Hi all, first post so apologies if I do something wrong.
Basically I am newly diagnosed with hypothyroidism but not yet treated. My legs have fluctuating in pain levels for a while now but today they are super bad. Does anyone have any advice for what helps them? Do normal painkillers like ibeprofen of paracetamol help?
Many thanks!
-Max
If you have been diagnosed as being hypothyroid why haven't you been given treatment?
Really, the only way to know if a painkiller works for you/your pain, is to try it.
My gp wants to monitor it some more first -_- tbh I think she is more worried about my weight gain than anything that might of actually caused it. I have an appointment next week and I’m going to push for somthing to be done.
Thank you for the advice though!
Although not every hypothyroid person is overweight by any means, if you are, then there's a good possibility that your weight gain is directly linked to your metabolism being slowed by there being insufficient thyroid hormones available to your tissues. Can you post your blood results that led to your diagnosis, together with their reference ranges so that members might comment?
Never mind your GP monitoring you - if you have hypothyroidism you have to have thyroid hormone replacements immediately. Why do these doctors faff about when the patient has symptoms. Tick of the ones you have on this link and make an appointment or phone your GP and ask for a prescription and 50mcg is a starting dose :-
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Tips for blood tests for checking thyroid hormones:-
First - always make the very earliest appointment. It should be a fasting test but you can drink water. If you get thyroid hormone replacements which is called levothyroxine, you start on a 50mcg dose and every six weeks you have a test so make it well in advance so that you get a very early one. If you are given thyroid hormones usually it is taken first thing, on an empty stomach with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating or coffee as food interferes with the uptake of the hormone.
Most doctors only take notice of the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) but ask doctor for A Full Thyroid Function Test which is :-
TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. If antibodies are present you'd have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease called Hashimoto's or hashi's but treatment is the same but going gluten-free can help reduce the antibodies which attack the thyroid gland.
Ask GP for B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as everything has to be optimal.
We are lacking thyroid hormones which run our whole metabolism from brain to feet and brain and heart need the most T3. Levothyroxine is T4 and inactive and T4 has to convert to T3 and it is T3 which runs everything.
Unexplained Weight Gain is A CLINICAL SYMPTOM of hypthyroidism and is the commonest query on this forum. Tick off your symptoms and give to GP.
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Ask her to check for thyroid antibodies as that will inform you whether you have hypothyroidism or an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease. Both are treated exactly the same. Also always get a print-out of your results for your own records. You can post if you have a query.
ps weight gain is second on the list of symptoms. Give your GP a copy too so that she can become a bit wiser.
I initially went to the Dr for fatigue, and got a range of blood tests done. I’ll make a new post with the results in a sec x
Hello Max,
I am also hypothyroid with terrible leg pain, which is worse at night. Co-codamol (on prescription) helps. Keep on keeping on at your GP 😊
Thank you, I have some kicking about because of past migraines so I’ll keep that in mind x
You need to get a Free T4 and Free T3 blood test. If GP wont you can get them privately. I would suspect the FT3 in particular is not in the upper part of the range.
There are lots of reasons for leg pain in hypothyroidism.
A very common cause is low T3. And your low T3 will be caused by inadequate (or in your case non-existent) levels of treatment.
It is also very likely that you have nutrient deficiencies adding to the problem. You should ask your doctor to test your iron, ferritin, vitamin B12, folate, and vitamin D. Once they've been tested make sure that you get copies of the results including the reference ranges, post them in a new thread and ask for feedback. You must ask for the results even if you are told they are all "normal". If he/she refuses to test then it is possible to get them done privately with finger-prick testing - just ask for more info on it if necessary.
If you are hypothyroid you need treatment
Low vitamins as direct result of being hypothyroid are EXTREMELY common
Low vitamin D can cause extreme leg pain
If you are gaining weight that is almost certainly due to being hypothyroid, it's a classic symptom
Can you add your most recent blood test results and ranges for TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
If vitamins have not been tested make another appointment with any GP this week and ask that they are tested
Hi Max , I also suffer with leg pain I personally have it no matter what weight I am.
I will say all of the above is important but also I've learned that increase in my magnesium intake through dark green leafy vegetables ( light sauted mostly) Plus hesperidin helps tremendously. As I don't know if you have muscle pain or nerve pain, either way, these help me Eat a nirmal amount of 1/2 to 1 pound of vegetables a day. I know it seems daunting amount at first ,but it really is not that much especially if you make it into a soup or blend in a smoothie.
As for me ,from time to time, I will take a pain killer to take the edge off. ( paracetamol)
Best to you😊
Hi Max...I’ve had a lot of problems with pains including my legs!....being on this site I worked out what I needed to do. Have your VitD checked ...it needs to be high in the range. Hypothyroid means you can’t store VitD and lack or deficiency will make your body feel like it’s been in a vice!...(my experience)...so it’s literally vital you have it checked and acted upon with high dose VitD if low...After a fight with the GP I’m now on 3000 units a day. Other than that Magnesium oil rubbed in to your legs will sooth them...hope this helps...best wishes
lower leg (shin) pain
Levothyroxine & leg pains
