Bones & thyroid.. Any link??

[MrsClanger]

My GP asked the NHS consultant to investigate my parathyroid.. But the. Endo department refused.. gp feels I'm over medicating because ofan underlying condition.. Though he's working on the basis of the TSH being undetected.. But endo won't even entertain looking further into parathyroid as my calcium is now normal. They have washed hands and really just don't care.

I still have bradychardia but it's not as bad as it was.. I don't faint anymore.

I constantly have high alkaline phosphatase, and low white blood cell count and in so much pain.. I have rapidly spreading arthritis ( aswell as being diagnosed with fibromyalgia decades ago)... And now my shoulder bone is growing bigger of its own accord.. Which is very weird :@.. It's very confusing not knowing what is linked to the thyroid disease or not.

My new GP is very nice and kind, but does keep saying I'm over dosing myself on thyroid meds even tho t4 and T3 are within range, and that its going to kill me via heart attack or oesteoartris.... But then doesn't understand why my heart rate is low. ( surely the heart concern is caused by high thyroid levels causing trachacardia??)

He was shocked by my shoulder bone growing longer.. It's sticking right out now but I've noticed it growing bigger and abnormal over the last year. Gp referred to phisio and x ray. Seeing phisio today hope to get x ray report.

Now they won't test T3 on NHS and withdrawn my T3 meds.

Any insight into any connection between thyroid and bones much appreciated.

[xNorthernLightsx]

Hi

I have high ALP and it’s frequently a sign of Osteoporosis (which I do have).

There is a view among medics that low/suppressed TSH causes Osteoporosis. It doesn’t! I was diagnosed with this condition long before I had thyroid issues or took thyroid hormones. Have you had a DEXA scan to eliminate that possibility?

You’ve got a few things going on here. Heart rate is often low when cortisol is low.

Do you know your Calcium levels? If you do, can you post them, along with your last Thyroid blood results?

You’ve spoken about Bradichardia (low heart rate) and tachycardia (high heart rate rate). Which do you have?

To just withdraw your T3 hormones without any proper diagnosis is crazy. Think GP is panicking. My GP says that I’m overmedicated purely on the basis of my suppressed TSH. It’s madness - particularly as I’ve had my thyroid removed.

So - blood test results and dose of Levo and T3 will be helpful. You’ll get lots of help and support here as I have done already

[MrsClanger in reply to xNorthernLightsx]

Hi. Thanks for reply. Yup it's insane.. No explanation from my doc or phisio why I'm getting osteoarthritis so bad.. Just that it's age related.. I asked if it's normal.. She said not really.. But no advice other than I'm weak as a kitten and need to strengthen my muscles.. It very painful to do the exercises they give me.

Cortisol.. 514 nmol/L

Range:133 - 537 nmol/L

Date:18 Feb 2025 08:32:00

Previous was high..

626 nmol/L

Range:133 - 537 nmol/L

Date:21 Mar 2024 08:45:00

They did a few cortisol tests.. But I'm told it's normal.

I had a dexa scan few years ago they said I have oesteopenina.. When I posted the results on the Oesteo forum I was told they were actually good.. No need to worry. But gp scaremingered me and said it's because of the surpressed TSH.

Serum adjusted calcium

Not tested last week..

Last test within range last time

2.43 mmol/L

Range:2.15 - 2.5 mmol/L

Date:10 Oct 2024 08:56:00

Although one previous test was a bit high.

2.57 mmol/L

Range:2.15 - 2.5 mmol/L

Date:31 Jan 2024 08:50:00

But endo says parathyroid not an issue as calcium would be higher.

Though I've read that's not always the case.

Parathyroid

4.8 pmol/L

Range:1.6 - 6.9 pmol/L

Date:10 Oct 2024 08:56:00

Recent TSH 0.01 as usual.

T4

16 pmol/L

Range:11.1 - 22 pmol/L

Date:18 Feb 2025 08:32:00

Ferritin

71 ug/L

Range:30 - 150 ug/L

Folate

12.5 ug/L

Range:1.9 - 25 ug/L

Date:18 Feb 2025 08:32:00

Vit D

57 nmol/L

Range:50 - 99,999 nmol/L

Date:18 Feb 2025 08:32:00

B12

574 ng/L

Range:197 - 771 ng/L

Date:18 Feb 2025 08:32:00

I did stop taking all my supplements a week before test to get a clear baseline.

I normally ( will resume) vit b complex with folate. Easy iron, vit d. K2 mk7. Zinc and magnesium.

