I was diagnose 2 years ago that I have Hashismoto thyroiditis, as time goes by and two weeks ago I started feeling pain in my neck and shoulder. At first week I was able to bear the pain but now its two weeks I almost cry from the pain. I can't move properly, do normal daily routine and I can't even have a good sleep. Due to financial issues I can't even go back to see my endo so I tried drinking pain reliever. It helps temporary like it lessen the pain and much tolerable but after 8 hrs it will be painful again.
Please can anyone share if its okay to keep drinking pain reliever and is there any other relief ways I can do???
Best regards,
Aika, 30
Written by
Eeekhaze22
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It’s common with under active thyroid. I just had it too and it was agony to change gear driving, dressing, hair washing etc. and i went for Accupuncture which sorted me out. I also do yoga which was limited for a while but I’m sure it helps.
I had this and the best thing was an ‘exercise’ from the physio. You use a thin towel or soft strap (I used a rolled up scarf) that you place over the bad shoulder, holding each end, one hand in front, one behind your back. As you pull hard on the towel take a deep breath and tilt your head slowly towards the bad side, and then back to upright while exhaling. Repeat say 10 times and it should relieve it, it was the only thing that helped me and I was in agony. I hope the description makes sense, it was difficult to describe but you basically are pressing on your shoulder and tilting your neck towards it. You will feel it! Good luck.
Oh yes I forgot I also did some physio exercises....not this one though? Sounds good. I had press your bad arm/shoulder against a door frame with a straight arm, I can't remember the rest...thyroid brain! 😜
Hi Aika I also have hashimotos and suffer similar aches and pains unfortunately I think it comes with the condition. I am not sure about constantly taking pain reliever but understand why you want to as it can be quite debilpabd awful when it affects your sleeping. I have a relaxing hot bath and use a muscle relaxing freeze gel which ironically heats up once administered which also helps. Yoga is a great help too usually after a few days it subsides but can return at some point. I don’t know if you have had your bloods checked recently but maybe your levels are a bit haywire too and if you take thyroxine maybe the dosage needs adjusting?
As you probably know with hashis everything is very up and down hopefully knowing other people suffer the same and are there for you helps only wish I could make the pain disappear for you :))
Pls don’t rely on pain killers they will do more harm..I was diagnosed with the same problem but trust me we can do so much by having a proper diet. I havd done away with gluten n try to take food that are good for guts.. i havd eliminated few foods such as tomato bell pepper eggplant n crucifers such as broccoli..I was vegetarian but now I’m slowly incorporating sea food such as salmon clams n prawns in my diet.. also I juice beetroot celery apples n carries on a regular basis.. try to exercise.. but I would strongly advice you to see a specialist as soon as possible.. remember these changes won’t happen overnight.. the body will take its time.. also try to include lots of vitamin C n a bit of food rich in sulfur. So I consume citric foods ,asparagus n good amount of garlic n onion ..glutathione is vital for us n sulphur containing amino acid called cystenine is needed for making glutathione which is the most powerful anti oxidant..
Oh really? I’ve always been told there is no difinitive diagnosis for fibromyalgia. Just ruling out other conditions. I was never offered an MRI, that would have been very useful.
MRI for both neck and shoulders takes approx an hour. Neck first, head at the top of the machine (25 minutes) the shoulders also take about 25 minutes. This is done after machine is adjusted and you lie down at the opposite end of the machine i.e. legs in first. Neck and shoulders weighted down slightly, the most uncomfortable part was when they put a piece (to stop you moving) on your chest then another weight right next to your neck not keen on that. You have a button to push if there is a problem. Google Fibromyalgia for more info.
Sounds like a frozen shoulder - hypothyroidism makes it more likely to suffer such things - I’ve had it agony I could not get a coat on it hurt so much.
See your GP and ask if you can see a physiotherapist about it. I was given exercises with a thera band plus I was told to swim as much as possible - it worked and it resolved. My thyroid disorder had not been diagnosed at this juncture. Osteopaths are good too but expensive ☹️ as not on NHS. Get a full thyroid panel to check you are properly optimised (not just “in range”) ie TSH between 0.25 and 0.5 and free T4 and free T3 in the top third of the range I assume you are on Levothyroxine. Being correctly medicated should reduce the chances of getting musculoskeletal disorders like this. I still get some but they are manageable and i can get on with enjoying life.
