The Relationship Between Hypothyroidism and Fibromyalgia

Hypothyroidism is a condition affecting the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck, and is best characterized as a ‘small, butterfly-shaped gland.’ It’s responsible for releasing triiodothyronine and thyroxine hormones, which help the body regulate its growth, metabolism and cellular development.

When the thyroid gland is impaired, it fails to produce enough of the aforementioned hormones needed to regulate the body. Once that happens, people start developing symptoms from hypothyroidism.

People with fibromyalgia may have hypothyroidism, especially if they experience symptoms from the condition. Many people around the world actually experience symptoms from hypothyroidism if they already have fibromyalgia.

Since the symptoms from both conditions are similar, it’s difficult for people to know if they’re suffering with one or the other. Sometimes, people see symptoms from both because they’re suffering from both conditions at the same time.

What is the ‘true’ relationship between hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia? In this article, we’re going to examine the relationship between both conditions and learn why they manifest in similar ways.

The Relationship Between Hypothyroidism And Fibromyalgia

In order to understand the relationship between hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia, it’s important to understand more about either condition first. Let’s take a brief look at both in this section.

Hypothyroidism And Its Connection With Fibromyalgia

As mentioned, hypothyroidism is a disorder that affects the thyroid gland in the neck. It actually affects as much as 20 million people in the United States alone. Both men and women can develop hypothyroidism. Women over age 40 are actually more at risk of developing hypothyroidism than older men at the same age. At least 17 percent of women were found to have hypothyroidism, too. Other factors that increase the risk of developing hypothyroidism include genetics, diabetes, thyroid surgery and radiation therapy.

 Fibromyalgia And Hyperthyroidism

Hypothyroidism is characterized by having an under active thyroid gland. The condition can be caused by an autoimmune disease, thyroid surgery, pituitary disorders and any exposure to radiation therapy. Even though it’s simple to say hypothyroidism is caused by those conditions, the symptoms originating from that condition actually correlate with those from fibromyalgia. Both fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism share similarities, particularly their symptoms, such as the following: depression, muscle stiffness, widespread pain in the muscles and problems with sleep.

As much as 15 percent of people with hypothyroidism suffer from fibromyalgia, while people with fibromyalgia actually have low functioning thyroid glands. Due to this, some researchers now assume that fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism develop from the same causes. Both fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism are linked to chemical exposure, infection, illnesses and disorders of the nervous system.

Some people with fibromyalgia never get a proper diagnosis for hypothyroidism, especially if they actually possess the condition. As mentioned, the symptoms for one disorder (often fibromyalgia) typically overlap with the symptoms of the other (hypothyroidism), making the actual diagnosis either condition difficult.

Behind The Relationship Of Fibromyalgia And Hypothyroidism

Fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism have a lot to do with each other for one reason: the function of the thyroid gland. Back in 1997, Dr. John Lowe, a progenitor of fibromyalgia research, published his first report concerning the relationship between fibromyalgia and the thyroid’s intrinsic functions.

The report, which was published in the Clinical Bulletin of Myofascial Therapy, depicted Dr. Lowe’s findings that ‘clear relationships between fibromyalgia and thyroid function existed in some form.’ Due to that, he believed that ‘some form of hypometabolism, including the dysfunction of thyroids, provided some explanation behind the disorder.

In order to find those particular results, Dr. Lowe conducted thyroid tests on a group of patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia. People with elevated levels of a thyroid stimulating hormone weren’t tested beyond the first test. People with normal levels of the thyroid stimulating hormone, however, were given a thyrotropin releasing hormone stimulation test.

The results from the tests found that:

  • At least 10.5 percent of fibromyalgia patients had some form of primary hypothyroidism.
  • At least 36.8 percent of those tested were in a ‘normal thyroid state.’
  • At least 52.6 percent tested with TRH has results similar to that of central hypothyroidism.

The complete results of the tests revealed that as much as ’64 percent of patients with fibromyalgia had some type of deficiency with their thyroid hormones. In other words, the tests revealed that the amount of patients with fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism exceeds the levels of hypothyroidism found in the general population. On an interesting note, Dr. Lowe also provided suggestions for potentially treating fibromyalgia with thyroid hormone.

He suggested treating fibromyalgia using T3 thyroid hormone. Compared to that, other doctors prescribe ‘thyroid replacement’ medications like levothyroxine sodium and Thyrosine Complex, in addition to other fibromyalgia treatment alternatives like grape seed extract, magnesium and vitamin C.

Fibromyalgia And Hypothyroidism: What’s The Link?

After seeing evidence proving there’s some relationship between fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism, specifically their impairment of the thyroid, it’s time to see how all of that links together.

People with fibromyalgia know two things about how thyroid hormones affect them:

  • They play a role in affecting how people sleep.
  • They play a role in determining the sensitivity of hormones.

Now, fibromyalgia is thought to originate from an increase in pain sensitivity caused by neurochemical imbalances in the brain and spine. The link between fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism has some basis in that. They may have a link because of how the thyroid hormones work. Since the thyroid hormones actually set the body’s sensitivity thresholds to other hormones, it’s believed the alteration of the brain’s and spine’s neurochemicals may cause this to happen.

Interestingly enough, thyroid hormones also affect serotonin level in the brain, and serotonin is one of the brain chemicals affected by fibromyalgia. The thyroid hormone also plays a role in maintaining people’s regular sleep cycles. Due to this, researchers speculate that its sleep regulation might play a part in fibromyalgia development, too.

Medical researchers and doctors are still working on uncovering possible true links between fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism. With the information we do know, we pretty much can assume there’s a relationship between fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism after all.