What’s the Connection Between Thyroid & Joint Pain?

If you’re suffering from chronic pain, you may feel like you’ll never find the cause. Finding a solution to your chronic pain can be frustrating and isolating. But many people with this affliction are feeling the impact of an imbalanced thyroid and don’t realize it. Approximately 20 million Americans struggle with their thyroid, experiencing a variety of symptoms like joint pain, fatigue, muscle weakness, and more.

Learn about how a thyroid imbalance can lead to joint pain, and why you should seek treatment for your chronic pain from the experts at Southside Pain Specialists.

How an Unbalanced Thyroid Can Affect Your Body

When the thyroid is out of balance, it can produce either too much or too little of the hormones that help regulate your metabolism and provide energy to all the cells in your body. If the body has an imbalanced thyroid, it doesn’t have the right level of hormones to function properly.

There are two different types of thyroid imbalance; an overactive thyroid, also known as hyperthyroidism. This condition can lead to significant health problems like rapid heart rate, blood clots, and double vision.

There is also an underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism. If you have an underactive thyroid, your body’s functions may slow down gradually, so it can take some time to notice symptoms. Initially, people can experience hypothyroidism with milder, less common symptoms, like feeling more tired than usual.

Hypothyroidism can cause a number of symptoms, such as fatigue, dry skin, and constipation, but can also add to problems with joints and muscles. People experience joint pain directly related to hypothyroidism because of a slow metabolism. Your thyroid gland secretes thyroxine, a hormone that controls your metabolism. People with hypothyroidism have fewer thyroxine hormones, which can directly affect the strength of the muscles.

Hypothyroidism contributes to joint pain more often than hyperthyroidism.

• Hypothyroidism can cause some of the following conditions:
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Swelling of the joints in the hands and feet
• Joint pain
• Muscle aches and tenderness, particularly in the hips and shoulders

What Happens if a Thyroid Imbalance Is Not Treated?

There are many reasons people do not treat a thyroid imbalance. In fact, many people aren’t even aware they have an imbalance. Unfortunately, the longer the imbalance goes untreated, the more severe the condition becomes, resulting in a range of complications such as heart problems, eye problems, and nerve injury.

Some people may also stop taking medication for a thyroid imbalance because they are experiencing side effects or may not believe the medication is working. If you do not manage the common symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, issues such as joint pain, heart disease, and obesity will only get worse. We recommend speaking with your primary care doctor or an endocrinologist about questions or concerns regarding your medication.

Why You Should Go to Southside Pain Specialists for Help

Your thyroid may be the culprit of your joint pain, fatigue, and more. If you believe you are experiencing some of the common symptoms of an imbalanced thyroid, it’s important to seek medical attention. You deserve answers—and Southside Pain Specialists can help.

Southside Pain Specialists offer a variety of chronic pain diagnostic and treatment options, working with you and your primary care team to manage your pain. Our qualified team of experts can help you find the root cause of your pain, and offer a variety of reliable solutions customized to the cause.

Find Chronic Pain Relief at Southside Pain Specialists

With highly specialized training and a multitude of pain relief options, Southside Pain Specialists follow the standards of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, The American Board of Pain Medicine, and the International Spinal Injection Society. We work hard to provide patients with comprehensive, caring pain relief when they need it most. Contact us online today or at 205-900-3927 to learn more.