Just one other thing I did get a bad neck and shoulder with headache and saw the doc after two weeks who thought it was sinusitis but it got worse I got awful nausea and woke up with my face all horribly swollen and painful itchy sores on the left side of my face which turned out to be shingles on the optic nerve and required antivirals super strong pain killers (it was excruciatingly painful like millions of random non stop stabbing pains) and regular checks at the eye hospital. Shingles are also more common in those with hypothyroidism. Hopefully it is not what you have. But good to know symptoms just in case.
I think taking anti inflamatories will help relieve the pain and reduce and swelling causing the symptoms but it is sensible to get a proper diagnosis and further treatment rather than just pop the pills and hope it goes away.
I've had neck and shoulder pain since I had Shingles in the Summer.I suggested to my GP it might be Fibromyalgia and was told not to diagnose myself and that there was no test for it!! I was told to take pain killers( paracetamol) and not to take ante inflammatorys as can cause side effects long term.☹️
OMG what a horrible doctor if I hadn’t diagnosed myself I’d have died...I’d like to have a consultation with him and give him a piece of my mind, I’d be straight on to him with a stupid comment like that, doctor or no doctor.
Where was your shingles and did you get antivirals to try and stop any complications occurring? You can get long term nerve damage problems if it is not properly treated. The pain of frozen shoulder is very different a dull but excruciating ache unbearable on certain movements not a pinpricking random stabbing hellish pain. Go back and ask to see a physiotherapist (if you think it could be a frozen shoulder) just tell him you cannot function give a few egs as to the impact on your daily life and what it stops you doing, give all symptoms but no mention of what you think it might be. Lead him by the nose and let him have his moment of diagnosis glory 🙄. If he refuses say you want a second opinion or just see another doctor who is more sympathetic. Odd that he is ok about letting you choose your own dose of Levothyroxine - can’t be all bad! If you think it could be complications from shingles I guess neurology is area of expertise that is appropriate. Not sure what can be done.
I guzzled anti inflamatories (mainly ponstan forte) for all
my adult life (quelling undiagnosed hypothyroid symptoms no doubt) and appear to have no long term consequences. They are the best for reducing inflammation and it’s resultant pain. They are not ideal but if they work and help you I just can’t see why you should not take them unless they make you really ill. Why suffer is my motto. Steroids are a different matter of course.
This is the nhs info on nerve pain caused by shingles. It clearly states to see your GP and they can give you more effective prescription pain killers than paracetamol. Might be worth taking it in to show him with that sentence highlighted. He can’t be funny with you if he did not even follow the NHS advice here.
Hi there,Thanks for all your input.I did get an immediate diagnosis for the shingles so he was good with that and I had the appropriate meds for it.......Aciclovir and a low dose of Amlipterine ( excuse spelling).This was back in the height of the Summer heatwave. However,it is stated that the after effects can be worse the older you are.(77yrs) I had it round my waist but can still feel some stabbing pains at times as though someone had pricked me with a needle.
Unfortunately,my shingles came 8 months after my husband passed away,so I was probably vulnerable,at a time of stress.
It was during a recent visit that I spoke about Fibromyalgia,whilst discussing my Thyroid meds following a visit to my Endo......but that's another issue.!!
In his defence he was right that I shouldn't make my own diagnosis.
I am sorry to hear about your husband that must have been very difficult for you and then to get the shingles when your defences we’re down, which is a terrible business and now these pains persisting. The pains can take a year or so to subside I was lucky mine stopped and that was that although I had problems with droopy eyelid on the shingles side eye they tested for myasthenia Gravis but it was inconclusive it has gone into remission if I do have it which is a relief. The eyelid improved once I stated self medication on NDT. My mother had died befote I succumbed to the shingles. Interestingly she had both shingles and hypothyroidism too and died of lymphoma of the thyroid they gave her 8 extra good years with chemo but it came back and they could not treat it a second time around. It is a vary rare cancer but my sister has had it too also hypothyroid. She is fine after 20 years.
