Hi can anyone relate to having muscle and bone pain with being deficient in vitamin D ? I get severe pains in muscles down my back and this has spread into my shoulders and up my neck into my head at the back. The pains come and go but i always feel tender and stiff in these area's. I get sharp shooting pains, burning pains and the feeling that my muscles are sore to touch. I also have felt like the muscle is tearing when i turn to reach something, the tearing sensation is really painful. I get shooting pains in my right leg in the hip/buttock joint which makes walking difficult at times and causes my left knee to give as i try to keep weight off right leg. The bone pain is usually in my lower back. When the pains in my neck muscles started it seemed to be triggered after i heard a cracking sound and got sharp pains in the back of my neck.
I also have primery hyperparathyroidism and severe indigestion/acid.
Have you had a blood test to check your vit D? I was found deficient although I was also diagnosed with PMR which has similar type pain, in my case in my shoulders and hips, absolute agony. I now take vit D supplement prescribed by my doctor and my vit D has improved.
Hi thanks for reply. Yes i was told in 2013 by the endocronologist that was investigating my slightly raised blood calcium that i had primery hyperparathyroidism and very low vitamin D. He though i did not at present need anything for the hyperparathyroid problem but informed my doctor that i needed to take vitamin D.
The doctor did not seem to really know what strength of vitamin D i needed to take and just told me to buy some from the chemist or supermarket. I did buy some but after reading on the internet that you should not take vitamin D if you have raised blood calcium i decided not to risk it. Now a year later i returned to see the endocronologist to be told my vitamin D will be even lower now and my doctor has got to supply me with the correct dosage. I have to have a blood test this week and start taking the vitamin D, then have a blood test in 4 weeks when i go back to hospital to see if my vitamin D has improved and that it is not affecting my calcim level. I think he said my vitamin D level last year was about 30.
Has the vitamin D helped with your pains ?
My vit D blood count was 26 and it went up to 52 in three months. I did read somewhere that it takes quite a long time to actually rise while taking supplements, about three months!! I was diagnosed last May so was able to sit out in the sun and I think that made a world of difference. I think the main part of our vit D comes from the sun.
You are right about the calcium you need to be careful. You do need calcium to absorb vit D. I actually have combined calcium and vit D tablets. As it is estimated half of the UK population are deficient in vit D I am amazed your GP does not know more about it. I initially got mine over the counter and the pharmacist was very helpful when I asked what I should do.
Hope my vitamin D levels rise as quick as yours did as i also read that it can take a long time. I was originally told years ago by a previous doctor that it was fibromyalgia causing muscle pains. As pains have increased over the years i was referred to hospital for more tests and given the diagnosis of primery hyperparathyroidism and multiple myalgia's with low vitamin D. I do feel sometimes that both doctors and consultants have seemed unsure exactly what is causing my symptoms.
I do like to sit out in the sun when not working but maybe my body cant absorb enough vitamin D. I am really hoping they have got it right and i can feel better as its getting worse each year.
I really enjoyed lying out in the sun with a book, a cup of tea and a biscuit. I normally rush round the place so it really slowed me down and made me relax.
The fact you have tender muscles does sound like fybromyalgia, which is very painful. A friend of mine takes tramadol for it.
Multiple myalgia sounds a bit of a get out by the doctors as it just means you have lots of pain!
Hyperparathyroidism is more serious and will be the reason for your high calcium, which is not a good thing, worse than high cholesterol.
yes yes
i went to the dr and said i wasn't sure if the pain was in bones or muscle or joints or nerves or all of them.
he tested for vitamin D and i laughed saying ha ha not possiblle i am always in the sun.
hey presto i had low vit D and luckily the pains went, once i started vit D supplementation.
good luck
Hi so happy for you that the pains went for you, it gives me hope that one day i may be pain free or at least bearable.
My pains are mostly muscle and joints i think, i get shooting, burning and tearing things. I have learnt to try avoid sudden movements and heavy lifting.
I am just hoping the vitamin D does not raise my calcium levels.
Hi
Iam 28 years old female.
My vit D is too low it was less than 4 but not thyroid tsh ft4 all those result were normal. But bone and muscles symptoms are very similar.
I am had same symptoms of muscle pain like pin and needle sensation with numbness /tingling or burning feeling sometimes shooting pain all over but was bearable and bones cracking or tearing sounds.
Initially my gp though its b12 and iron deficiency but but actual cause was low vitamin D. My gp was surprised to see that result.
Due to vit D that low, I was asked to test my prolactine level which came too high. Since its high so now MRI of pituitary gland will b conducted in coming week. I am bit scared.
Anyhow nowadays taking vit D injections once a week. Feeling better.
