Any links

[Dancesaver]

Hi, just been diagnosed with Polymyalgia rheumatica so am wondering if Hashimoto has any connections to this.

Thank you

[humanbean]

The following links might be helpful :

From the NHS (there are several pages) :

nhs.uk/conditions/polymyalg...

From Wikipedia on the same subject :

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polym...

And from the Arthritis Foundation (a US organisation):

arthritis.org/diseases/poly...

The third link says this :

The cause of PMR is uncertain but it is believed to be an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks healthy tissues. Genetic and environmental factors (such as infections) are thought to play important roles. Because it is rare in people under age 50, its cause could be linked to the aging process.

From all three links note that PMR is sometimes associated with temporal arteritis also known as giant cell arteritis. Do you have this condition? Do your symptoms match up? If they do, getting appropriate treatment is urgent because it can lead to people going blind.

nhs.uk/conditions/temporal-...

Assuming that temporal arteritis is not one of your problems, and you "just" have PMR, according to those links I've given above there is no specific test, although testing ESR and CRP can show inflammation.

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

If PMR is autoimmune (and nobody seems to be certain) then the chances of getting it will be higher with Hashi's because once someone has one autoimmune disease they are more likely to get one or more others.

It is possible that PMR is a disease of ageing. In my experience, doctors decide someone is ageing at any age, you don't have to be old. I was once told that a problem I had was caused by ageing when I was 27.

...

Thyroid disease can cause pain anywhere, including in muscles, so it makes sense to make sure that your thyroid treatment is optimal. Also, many people, with or without thyroid disease, have problems absorbing nutrients and have low levels. Low nutrient levels can also cause pain. I suggest that you get some of the basic nutrients tested, and optimised if they are not optimal. The ones of particular importance in thyroid disease are folate, vitamin B12, vitamin D, ferritin, and if ferritin is low then an iron panel should be tested too. If you get results for all these post them on the forum in a new post.

I looked at the results you posted here :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Your MCV (Mean Cell Volume) is right at the top of the range and suggests that your red blood cells are large. This can be an indication that your B12 and/or folate levels are low.

Your total cholesterol is above range. I hope you haven't been put on statins. High cholesterol is common in people with hypothyroidism. Improving your thyroid hormone levels will lower cholesterol. And statins aren't good for women at any age.

The only thing connected to your cholesterol results that would worry me is your over-range triglyceride level. Optimal is a result under 1 mmol/L. To reduce your triglyceride level you would have to reduce your intake of sugar and carbs and replace them with more fat and protein.

I also noticed that your sodium is only 11% through the range. Have you been put on a low salt diet for some reason? Or do you avoid salt for your own reasons? If you do avoid salt this could lead to muscle spasm, muscle twitching, muscle pain, cramp etc. And low salt isn't actually that good for health.

[humanbean in reply to humanbean]

I forgot to say...

Those links I gave on PMR suggest that a common problem occurs with pain in the neck, jaw, shoulders and head. I would suggest this may be caused by a dental problem e.g. grinding of the teeth, or teeth that don't fit together well because of poor-fitting false teeth or poorly done fillings, teeth that are decaying.

Another issue could be trigeminal neuralgia (TN).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trige...

In anyone diagnosed with TN, some people get relief by improving vitamin B12 and/or folate.

[Dancesaver in reply to humanbean]

Thank you so much for your insights and time spent. I did have blood test for ESR and CRP these were both particularly high 78 and 83 which was why doctor concluded PMR and am on prednisolone steroids to lower inflammation and pain. I don’t think I skimp on salt and cook from scratch, I will definitely reduce carbs and sugar, and have over past few months tried to include good fats wherever possible., as I do get cramp and leg spasms. Am currently on 125mg levo but at last test was told I was within ‘ok’ boundaries and no change to medication. Statins haven’t ever been mentioned 🙏 fortunately it’s only gone as far as neck/shoulders for now. The only other recent change in my life which was having covid in May, there was some possible link on Zoe app with PMR but I guess we can’t blame covid for everything.

[humanbean in reply to Dancesaver]

I did have blood test for ESR and CRP these were both particularly high 78 and 83 which was why doctor concluded PMR and am on prednisolone steroids to lower inflammation and pain.

Wow, those are really high numbers for inflammation. I hope the steroids help.

If you do reduce carbs and sugar remember to substitute any missing calories with more fat and protein.

I don't know what you consider to be healthy fats, but personally I use any kind of fat or oil which would have been recognised by people somewhere in the world about 200 years ago. Anything that required a laboratory to develop it is out.

[Constance13]

I have had polymyalgia for 10 years, but only recently diagnosed with Hashimoto so I doubt wether they have any connections.Go onto the PMR/GCAuk forum on healthunlocked.com, everyone is so helpful and you will be able to ask as many questions as you like.