I have had no problem telling doctors what I thought might be wrong with me but always saying I wanted their advice as to what it could be. Most appear to have been a tad impressed with my diagnostic capabilities! I am open about checking on the internet I mean they must know it is what most people must do who have an inquisitive mind. About their health and want to do something about it. Your GP sounds basically like a decent stick if a tad dismissive of self diagnosis I don’t think there is anything wrong with it personally you are still seeking their advice after all. I’d rather deal with a person who is trying to become informed about their condition and proactive in its management that someone who is passively letting it all wash over them. But he ought to be helping you more with the neck and back pains and at least diagnosising it properly small wonder we end up doing their job! I am sure you could get more relief and if it is a frozen shoulder really knock it on the head.
It should be a partnership with the GP. I consider myself to be a Doctors dream patient! They might disagree 😂 but it is my life and I have to live it, not them.
I'm sorry to hear that you also had sad times before your Shingles attack.
My mother had Sheehan's syndrome and finally Addison's disease before she died in 1992.
I have tried to go gluten free which I do think would be right for me,but struggle to keep to it .....a resolution for 2019.
In general I have great respect for my GP and Endocrinologist and know that thyroid disease is not easy to manage.We would not have a need of our support group here if it was !! We have much to be grateful for.
Thank you fir your kind words it is a long time ago now but I still feel sad about my mothers passing it is only natural I suppose it is a huge loss. I just avoid wheat and barley to keep it a bit more simple. I was surprised at so much unhealthy (but moorish) foods it banished from my plate! I felt so much better that it did not seem so hard after all it is just going out but these days most eateries have gluten free or wheat free options. I was always a bit of a rabbit food person anyway and I like lots of Indian food like curries - the choice is vast even as a vegetarian although I eat fish nowadays - GF can leave one vitamin depleated if you are vegetarian. I seem well on my diet. It is hard to know if GF really makes a difference. Some say it is more a case of breads being so heavily processed they are not good for us anymore. I rather like Waitrose gf sourdough bread but mostly I avoid GF marketed stuff after reading the labels - I am sure a lot of things they add are not healthy at all! You should just do what works the disorder is tough enough without beating oneself up about dietary lapses! I feel myself a very lucky person - my endocrinologist was excellent and my GP. Getting my health back has been a bit of a rocky road journey at times but this community has been a godsend. I agree we have so much to be grateful for especially given the death sentence hypothyroidism was before any treatment existed we are fortunate indeed 😊
I went to the dr with similar earlier in the year, I was given a self referral card, basically details to register with the physio myself. You could look up the same for your health authority possibly? I saw the physio for a number of appointments and did various exercises which have really helped the shoulder pain but I still have neck pain.
I use a menthol gel during the day and night and it changes the sensation so there is less pain. You could try tiger balm which is similar but I get 2 jars of something similar in the poundshop for £1. I also use camphor and menthol gel from sbc and also their arnica gel too. Both are also good for any other aches and pains either with or without additional painkillers.
I suffer from arm pain and more recently a painful hip. Went to see a private specialist for hip and after X-ray and mri scan, he said it’s inflammation in the joint. I was surprised when he didn’t poo poo the idea of gluten free diet. He said he was very open minded and has seen big improvements in people going gluten free and that there has been actual research that proves how inflammatory gluten is. I’d been on gluten free for ages then fell back into bad habits so that’s probably why my hip became bad. I’ve been eating sensibly again for just over 2 months now and there’s a definite improvement in my hip. I try and eat as many anti inflammatory foods as possible and also take Golden Paste (turmeric) 3 times a day. We really can’t just eat whatever we like and hope to get away with it. Our bodies will fight back!
I have had neck,shoulder and back pain most of my life.I had my thyroid removed 20 years ago due to Hashimotos. My life saver has been my chiropractor,who I have known for about 30 years.If I get problems with anything, he sorts it out.Before I saw him the doctor would just give me stronger painkillers,which weren't solving anything.Unfortunately my chiropractor is now retiring,and I'm not sure I would trust my neck with anyone else.I went to the NHS physio, and she poked her fingers in my neck, and I couldn't move my head for days!