Hi Reema, thanks for reply. I am awaiting result of vitamin D test but over a year ago i was told it was very low so they expect it to be much lower now. I have so many health problems which have got worse over last few years i am losing faith in doctors. I think the feeling of muscle ripping is awful, it makes me very careful not to twist or lift anything heavy in case it happens as it leaves muscle burning for days.
Will let you know what vitamin D level is when i get results, my doctor is supposed to be phoning with results when he gets them and to give me a prescription for the vitamin D.
Dont worry. You will feel better after vit D supplements and start taking food wch contain vit d naturally. Start that by urself.
Do let me know ur level. All the best
Hi Reema, thank you and will let you know when i get results. Hope everything goes well for you MRI. Best wishes.
Hello, I was diagnosed as VitD deficient a year ago. My understanding is that full recovery depends on how long you have been deficient VitD. The rheumatologist explained to me that insufficient VitD leaches calcium from the bones and often ends up in other areas where it causes problems e.g muscles, extra calcium in saliva causing calcified plaque on teeth & in my case blocking salivary glands causing severe dry mouth problem
Google The VitaminDCouncil Org. It is worth exploring as it has so much information.
I found a great deal of useful information on this Web site
My Dr left me to research and decide how much to take. I bought the highest strength VitD over the counter and for 4 months took 2 pills daily. My muscle pains and cramps started to clear quite quickly. My dry mouth eventually cleared and I'm now able to see dental hygienist for descale 6 monthly rather than 4 times a year. A magnesium pill daily also helps when taking Vit D.
I'm now working with a physio and taking TaiChi lessons to help build muscle strength, flexibility & improve balance
Look up Vitamin D Society Canada on the web - a wealth of info.
You can also have a private fingerprick test by an NHS lab in the UK.
Search for "VitD blood test Sandwell Birmingham". You are looking for link to City Assays
I did one last year and now going do it twice a year to make sure my level is as high as possible but remains in the 'safe' zone.
And while my previous post being checked by moderator (I forgot mustn't send some links) then do online search as well for The VitaminD Council. Huge amount of info.
Worth getting book "The Vitamin D Solution" - author Dr M Holick
I am 60+ female who was told to avoid sun when I was treated for malignant melanoma when I was 30 yrs old.
I have had extremely painful muscle spasms - once carted off to A&E with ?heart attack when I had gripping pain around upper chest front/back into jaw and arms. Sent home as healthy - just muscular skeletal problem. Still get spasms sometimes but less severe now . . But leg muscles still very weak lurching walk hard to climb stairs - slowly getting better . . .2 steps forward and one back . . .
Good luck . . .do your research so you can work WITH your doctor . . it's your body -
the Holick book has very good charts so you can work out safest way to sunbathe without burning but enough to make Vit D naturally - consider continuing to take one VitD supplement pill a day from October to April to maintain levels
You muscle pain symptoms are consistent with symptoms of hyperparathyroidism so you need a doctor to examine you and see what your calcium levels are which once regulated will alleviate your muscle pain. Vitamin D also needs to be looked by the doctor and if deficient significantly you could get a prescription form Vitamin D which is much potent. Your muscle pain is related to calcium imbalance. You should take your condition seriously because if left untreated your muscles could degenerate and your bones could break.
As for acid, you could use Zantac 150 mg but also try supplements to rebuild your good gut flora: acidophilus, caprylic acid pills and digestive enzyme supplements
Hi Penny and thank you for your advise. I started taking vitamin D tablets a couple of weeks ago while while waiting for the hospital to send the letter of correct dosage to my gp. I have just stopped then as my acid indigestion has got much worse while taking them and am worried that my blood calcium level may have gone higher causing the indigestion. I am due to see my gp tomorrow and will mention this to her.
I had a dexa scan a couple of years ago when i 1st saw the endocronologist and was told i had thinning of the bones but not too bad. I also ended up in A&E with chest pains, pale and sweating, but heart checks were fine. I get very scared with chest pains and a bit panicky. It seems to me that i get new muscle pains each year and now have reached a point that they can happen from head to toe. I should get the results of my recent blood tests tomorrow so can see if anything has gone worse since last year plus i should have a prescription for the correct dose of vitamin D. I will definately do some research as you have suggested, thank you.
Hi Peppe, thank you for your reply. I saw my endocronologist 2 weeks ago and he said i was vitamin D deficent. I will get the results of my blood test tomorrow when i see my gp and should get a prescription for vitamin D at a high dose, then have blood tests in a month to see if its raising my blood calcium further. I did start taking some vitamin D tablets after seeing the endocronologist 2 weeks ago but have found my acid indigestion got much worse so was worried they were raising my calcium further. I will see what gp says tomorrow.
I try to control indigestion with gaviscon which unfortunately contains calcium but i did once try omprazole as suggested by gp and on 2nd day ended up at A&E with visual disturbance (flashing lights) and they told me it could be side effect so dare not take ppi's. I will consider trying the digestive enzymes though so thank you for advice.