Low thyroid = high pain

Problems with the thyroid gland can lead to a greater level of pain almost anywhere in the body. The thyroid gland is responsible for maintaining the body's correct temperature. When the thyroid is under-performing, the body temperature can drop, causing nerves to be more sensitive. The more sensitive your nerves become, the worse pain “feels”. Even a half of a degree below normal body temperature can lead to amplified pain. In this article, we'll discuss the causes for thyroid problems, and what you can do to correct them.

About your thyroid gland:

The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck. It functions in much the same way as the thermostat in your home. It maintains the body's normal temperature, 98.6°F. If the body temperature drops, the thyroid releases certain hormones that cause the body to raise the temperature back to normal. If the thyroid isn't working correctly, the body temperature stays lower than normal, and pain signals are amplified.

A good example of this concept: when your hands get cold during winter, they hurt when you try to knock on a door. Or consider the pain felt when biting into an ice cream cone. Nerves do not like cold, and cause more pain and irritation when they are cold.

What goes wrong?

Iodine deficiency - The thyroid gland loves iodine. It's the fuel that makes it function properly. American soil is deficient in iodine, so the plants we eat may not contain enough to satisfy the thyroid's needs. The deficiency is compounded further if you are not eating a large quantity of vegetables daily. In an attempt to fortify the diet with iodine, manufacturers began adding iodine to table salt. Unfortunately, if you have high blood pressure, your doctor has probably advised a salt restriction.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis – This is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system attacks the thyroid gland; after some time, the loss of thyroid cells will cause a loss of thyroid function.

Interference from medications – The number of medications that can adversely affect the thyroid are too great to list here. In addition, each person is different; and so are the side effects.

Soy – Soy is poison to the thyroid gland. This includes tofu, soy protein, powder, oil, edamame, and any non-fermented preparation. All soy contains substances that induce thyroid goiter. Only bacterial fermentation deactivates these substances.

Other – Sometimes the standard treatments for other thyroid conditions can cause decreased thyroid hormone production. These treatments may include using radiation, or removing all or part of the thyroid gland.

Symptoms of low thyroid function

• Chronic fatigue, or just lacking the energy to do anything.

• Headaches, painful arthritis, constipation, chronic pain.

• Consistently lower than normal body temperature (even a half of a degree)

• Memory loss

• High sensitivity to cold, or constantly cold hands and feet

• Depression

• Weight gain

• Hair loss

Prevention and treatment

Preventing thyroid problems is far easier than correcting them. Eating a diet high in fresh green leafy vegetables, fruits and some meats is a great start. Equally important is daily exercise and sleep. Exercising stimulates the metabolism, and keeps it working properly. The core of the metabolism is the adrenal glands, the thyroid gland, and the pituitary gland. If you are not staying active, these glands won't be active.

Food additives, and chemicals used in the production of processed foods can have a negative impact on these glands too. If it's man-made, don't eat it. Here is some more information on eating the right foods for proper metabolic function.

Get sleep and exercise recommendations here.

If you want to test your thyroid at home, here is a free guide on testing your thyroid and steps for introducing additional iodine into your diet.