Recognising a flare up and possible thyroid related issues?

Mat48

Hi All. After yet another night thrashing about with ice cold feet, numb legs and a feverish sweat everywhere else I decided that I need to find more help than my GP seems able or willing to give me. I really just want to be referred to specialists and find out whether this pain I'm now in is RA or relates to my hypothyroidism perhaps. I have found out about a private hospital in Edinburgh and am thinking that I may have to go and see one of one of the most well known endocrynologists in Scotland there. I can ill afford this and know that my GP won't like this idea at all - and I will need him to co-operate with sending existing blood results down etc.

I decided on an endo as opposed to a neuro or rheumy because I already have a good, if terribly overworked rheumy and I have a very strong suspicion that my problems may lie with my B12 or T3. My GP refuses to take my T3 or check my vitamin D because I'm not bed ridden (yet) and my thyroid blood markers are just within normal range so he says my current dose of levothyroxine is okay. People on Thyroid UK say this is not so.

So what I wondered is whether anyone can tell me how the different the muscle and joint pain of hypothyroidism differs to the pain and muscle problems at the start of a big RA flare up? I've only ever suffered from excruciating pain in one or two joints at a time with RA - never from the flu-like ache and mind bogglingly depressing stinging and burning in every part of my body that I'm getting right now. I know I'm not sleeping and that I've newly started a dopamine agonist to see if this is all neurological so I'm feeling quite cautious about adding in more drugs although I did check with the pharmacist that these were okay to take with Pramipexole Teva. So the lack of sleep probably is making me much more sensitive to pain but I would like to know if this is RA or something else from anyone who is more familiar with slow build up to big flare ups. Basically I haven't got any part of me that doesn't ache or sting but nor have I got any part of my that I just can't move because it's swollen currently.

I'm at a lost to know how to treat this thing - whatever it is. I have taken paracetamol and feel no difference and I have Tramadol in my drawer but it's quite old now (16 months) and Ive never yet tried it. I have Naproxen but it bloats me quite badly and I feel I should hold these in reserve until the excruciating type of pain comes back perhaps? Can anyone advise me who has more experience of RA flares or thyroid issues please?

Boomer13

Hi Mat;

I'm sorry I don't know anything about thyroid problems, but I do know that Tramadol works very well for me, although only when I worked up to a pretty high dose of the time-release version. It has very few side-effects for me and seems to really help my pain. I take it with a variety of other things too and still it's not relieved, though.

xxanna

Mat48

Okay that's me then I'll try it out now while husband is around to scrape me up. Will check that it's not outside it's use by date first though as I think it might be. X

mazbaz

Hiya

I have had an under active thyroid since the 90's and even before diagnoses and medication for it I never had any pain with it. It just made me mind numbingly exhausted.
Been on Levothyroxine ever since and that seems to work.
Have now got Ra/ PSa (the jury is out at the mo!) as well so I know that any pain issues I have are related to the arthritis not the thyroid.

Am not assuming every one is the same tho...

I cant take Tramodol, tried it twice and was violently ill for 24 hours afterwards.

I hope you feel better soon. x

villier

Sorry mat my multi-nodular goitre is doing nothing so not on any meds as for tramadol I had terrible side effects with it but that's me....................Marie x

DebbieT

Hi,

Are you sure you don't have Fibromyalgia???

I have PsA, OA, Pineal Gland Cyst, FM, Psoriasis & Complex Migraines.
I use slow release tramadol 150mg, 500mg Naproxen & 1g paracetamol twice a day with paracetamol & normal tramadol for topping up in flares. I'm never ever pain free tho :?

Good luck.xxx

daffy2

I'm sorry to hear you are so bogged down at present; it's a vicious circle with pain and lack of sleep isn't it? Just a couple of thoughts - can Thyroid UK offer any suggestions how to get your GP to address your concerns? I know from family and friends that 'markers within normal range' is increasingly having to be challenged in order to get some improvement in health. Also I believe it's possible to do your own tests for VitD status - there's quite a lot on the subject on the National Osteoporosis Society forums. I did manage to get the GP to order a test for me which showed I was only just above the bottom level, and have been taking OTC supplements which I noticed seemed to have a beneficial effect on the pain I was experiencing, especially the generalised muscle pain.
I do hope you can soon begin to find a way forward.