I have been taking thyroxine for nearly 40 years. I have arthritis in my lower back, upper back etc.

[Harper]

Do you think this is related to my thyroid condition of just age related. Thank you.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Harper

I have been taking Levo for 43 years and I don't have arthritis except for some "wear and tear" arthritis in 3 fingers currently.

I think it's one of those things where some of us will develop it and some of us wont, some more seriously than others. There is probably a lot more to it than just whether Levo is anything to do with it. Many people who don't take Levo develop arthritis.

[xdianex]

Hi Harper, I suffer with back and joint pain and I’m only 45, hypothyroidism is known to affect joints and muscles so it could well have been a tribute to your arthritis. Back pain is the worst 🙁

[greygoose]

You could be under-medicated. Do you have copies of your latest blood test results? If so, post them here, with the ranges, and let's have a look.

Lower back pain can be a hypo symptom.

[Marz]

As with any condition ending in 'itis' - it means inflammation - appendicitis - arthritis - and so on. I have it in my back and hips. Which supplements do you take ? Maybe look at an anti-inflammatory diet - cutting out gluten - possibly dairy and nightshades - just for a month and see if it helps - then re-introduce things one at a time ! You may discover what causes issues. I know it is tough trying to be well .... but we have to do what we can to help ourselves !

Do you have any gut problems ? Are you on any other medication in addition to your T4 ?

[shaws Administrator]

I think, after 40 years of being diagnosed and probably on levothyroxine(?) I think you warrant a brand new Full Thyroid Function Test plus vitamins/minerals.

All blood tests have to be at the earliest possible - dont eat before it as it can interfere with the results.

(you can drink water) and allow a 24 hour gap between last dose of hormones and the test and take afterwards. This helps to keep the TSH at its highest as that's all doctors seem to look at. Request:-

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

GP should test Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

Get a print-out from the surgery of the results with the ranges and put them on a new post.

Deficiencies can cause pain. I shall also give a list of clinical symptoms:-

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

If NHS lab wont do all of thyroid tests, even if GP asks you can get them privately. We have two private labs:-

Blue horizon and Medichecks who do home pin-prick tests so make sure you are well-hydrated a couple of days before drawing blood. Medichecks have a special offer of some sort every Thursday.

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

[Harper in reply to shaws]

Thank you shaws. I did ask for a blood test. It was taken October 2018. I do take iCal with vitamin D.

I do have high cholesterol. I can’t take statins.

My thyroid function test results:

Serum TSH level . 2.03 mu/L

Serum free T4 level 16.7 pmol/L

They did a full range of tests but only these for thyroid.

I do have arthritis in lower back and hands and upper back.

Tend to have regular but loose stools.

Often don’t feel well.

I’m nearly 67 so maybe age has something to do with it.

Thanks for your help. Really appreciated.

Harper

[shaws Administrator]

Your TSH is too high - the aim is 1 or lower. When you state your results, because labs differ, it is necessary to also put the ranges which enables members to respond more accurately,

A higher cholesterol is a clinical symptoms so I'd ask GP (or you might have to do so through a private lab) to test your FT4 and FT3. and thyroid antibodies. He may not have tested antibodies before and if they are present in your blood it would mean you have a condition called Hashimoto's (or Autoimmune Thyroid Disease) which is the commonest form of hypo). These three are very important and rarely tested in the NHS.

You need an increase in dose. Many doctors seem to think that if we're on a dose which reduces the TSH, they stop increasing. The fact is that levothyroxine (T4) is an inactive hormone - it has to convert to T3. We need T3 in the millions of T3 receptor cells (I doubt GPs or many endocrinologists are aware of this fact. Our brain and heart need the most T3. They also assume if our TSH is very low that we've become hypERthyroid but this isn't the case. You have to follow the advice below:-

All blood tests have to be at the very earliest (TSH is highest then and drops throughout the day). You also have to have a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards. Your GP should also test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Everything has to be optimal.

When we're on an optimal dose, (i.e. one that relieves all of our clinical symptoms) we should have no symptoms and feel well.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

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

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

If your T3 is low then your doctor has to increase your dose of levo. If you're not a good converter of T4 to T3, you may need a combination dose, i.e. T4/T3.