
Struggling With Hashimotos. Having Pain In Neck, Back And Shoulders. Have Severe Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome With Some Nerve Damage. Help?

Posted on
Fri, 20 Sep 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team


Question : I don't know what my next step should be. I have been struggling with Hashimotos for 13 years. Some years have been ok. But often I have pain (feet, hands, low back, neck and shoulders, and headaches lasting 2-4 days). I am 40 with 4 children, so the daytime fatigue is a huge problem. About a year ago, doctor reduced Synthroid from 125 to 100mcg. I woke up two days later with "severe" bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome with some nerve damage, but when doc upped Synthroid to 112mcg, the CTS went away. It has come and gone some since with night braces being helpful. Neurologist gave me Gabapentin for RLS and CTS. It makes me feel drunk, but helps RLS ( which I only have rarely). It does nothing for CTS. When I have these flares, it is totally miserable. My scalp gets crusty and har falls out like crazy leaving noticeably thin patches around my temple area, I am completely exhausted about 3 hours after taking Synthroid. I crave chocolate and eat too much. This morning, my hands were so swollen and stiff and painful that I could not close them at all. Tramadol and Ibuprofen help. I saw a rheumatologist who says I have osteoarthritis in my low back, but it has thankfully gotten much better as has the foot pain. He also said I tested negative for some inflammation syndrome but positive for a lupus test. Then, he said I probably have fibromyalgia and CFS. This is awful! What is it? Should I find a new endo and beg for Armour? I have tried many diets and manage somehow to keep a normal weight 5'6" and 134 pounds. I just want my life back- pain gone, energy and hair restored, please tell me there is a magic pill for this!
Brief Answer:
Regulate thyroid. do not take armour
Detailed Answer:
I see your complex symptoms. I am sorry to note you have no relief from some problems. Armour is not recommended. Have you ever had thyroid antibodies tested like TPO and/or TG antibodies. If so I would like to know if they were positive or negative. Try to keep your TSH in the range of 0.5 to 2
Unfortunately there is no magic pill.
For more information, you may wish to peruse this :
WWW.WWWW.WW
Regulate thyroid. do not take armour
Detailed Answer:
I see your complex symptoms. I am sorry to note you have no relief from some problems. Armour is not recommended. Have you ever had thyroid antibodies tested like TPO and/or TG antibodies. If so I would like to know if they were positive or negative. Try to keep your TSH in the range of 0.5 to 2
Unfortunately there is no magic pill.
For more information, you may wish to peruse this :
WWW.WWWW.WW
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

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