Thyroid and Carpel Tunnel syndrome

[ainslie]

My partner has been diag with carpel tunnel syndrome and a bit of googling and the GP says it can be caused by thyroid issues. She also has Fibromyalgia and low thyroid which we are working on slowly as she is finding it hard to tolerate any more than 1/2 a Grain of Armour. My question is has anyone had any success with carpel tunnel syndrome by optimising thyroid? She may need cortisone shots or surgery for it but before taking that leap just wondering if it is fixable by thyroid.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Yes usually completely disappears on correct dose

Most people start on levothyroxine

Did she ever try levothyroxine

On NDT often necessary to split dose…..so adding 2nd dose 8-10 hours after first dose

What are her most recent TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Has she had thyroid antibodies tested for autoimmune thyroid disease, aka Hashimoto’s

See in previous post you say she’s dairy free…..so likely autoimmune

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

On T3 or NDT - day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day with last dose 8-12 hours before test

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[ainslie in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for info

Her last thyroid test was March on 1/2 grain of Armour

TSH- 3

FT4 -16.9

FT3 -3.7

Antibodies normal 13.6 and 22

Iodine in urine 566 despite stopping Iodine 6 months prior, assuming test is accurate , you may recall I posted about this before , she was put on Iodine drops by well known Naturopath in thyroid world. No longer seeing him.

She hasnt tried Levo, she has Fibro and having read all the books by John Lowe etc they all seem to favour NDT or T3?, however this is likely her last attempt at increasing Armour so probably try Levo next if probs wit Armour, the strange thing is if she even increases Armour by 1/4 grain she feels worse, very odd.

All vits and folate etc are in upper quartile.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ainslie]

NDT doesn’t suit everyone

She could stay on current dose Armour and add 25mcg levothyroxine

is she on dairy free diet?

Armour probably contains lactose?

[ainslie in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks again, no dairy in diet but can tolerate it no probs. Re adding Levo, does one try to get that from GP or privately, the tricky bit is her GP is likely to refuse as her TSH is not the 5 or 10 they want it to be to prescribe (we are in Scotland) especially as he is now on 1/2 grain armour.

[Brightness14]

When I am too low a dose of Thyroid medication i.e. low FT3 I often get odd pains, sometimes hip pain for days, wrist etc.etc.

[sugarplumferry]

I had carpal tunnel surgery some years ago. I have a small amount of muscle wastage on the ball of my thumb and that hand is definitely weaker than the other. I understand that if it’s left too long before having surgery there can be significant muscle wastage and you can reach a point of no return regarding the pain and numbness. This happened to someone I knew and he wore gloves 24/7 all year round. I do get a very occasional shooting pain in my wrist but it’s nothing compared to the pain and numbness I had before surgery. I would urge you to be aware of this as you try to resolve it.

[ainslie in reply to sugarplumferry]

thank you for info, I have red if left too long it can be problems, I suppose the question is how long is too long

[sugarplumferry in reply to ainslie]

I decided to set the wheels in motion when I couldn’t work through the numbness when I was using a keyboard, essential to my job! I couldn’t hold an iron or handheld food mixer for too long. In the early days I was given a wrist splint by physio to wear at night. It stops your wrist curving over and trapping the nerve. The op is quite a quick procedure which you’re awake for. I know someone else who’s had both wrists done and he actually watched the second one being done!

[ainslie in reply to sugarplumferry]

thanks

[eeng]

I have had both done and haven't got any issues at all. The recovery is between 1 week and a month per hand, I'm right handed and the left hand was quicker to recover (presumably less muscle to repair). I watched the operation on one hand too.