HI Everyone
Anyone know if Calcific Tendonitis is related to being hypothyroid? I had thyroidectomy 19 months ago and I've had this Calcific Tendonitis in one Achilles and now I have in my other and with every medication (Synthyroid) it seems to get a little worse.
I see Endo tomorrow and I'm certain this will end with me banging my head on the wall as they keep telling me my numbers are PERFECT and thyroidectomy has nothing to do with anything.
In a way it could be. I was told when taking T3 over a long time, it can lead to thinning of the bones, so I took a good calcium supplement each day (for years).
When I got Tendonitis in my shoulder, it was suggested that it was probably Calcific, so I stopped the calcium supplements. I also continued taking cider vinegar each day (said to dissolve the calcium), and took a good quality Turmeric (to reduce inflammation) . I also did the exercises given to me by a local nurse. Over nearly a year, this has improved things for me by around 90%.
A doctor has since told me that there is no link between thyroid meds and thinning of the bones. It is difficult to know who to believe.
Believe the latter practitioner
I believe it can be related. I had Achilles tendinitis (physio said it could be caused by calcium deposits) resulting in a decompression of the tendon. I had early symptoms of hypothyroididm (at this juncture) that remained undiagnosed for decades and understand tendinitis can be an early sign of the disorder. I later had a frozen shoulder that improved with specific exercises from a physio and lots of swimmingz. A hypo sister also had a frozen shoulder I think these problems are most certainly related to our hypothyroid state. It is known that Músculo skeletal disorders are more prevalent in those with hypothyrodism
Magnesium spray, Epsom salt baths and foot baths will help the pain and cramps. Ultimately think electrolyte imbalance as calcium balances magnesium. Calcium and magnesium are in a 1:1 ratio.
To get calcium back into the bones we need Vit D3, Vit K2 and magnesium. So if any of these is out of sync the other minerals build up.
Dark green leafy vegetables are a source for magnesium and Vit K2 (folate) but we need correct stomach acid (perhaps check for H Pylori and Vit B 12) and absorption ( perhaps check for SIBO).
I posted an article yesterday on "14 strategies to beat SIBO naturally" by Dr Jockers.
Hypothyroidism continues undetected if only taking T4 medication as we may not be able to covert to T3 the active hormone. This conversion may be blocked by a genetic polymorphism in the DIO 2 Enzyme along with an underlying infection. The Invivo GI map test identifies those pathogens.
Ask for T3 and reverse T3 to be tested this will baseline where you are currently and give proof to your Endo that there is an underlying blockage.
Excess unconverted T4 goes directly to reverse T3 thereby blocking the active hormone.
Hi Mournadventurer
I'm currently on 88mcg synthyroid and 15mcg Cytomel and I take calcium and magnesium supplements together although my recent calcium test said that my calcium was in limits my result was (39) and 30 was the lowest number on lab values I think I'm too low which is not uncommon for someone with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis. You said stomach issues, I have IBS-C and Gerd and take stomach pills amongst other meds...but I dont start taking my other pill until 5 hours YUP 5 hours after I take my synthyroid and 15mcg Cytomel I'm a crazy spread out my meds person. I have used magnesium spray and lotion not very helpful and alot of that could be my skin condition which is under control with the use of biologics (Stelara). Im currently in physical therapy and have been for 7 weeks with having only one leg plagued with Achilles tendonitis and over the past 7 weeks I developed it in my other leg.
I never had this tendonitis issue until I lost my thyroid...I regrett that surgery everyday and I wish I would have know that my medical team was going to abandon me once my thyroid levels were this mystical perfect number... Im 48 years old walking with a cane and prior to thyroid removal I was very athletic and thin now Im fat because I've been in so much pain that moving is pure torture...it's disgusting.
Endo appt. this morning I'm going to request switching to armour or upping my 88mcg to 100mcg Im sure neither will happen I lost my will to fight these morons.
Sorry so long.
