Can Hypothyroidism cause muscle twitching and fasciculations?

Hormones
1

Hello,

I have been having muscle twitching and fasciculations for over a year now and was wondering if Hypo can cause this?

2

Hello ChrisA15:

My name is Shelly and I am a nurse in the USA.  I have Hashimoto's Thyroid disease since 1987.

Hypo can cause aches and pains and in some people severe cramps.  However it could occur.  Most muscle problems can be from low levels of magnesium, potassium, and calcium.  Also Vit D.   These can be easily checked by blood levels.

If you can eat nuts they help with magnesium or get a decent multivitamin.  You could be low in the minerals listed above. See your doctor for blood work.

It would be wise to have a TSH level (thyroid stimulating Hormone) and a parathyroid hormone level,  T3 and T4 , and a mineral panel to include: Potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, Iron and Ferritin levels and Vit D.  You could be low in just one of them or have a few that are low.

Any questions just ask,

Shelly

3

Whatever the cause Chris, I take Quinine Sulphate tablets that was prescribed by my Dr. as a result of having leg muscle spasms. Mine may have been caused by an under active thyroid, but I haven't had muscle twitching or cramps since. It was after taking QSulphate that I was diagnosed with an UAT.

In the UK you can't go to a NHS Doctor with a list of test requests. You can only say what you're feeling and perhaps make suggestions.

 

4

My first thought is what does your doc say, if you have seen him/her, if not you should have, if you are a treated hypo patient you may be hyper, apart from hypo,, how much hyper or hypo? Well we are all different. Your doc would have had a tsh check done,,,,,,,,,,,or would if you have seen him/her. If you were really in a bad state when originally diagnosed you could be,,, just could be,,, more sensitive. After this, as you have from another answer,,, check other different levels until you solve it with your docs help, if you go alone you are in the dark and that’s not the best way. A good rule for all thyroxine users is use the SAME brand always,

5

Muscle Twitching is how I determine if I am undermedicated or hypo.  Also, my nerves are extremely sensitive to my thyroid symptoms.  When I am overmedicated they vibrate and I have restless leg syndrome.  My symptoms help me to adjust my meds because I'm going through menopause and my hormones fluctuate so much throughout the month.  

6

Hi Helena--Just wondering what a UAT is. Thanks! --Suzanne

7

Thanks for the reply Shannon. I also have had a lot of twitching going on in my feet and hands for the last few months, AND also some RLS for the first time ever. I take plenty of magnesium, as well as lots of other vitamins/minerals and a eat whole foods diet. My TSH is too low (below 1), my T3 is in the normal range, and my T4 is way too low. I take Cytomel and Synthroid. I can't tell if I have too much thyroid supplementing or too little! Not sure if the RLS and muscle twitching is related to the thryroid, and in what way. --Suzanne

8

Hi Suzanne, I assumed UAT meant underactive thyroid.

9

Thanks, Barbara! I was just onine looking at many possible (and worrisome) causes of muscle twitches, and now I'm even more concerned and confused by my persistent hand and foot muscle twitches. These have been chronic for several months. First thing that I'm going to do is up my magnesium and calcium intake and see if that helps. Thanks for your reply. --S

10

Balancing my thyroid seems like such a fine line these days.  I used to take Synthroid for years and my body didn't have any symptoms.   I am 50 years old now and in the past couple of years I have changed my medication three times because I started having really bad nerve pain in my feet and terrible restless leg syndrome to the point it was hard to sleep and painful to walk.  I'm pretty sure it was my hormone levels changing because of Menopause.  I am now taking Thyro Gold.  In my opinion the natural meds are way better.

11

I have been having nerve pain in my legs and feet. I didn't know what it was neither did the Doctor. You've answered a long term question. So do I ask my Doctor to change the Levothyroxine I'm presently taking?

last year, after a blood test, I was dropped 100mcg. At that time I was my normal weight. A year on, my hair fell out and I'm fourteen pounds over weight! Any suggestions?

 

12

Correct! But no prize Barbara for guessing right! Ha!

13

Helena - In my experience, my hair starts falling out when I'm undermedicated.  Our symptoms don't always match what our blood results are.  I adjust my medication based on my symptoms and not what my numbers are, as long as I'm in range I'm happy with that.  The most important thing to me is how I feel.  I started having nerve pain when I was taking Levothyroxine.  After I switched to a natural medication it completely went away.  Now I only have nerve issues when I'm overmedicated.  It sounds like your meds still need to be adjusted.

14

A rough guide to how much thyroxine to be on is 1.7mcg for each kg of body weight.

I get shooting pains and hair loss when under medicated.

Out of interest is your thyroid completely defunct, or no longer there? I've got this theory that people without a functioning thyroid don't do so well on T4 only meds. I switched to ThyroGold an OTC Natural Desiccated Thyroid and am getting on much better. Now been on it for 9 months at a dose of 750mg at a weight of 53kg. I was previously taking 100mcg of thyroxine when I weighed 61kg. I hope this has given you an idea of how much thyroxine you might need and its equivalent dose if you decide to do something else.

15

Hello everybody,

Thanks for the comments. I went to my GP sometime last year and was referred to a neurologist. They checked my reflexes which were fine and ordered an MRI which returned normal.

Shortly after seeing the neurologist, I started getting some problems with my left hand (inability to grip and constant numbness.) and was sent back. A nerve conduction study was ordered and I was told I had left Ulnar neuropathy. 

The problem is, Ulnar neuropathy doesn't explain the twitching and fasciculations all over my body. It is quite fustrasting because the twitching becomes quite violent sometimes in the morning (falling over, dropping things). If there is supposedly no neurological-related problem then the only cause I think it can be is the hypothyroidism.

16

Thanks, Shannon. I've been talking with Barbara and am considering trying ThyroGold, too. Thanks for the nudge and for sharing your experience!

17

Chris, I have peripheral neuropathy but I didn't connect it to being hypo. What's fasciculations? The muscle twitching could be down to the medication as I have them. 

I used to smoke and the first one I had in the morning would make me dizzy and act like I was drunk. I had to lay on my bed until the tingling in my body went. My Doctor said it was low blood pressure.

18

Helena, Fasciculations are like twitching but under the skin. I doubt my problem would be low blood pressure when I have hypertension due to kidney problems.

19

Hi Chris - My Hypothyroid causes me the same issue with numbness and weakening of my muscles.  Especially gripping things.  I had a tremor in my hands as well.  I went to the Neurologist and they said it was just a benign tremor.  Since I have adjusted my meds, it's gotten a lot better but it is just another sign I use to tell me if I'm undermedicated.  I still don't have my strength back 100% but it's much better and no more tremor.

20

It might be an idea to see a physiotherapist to see if they can help you build your muscle srength back up.