This question is asked on behalf of my wife. I accompanied her to all the doctors and endocrinologists for over thirty years! After many battles, we have got her on T4 and T3 and she takes all the supporting supplements as suggested in the forum. She is doing well.
I wanted to ask if anyone on the forum had come across the carpal tunnel syndrome in connection with the auto-immune illness of Hashimotos. A few doctors on YouTube seem to suggest a connection between the two. More specifically we were looking for information on what seems to be termed a "double-crush syndrome" where some of the problems originate from higher up the arm and in the neck region. We are currently awaiting some results from the Advanced Well Woman test from Medichecks. My wife had a very recent blood test result and the doctor has contacted her via text asking her to reduce her medication as the TSH was low (It was the only metric used! Again!). There seems to be another new doctor at the practice so it may be we will be on the warpath again.
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Frank57
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Quite common to get carpel tunnel with poorly treated hypothyroidism, I believe it is down to retained fluid that compresses the nerves so you would assume could strike in many areas that are restricted hence double crush
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is an entrapment neuropathy that occurs due to compression of median nerve in the carpal tunnel and hypothyroidism is one of the important causes of CTS.
There can be a Vitamin B deficiency element to carpal tunnel as well. Hypothyroidism tends to give one a tendency to not absorb nutrients as well (slow gut motility etc) so that’s worth keeping in mind.
B6 is the one that’s often quoted though there aren’t really tests for that. But deficiencies in other of the B vits can also cause carpal tunnel symptoms too.
Organic Acid Test covers B6.... this is how I found my levels were low and realized the B complex I had been taking contained pyridoxine which needs converting to P-5-P and can actively block uptake in some rather than raise levels if unable to convert!
It's not a cheap test but was interesting as it covers so many other things which I needed to tackle... when you finally crawl back into the world having sorted out your thyroid levels there are so many other things that have suffered...
I always recommend people choose a B complex which contains P-5-P rather than worrying about testing as the others could actually be reducing B6 levels further 😕
How long did it take you to recover your B6 levels and what dose did you take? I suspect I'm in the same position only without a formal B6 test to go by. Low B6 seems to be implicated in inflammatory states and so correcting with the active form p5p acts as an anti inflammatory.
I must admit I haven't bothered to retest just swapped to P-5-P and double dosed for a few weeks before dropping back to 10mcg (RDA) and feel much perkier, improved brain function, better mood and appetite... B6 is one that you equally don't want too much of either 🙃
One thing I did accomplish at my one and only Nhs Endo appointment was getting my Vit B6 level measured, when had not supplemented by way of B complex for 2 weeks, which contains B6. I had good reason for asking. It was 30 something % through the range.
when on replacement thyroid hormones it’s ESSENTIAL to always test Ft4 and Ft3 …..especially when also taking T3 as well
Taking almost any dose of T3 will significantly reduce or suppress TSH……most important results are ALWAYS Ft4 and Ft3 …..plus optimal vitamin levels
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)
T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
I had a similar problem caused by swelling of my thumb tendon. De Quervains. Excruciating pain for 18 months until I was eventually sent to a specialist physiotherapist, who gave me simple exercises . Within a couple of weeks the pain went. I couldn’t believe it, GP had previously given me very strong painkillers & steroid injections that, in themselves, were very painful. Please request a specialist hand physio or track one down. Maybe try the exercises on YouTube or Pinterest etc.? They may start recovery. Hopefully your GP will learn to live with your wife’s low TSH.
I see a private physio in London who has sorted out my neck / ear / headache pain which relates to compressed nerves in my neck and weakness on one side of body. More of a posture, strength and proprioceptive thing than a thyroid one… or so I think.
The difference between the NHS physios and private ones I’ve seen - even though they train the same way - is wide and deep, sad to say it though I am. If you need a recommendation, I have one.
Hi Frank, my hypothyroidism was discovered because of my carpel tunnel problems as well as a lot of pain in my shoulders and down my arms. At night time in particular I was having to sleep with my hands in splints to help stop the pain. A smart GP who I'd never seen before took one look at me and said ' you've got long term untreated hypothyroidism' - he was so right. Things had gotten so bad I couldn't even hold a pen or sign my name. I was having coritsone injected into my shoulders as well as going to physio. I started on levothyroxine but still needed surgery on my right hand. That was about 10 years ago and so far the left hand is holding up fine. My shoulders came good with the cortisone injections and the levo kicked in. I still have some discomfort in my hands, shoulders and feet but it doesn't impinge too much on daily life at this point. My hypothyroidism doesn't make me tired, rather it impacts my nerves and causes me pain. There are many different ways it can impact people.
depending on your wife’s age and whether she’s on HRT or not, perimenopause symptoms include muscle skeletal pain due to the lack of estrogen. (I have hypothyroidism and perimenopause)
What an interesting thread - Frank57 I hope your wife's carpal tunnel issues are soon sorted and the TSH doesn't cause too much trouble. I also have Hashimoto's and have a mystery wrist pain which swapped from the left to the right hand, initially thought to be De Quervain's but then the symptoms in the left wrist changed before switching to the right (which has never had those symptoms). All very weird and came on when I switched from NDT to Levo - which I hoped would ease my foot/ankle pains (it didn't...) - will be seeing a hand-specialist physio in a couple of weeks and I'll show him that article. I suspect my issues may be partly from the neck/shoulder/upper arm too. What a weird disease this is...
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