[MrsClanger in reply to xNorthernLightsx]

My gp has been scratching his head about the alp, as I don't have oesteoperosis yet.. Maybe it's to do with the bone spurs and Degenerative disc syndrome?

[xNorthernLightsx in reply to MrsClanger]

It could be anything bone related - although interestingly, ALP is also connected to liver disease. Doctors rule that out by doing Liver Function Tests before they start to consider bones.

Thanks for sharing those results. You haven’t put ALP on there - unless I’ve missed it! How high is it?

I have osteoarthritis in hip and knee. Any inflammation from that usually shows up in ESR (inflammation marker) test.

If you had your DEXA scan a few years ago and were Osteopoenic, a lot can have changed. You may now have entered the next phase and be osteoporotic in either hip, lumbar spine or both. I’m surprised that your GP hasn’t referred you for another scan. Things change very quickly.

Do you take Calcium supplements as well / instead of Vitamin D / K2?

Think Endo and your GP could be missing the elephant in the room and you definitely need another DEXA scan.

Parathyroid issues are complicated. Sometimes normal calcium levels co-exist with Hyperparathyroidism. In this case though, parathyroid levels would be higher than those you were showing at last test. Perhaps another Parathyroid test would be in order too

uclahealth.org/medical-serv...

link below gives basic info about ALP

Note:

Signs and symptoms of bone disorders include:

Bone pain and/or joint pain.

Enlarged and/or abnormally shaped bones.

Increased frequency of bone fractures.

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

Keep digging!

[MrsClanger in reply to xNorthernLightsx]

Hi.. Thanks for the info..My Serum alkaline phosphatase is

135 iu/L

Range:35 - 104 iu/L18 Feb 2025 08:32:00

Previous test..

148 iu/L

Range:35 - 104 iu/L

Date:10 Oct 2024 08:56:00

My gp wanted me to have my back investigated again ( rta 1999 caused whiplash and i only had one x ray in 2003.. Bony spurs showed then.)

He referred me to the phisio this week to check my shoulder out after xray ( just shoulders) and do the referral..

She just patronised me, told me it's all to do with my fibromyalgia.. Some calcification shown on x ray but no explanation of the huge lump on my shoulder bone. She told me it's more pronounced due to lack of muscle tone on that side.. Which is total bs in my opinion.

I asked her to refer me to msk for excersize advice.. Hoping to get a second opinion.. But then was told it's a 6 month wait.

I'll book to see GP again.. Have sent lengthy email regarding my T3 meds being stopped. But will demand a second opinion and referral to msk ASAP.

[MrsClanger in reply to xNorthernLightsx]

I have osteoarthritis in my hip, my thumb joints and also been told it's in my arms previously. I wish I'd never had the diagnosis of fibromyalgia though as I feel the docs just lump everything onto that.

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

Bone spurs in shoulder

highmountainortho.com/3-way....

often linked to osteoarthritis

upmc.com/services/orthopaed....

[MrsClanger in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you.. More help than the phisio!! 👍

[xNorthernLightsx in reply to SlowDragon]

I have tri-compartmental osteoarthritis in one knee with a painful bone spur beneath it which is getting larger.

verywellhealth.com/bone-spu...

[AKatieD]

Don't know if this is relevant to you, but my osteoarthritis came on with perimenopause and was treated by HRT ( the oestrogen part ). Not had any problems since starting oestrogen.

[xNorthernLightsx in reply to AKatieD]

Do you mean osteoarthritis or osteoporosis

[AKatieD]

Arthritis

[AKatieD]

Here is an example of evidence ....Numerous clinical studies have also shown that OA is related to estrogen levels [8,9,41-47]. Thus, the prevalence of OA is greater in women than men and a clear increase in OA prevalence is associated with the peak age of menopause [8,9,41

Conclusions on use HRT more unclear. But for me worked a treat

[MrsClanger in reply to AKatieD]

I'm post menopause 20 years. Hit full menopause at 37.. I think brought on by late diagnosis of hashimotos. ( misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue and left to rot for 10 yrs..) I'm now 57.

My Serum alkaline phosphatase is 135 iu/LRange:35 - 104 iu/L

18 Feb 2025 08:32:00

Last test..

148 iu/L

Range:35 - 104 iu/L

Date:10 Oct 2024 08:56:00

[AKatieD]

Most of our hormones seem to affect each other unfortunately which seems to make balancing them post menopause diificult.

My OA was diagnosed by MRI of knee - lot of shredded cartilage and bone on bone action. Had to work out the hormone link for myself though as orthopaedic surgeon just wanted to offer knee replacement.

I don't know about alkaline phosphatase I am afraid but hopefully someone else will