Is there a connection with Hypothyroidism and arthritis

[Jacqui1265]

Does anyone know if there is a connection between arthritis and hypothyroidism? I have osteoarthritis in both knees and lots of foot pain although no arthritis but have just been told I have osteoarthritis in both elbows now too. I had bloods for inflammatory markers done and they were normal apparently- haven't got actual result just what GP told me. Am just a bit concerned it's all connected somehow and it's not being picked up could it be RA not OA?

[diogenes Remembering]

If someone has suffered autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's) they have an increased chance of getting type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and any other disaese with an autoimmune basis.

[jgelliss in reply to diogenes]

Diogenes ,

WOW ! That is very interesting . I guess it's all related . I'm just thinking if giving low dose thyroid hormones would be helpful with some diagnosis of autoimmune basis . Regardless if one is not even diagnosed with thyroid insufficiencies ?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your previous posts show you have Hashimoto's

Are you still only on 75mcg Levothyroxine?

That's quite a low dose

If you have recent Thyroid results to add members can advise

With Hashimoto's we also very often have low vitamin levels. This can tend to keep TSH low, even if still hypothyroid

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Have these been tested recently?

Always get actual results and ranges. Post results when you have them, members can advise

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels. Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten.

Gluten is being suggested too as connected to arthritis. Many links to be found online.....here's just one

rheumatoidarthritisnews.com...

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

[Cooper27 in reply to SlowDragon]

I'll second trying a gluten free diet. My mum was hypothyroid, and started to develop arthritis. When she cut out gluten, her arthritis cleared up. Sometimes she'd slip up and eat gluten again, and her arthritis would always come back, but would always go away after a couple of weeks back on a GF diet.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Cooper27]

Looks like much "arthritis " is actually misdiagnosed gluten intolerance.......

[Marz in reply to SlowDragon]

.... causing the inflammatiion - 'itis' 😊

[Ellie-Louise in reply to Marz]

Arthur has a lot to answer for. 😉

[Marz in reply to Ellie-Louise]

... indeed

[Jacqui1265 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for all the info. I think I definatly need to look at gluten as have been bloating really badly everyday no matter what I have eaten and piling weight on.

I'm now on 100mcg for 4 days and 75mcg for 3 days as GP thought 100mcg a day would be too much. Just has bloods done and they came back as TSH 3.12 range (0•30-4•50) told this is normal so no action needed . They don't test for anything else. I have previously had very low Vit D levels .

I'm just feeling like there's more going on than tests are showing so am considering paying for a private test

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jacqui1265]

TSH should be under two when on Levothyroxine

Official NHS guidelines saying TSH should be between 0.2 and 2.0 when on Levothyroxine

(Many of us need TSH nearer 0.2 than 2.0 to feel well)

See box

Thyroxine replacement in primary hypothyroidism

pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/pa...

Most of us need TSH under one

Suggest you put dose up to 100mcg every day and get full Thyroid and vitamin private testing in 6-8 weeks

Are you supplementing vitamin D ?

You could test this now

vitamindtest.org.uk

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.

Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor

 please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

Just testing TSH is completely inadequate

[Jacqui1265 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for this information. I will get the info you recommended and take back to GP along with the private test results.

I take wellwomen osetocare as a supplementing does have some bit D in plus B12 and there minerals/vitamins and calcium but not anything separate for Vit D. I asked GP what was best rather than taking lots of seperate tablets they said oestocare was best option especially as have arthritis and am premenopausal.

There is so much to learn about this illness and its contraindications, thank goodness for this forum. You just trust your GP knows what's right, I'm learning that's defiantly not the case.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jacqui1265]

Multivitamins are not usually recommended on here.

Too little of what we do need and often very cheap ingredients and often ingredients you definitely don't want

Doctors currently learn little about importance of vitamins generally and are usually completely unaware of strong link between poor gut function, gluten intolerance and hypothyroidism

Vitamin D we often need high dose, especially if gluten intolerant

essential to test these four vitamins regularly, at least annually. Many with Hashimoto's need regular ongoing supplements to maintain adequate levels

[Jacqui1265 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you will get the private tests done and see what I need from them. Strange birthday present to ask for but will be worth it if it sorts things out!

[posthinking01]

Hi - I have been in your position and hardly able to walk - suggest your thyroid hormone is low and I found calcium made my joints hurt more - magnesium oil helps.

[Jacqui1265 in reply to posthinking01]

Thanks will give it a go