Pituitary tumor symptoms: joint, muscle and body aches
Hi. I am new to this. And not sure I'm in the right category. I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor in November. However, I have been experiencing terrible joint, muscle and body aches for a year now. No doctor knows why and nobody can confirm its from the tumor. I'm frustrated and becoming very hopeless and depressed. Can anyone with a pituitary tumor relate to body pain?
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) Support Group.
I was diagnosed with a prolactinoma pituitary tumor. However, in all honesty, I think the doctors question what kind of tumor it really is. For prolactinoma, my prolactin level should be in the hundreds and thousands. My blood work showed it was at 57- high enough its a problem, but not high enough to be prolactinoma. The following was diagnosis from a variety of docs I saw: 1st primary physician- carpel tunnel, 2nd primary physician- I am over weight. Rheumatologist- 1st visit-I have gout. 2nd visit- fibromyalgia. 3rd visit depression. When I saw my endochronologist, he said it was my weight; the tumor had nothing to do with the pain. When I saw the neurologist he didn't even want to hear about my symptoms. His goal is to get the tumor out. With obvious frustration, I called Mayo and thankfully, I see an endochronolgist and a neurosurgeon soon. In the mean time, I have been researching pituitary tumors and joint/muscle pain, and I fall short every time. Then it dawned on me to research hypothyroidism (which I was diagnosed with when the tumor was found November '19). I have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism, one being sever muscle/joint/bone pain, swollen hands/fingers and feet, and carpel tunnel like symptoms, to name a few. All those symptoms are a result of nerve damage from hypothyroidism going untreated. I noticed something "off" with my body almost 2 years ago. I just assumed it was because I am aging, not as active, overweight. Turns out the tumor and hypothyroidism has slowing been creeping up on me. And interestingly enough, I stumbled across an article (that I didn't save and can't find on the internet) that quoted a doctor. He said the patients need to listen to what our bodies are telling us and not always go by what our blood work shows. I guess blood work doesn't always show there is a thyroid issues because our hormone levels change throughout the day. He advised to talk to the doctor about all the symptoms regardless of the blood work results. I know this was lengthy, but I hope it helps. My next research is going to be nerve damage and how/if/when it will heal and I hope I will be pain free once my hypothyroidism gets back to normal.
@khauert May I ask what kind of pituitary tumor you were diagnosed with? My daughter was diagnosed with a pituitary adenoma causing Cushing’s disease- excessive cortisol. However, about 10 years before this diagnosis she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia- I mean chronic, severe pain.
Welcome to Connect, @khauert. I moved both your messages to this discussion and added it to the Brain Tumor group as well the NETs group. I did this so that members could get the full picture and to bring fellow members together, like @ladydove417 @dmedina71 @astaingegerdm @sandysdoves @gemttaz and others who may have experience to share with you about pituitary tumor and joint and muscle pain and body aches.
You can also read about others with pituitary tumors in this discussion
- Looking for others with Pituitary Adenoma https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-like-to-now-if-their-is-anyone-who-has-been-diagnosed/
Are you getting treatment at this point to help manage the ache and pain? How do you manage it? Might it be related to medication you're taking?
Hi. I have been experiencing excruciating and debilitating joint and muscle pain for several months now. My lab work clears me of any rheumatoid issues. However, my rheumatologist diagnosed me with gout. I was on Allopurinol for a couple months with symptoms only worsening. I stopped the medication because I don't have the other typical gout symptoms. My primary doc, endocronologist, and podiatrist also ruled gout out. I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor in November. I can't find a doctor who can help. Nobody seems to know why I have body pain and nobody can tell me if it relates to the tumor. I am ver frustrated living like this. I am just wondering if anyone else out there with a pituitary tumor might be experiencing constant cracking bones and popping joints with awful body pain that affects their daily activities/routine.