Your legs and ankles look swollen. Because hypothyroidism can cause the body's processes to slow down, it can lead to water retention, which will typically show up in your lower body—your hips, knees, ankles, and feet—because of gravity, says Feinberg.
It may also cause muscle weakness or loss of muscle control. See your doctor if you know or suspect you have hypothyroidism and you're having troubling or painful symptoms in your limbs.
Severe, untreated hypothyroidism can cause fluid buildup that puts pressure on the nerves in your arms and legs. This can lead to tingling, pain, and numbness where the nerve is damaged.
Leg edema is a common clinical problem and the differential diagnosis is extensive. We present 4 patients in whom thyroid dermopathy was the cause of leg edema. Examination of the eyes and the nature of the edema were clues to the diagnosis of thyroid dermopathy.
Subclinical thyroid disease is a common disorder, particularly in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Some patients with manifest hypothyroidism complain of unsteadiness of gait.
Thyrotoxic myopathy is a neuromuscular disorder that may accompany hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease, caused by overproduction of the thyroid hormone thyroxine). Symptoms may include: muscle weakness.
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They can usually be soothed when your thyroid starts to function normally again. 5 Coping strategies for easing muscle pain, regardless of the cause, may be useful in the meantime. Things like drinking enough fluids, a massage, warm baths, and gentle exercise are good ways to help with the pain.
Hypothyroidism is usually accompanied by joint pain and muscle weakness. However, there are certain ways to manage this pain and lead an almost-normal lifestyle: Try low-intensity exercises like swimming, walking, riding a cycle, or aerobic exercises.
Your legs and ankles look swollen.
Because hypothyroidism can cause the body's processes to slow down, it can lead to water retention, which will typically show up in your lower body—your hips, knees, ankles, and feet—because of gravity, says Feinberg.
[1,2] Neuromuscular symptoms are present in 30–80% of patients with hypothyroidism. Patients may have muscle cramping, proximal symmetrical muscle weakness, muscle stiffness, and exercise intolerance. [1,2] Slowness of muscle relaxation and of muscle contraction is noted in hypothyroid myopathy.
The muscle involvement in hypothyroidism is caused by alterations in muscle fibers from fast-twitching type 2 to slow-twitching type 1 fibers, deposition of glycosaminoglycans, poor contractility of actin-myosin units, low myosin ATPase activity and low ATP turnover in skeletal muscle.
Thyroid hormones also influence the quality of your skin in various ways. For example, with hyperthyroidism, you may notice itchy and dry patches of skin. Your face may feel softer and swollen. You may even notice swelling around your fingertips.
Signs of hypothyroidism include unexplained weight gain, fatigue, cold extremities, and joint pain. In the feet, this joint pain may have pain and inflammation symptoms that seem like arthritis but are a specific condition known as arthropathy.
Thyroid disease may be a predisposing factor for restless legs syndrome (RLS). People with this disorder feel uncomfortable or unpleasant sensations in their legs while the body is at rest. In most cases, RLS symptoms often occur in the evening or around sleep onset.
What are the long-term effects of thyroid medication? The long-term effects of thyroid medication include weight fluctuations, sensitivity to heat, joint pain, changes to your menstrual cycle, and possibly even autoimmune dysfunction.
The most obvious symptom of subacute thyroiditis is pain in the neck caused by a swollen and inflamed thyroid gland. Sometimes, the pain can spread (radiate) to the jaw or ears. The thyroid gland may be painful and swollen for weeks or, in rare cases, months.
You can take painkillers, such as ibuprofen, to relieve any pain. If these medicines do not work, steroids (anti-inflammatory medicine) may be prescribed. Occasionally, De Quervain's thyroiditis may come back, or the low thyroid hormone levels may be permanent.
Common nutrient deficiencies associated with pain include: Magnesium – People with Hashimoto's are at risk for being deficient in magnesium, which can lead to a long list of symptoms, including headaches, joint pain, leg and hand cramps, and menstrual pain.
General joint and muscle pains are common when hypothyroidism is not sufficiently treated, and your dosage of thyroid hormone needs to be increased. Joint and muscle weakness and pain, especially in the arms and legs, can be evidence that you need an increased dose of antithyroid drugs for your hyperthyroidism.
With thyroid fatigue, you may feel like you can't get through a day without a nap. You may sleep more than usual but still feel completely exhausted. You may not even have the energy to exercise. At times, you may fall asleep during the day or very quickly at night.