hypothyroidism and neuropathy

[Synnove]

Hello. I havebeen visiting the neuropathy board and MS boards. I have a terrible long mix of symptoms and conditions. I do not feel that doctors are helping mee 2 years has almost gone by, and I feel symptoms are getting worse, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 7-8 yeard ago and started on Synthroid. The dose was changed a couple of times. At that time I had a attentive PCP, but she since has keft the medical practice.
I have not focused on the endocrine side of the picture, because there has been so many other things going on.
I had migrane headaches, MRI showed demyelinating brain lesions, Had cerebral aneurysm, and 2 small strokes.
Then for the last year I have developed this increasing neuropathy pain all over. It is burning outside and inside. I mean also in mucous membranes. I have numbness in feet, legs and wrists.
I saw a rheumotologist, she started me on Plaquinil due to vasculitis. She also said I might have small fiber neuropathy. EMG negative.
But all blood tests for autoimmune disorders are negative, except ANA positive sometimes.
I have a constant feeling of vibration or fine tremmors inside in addition to the constant burning. I do not have alchoholism, diabetes or HIV.
So my next question is: could some of this neuropathy and shaking inside be due to my thyroid problems?? I do not understand that the PCP doctor could not have guided me so I could have gone to an endocrenologist and have this checked out. Right now, the doctors are not realy taking any notice. The tremors inside is getting worse, and I have a feeling the doctors think I am cracy, so I do not mention it. I am just worried. I am going to start researching, and find a endocrenologist. ( I never saw one) Any suggestions??

[mrsD]

I am going to ask again... What drugs do you take?

There is a growing list of medications that cause drug induced lupus. This is very painful and I am recovering from a crisis, myself.

Here is a partial list:
http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/weba...=377&zoneid=17
Added to this list recently is lisinopril.

And if you are on an ACE inhibitor drug... burning all over, and swelling can be due to build up of bradykinin in the body. When released by certain triggers.... it is a terrible thing indeed.

Drug induced lupus does not raise ANA as a rule.

Hypothyroidism can result in the deposit of mucin (a mucin based polysaccharide) in the tissues, and this can cause compression in the feet and hands of the nerves running under the ligaments in the feet and hands. Not likely to be affecting the skin all over as you describe.

And also if you took antibiotics in the fluroquinolone family (Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox) in the past, you could have nerve damage. Flagyl damages too, but is not in this family.
If you take statins for cholesterol, those also damage nerves.

Vaccines also are capable of damaging nerves as a side effect.

Plaquenil is a known causer of neuropathic pain.
http://www.druginformer.com/search/s...eripheral.html
Doesn't happen to everyone, but it is reported.

[Synnove]

Thanks Mrs. D. I will study this information . I hope you feel better soon, you too.
I take Toprol, Synthroid, Plavix( which I am stopping in 3 weeks) baby ASA, Enablex, Lyrica, Lipitor ( which I know is dangerous , and should stop, and will. I have to keep my cholesterol tight due 2 small strokes) Protonix, vitamin D, Co Q 10 , vitamin B 12. Colace. I am not taking any ace inhibitor.
My vit B 12 was low, had 4 B 12 injections. But I just realized that I should continue with oral. This is now 1 year ago I had injections. I had to ask the doctor to repeat blood test after a few months. Vit D also low, and again, I had to keep an eye on it my self.
So, heakth care is really as I say," A self serve business"

[mrsD]

Well, once a person reaches the medical "bind" of needed so many medications, it is really difficult to sort out what is causing problems.

Continue with generous doses of CoQ-10, to help protect your heart and muscles from that Lipitor. But supplements are not likely to work for statin induced neuropathies.

Make sure you are getting enough B12 and taking it on an empty stomach for best absorption. Have it tested in 6mos. (don't take any for a week before the test).

When I was having my drug induced lupus reaction from my blood pressure drug, Lisinopril, I had throbbing all thru my body and trembling feelings in my abdomen every night.
Since my doctor changed my medication, all of that is gone.

We have had posters on PN forum who had worse PN when using Plaquenil. So keep that in mind too.

[Synnove]

thank you Mrs D.
When you say medication indused Lupus, does that mean that it will go away once you come off those medication that caused it?
I was on Plavix due to an aneurysm stent repair as a prophyllactic measurement. But it has been 1 1/2 years now, and my last angiogram showed complete stable stent. So I am weaning off over 4 weeks. I am wondering if the leucocytoclastic vasculitis that I have could be caused by the Plavix I hear there is litterature on that. Because I am on Plaquinil for that. And I think it is useless, and have not taken it for a little while. So, the doctors are not telling me why. . The neurologist is not saying, and the rheumatologist is not saying. The burning is intense. The worst is the vibration inside, it feels like electric current vibrating continously inside. On Monday, I will go to my PCP and ask for a endocrenology consult, perhaps this is due to thyroid condition, even though my levels have been normal. I will ask for a spinal tap when I am off the Plavix all together

I will sertainly consider coming off Lipitor and Plavix. We should keep medicine to the minimum.

[glenntaj]

--that should be investigated, given your report of strokes, is the possibility of central pain syndrome, due to stroke damage in the spinothalamic brain tracts:

www.centralpain.org

This condition afflicts a lot of people with strokes, MS lesions in the thalamus, B12 deficiency, and a number of other conditions; it is very hard to diagnose but should be brought to the attention of neurologists.