I have found osteopaths to be very good indeed they do 5 years training and have proper qualifications so I would not be afraid to see one. Even my GP said they were the best for back etc problems and GPS only got a days training on the back! George Brown was going to have them under NHS umbrella like physiotherapist making their services free at the point of delivery but sadly it never happened. I still think it was money well spent getting treatment. They are supposed to be a little more gentle than chiropractors.
I am currently having physio for this which includes Acupuncture what he found as the cause of the tremendous pain and inability to raise arms is that the Ulnar nerve is trapped and inflamed it might be worth asking if this is cause ?
That is interesting before I got diagnosed but after the frozen shoulder business I could hardly lift my arms above my head brushing my hair was a painful hell hanging up washing above shoulder height drove me spare so painful. Once I took thyroid medication these symptoms subsided I understand you get excessive fluid in the cells and this leads to trapped nerves, puffy face swollen ankles and the like. Osteopathy was tremendous for the trapped nerves in my neck that started plaguing me at just 23 perhaps I was starting out with the hypothyroidism even back then. Are your meds optimised? I see you are on ThyroidS like me. I have added in a little T3 to my 2 grains a day which seems to be a good move. I was fine on 1.25 grains for years then suddenly needed to up the dose no idea why. I go on how I feel never see docs or do blood tests but it seems to work for me.
Hi l am according to my latest blood tests at optimum levels ft3 is at the upper level am using 21/4 grains . I did have frozen right shoulder which resolved after steroid injection 4 years ago then on levo and under medicated
This episode is left shoulder l have OA in all my joints and l think this hasn’t helped current situation l take high strength Boswillia for
inflammation For me l don’t think there is a connection ?
I was prescribed T3 for many years and l thrived ( long story) l have given myself 3 more weeks of physio and Acupuncture but the Bowan method is of great interest to me . There is a limit to my pain threshold and am very near it
I was thinking when l was subclinical for many years resulting in damage to my heart and an adrified gland
their was a period of inability to raise my arms not painful but very uncomfortable so looking back there is a connection with muscle strength loss and having Hashimoto and not being medicated
Blimey so many similarities to me! I started with OA at just 23. Some say this is the first phase of hypothyroidism or a precursor to developing it. There are a few papers that say musculoskeletal disorders are more common in those with hypothyroidism and they are related. I have had awful Achilles tendinitis and that wretched plantar fasciitis has been a menace too.
Sorry the horrible frozen shoulder is coming in the other one at least you have managed to stop it before so should be able to deal with it again. So far only one side has been affected in my case. I am having teeth and lower jaw aching and other jaw problems (not opening properly) I know it is thyroid related and it will pass. My toes are a mess with strange sores between them but the nails have improved. Heart disease can cause the toe rot - it could be i have inherited the heart trouble from my fathers side and the untreated hypo exacerbated it. He lasted till his late 80’s living independently until his last two days so I am keeping it In perspective. Should be plenty left in me yet! I am just a bit breathless up stairs so it is a pain but not seriously debilitating or anything. It is amazing how important thyroid hormones are for keeping everything running smoothly and what strange symptoms one can get even when the medication dose is as good as it can be.
