[Madame_X]

#1068000

Hiya — sorry you’re having such a bad time.

Yep, muscle pain is common. I had it for quite awhile — I was dx nearly a year ago and only in the past week and a half (my levels are normal) is the muscle weakness and pain going away.

You might also ask your doc if there’s any way he or she can sign you up for physical therapy. I’d hate to see you get a muscle injury. Good luck.

[powergrrrl29]

#1018945

I’ve been taking PTU for graves disease since March. I was feeling great. I was able to start running again which is something I love. I am currently on 50 mg of PTU per day. My last labs on 8/21/09 were as follows TSI 145 (down from over 200), TSH 0.43 (0.4-4.5) (this was my first normal TSH since diagnosis), Thyroxine Free, Direct 0.88 (0.80-1.80) and Total T3 88 (97-219). The endocrinologist kept me on the same dose of PTU and my next labs in 12 weeks.
Anyway about 8 weeks ago I was running and thought I pulled my quad muscle. I then started to get Left hip and groin pain. I was diagnosed with a back injury although I didn’t have an MRI to confirm this. I also have bilateral quadricep muscle soreness….it feels like I ran a marathon or did 1000 squats the day before and I’ve done nothing. I am starting to wonder if this might have something to do with my thyroid. My free thyroxine and total T3 are bordering on being hypo. Has anyone with low T3 or T4 had issues with muscle soreness like this. I have a call out to my endocrinologist to ask her, but she never returned my call and of course now I’ll have to wait til monday to try calling her again. Any input would be appreciated.

Lisa

[npatterson]

#1068001

The muscle pain that I am familiar with is bilateral. It sounds like at least some of yours is site specific. Suggest you sit down with your doctor and have a good dialogue about how much exercise is good for you right now. As far as the labs go: we don’t interprete them, because we are not doctors.

Take care,

[leannehammer]

#1068002

8 weeks ago I got a sudden cramp and tear in my right calf. I have had this twice before in the distant past. It was always after running on gravel roads in the heat. Both times it healed in 2 weeks almost to the day.
This time my calf muscle stayed tender for longer and when it seemed improved I was able to run for about 0.5 mile feeling great until it started to cramp up again. Every time this happened I rested for a week or two but it happened again. I have now "got better" 3 times.
What do you think is going on and what should I do about it?
I have been a runner for 25 years and have followed Chi Running style for 3 years with success. I am quite flexible in my calves and hamstrings. I am 64 years old.
Thanks for your help.

[Bobbi]

#1068003

One of the effects of too much thyroid hormone is muscle loss (and associated muscle weakness). When we regain normal levels of thyroid hormone, the lost muscle slowly returns, but it is not strong muscle until we have toned it, worked with it.

It is possible when we start feeling well again, to return, immediately, to pre-disease "normal" levels of exercise. This may be a bad idea from the muscle standpoint. Former joggers have complained on the board of shin splints as well as other muscle problems. We need to start out with baby steps, building up exercise levels slowly, and really listen to our bodies. What may have been "normal" prior to hyperthyroidism, may be excessive for a while after you regain normal levels of hormone. An example from my own experience: after RAI I went to an exercise physiologist to get a recommendation for exercise levels. He analyzed my muscle mass, tone, etc. etc., and told me I had eight percent (yes, 8%) of the "normal" strength of a woman my age. Obviously, it took me a while to overcome that deficit, and I could not start out exercising with the same vigor I had before becoming ill.

[James]

#1068004

Nancy brings up a great point that we can’t interpret labs, but did you mention to your Dr. that you were feeling great and then didn’t feel so great when your levels were bordering on Hypo? I experienced cramping and such when I was bordering on hyper, but my levels never went as low as yours so I can’t comment on the other end of the spectrum, although it does seem suspect in your particular case and is well worth pursuing with your Dr. Also, consider and explore with your Dr. other health conditions that are unrelated to Graves’ that may have an impact on the cramping/soreness you are experiencing. As an example, this past Spring I was placed on full spectrum antibiotics for a condition totally unrelated to Graves. The fungal infection that ensued as a result of antibiotic use brought on similar conditions to what you are experiencing. I am physically fit and continually active, but felt extreme cramping and muscle pain that would not let up, this was very unusual for me and it wasn’t Graves related. Our bodies are complicated machines. Just make sure you rule every possible condition out with your Dr.

[powergrrrl29]

#1068005

Thanks for all the replies. I am actually feeling better as far as the muscle pain. My labs are still boardering on the hypo side, but they were like this even when I was running great. I had an injury to my left quad that could’ve possibly been referred pain from a back injury….well that’s what the doc’s were guessing. I swam instead of ran for about 6 weeks and then went back to running. Well I think the muscle pain was just my legs getting used to running again after not running for 6 weeks…..duh. So I don’t think it was graves related. The pain is basically gone. I’ve cutback on my running and I’m seeing a sports doctor who is helping me work with some strength imabalances in my legs. I definitely lost muscle in my legs from the graves….I have chicken legs now so I’m working on it. Thanks again everyone.

Lisa

[Author]

Posts