Sorry you sound in a poor way. If you take Proton-Pump inhibitors (PPI) for Gerd you are probably deficient in B12 too. Being low in B12 can make you very poorly too. Definitely something to check on.
Good luck with appointment.
I take quinine for cramps and have found magnesium malate effective too. VitD3 increases them perhaps if I added k2 and magnesium it might help. I get it in my legs at night a lot - especially if I cycle the day before..which I do most days 🙄
What a horrendous journey you’ve had. No need to apologise we’re all experiencing something similar.
My only further suggestion is find a Functional practitioner in the USA to do the tests I mentioned above and in my profile as you need to find out what’s driving the process. Traditional doctors take a different approach which lets the underlying issue continue unchallenged with a weakened immune system.
Best Wishes.
I am so sorry for your pain and suffering with this horrible condition. I did find when my dose of thyoxine was too low even though they said I was in range I had terrible tendinitis in elbows, and in feet Plantar fastitis could hardly walk and other awful pain in pelvis so much so that I ended up having a hysterectomy and even that didn't cure the pain! Just needed to increase meds significantly to bring TSH down.
Also bear in mind when you speak to endo that Parathyroid gland do control the calcium levels and have they been checked to make sure they were not damaged in removal of the thyroid. I am not an expert I am only saying from my experience and hope it helps you to get to the root of the cause . I hope you will soon find relief.
Yes plantar fasciitis hell on Earth! Good point about parathyroids it nearly did for my sister she became very unwell as they never gave her calcium but they went with her thyroid (cancerous and growing below the breast bone - it had to go)
Hi, I had Calcific Tendonitis in my shoulder some time ago, this was about the same time I was diagnosed with thyroid deficiency, I have never been told there s a connection between the two problems, the tendonitis problem was put down to being a result of a fall I had while on crutches for a broken ankle. Despite months of physio I ended up having surgery to remove the calcium deposits, and have never had any problem with that shoulder since. But I have developed restricted movement in my other shoulder after another fall last year on the stairs. X-rays show no calcium deposits, and I am waiting for a ultra sound scan of the joint. I am sure that I was once told by a pharmacist (years ago)not to take calcium supplements if I am on Levothyroxine as calcium interferes with the absorption of the thyroxine.
I was diagnosed as hypo two years ago and am taking levothyroxine 125mg. Last November I walked a lot round London O2 for two days - total >18Km. This developed tendonitis in both achilles. 9 months on it is better but taking a long time to heal. I have laser treatment and massage from my osteopath, icing it helps and also the exercises. Have a look at this youtube video youtube.com/watch?v=qqAlt1k...
They demonstrate the exercises and also a new one for me and my osteopath - massaging the tendon across instead of up and down. I only tried it last night and it has made an improvement already - not so stiff.
BTW I have had tendonitis in different joints long before I developed hypothyroidism. Exercise, although painful, always helps.
Achilles tendinitis is an early warning sign of hypothyroidism it may even be the first hypothyroid symptom. Without positive antibody tests how can we know when our hypothyroidism started? Seems to me the medics know very little about its development and sound research is sorely lacking. Are you sure you are on optimal thyroid hormone treatment? It ought to resolve if you are. I am sure mine was related to my hypothyrodism and some research appears to back that up. There is another paper of relevance but I can’t find it on internet search which basically says tendon and muscle disorders are more common with hypothyroidism and any such problem should be suspected as being related.to the condition.
Gosh I didn't realise there was a link! But not everyone who has Achilles tendonitis has hypothyoidism. My tendonitis was a result of overuse. I know many people eg athletes who have it and friends who have had frozen shoulders and none have hypothyoidism. I will have a word with my GP when I see him next as he is on the ball but has his hands tied thanks to NICE!
I have a double whammy I have Hypothyroidism and Psoriatic Arthritis and both can lead to insertional tendonitis.