Interesting that you mentioned your teeth and jaw when my physio was taking recent and past history l just mentioned l had had root canal treatment 5 weeks previously ,that was when he mentioned the Ulnar nerve , the grinding out of the nerve ends and packing with filler he mentioned that that nerve in the jaw was connected to the major Ulnar nerve
I did research it and found one mention in a written paper of this connection
Blimey who’d have thought that they were connected! In my early 20s I started getting dead legs and arms one at a time in a seemingly random order. I saw the doc and eventually it was implied I was imagining it as pains like that did not move around! I most certainly was not imaging it and It was moving around and causing me loss of movement. I just suffered it after that dismissive diagnosis. In my 30’s I mentioned it to a new GP who immediately sent me for xrays and said I think I know what might be causing that. The xrays showed bad arthritis all the way down the neck and spine that was xrayed. This was causing so bad it was trapped nerves in my neck that could of course affect arms or legs as all go through the neck vertebrae before splitting off. I was just very young to have it that bad - like an old person. It is so obvious when explained like that why did those earlier doctos not consider it as the cause of my problems? The area of pain is often not the location of the source of pain where nerves are concerned, when you consider how they actually function within the body. I had osteopathy, she said that and exercise were the best things for it. It did keep it at bay for many years. I get the odd bout even now but very rarely. The jaw thing is on an off - ok at mo now I am not at work - is it what I eat for dinner provoking it? Who knows. 🙄
Mmm I had bad angina (ecg abnormal, scans were odd one chamber not working properly but no action taken - I was told it was just a hormonal thing some women get. Like hypothyroidism perhaps? A top heart hospital too - not in my book). This was long before taking Levothyroxine. I had a few bouts in my 30’s that went away, then they started up and became worse in my 40’s when I had the above tests and as I became seriously overtly hypothyroid which remained in diagnosed - just the menopause dear - they became even worse on Levothyroxine and improved on NDT but are not completely quelled. I have developed high blood pressure, systolic only so not much can be done. Blood pressure treatments lower both so you can end up passing out. I do all the right lifestyle things so my options to improve are all already exploited. Interesting you had heart issues on Levothyroxine I wonder why it should provoke it or make it worse. T3 must be key. I have the DIO2 mutation so T4 monotherapy would never make me feel fully better as my own thyroid made more T3 to compensate when the poor thing worked properly. Do you have that mutation do you know?
If the pain relief is ibuprofen then it is not good to keep taking it without taking something else to protect your stomach.
Have you been back to your doctor and asked him/her?
My husband had awful trouble with his shoulder but he is not not hypothyroid and I am and I don't suffer like this. I think this can be one of those niggles that can happen as you get older, but if you are only aged 30 then I think it is definitely worth a trip back to the doctor.
I don’t think age should be a factor - why do you think is it ok for old people to shut up and put up but young people ought to act. Surely if you have unexplained pain it needs investigating even if you are an old fogie like I will soon be.
Sorry, I think you should go to the doctor either way if you have pain. What I meant was that especially if you are so young you should. BTW I am not a spring chicken
I am a creaking old gate and never go to the doctors! The thought of being sent for an MRI is enough to put me off even visiting the surgery. Once in one of those terrifying monsters was enough for me for a lifetime thought I was going to have a heart attack in it such weird sensations like a hurricane blowing through my tissues and those awful noises clunking and banging away and trying to keep still for what seeedclike an eternity without hypothyroidism my leg started trembling uncontrollably despite being strapped in lucky I did not get cramp in it. I’d rather die than go in one again and it was only my knee not a full immersion oh god what a nightmatmrish thought right in its claustraphobic bowels!!! It’s a Bakers cyst I regard it as a life battle scar don’t quite wear it with pride but leave it be. It hurts less now it is bigger that when it was small. I have occasional hip ache but until it renders me unable to walk there is no way I will visit the doctors they will shove me in a scanner no question. I would have to be out cold to get me in one. Operations no thanks! It is an absurd phobia isn’t it?
Like others I had acupuncture after deep tissue massage and some manipulation from a wonderful osteopath. This condition (also called frozen shoulder). Was not recognised by the medics in 70s but when I asked a local support group if they had had sore shoulders all but one said yes. I couldnt raise my arms above shoulder height for well over a year. The feeling extended down my arm to the base of my thumb and that is still a bit of an issue. I did eventually have an X-Ray but it didn't reveal much. What really helps is to get your thyroid to its optimum health.
Hi I do yoga which help my shoulder and neck pain also massage and a light weight workout when I have the energy helps to. Also I nearly forgot hemp oil thc and a hot bath or shower and ginger tea helps
Hi everyone, Thank you so much for your response, It is much appreciated. I'm getting more aware of this disease. It is so nice hearing everyone from different possible reasons what might causing my neck and shoulder be in unbearable pain and possible remedies. I will consider all of your response. I'd really want to feel better.. Thanks to all of you.. wishing you all too to feel better and be great.. God bless everyone.. 🙏❤😊
Physiotherapy sorted my neck vertebrae which was causing severe shoulder pain. Don't take ibrobrufen tabs, use the ibro gel directly. The tabs ruined my stomach and oesophagus, now I have Barrett's.
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