The thyroid hormone imbalances caused by thyroid diseases are an obvious cause of neurological symptoms but what role does “thyroid autoimmunity” play in these type symptoms? Autoimmune-caused hypothyroidism is called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and autoimmune-caused hyperthyroidism is called Graves’ disease. Medical research conclusions on studies of thyroid patients has shown that the disease process itself may contribute to neurological symptoms in some thyroid patients in spite of correcting abnormal thyroid hormone levels.
Thyroid Related Neuropathy Symptoms
Neuropathy symptoms include those having to do with nerve functions throughout the body. Common neurological symptoms include headaches, numbness or tingling in the hands and/or feet (peripheral neuropathy), abnormal reflexes and muscle weakness and spasms. Thyroid disease is an endocrine gland disorder (hormone related) and all disorders in this category, including diabetes have potential to cause neurological symptoms. In the case of thyroid disease, the hormones produced by this endocrine gland regulate the metabolism in every cell of the body, including those related to nerve function. When a disorder affecting thyroid hormone balance develops, the function of the nervous system can be sped-up or slowed down, resulting in nerve-related symptoms.
Treating Thyroid Hormone Imbalances
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which thyroid hormone levels drop below normal. This results in all bodily functions slowing down (hypo-metabolism), including brain-nerve signals (motor responses). It also causes fluid build up in tissues of the body or what is referred to as “myxedema”, which can cause pressure on nerves, resulting in additional symptoms of neuropathy, such as numbness and tingling in the extremities. When thyroid hormones are brought back up to correct levels, these type symptoms improve, as well as myxedema in body tissues affecting nerve signals.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition of abnormally high thyroid hormone levels, which causes all bodily functions to become sped up (hyper-metabolism). Muscle reflexes are hyper-reactive, meaning there is abnormal muscle tension in response to brain-nerve signals. This can result in the adverse effect following physical activity, of severe muscle weakness. Some patients may also experience episodes of muscle paralysis and/or muscle deterioration. Neurological symptoms that accompany hyperthyroid conditions are sometimes referred to as “thyrotoxic myopathy” but will improve significantly with treatment to reduce thyroid hormone levels and treatment for symptoms of an overactive metabolism via anti-thyroid drugs and beta-blockers.
Thyroid Antibodies
For those patients whose neuropathies do not fully resolve with treatment for thyroid hormone imbalance, another factor in causing symptoms that should be considered is the disease process of thyroid autoimmunity itself. The auto-antibodies sent from the immune system to attack the thyroid gland may also exert negative effects on the peripheral nervous system. Some of this may be the result of inflammation in the body that begins to effect nerve function. With “Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy” for example, which can result from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in very rare cases, severe and even life-threatening neurological symptoms can develop. It would seem obvious that neuropathies may manifest in Hashimoto’s patients to lesser degrees as well.
Other medical research studies have found that some autoimmune thyroid disease patients have other auto-antibodies present as well, that can directly affect the nervous system. This includes studies that have found mild manifestations of other autoimmune diseases present in thyroid patients including symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis. There is no cure for auto-antibodies but keeping thyroid hormone disorders well-treated can help and some research suggests that supplementing patients with selenium may help to reduce thyroid antibody levels. Anti-inflammatory medications can also help in patients with highly elevated inflammation levels.
Jim Lowrance - James M. (Jim) Lowrance has authored over 100 book and ebook publications since year 2004.
