shoulder & left arm pain

[Greenscarf9]

can shoulder and left arm pain be a symptom of thyroid?

Had pain radiating down arm from shoulder for over 2 weeks comes and goes a bit but agony

[Buddy195 Administrator]

So we can offer better advice, we really need to see full thyroid blood tests. 3 months ago you supplied TSH, but for a complete picture of your thyroid health FT3 and FT4 are required, in addition to key thyroid vitamins (folate, ferritin, B12 and vit D). So many symptoms can be thyroid related, including pain in limbs.

If your GP is unable to complete all the above (eg if TSH is within range, some surgeries may not be able to access FT4 and FT3 tests), you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

3 months ago you were taking 50mcg Levo. Is this still the case? If so, this is usually given as a starter dose, so highly likely you will need an increase.

[meme in reply to Buddy195]

Could be anything. Call 111 and ask for advice.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done

Only test 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)

have you had thyroid antibodies tested to see if cause is autoimmune thyroid disease

If not get GP to test

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)

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

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/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

See detailed reply by SeasideSusie

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

[Anthea55]

Your thyroid can have all sorts of effects but it could be something else.

If your GP isn't getting you anywhere why not try ringing 111 for advice. Here's the link to the NHS website.

111.nhs.uk/

[Fruitandnutcase]

I know it’s probably a grim thought but with the agonising pain in your arm and shoulder have you been checked out for heart problems - it could be anything or nothing though. I would see your GP if I were you.

[Jazzw in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Came here to say the same! Needs checking out!

[Sparklingsunshine]

Could be a trapped nerve, frozen shoulder, or tendonitis. Both are more common when hypo. I've had FS and elbow tendonitis and both are very painful.

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

it’s not uncommon a few of us here have shoulder/arm business on and off, we can’t agree and not sure if it’s thyroid related. Mine is definitely improved by higher B12 and more regular gentle activity/exercise eg yoga. Do you get tingles? Numbness ? In the fingers on that side? 🌱

[Emm555]

sounds like frozen shoulder, there is a link to thyroid, see other frozen shoulder post!

[csj113]

please go to GP asap as left arm and shoulder pain can be cardiac issues.

[Fernsmum]

Morning I've mot been on for a while , but seeing your post nudged me , I'm also having shoulder and arm pain, and my fingers also painful in the mornings, I've been putting it down to damp weather and arthritis, but your post made me wonder , so I'll be watching your replys sorry to hijack your post x

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Fernsmum]

Get a full thyroid panel done and check your B12 levels 🤗

[DelicateInput]

More likely to be musculo-skeletal than thyroid-related. Could likely be rheumatoid arthritis which is also auto-immune. People tend to get other auto immune conditions once they have auto-immune thyroiditis. They thyroid is always tested when there are symptoms of RA.

I had this in 2014. The frozen shoulder came on overnight along with jammed fingers, stiff hand and wrist plus pain. Pain went down to elbow and up from wrist to elbow. A week later, I screamed with pain in elbow at work and two hours later I had a huge ball swelling on elbow.

You may find that after two weeks, the pain and stiffness will transfer to the other hand and ease off in the first one. This is typically RA.

Best thing to do is keep moving and don't sit around. A frozen shoulder is incredibly disabling. RA affects the tendons so you could get tendonitis in shoulder and also in wrists and hands.

[Fernsmum]

Thankyou ,I do have RA have had for years and obviously worsens with age , thank you I'll get it checked

[thyreoidea]

I would advise you to seek advice from your GP or 111 as most likely something other than a thyroid issue and sooner than later. As others have advised could be cardiac related, even if muscular/skeletal why suffer. Unfortunately people will always try to point to symptoms being thyroid related when they are not, well intentioned but sometimes dangerous.

[ThyroidDeb]

I had pain on the right side. It hurt to push around the bicep area. The pain ran down my arm and into my hand. I had physical therapy but they couldn't help, had a massage went to my chiropractor, nothing helped. Finally saw an orthopedic doctor who sent me for nerve test but all was normal. He gave me a shot in the shoulder and I took a week of steroids and the pain is gone. The inflammation was squeezing the nerves once we got the inflammation down it stopped hurting. Just an idea, wasn't due to my thyroid or RA.