Many thyroid patients complain of neurological type symptoms and many struggle with these despite the fact that they are well treated to correct their thyroid hormone imbalance. Other endocrine diseases, such as diabetes can cause symptoms of neuropathy, as well as neurological disorders that originate in the brain. “Peripheral Neuropathy” is a term meaning a patient suffers from nerve-related symptoms in their body. These can affect nerves that travel to other parts of the body, so that there is a systemic type effect, meaning there are many areas of the body affected.

The symptoms of neuropathies can include tingling and numbness sensations in the body but the extremities are more commonly affected (hands and feet). It can also include burning sensations and stabbing type pains. Muscle twitches and tremor in the muscles can also be a common symptom of peripheral neuropathy. This particular one affects many thyroid patients with Grave’s Disease but can also manifest in those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Some patients with neuropathy type symptoms will also complain of tinnitus, meaning they experience ringing, roaring or clicking sounds in their ears. Some may also experience a degree of hearing loss and dizziness caused by the imbalanced nerve signals reaching the inner ears.

In the year 2007, I had a Brain MRI performed, due to experiencing the symptoms I describe above. My test result came back negative for signs of neurological disease and this confirmed to me that my peripheral neuropathy was caused by my autoimmune thyroid disease.

Some medical sources state that neurological symptoms are rare in thyroid disease patients with hypothyroidism however this is not what I’ve been hearing from 100s of patients over the past five years who attest to experiencing neuropathies, despite being well treated. My belief is that these symptoms may originate from thyroid antibody levels and not from thyroid hormone imbalance.

There is a severe thyroid antibody condition called “Hashimoto’s Encephalitis” that causes severe neurological symptoms and is caused by thyroid antibodies (thyroid autoimmunity) however, it is a very rare disorder. It can present with epileptic seizures, amnesia, psychosis and even coma or death. I feel there are lesser degrees of thyroid antibody related peripheral neuropathy and that it is only common sense to recognize that they can cause neuropathies that are milder than those of Hashimoto’s Encephalitis.

If you are a thyroid patient experiencing peripheral neuropathy symptoms, discuss with your doctor any testing you might need, to rule out causes other than your treated thyroid disease.
See my follow up article on this subject: More About Thyroid Disease & Neuropathy