[Synnove]

thank you glenntaj.
My story is too long. Incidentally, investigation of headaches and visual scotomas I had MRI, it showed: Silent left thalamus lacunar CVA. demyelating lesions suspicious of MS and unruptured cebral aneurysm. To make long story short, First I had the aneurysm embolized. And I have had regular fallow up MRI re the lesions, no new lesions. I have seen a MS neurologist, have not received a MS dx. yet. I have been on double antiplatelet theraphy with ASA and PLavix for a long time, so spinal tap could not be done yet. But I am coming off the Plavix in the next 3 weeks, and hopefully I can have it them.
I have these symptoms of vibration and tremors inside for a long time, but it has become very intense lately. I have mentioned it to neurologists, but I feel that it has not been taken seriously. I feel as if there is some sort of CNS neuropathy. Then I have the burning neuropathy. These 2 symptoms are seperate. The burning is terrible, inside and outside. I take Lyrica with some effect.
I have been referred to a neurologist with the University that specializes in neuropathy. And I am also going to fallow up next month with another neurologist at the university that specializes in MS. He checked out Sjogren, it was negative.
Thank you for the link to Central pain .org. I will look it up
Thanks again

[Synnove]

Originally Posted by glenntaj

--that should be investigated, given your report of strokes, is the possibility of central pain syndrome, due to stroke damage in the spinothalamic brain tracts:

www.centralpain.org

This condition afflicts a lot of people with strokes, MS lesions in the thalamus, B12 deficiency, and a number of other conditions; it is very hard to diagnose but should be brought to the attention of neurologists.

Thank you glenntaj. thanks for the link. I have gone to a few neurologists. Now I do have upcomming apt. Both neurologist are proffesors at the University One specializing in MS one in Neuropathy. I am going to request a spinal pat now that I am off Plavix. But I have had unpleasant experiences. 2 neurologists did not take me seriously, and I felt put down. I really feel sick with this. Must be something.

[Synnove]

thank you glenntaj. My story is very long, so I will cut it short. First MRI showed: silent stroke in left thalamus. , demyelinating lesions suspicious of MS, and an unruptured cerebral aneurysm. First of all right away, I had the aneurysm repaired. This is now almost 2 years ago. I have had regular fallow up MRI and MS neurologist. No new lesions, and so far the have not diagnosed me with that.
But for a long time now, 1 1/2 years, I have had a vibration feeling, and tremoures feeling inside all over. And it has been getting worse in last few months. In addition, for 6 months now I have had the intense fine fiber burning all over. I have also developed leucoclastic vasculitis. So there are both vascular problems (aneurysm, stropke and vasculitis) and rheumatology problems in addition to neurological I also have hypothyroidism. So, since the neurologists( I have seen 2 or 3) is not taking me seriously, I was thinking it must bee the thyroyd connection, even though the thyroid levels have been ok when checked. (I am on Synthroid) But I have 2 neurologists at University of Miami that specialize in MS, one in neuropathy. I'll see them next month. This internal tremors/electric current vibration, is very scary.
Thanks for the link to central pain .org

[Synnove]

Originally Posted by glenntaj

--that should be investigated, given your report of strokes, is the possibility of central pain syndrome, due to stroke damage in the spinothalamic brain tracts:

www.centralpain.org

This condition afflicts a lot of people with strokes, MS lesions in the thalamus, B12 deficiency, and a number of other conditions; it is very hard to diagnose but should be brought to the attention of neurologists.

Glenntaj, I went to a new neurologist 2 days ago.( I am done going to local doctor at the local community hospital) He is a professor at a medical school with the university large 2 teaching hospitals. I have to drive 1 1/2 hours to get there. His specialty and research is neuropathy. I was referred by my general and interventional neurologist. After taking down my rather long medical history, he examined me and said definetly I have neuropathy( I think pretty badly) He diagnosed me with polyneuropathy due to I already have a couple of neuro defecits. Also muscular defecits. He is the first neurologist that has actually understood me when I complain of this symptom. (the vibrating electrical shock type of internal tremors down my spine radiating to torso and extremeties) He said that this is a neuropathy. This is in addition to the other peripheral neuropathy that causes burning and pins and needles and numbness. He has sceduled further testing with EMG etc. We discussed nerve biopsy . He diagnosed me also with gait disturbance. But all this being said, the first thing this neurologist started with, was that he noticed I had a history of club foot from child hood. He told me there is a connection between club foot and neuropathy. Sometimes this neuropathy can manifest itself at the age of 60 and beyond. I am hoping this doctor together with my rheumatologist can find the reason for this terrible neuropathy. I also had a bronchoscopy done last week, and it showed bronchial stenosis. ( I have had this terrible tightness in chest for months) The pulmonologist does Not think it has connection with Wegener's( which I had been afraid it might be) due to not so many bronchi was involved, only one on each side. But I do defenitly feel tight in my chest, a feeling of heavyness some times, and weakness. I have had full cardiac work up, cardiac cath and the whole work even echo. Left ventricle diastolic deficiency.and 3 leaky valves. Cardiologist said I can pass for OK. I am waiting for my fallow up with Pulmonologist and rheumatologist. So glentaj, this was my story. I think I have gone to have evey thing checked up, due to the fact that I have been feeling so sick for the past year. I no want answers. And I want my life back and feel better. If I do not get answers soon, I have already contacted a research pulmonologist with the Mayoclinic up in Jacksonville that specializes in pulmonary vasculitis. I had an apt. but cancelled, I thought I better first see what the docs down in Miami could come up with. The Mayo clinic is keeping my apt open. So we will see