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What Causes Muscle Tension, Spasms, And Fatigue?
Question: I am a 44 yr old female with following symptoms: Muscle tension, spasms, and fatigue. Mostly in the neck, shoulder, and arms. But also in legs and calves. Heart palpitations, frequent headaches, dizziness, anxiety, easily stressed out, shakiness,hand tremor,profuse sweating at times,nausea, intolerance to heat, weight loss, inability to gain weight, loss of appetite, blurry vision, frequent urination,fatigue, weakness, blurry vision, prickly sensations over body, dry eyes and mouth, faintness and fainting. Had ordered at home saliva and urine test for cortisol and neurotransmitters. Cortisol dropped below normal in evening. urine also showed elevated norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine. Went to endo. had an injection.then blood was drawn. Cortisol was 23 range 2-14. they said it was normal. TSH .58 and range was .35-4.90. also tested for metaepinephrine. said it was normal. Haven't seen those labs. Should blood have been drawn before injection? Is cortisol normal even though out of range? Any insight would be appreciated. thanks
Brief Answer:
I think you are right.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for posting your query on HCM.
Well looking into your query I would like to tell you that whatever symptoms you are telling cannot be fitted into one category.
You didnt mention what injection was given to you . You need to tell the name of the injection for me to tell you whether it would have affected your hormone levels or not. Cortisol variation can occur in the body , its levels are different at different times.
Plus get your CPK and muscle enzymes checked also like LDH , Aldolase as whatever symptoms you are giving can arise because of myositis also. You have been evaluated for pheochromocytoma , thyroid dysfunction . So we need to look for other possibilities also.
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
I think you are right.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for posting your query on HCM.
Well looking into your query I would like to tell you that whatever symptoms you are telling cannot be fitted into one category.
You didnt mention what injection was given to you . You need to tell the name of the injection for me to tell you whether it would have affected your hormone levels or not. Cortisol variation can occur in the body , its levels are different at different times.
Plus get your CPK and muscle enzymes checked also like LDH , Aldolase as whatever symptoms you are giving can arise because of myositis also. You have been evaluated for pheochromocytoma , thyroid dysfunction . So we need to look for other possibilities also.
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thought she said cortisterone injection?
Brief Answer:
Follows.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for reverting back.
Yes, definitely if you took a cortisone shot then it can affect the hormone levels . But there are some tests in which the suppression by steroids is indicated so cant say if it was indicated or not as the name of test is not known.
Dr. Shruti
Follows.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for reverting back.
Yes, definitely if you took a cortisone shot then it can affect the hormone levels . But there are some tests in which the suppression by steroids is indicated so cant say if it was indicated or not as the name of test is not known.
Dr. Shruti
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Follows.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thanks for reverting back.
If creatine kinase is normal then yes we can rule out myositis . Well it is going to require whole lot of tests to reach to some conclusion.
Have you been tested for Lupus ever . Lupus is a big mimicker of endocrine disease so should be looked into also.
Dr. Shruti
Follows.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thanks for reverting back.
If creatine kinase is normal then yes we can rule out myositis . Well it is going to require whole lot of tests to reach to some conclusion.
Have you been tested for Lupus ever . Lupus is a big mimicker of endocrine disease so should be looked into also.
Dr. Shruti
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Follows.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for reverting back.
Your doctors have evaluated you extensively , as for ANA test your test is negative but can be repeated after 3 months if suspicion is there .
Like I told you earlier also your symptoms dont fit into one disease so we have to rule out diseases which can mimic any of these symptoms.
Yes all these symptoms can be due to perimenopausal phase also as hormones are disturbed during that time and hot flushes , anxiety, muscle cramps are very common at that time . But your doctor needs to see which features are pathological , which are not . Or may be he thinks these all are bit more then just hormonal disturbance so need evaluation.
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
Follows.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for reverting back.
Your doctors have evaluated you extensively , as for ANA test your test is negative but can be repeated after 3 months if suspicion is there .
Like I told you earlier also your symptoms dont fit into one disease so we have to rule out diseases which can mimic any of these symptoms.
Yes all these symptoms can be due to perimenopausal phase also as hormones are disturbed during that time and hot flushes , anxiety, muscle cramps are very common at that time . But your doctor needs to see which features are pathological , which are not . Or may be he thinks these all are bit more then just hormonal disturbance so need evaluation.
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
If it is peri-menopause is there anything I can do to help control or alleviate symptoms? Even alternative medicines. And will this roller coaster ride end with menopause or continue?
Thanks
Thanks
Brief Answer:
Follows.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for reverting back.
Yes generally these symptoms subside after 6 month -1 year after menopause but it varies from individual to individual .You can consider taking hormone replacement therapy but after discussing with your gynecologist , it helps to cope with these changes better .
Plus you can consider taking phytoestrogens like increase your intake of soy products which are otherwise also very beneficial for health . These are easily available and patients report significant benefit from these.
Dr. Shruti
Follows.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for reverting back.
Yes generally these symptoms subside after 6 month -1 year after menopause but it varies from individual to individual .You can consider taking hormone replacement therapy but after discussing with your gynecologist , it helps to cope with these changes better .
Plus you can consider taking phytoestrogens like increase your intake of soy products which are otherwise also very beneficial for health . These are easily available and patients report significant benefit from these.
Dr. Shruti
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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