I am finally starting to feel well and like I am living rather than existing.... now I have developed pain in my hands with the fingers feeling “tight” and knuckles at the base of my being slightly puffy on palm side and topside. I have 2 trigger fingers on one hand and one on the other. It is worse when I wake and gradually eases during the day.
GP has said use voltorol gel or similar but it’s not making a big difference.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Is it part of UAT?
Thanks for your help.
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StillEverHopeful
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Strongly suggest you get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing before seeing a knowledgeable endocrinologist for further increase or addition of small dose of T3
Roughly where in the UK are you?
Email Dionne at Thyroid Uk for list of recommended thyroid specialists who will prescribe T3
FT4 13.9 FT3 4.7 (same range) when I managed to squeeze an extra 25mcg alternate days (100/125) on the grounds that I chemist had changed manufacture.
I bought some levo on holiday recently so I have increased to 125 mcg daily & will self test in 6 weeks.
I also tested vitamin & minerals after a 8 weeks break from adding vit b12 on 8 May
They are
Ferritin 79.9 (13-150)
Serum magnesium 0.97 (0.7-1)
Zinc 16.69 (10.7-175)
Serum folate 7 (>3.89)
Active B12 197 (37.5-188)
Vitamin D 87.3 (59-175)
Also CRP 4.5 (<5) which I notice is high in range
an ultrasound of my thyroid in December 2018 revealed a nodules so small that they aren’t reviewing and no signs of autoimmune issue in
appearance.
Have since seen Rheumatology who like to say Fibromyalgia as I have had pain all over & prescribed 30mg amatriptaline (my tsh had risen to 2.06) endo disagrees with me that it is due to UAT. The trigger fingers started two weeks after the Rheumatology appointment.
I am experiencing sweating/ hot flushes again although through menopause, it didn’t happen during winter & endo thinks it’s because I’m over medicated... I lost temperature control in the year before I was diagnosed/ medicated so can’t follow her logic.
I’m in Norfolk but see endo at Addenbrookes & have been told she won’t consider T3 as I am converting well.
I feel so much better than I did in August 2018 and am able to do more than I have been able to in a very long time able to do some time gardening & cook dinner. I seem to feel better when I take Mercury Pharma levo & now ask for paper prescription so I can search out a chemist that will supply it.
Serum Magnesium tests are useless frankly as Magnesium is pulled out of muscles and bones to keep serum levels (a tiny percentage) in the correct ratio to other electrolytes or we'd all be having heart attacks. So if you are not supplementing Magnesium on the basis of good serum levels it is a false picture. There was a study (Ismail Y et al) that a health warning should be issued for normal serum levels as these cannot be used as exclusion of a deficiency. The RBC ( cellular) levels of Magnesium in people with Fibromyalgia are invariably low. Unfortunately only a few doctors check RBC levels.
I have virtually eliminated pain and inflammation by taking Magnesium - the best kinds are expensive as a lot of cheaper tablets tend to go straight through (laxative). Magnesium lotion by Better You is great for my hands which were seizing up a bit. Read up 'Magnesium Miracle' book there is a chapter on Fibro... Dr Carolyn Dean suggests Candida overgrowth can be a factor.. Goldenseal is good at tackling candida. Malic Acid can help with unresponsive muscles so Magnesium Malate may be a good choice plus lots of Epsom Salt baths and other kinds of transdermal Magnesium.
Finally, to help with your specific issue in the peripheral nerves I recommend p5p which is the most absorbable form of B6 ( no side effects like you get with pyridoxine). It is known to help with the trigger fingers along with Magnesium.
Thanks for the book suggestion. Interesting about possible Candida re. fibro. I too have found I am getting considerably less pain (in some places!) with increased magnesium. I use Better You flakes in foot bath and the oil spray on joints.
I was going to say this same thing about P5P. Really helped my trigger finger.
I had been taking 110 mg. per day and no TF; had one brand in 50 mg. that I took at night & was trying to use up because thought it was too much at once. I was finally done with it, and went to 20 mg. 3x per day, and the trigger finger came back, so I increased it to 4x per day = 80 mg. and TF is virtually gone again.
It must have something to do with thyroid, however - this was one of my first symptoms when I went hypo - not trigger finger, but fingers/tendons were so tight. They still are somewhat tight; I can't make a tight fist.
I take 65mg per day of p5p in split doses - more at night though. It is good for sleep, breaking down histamine, very good for adrenals, so also supports thyroid indirectly (less issues with conversion if adrenals are good) and energy levels as well and for collagen formation with vitamin C.
Dr Dean ( the Magnesium expert) says that for p5p to work you must have good Magnesium levels as well, so take them together. Magnesium really improves flexibility.
Yes you can go too high with p5p especially if Magnesium and Zinc levels aren't great. The pyridoxine form is a more serious problem at high doses though as it requires conversion ( I believe it may involve vitamin b2 but don't quote me on it) and some people with specific genetic MTHFR issues need p5p anyway as it just builds up uselessly causing rather than curing peripheral nerve problems. I have had tingling numbing issues in my feet and hands with pyridoxine (it is hard to excrete) but I can tolerate low doses.
I was supplementing with magnesium in conjunction with D3 & K2 to address low vit D & having baths with Epsom salts. I think there is a link to when I stopped magnesium, but hadn’t recognised it.
If you haven't already, might be worth looking into food intolerances. Coeliac check first, just in case, then try excluding gluten as a minimum. You may find you are reacting to a filler in a medication/supplement (corn perhaps). I am grain, dairy, nightshades, soy, caffeine, nuts and seeds free (!) and have been improving vits and minerals, esp ferritin, Vit D, magnesium, and trigger fingers have stopped triggering. Not pain free by any means but definite changes in some areas. Go easy with voltarol - it's NSAID which isn't great for thyroid or gut health. Best wishes
I’ve tested negative for coeliac, I didn’t notice much difference when I went GF. Did you know some paper straws contain gluten?
The volterol is topical I usually start the day with it when my hands are worse, but I am using a Neals Yard Remedies “warming salve” which helps as does putting them in hot water, discovered when I did some washing up that didn’t fit in the dishwasher
Ridiculous isn't it - I even react to sticking plasters as they have corn in them. The magnesium oil spray certainly helps my joints, but warm water is always good!
I’m the same as you! I’m more confused than ever now as some say it’s to do with a reaction to the NDT I take, like a response to the autoimmune aspect others say it’s a being under medicated issue. My fingers started 3 weeks after starting NDT. The crazy thing is, other symptoms are much better but this side of things have got progressively worse. If you get any info that may help please message me and I will message you if I get any information.
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