.

We're it not for my recent attempt last month to try unpasteurised cow dairy which set me back considerably, I would be feeling better than I am at present.

Nutrition is everything. I believe it is one of the paths to healing from this miasma of accumulated symptoms that is Adrenal fatigue, Fibromyalgia and Hashimoto's all combined!

Phew! X

Poppy the 🐈

[Mamapea1 in reply to Poppy_the_cat]

Just seen this Poppy ~ OMG! (((Hugs))). 🌺🌻🌹🌷🌸🐾 xx

[Poppy_the_cat in reply to Mamapea1]

You are a treasure! Thank you.

Poppy XXX

[Tasker in reply to Poppy_the_cat]

Hi Poppy, I've been away from the forum for a few days so only just saw this - what a lot you've had to deal with - bless you. My own history doesn't remotely compare, but I have had a couple of falls off my horse where my head has taken a bad knock (even with a hat on) so I'm adding those to my list of "various things that have helped to mess up my system"!

Have recently shared your kefir recipe and given grains to my sister in the hope it will help her IBS.

And having seen your other post, will add Red Chicory to my shopping list and also keep a banana by my bed! Am considering an adrenal extract supplement for low cortisol but for now trying an adrenal cocktail twice a day which seems to be having some effect.

Take care,

Tasker, and Jemma the 🐈

[Poppy_the_cat in reply to Tasker]

Good to hear from you and your lovely 🐈!

And glad to know you are starting the blessed grains. They are a Godsend. IBS responds very very positively to Probiotics...and of course the Prebiotics to help them out.

I can happily munch my way through several chicory 'Big Buds' as I call them! Since eating them this week it has seriously helped me recover from a triple bout of 'gluten poisoning'...

I guess it's all about perseverance, keeping an open I mind and being him humble enough to learn about all the pieces that go to make up this shape-shifting puzzle!

Take Care,

Poppy the 🐈 and Me..meow!

[SA375]

Poppy you sound like you really have gone through the mill. I really did just walk away from my accident with minor aches and pains and whiplash. I have had 3 previous accidents tho. What is strange for me are the symptoms that followed that accident. I seem to have steadily gone down hill since the accident. My thyroid or adrenal have never been scanned since the accident, so I wont ever know. I agree that Nutrition is the way to go- regardless if you are well or not. I only have low cortisol; high LDL; diagnosed. I have yet to get to the bottom of thyroid. Quite frankly the low cortisol is bad enough and some days would like to throw the towel in as my life force is just not there. I have been supplementing and eating clean for a year but seem to be getting worse. If I could gain an ounce of energy I could go to work.

Thank you for your response.

[Poppy_the_cat in reply to SA375]

Golly, I missed your reply from 9 days ago... Apologies.

Cortisol issues disrupt our sleep. No sleep or poor sleep=even less energy. I sympathise the totally.

But there are things you can try.

1/ Eating clean as you put it is a very good start. Zero gluten, wheat, cow dairy and soya is a good start

2/ Probiotic Kefir- like my coconut water based kefir ( ask me if you need instructions and kefir grains to get started)

3/ Follow up Probiotics with Prebiotics that are the so called 'manure to feed the Probiotics' in the gut. Inulin is an excellent source of fibre as a Prebiotic. Inulin powder is available... But seeing as I personally am so reactive to pretty much anything I ingest, I am opting for a more natural 'route'; no pun intended, so I am eating 2 Red Chicory per day; Chicory has one of the highest natural sources of inulin. I have found I am feeling better after the first 24hrs of eating my Red Chicory!

Prebiotics also help us sleep better.

So that has to be good!

And finally keep a banana by your bedside, so when you wake at around 3am...eat the banana and it will help your blood sugar and help you get back to sleep.

Have a go with these suggestions and keep a diary and stay in touch. It's a learning curve and we can all help each other.

Take Care

Poppy😉

[lissfromoz]

Hi

Yes is the answer

I was hit head on and the airbag didnt deploy...burst lungs whiplash blah blah

2 months after accident I was putting on a kilo every week, my all life weight of 54 kilo eventually arose to 70 kilo..the doctor at first said stop eating...but knowing I couldnt move an inch without extreme pain for 4 mths I ate like a bird..she eventually tested and oh my goodness your thyroid isnt working...they just let it come back to normal naturally which I have to say was a little scary...it returned to normal then pivoted the other direction to the point I could literally see my heart pumping....another very scary situation..you dont sleep at all in that state..they gave me thyroxine whuch bought it back to normal and so weight returned to normal.Then low and behold it went the other hypo way again..stir crazy is the word...it did come back to slightly under my normal..hypo..stayed 10 kilos over weight...although interestingly enough this latest weight stay on was due to long time stress levels and cortisol going berzerk

The insurance mob are not admitting this happened because of the accident as its too hard to prove.

I had a medico legal look at the case and he concluded it had nothing to do with whiplash or the car crash....so there you go..proves there is no justice in this world

all this thyroid disruption took over 3 yrs with endless blood tests...exhausting

2015 crash...2020 court case still pending....