Thyroid And Back Pain

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If you are suffering from a degree of pain in your back, one cause you may have not considered is your thyroid. Many patients and doctors overlook this problem, instead focusing on more common back ailments such as slipped or herniated disks. The thyroid, which is located in the base of the neck can indeed, causes back pain. A careful review of all of your symptoms as well as several medical tests will uncover if a thyroid problem is causing your back discomfort. If it is, there are several treatments that can greatly reduce the pain and discomfort you are experiencing.

Typically, back pain resulting from a thyroid issue is caused by Hyperthyroidism. This disorder, which 3-5% of the population suffers from stems from the inability of the thyroid to produce hormones in the proper amount. In fact, the thyroid is in overdrive, producing far too much of several key hormones. To determine if the back pain you are suffering from is related to hyperthyroidism, a complete medical history will be taken. In particular, your physician will be looking to see if you are currently suffering from any of the other common symptoms of ...
... the disorder. These include:

* - Decreased libido
* - Fatigue
* - Weight gain
* - Weakness
* - Dry or rough skin
* - Pale skin
* - Intolerance to cold
* - Hair loss
* - Constipation
* - Muscle cramps or spasms
* - Depression
* - Memory loss
* - Irritability

In regards to the thyroid and back pain, patients sometimes experience pain in the neck in the general area of the thyroid. This is primarily due to swelling of the gland. Pain in the lower or middle back may be experienced, primarily due to muscle cramping or spasms. Back pain is typically accompanied by a constant low grade headache that occurs on both sides of the head.

In addition to the medical history, a physician will also examine the patient, in particular feeling the thyroid and noting any changes. Blood will be drawn and tested. The levels of hormones related to the thyroid will need to be elevated for a definitive diagnosis.

Luckily, hyperthyroidism is relatively easy to control with medication. Once a regimen has begun and the body has had a chance to acclimate to the medication, patients who suffer from problems with their thyroid and back pain will typically begin to see improvement in their level of pain.

In some instances, the back pain and related tenderness may not immediately resolve itself. In these cases, additional medications in the form of anti-inflammatory and pain management medication is prescribed. In most cases, once the thyroid condition has been completely controlled, the back pain will dissipate, allowing the patient to stop taking the additional medication.

If you are experiencing back pain and any of the other traditional symptoms of hyperthyroidism, it is imperative you meet with your doctor as soon as possible. Left untreated the condition can lead to obesity, diabetes and other medical complications.