I’m looking for information on poor thyroid function and it’s relative connection to pain. General pain? Pain from depression? Aches & pain? Is there any information around TSH levels above a 3.5 that may cause more problems with pain in the body?
Has anyone experienced this?
If you have pain there must be a reason but it could be a number of things. Or a combination. Exactly where is your pain? What investigations have you had? Do you have it in any particular locations? Are you conscious of it when you exercise?
Sorry I should be more specific! I’m wanting thyroid labs added as a marker of a research study my company is allowing me to be involved in, in the US. Bc thyroid isn’t measured in general check ups anymore, and is rarely treated appropriately when found, plus massively under diagnosed in the US under our new healthcare mess, It would make sense that hypothyroidism would affect pain levels just based on pain associated with symptoms of hypothyroidism. But if we can prove that by not measuring & treating hypothyroidism affectively that it leads to pain (from depression, muscle aches, weakness, falls from weakness/poor muscle & bone quality etc) then we might be able to prove endos are wrong & have major room for improvement. And likely could help (over time) the epidemic we have with opioids and opioid deaths.
Any suggestions are welcome! We have a chance to get answers through a large study! Any suggestions?!?!
There is a possible link between osteoporosis and thyroid disease although there doesn't seem to be any clarity about what the connection is. Osteoporosis is supposed to be a silent diease, no pain until a fracture occurs but perhaps people with thyroid disease suffer from bone/muscle pain if they are developing osteoporosis? It would be interesting to test the theory anyway. A lot of people on this forum seem to be given fibromyalgia diagnoses but perhaps it's poorly treated thyroid disease or even undiagnosed bone problems?
Hi Disylb, Twenty years or more ago the first pamphlet I read about being hypothyroid said that low thyroid affects smooth muscle on the first page. I have had some theories over the years, one is that lactic acid builds up and doesn't go away as it does for normal people. Do you have dry skin? I just posted about the fascia becoming dry, it needs hyaluronic acid to hydrate it and fascia covers all the muscles and organs. Inflammation also causes pressure and pain. Lowering inflammation is difficult because you have to find out what is inflammatory in your diet. You could look at PubMed and see what it might reveal through research.
Wondering where your post is re dry fascia ? Have had a look through your Posts/Replies. 😊
I thought we both posted it. I had also seen the article by Mercola and later saw you had posted it on Fibro. I thought I posted it on TUK. I'll have a look.
My post went to the PAIN forum.
I'm in pain every day with joints aswell as constantly tired. Endo told me nothing to do with Thyroid (had total thyroidectomy in 2009 after Thyroid Cancer) and told me it was Rhematology. Finally saw Rhematologist who told me that whilst there were signs of Osteo in my knee it was clear it was Thyroid related as my last test showed TSH at 48! She was surprised I was even functioning!
Fast forward 4 months, bloods repeated and still elevated at over 6. Told they will repeat bloods in another 3 months and carry on as I am. I'm still in pain, tiredness, unable to lose weight and yeah quite down but in all honesty it's because this has been going on for so long!
I've lost faith in the NHS and I'm doing my own research now.
I don't know about thyroid problems causing pain but I do know from my own experience that they can exacerbate existing pain. I am used to pain from a long standing spinal condition, but in the few months prior to my hypothyroid diagnosis it became worse than ever and nothing helped. I was also found to have very low Vit. D levels. Once I was being treated the pain levels gradually went back to normal.
Yes to pain. Excruciating pain in hands, wrists, and arms., joints and muscles. Also results in pulling muscles in arms, neck and shoulders, joints freezing, clicking, stiffness. Loss of strength and so pain if trying to use muscles to say write with a pen or push or pull something. Carpel tunnel swelling, all worse if it’s cold. I wouldn’t link it to tsh tho - it’s linked to low t3 - with me once I’m bottom of range t3 it’s agony.
