Can any one help please? Extreme joint pain after surgery.

[Decapitatedsausage]

I am desperate for some help and no amount of googling is helping me at the moment.

i had a hemi-thyroidectomy 3 weeks ago due to a suspect biopsy. My neck is healing well, I’m not currently on any medication as consultant hoping the other half of my thyroid will kick into life, but I’m having crippling aching pains in my hands, toes and down my arms.

I have codeine left from the operation, and I’m taking it not for neck pain but because my joints are so incredibly painful. I’m only 40 and it feels like what I imagine arthritis feels like? The only relief I can get is holding my arms / hands.

ive had to go back to the hospital a few times as I’ve had an infection, but they all seem completely confused and not bothered by the joint pain.

Does anyone know what this could be, and if it will get better? And what’s caused it?

Sorry, I pressed send too soon.

I’m in tears with the pain, it hurts to type (I know I am now but I’ve had codeine to manage this!) use cutlery, my hair is matted as I don’t want to shampoo it.

Hi, I’m sorry you’re feeling so unwell. Sometimes during thyroid surgery there can be damage to the parathyroid glands. This causes low calcium and a host of symptoms. As you’ve had a hemi rather than a total it would be rare but I’m guessing a possibility. I would definitely go back to your Gp tomorrow. Ask for them to check your thyroid and calcium level and also white blood cell count to check infection has cleared. I once had an awful arthritis type reaction in my hands after an infection as an immune response to the infection so that could also be a possibility. Look after yourself, it takes about 6 weeks to fully recover from a hemi. Keep pushing for answers if you don’t feel well x