Anyone experience bad joint/muscle pain post thyroid removal?

Posted by gillsden @gillsden, Nov 11 6:43am

Hi - This may be a strange question, but I had half of my thyroid removed two and a half months ago. Lab work showed that the other half is not doing it's part as far as hormones and I have started Synthroid. I understand that it could take some time to reach a therapeutic level. I am wondering if it is possible for hypothyroid symptoms to get worse while waiting for the replacement hormone to work. The pain in my joints and muscles are severe enough to impact my day. Before I contacted my physician I wanted to touch base with everyone here because you have been so helpful in the past.
Thank you!

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I had my thyroid out now 2 tears ago due to Hurthle cancer. It came back in my neck region about 4 months ago as well as moved to my 8th rib. I had focused radiation to both areas in August. Now for the last 4 weeks my leg muscles and joints seem to ache all the time. Not sure of the cause yet. I have a meeting at the Mayo next week for my PET/CT scan to see if the radiation worked. I was going to also ask is these new ache pains part of this health challenge.

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@koh

I had a partial thyroidectomy and one parathyroid removed. I had to start taking medicine due to symptoms of hypothyroidism and was later told that I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I have been having a very hard time with the side effects from the medicine and one of the issues is the bone, muscle, joint pain. I do not know if it is the medicine itself, the dosage being too high or too low, a hashimotos event, or some other cause. Getting regulated on thyroid medicine is incredibly difficult! One doctor kept raising the dose to keep my numbers as low as possible (to prevent cancer regrowth) but the symptoms kept getting worse and worse. I have changed doctors a few times trying to get help and I have changed brands of medication (doctors advice) and the issues changed in severity, but did not resolve. I don’t know whether it’s directly related to the medication, the dosage, or the medication influencing something else, however it is related. (I have had to stop taking medication due to extreme reactions and the issues went away; but then thyroid symptoms came back). My doctor at the cancer hospital has been trying to get my dose adjusted, so it brings my thyroid numbers to the range they were pre-surgery when I felt fine. When my TSH is very low (supposed to prevent regrowth of cancer) I have a lot of bad side effects. My doctor said he thought it was better if the number was a little higher to decrease the side effects.
I had a lot of issues on Synthroid and Tirosint gave me an extreme reaction. Right now, I am on 50 mg of Levoxyl 5 days a week, but the bone, muscles and joint pains are still an issue (reduced but still here several days a week). I am going to a new endocrinologist in two weeks who appears to specialize in Hashimotos and cancer, so I am hopeful that I can get things regulated better. I have also been referred to a rheumatologist to try and determine if there is something else influencing this but will wait to see knew specialist to see who she recommends..
One of the best things I started to do was to write down the medication, the dose and the symptoms and I was able to see patterns. The issues can be very subtle and you might not realize they are related, however when I tracked them I saw the changes in dosage influencing the symptoms. I never had any issue with my thyroid or parathyroid numbers until post surgery, so the medication is new to me. Good luck!

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Thank you for your response. I am sorry that you have been going through so much. You were diagnosed with Hashimoto's after the partial thyroidectomy? May I ask if the thyroid cancer was an incidental finding or if you were having problems that initiated testing, etc. My numbers were always normal prior to surgery as well. I have a rheumatology appointment coming up and will ask about Hashimoto's. I wish you luck with your new specialist and hope that you will get the answers that you need to make you feel better. Please keep in touch and let us know how your appointment went. Take care!

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You have a lot going on. I think keeping a journal of your thyroid related meds, any other meds and side effects (pain etc) is best.
If you find a doctor you trust I would remain with them, even if the issues are not resolved. Give meds some time to work.
Try some alternatives - meditation, yoga, walking, swimming, etc. Music therapy is also beneficial.
I am not being dismissive of your issues.
Sending caring vibes.

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I had a partial thyroidectomy and one parathyroid removed. I had to start taking medicine due to symptoms of hypothyroidism and was later told that I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I have been having a very hard time with the side effects from the medicine and one of the issues is the bone, muscle, joint pain. I do not know if it is the medicine itself, the dosage being too high or too low, a hashimotos event, or some other cause. Getting regulated on thyroid medicine is incredibly difficult! One doctor kept raising the dose to keep my numbers as low as possible (to prevent cancer regrowth) but the symptoms kept getting worse and worse. I have changed doctors a few times trying to get help and I have changed brands of medication (doctors advice) and the issues changed in severity, but did not resolve. I don’t know whether it’s directly related to the medication, the dosage, or the medication influencing something else, however it is related. (I have had to stop taking medication due to extreme reactions and the issues went away; but then thyroid symptoms came back). My doctor at the cancer hospital has been trying to get my dose adjusted, so it brings my thyroid numbers to the range they were pre-surgery when I felt fine. When my TSH is very low (supposed to prevent regrowth of cancer) I have a lot of bad side effects. My doctor said he thought it was better if the number was a little higher to decrease the side effects.
I had a lot of issues on Synthroid and Tirosint gave me an extreme reaction. Right now, I am on 50 mg of Levoxyl 5 days a week, but the bone, muscles and joint pains are still an issue (reduced but still here several days a week). I am going to a new endocrinologist in two weeks who appears to specialize in Hashimotos and cancer, so I am hopeful that I can get things regulated better. I have also been referred to a rheumatologist to try and determine if there is something else influencing this but will wait to see knew specialist to see who she recommends..
One of the best things I started to do was to write down the medication, the dose and the symptoms and I was able to see patterns. The issues can be very subtle and you might not realize they are related, however when I tracked them I saw the changes in dosage influencing the symptoms. I never had any issue with my thyroid or parathyroid numbers until post surgery, so the medication is new to me. Good luck!

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