[Anonymous February 27, 1997 at 4:28 pm Post count: 93172]

#1164374

Colleen, I really feel for you. I just took my RAI on Mon – but seems
like from the moment I went on Tapazole in Nov my back started hurting.
I babied it somewhat – got worse and worse until a major spasm occured
and now I have numbness accross the buttocks and down the legs somewhat
and into one of my feet! Went to a back MD – he says it isn’t a disk –
thinks it’s some congenital problem, but I swear that it didn’t start
until I started on Tapazole. I will be 40 this year – have been to PT
and they didn’t know what to make of it all – I’m grateful that I’m
walking around somewhat. It does seem like Graves or the medications
are responsible – who knows. I hope that you get to feeling somewhat
better./

[Anonymous February 27, 1997 at 4:53 pm Post count: 93172]

#1056785

I had the RAI treatment last July and had alot of trouble with arm and hand numbness and pain along with neck pain lately. Is there anyone out there that has been diagnosed with arthritis and Spinal Stenosis. I’m only 44 yrs. old and all of this is now severe enough to require surgery. I am now going to a physical therapist but they don’t really know if they can help with the problem. Also, I’m still having palpitations and am on inderal, can’t seem to get off this stuff! I am hypo and taking synthroid but have so much trouble walking around because of my joints, tiredness, walking upstairs, or any kind of activity. Any advice from anyone would be appreciated. Is there a connection between arthritis, neck,spinal problems when having graves and then the RAI treatment. Never had all these problems before.

[Anonymous February 27, 1997 at 6:11 pm Post count: 93172]

#1164375

Mary–this is just a shot in the dark, a wild guess–but I know thatbeing hyperthyroid depletes your body’s calcium, and that can affectyour muscles. I get leg cramps at night unless I take calciumsupplements, just like I did when I was pregnant. It sounds likea small treatment for a big problem, but I know calcium deficienciescan be serious. Just a thought.Abigail

[Anonymous March 18, 1997 at 10:32 pm Post count: 93172]

#1164376

I’m new to this Graves Disease stuff and I have my first appointment with an endo next week. I want to go with plenty of questions and have learned a few things to ask from this bb already.

I’ve read about surgical removal of the thyroid gland on the internet, but haven’t seen it mentioned here. Is that a thing of the past?

[Anonymous March 19, 1997 at 6:28 am Post count: 93172]

#1164377

Welcome, Katie. From what I read, when I was deciding upon treatment, surgery is still used in certain circumstances — especially treatment of thyroid cancer. But for Graves patients, the thyroid can be eliminated by RAI without the potential, harmful side-effects of surgery. In addition to the normal risks of surgery, surgery risks the parathyroids, and sometimes the vocal chords. Anyway, surgery is no longer on the top of the list of treatments for Graves patients.

Bobbi

[Anonymous April 13, 1998 at 12:00 pm Post count: 93172]

#1164378

I have had GD now for 4 yrs. 2 yrs. ago had RAI for ablation of thyroid. Six months later a MRI indicated spinal stenosis in neck area. I now have a difficult time standing or walking. The surgeon has said to have a laminectomy where they take out both L4,5 disks and then a bone graft from the hip to fuse the area. Has anyone else with Graves had this problem after being treated. It seems like my life is really going down the toilet lately, with the 30 lbs weight gain, ups and downs of GD, hypertension, etc. This surgery really sounds Nasty. Please help someone???

[Anonymous April 13, 1998 at 3:26 pm Post count: 93172]

#1164379

Dear Colleen:
I can’t tell you that I have ever even heard of this before,because I haven’t heard of it at all Colleen,but I did want to make you feel not so alone,and I will admitt to you it does sound scary business to me,you poor dear,if you need anything or if I can help in any way I would be happy to. Take care Colleen, Barb

[Anonymous April 13, 1998 at 4:39 pm Post count: 93172]

#1164380

Hi, Colleen, could you tell us what is spinal stenosis is?

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