You sound like me, i get lots of those problems. Even feels like I’m pulling muscles in my hand when trying to do simple things. Shoulders click when i do physio for frozen shoulders pain 😳Biceps ache turning pages! Ridiculous!
Yes. Totally. Got a rotator cuff injury recently from it too - just existing was basically agony! My hands were curled up like I had arthritis (I’m 35!) - couldn’t look after my toddler and I’m a single mum. This stuff happens when my t3 is really low. Bottom of range downwards. Got a -22% of range result recently for t3. I’ve since started ignoring the doctor (who said I was just depressed!) and dosing myself with (fairly generous!) t3 and had big improvements in only a couple of weeks although still clicking, aching and pulling a bit!! Can lift my daughter up when I need to now tho not back to properly carrying her yet. I’m hoping that all my joint issues will die down as my levels improve and all the injuries heal!! It’s very scary stuff this hypo malarkey - a small decrease can send you right over the edge. Hope you’re managing to improve your symptoms!
You do sound poorly. I take 75 mc T3 and still have symptoms. It worries me as there was a post on here debating if it's bad to take just T3. Have to work, have to exist...what else can we do.
Have you tried taking more t3? I wouldn’t worry about just taking t3 if that’s what you need because t4 doesn’t convert or you seem to have a reaction to t4. T4 is just for storage anyway. My view is that unknown risks aren’t as important as immediate urgent symptoms you’re experiencing right now, so if you’re under treated, take more and don’t worry about ‘normal’. You could just gradually increase over a few months and see if it helps. As long as you do it gradually you shouldn’t hit hyper. It might be life changing. None of us are normal on here anyway. We are all taking synthetic or animal hormones - neither of which is natural despite the name - but similarly they are just replicating something the body should be producing anyway. If you don’t replace enough you will still be ill, and everyone is individual. If I was on t3 only I’d probably be on a similar amount to you right now, so you might just be a little worse than me! Or you might just have absorption issues which mean you need to take more for it to get into your blood stream. Both are fine. You need to do whatever you need to in order to get well - if your bloods show you need more t3 then I wouldn’t hesitate to take it!
And I totally get the ‘have to work, have to exist’... that’s what this is about. I don’t think people realise just how serious a condition this is!! You’re life literally depends on your meds - as I have learnt recently!!!!
Thanks. I tried to up it gradually but got a pain in my temples which worried me...no other hyper symptoms.
Did increasing it improve your t3 levels at all or improve any of your symptoms?
Haven't had more private tests since I tried that increase to inform. I think I was a bit better, hard to tell. I'm sure the temple pain was connected as it happened before when I tried to increase.
Have you tried other brands? Some people are allergic to particular brands. There must be some reason increasing is so hard and you shouldn’t just have to carry on suffering with such bad hypo symptoms. Are all your vitamins in good shape?
Have not tried other brands. My vitamins etc are good. I follow advice from here!
I ache from head to foot. Thought it was my Crohns but after reading this, it could be my underactive Thyroid. I think I need to get it tested again.
Pain....yes, all over!
Pain killers on a daily basis for years.
Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and CFS, had lots of scans, scopes, tests, meds that didn't work and even offered talking therapy which I refused!....never convinced!
Thankfully found TUK, and did lots of research/private tests.
Have a faulty DIO2 gene (from both parents) so conversion very poor. Now self medicating with T3-only and pain is decreasing considerably.
Nutrients (check old posts here, as follows below) must be at optimum level....my Vit D3 was rock bottom and B12 low.
Been under par for decades (I'm 73) so improvement is slow but the signs are now v positive.
So...I'm convinced there is a link and hypo is often being wrongly diagnosed as fibro, CFS, depression and the like.
Go to the search box (top right of page) and type "hypothyroidism and pain" in the box. Previous related posts will appear....it's a valuable source of info which can lead you to further research should you wish.
Apologies....scrappy response..., in a hurry.
You can feel better.....huge help and support here...much good luck
DD
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