That is a bad double to cop for 😬 but I hope you can manage to keep the effects to a minimum
I didn’t mean to say all cases of it are due to hypothyroidism but the overuse that lead athletes to get it is way and above what a normal person does - are you sure that is what lead to yours? Are you also certain that none of your friends with frozen shoulder do not have hypothyroidism when there is such a problem with trained medical professionals diagnosing it correctly here and the system in the UK for diagnosis is totally out of step with the rest of the world - hypothyroid in Germany or USA but not in the UK it is missing a lot of suffering that could be easily resolved. I cannot see how with any surity you can determine what is or is not the cause of all those frozen shoulders. Anyway I digress...I’d just be aware that it may well be related to your hypothyroidism and the relationship is so complex it has yet to be unravelled so any doctor refuting it should be challenged to produce the evidence to prove it. They can’t because there is none. Not sure what you might do to help alleviate it on the thyroid front. Check all your numbers and ensure they are optimal and if there is room for improvement a dose increase is worth a try and see if it helps. Not sure if vits and minerals are significant which can be out if meds are also out. It is a very painful condition so I do hope you get more relief - osteopaths are fantastic in my experience 😎
Many thanks for the info. My achilles tendonitis was defintiely from overuse as I don't usually walk that far over two days. I have arthritis in my left knee plus arthritis in a lot of other places now and at the time I had back problems so my walking those two days was far from simple. I broke my left leg badly 30 years ago which could be causing the problems and was told to expect problems with that foot and/or knee later on in life as a result. The left foot also has bursitis and pain under the heel so if it carries on much longer will ask for an xray to see if there are calcium deposits. Reading about calcium deposits I realise that the problem is far from simple and research is badly lacking 
The people I've known with frozen shoulders etc didn't have thyroid problems and still don't have any fatigue issues. My osteopath who is young and very well informed is excellent and will talk to her about it next week. I'm on 125 mg levo and last time I was checked my TSH level was approaching zero. I also feel so much better in the summer and have carried on taking Vit D throughout although must be making plenty in this weather!
Interesting re the arthritis I started with it at 23 mine is osteo not rheumatoid again I have read it can also be an early sign of hypothyroidism. I have a genetic predisposition to osteoarthritis and Graves’ disease but mine is hypothyroidism for sure. My back problems did well under care of osteopath. I have developed a bakers cyst in the right knee which is a menace - not a lot of fun for squatting or kneeling . No idea if it is also related to hypo there seems to be no study’s relating the two bar in vague terms like you are more prone to get bone muscle ligament tendon disorders. It was very painful when it was small but they advised against a op now it is bigger it does not cause me as much bother. They can be helpful to knee arthritis and often come back if operated on so probably a lucky escape. I think once the Achilles is infjsmmed it is very hard to get it resolved - you use them so much.
I did get Vit d deficient despite working outside all summer in glorious weather so you can never be certain...hope it helps. I felt much better once I was on supplements but don’t need them now.
Here’s evidence that frozen shoulder is more prevalent in those with hypothyroidism
This academic article mentions calcific tendonopathy being related to hypothyroidism:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
TSH110, Yes I read that endos still tell me thyroidectomy has nothing to do with Achilles tendonitis. Sigh.
Give them a copy of this!
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
How can anyone say it is not related when it is as complicated as this and no one has actually done any proper studies on it!? You are blind to what you do not look for. They are fools of course they are related Achilles’ tendons do not just go wrong for no reason it is the toughest substance in the body which is meant to last a lifetime of trouble free function. It seems so blatantly obvious to me that lack of thyroid hormones affect everything including the Achilles‘ tendon (what about the Achilles’ tendon reflex which is used to test for hypothyrodism and is very reliable as reaction times are slowed...how can it not be affecting the tendon? Even my doctor did it on me as a diagnostic test) to not realise how fundamental it is, shows them to be the vacuous closed minded entities they are as they keep so many of us ill and patronisingly dismiss sensible suggestions from the person who has the disorder - who else can have such an intimate understanding of the symptoms than those actually suffering them.
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