Muscle cramps and pain

[Wex73]

Hi, I have hypothyroidism, diagnosed in Jan this year. I am on eltroxin, 5 days x 100mg and 2 days x 75mg. I have been getting bad cramps and muscle spasms over the past 4 months. In my hands, arms, ribs, hips. I was going to a physio but it hasn't helped. This is listed as a side effect on the med leaflet. Has anyone else had this and how did you deal with it?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Wex73

Do you have Hashimoto's (confirmed by raised antibodies)?

Cramps can be due to low magnesium, muscle ache's and pains can be low Vit D. Have you tested your nutrient levels - Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin?

Also, are you optimally medicated? What are your latest test results (with reference ranges)? If you can post them members will comment. If you don't have your results, just ask for a print out from your surgery's reception desk.

[Wex73]

Hi, thanks for your comments.

My last blood tests in Feb just did TSH 2.61, and Free Thyroxine which was 18.2. Antibodies were tested also in Feb and were 1063. Doc didnt mention Hashimotos, or doing anything about antibodies.

Older blood test dec 2018, checked

ferritin- 74 (range 11-307).

Iron -9.9 (range 10.7-32.0)

B12 -259 (range 160-600),

Magnesium - 0.88 (range 0.7- 1.00)

[porter5]

Cramp is likely low magnesium (most people are low in magnesium) or low potassium.

What type of magnesium? the type that absorbs best? Most medications use magnesium oxide which is the cheapest but the uptake is so bad at 4 percent. So a 500mg tablet would only give 20 mgs of magnesium. Other forms Magnesium citrate, magnesium, orotate,

malate.threonate..see amazon...Magnesium chloride can be applied on the skin and is therefore absorbed directly into the blood...might sting a little at first but dries after 10 mins or so.

What dose? well how much does the diet supply? total dose say 6-700mg per day

results can be very quick like a day or two.

Different types affect different functions. So epsom salts( is magnesium sulfate)

will fix constipation and other things,.. Start with a low dose say 1/2 teaspoon

per day. if nothing happens add another half at a different time of the day

so 1 hour before breakfast and say an hour before lunch.

You'll know if you get too much diarrhea results. So cut back. This may also deal with

your cramps.

Blood tests for magnesium only measure whats in the blood....not good. Why ?

because the blood only represents about 1% of the whole body value. And whats good

for the blood is wholly inadequate for the heart which need s 20 times the amount.

Blood tests which give the whole body value are available in then US( only recently discovered) A great book to get is Dr Caroline Dean's "The Magnesium Miracle".(amazon).

deals with fatigue, fibromyalgia,depression and a host of other disorders. It's a goldmine.

[Wex73 in reply to porter5]

Thank you. Will follow up on magnesium. Necr knew there were different types!

[Hypothyro]

Hi, it’s impossible to say if it’s side effects of meds or not. I am hypo & have had all these symptoms before & after being treated. Good Luck 👍

[porter5]

Yes, indeed. If you used say magnesium oxide, there is such a poor uptake that it's not going to benefit you, which is what it's all about.