Neurological pain - carpal tunnel syndrome.

[suedasher]

Hi all, I wanted to ask if there is any hypo/Hashi’s folk on this forum who has the same or similar presentation to me. About 12 years ago, after being diagnosed with celiac disease the GP ran some blood tests for my thyroid. The TSH level came back very high and out of range. The GP asked me if I felt tired all the time to which I replied ‘no, I’m never tired’. He discussed me taking thyroxine and I responded by asking ’why would I take a medication for something when I feel absolutely fine’? Bear in mind at this point in my life I know absolutely zilch about anything to do with my thyroid other than it’s situated at the front of my neck. Time goes by and I’m tested biannually with TSH still high, but nothing changes. Then it happens. Pain in my extremities. Pins and needles in my feet, pain in my shoulders, excruciating pain in my hands so bad that I can’t even hold a pen to sign my name and have to leave my dream job I go to physio, have massages, try acupuncture - nothing works. I’m in so much pain I make an emergency appointment with any GP I can get in with and this proves to be fortuitous - he looks at my medical record, checks me over and says ‘you’ve got neurological damage from your nerves swelling due to long term untreated hypothyroidism’. I ended up needing surgery on my right hand, my shoulders and left hand came good with medication. There isn’t much information out there in cyberspace re this type of Hashi’s presentation. It’s not even mentioned as a symptom in my local thyroid support organisation. Has anyone on here presented like this?

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Welcome to the forum suedasher,

So we can offer better advice, can you share blood test results (with ranges in brackets) for:

TSH

FT3

FT4

Plus any antibody and key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12)

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...

There is a strong link between neurological pain and untreated hypothyroidism so I would urge you to have full thyroid and vitamin tests (plus antibodies to see if thyroid issues are auto immune- aka Hashimotos). It is so important to take thyroid medication if your thyroid is struggling. The vast majority of people with hypothyroidism improve their thyroid health with optimal doses of Levothyroxine.

[suedasher in reply to Buddy195]

Hi Buddy195, thank you for your prompt reply. I have had blood work done and I do take thyroxine and have a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease. I’m just wanting to know if any members on here have a similar presentation to mine ie. they don’t get tired, they get neurological pain. My doctor said the pain is due to the nerves swelling and in places like the carpal tunnel in the wrist area is where the nerves can get very painful.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to suedasher]

Just to say untreated Hypo can often lead to B12 deficiency and that when its low can cause neurological symptoms such as pins and needles, among others.

And yes I have had a lot of issues with tendons, had frozen shoulder years ago which I've since learnt was a hypo symptom and went through a very painful period where the tendons in my right arm were inflammed, from my elbow to my fingers, mine was the ulnar nerve though.

When hypo we tend to accumulate fluid in the tissues, this extra fluid can press on nerves and tendons, causing the issues you describe.

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to suedasher]

Neurological pain will worsen if thyroid medication and key vitamins are not optimal. Can you share results with us, so we can offer better advice?

[stiltzski in reply to suedasher]

I was disagnosed with carpel tunnel way before I had thyroid problems. I never associated the two. I was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia (often now seeen as undiagnosed hypothyroidism). Then I saw Dr Skinner, who treated my thyroid. I have several other autoimmune illnesses.

[jimh111]

Carpel tunnel can be caused by hypothyroidism and is usually reversible with treatment. As you say it's now well recognised.

[humanbean]

If you want to know more about the symptoms of hypothyroidism you might find this thread of interest :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[humanbean]

One of the fairly common symptoms of untreated or under-treated hypothyroidism mentioned on the forum is called plantar fasciitis. I think it has some things in common with carpel tunnel, except it occurs in the feet and ankles.

First thing in the morning when getting up, putting the heels on the floor is excruciatingly painful, and the ankles won't bend. I found that this made walking and getting downstairs difficult. After moving around for an hour or so the problem would dissipate until the following morning when it would reappear.

Doctors will often tell patients that all they need to do is exercise and/or lose weight, but patients who are then treated for hypothyroidism often find that their plantar fasciitis goes away by itself. Mine did, very quickly. I never even mentioned my plantar fasciitis to my doctor.

I never bothered with specific exercises. At the time I had the problem I had a dog and I walked her a lot, and it didn't make things any better.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant...

On the above link hypothyroidism is mentioned in the section entitled "Differential Diagnosis".

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to humanbean]

I suffered with PF for two long years, I tried everything from orthotics, steroid injections into the bottom of my heel, really painful and a night splint, to hold my foot flexed, to stretch the tendon.

None of these helped and it as really affecting my qol. I had two young children at the time and was was hobbling around like a pirate with a wooden leg. I also had heel spurs so in the end insisted on getting them surgically removed and fortunately I've not had any recurrence. I still do the stretches though, as tight Achilles can really pull on the heel bone.

I'm curious why hypo is linked with PF?

[humanbean in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

I'm curious why hypo is linked with PF?

I don't know, sorry.

[humanbean in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

I did find this page that might be helpful :

web.archive.org/web/2022120...

I had to link the web archive version because the palomahealth version won't display correctly for me, for some unknown reason.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to humanbean]

Thanks for that, very interesting and just confirms my suspicion that my thyroid function has been sub optimal for a long time.

[Bertwills]

I’ve been hypo for decades & taking thyroxine but it didn’t stop me developing a variation on carpel tunnel called De Quervains syndrome which affects the tendons in the wrist which control movement of your thumb. It’s excruciating & unfortunately was not diagnosed for nearly 2 years. I tried everything just like you but once properly identified was quickly cured by the correct physio showing me simple exercises using my thumb & fingers.

I believe that it’s not the nerves swelling but the tendons which them rub & catch as they move. Really painful.

Hypothyroidism means that the body holds on to moisture in many ways. Mucin under the skin for example.

If you still have problems in your hands you need to find a specialist physio. I think the exercises are detailed on Google though & they’re very simple to do. I couldn’t believe the quick relief they gave. Idiot GP put me through hell mis diagnosing the problem. Surgery was discussed then too. Thank God I avoided it.

Your initial diagnosed was very lax not to treat you despite what you said about tiredness. Untreated hypothyroidism will have been causing damage throughout your body.