Thyroid Pain
All You Need to Know About Thyroid Pain
An inconvenient pain, swelling, or tenderness in the thyroid gland located in the neck area signifies thyroid pain. Typically this thyroid pain is identified as thyroiditis and can be due to a variety of different reasons. As with most conditions, some are relatively severe, while others may be easily treated. Throughout this article we will examine all you need to know about thyroid pain as well as the possible causes and treatment plans to ease the discomfort.
This inflammation within the thyroid gland is well known in the medical field. This gland plays a key role in controlling a person’s metabolism from the hormones the gland produces. Most of the time an increase inflammation obviously results in tenderness and even pain. Not only is this inflammation and sensitivity extremely uncomfortable, but it frequently makes the victim fearful of the causes. Therefore, it is essential to identify the key symptoms to thyroiditis as well as possible causes.
Since this condition directly affects a person’s metabolism, one major symptom includes weight gain. Fatigue and depression are also frequently associated with those that have low thyroid activity levels and issues. Other symptoms include constipation, muscle aches, and dry skin. Anxiety, tremors, and an increase in heart rate may be a result of hyperactivity in the thyroid area. These symptoms frequently accompany a discomfort, tenderness, swelling, or pain within the neck region. Regardless of the specific combination of symptoms, anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical assistance for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Some of the situations that may lead to pain in the thyroid will be described with limited detail in this section of the article. Viral infections (and mumps) may be one cause for your thyroid pain. However, other possible problems could be cysts or tumors. Anyone experiencing a trauma to the neck for any reason may also develop pain within this area. Certain medications and infections may also be the cause of thyroiditis in your particular case. Medications that have known to cause thyroid problems include but are not limited to the following: lithium, cytokines, and amiodarone. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are currently taking these medications. Proper diagnosis by your physical is required to determine the possible cause and successful treatment plans for your situation.
When being diagnosed by your doctor, be prepared to have a blood test. This test will help determine if the thyroid is underactive or hyperactive. Obviously telling your doctor your symptoms will also assist him with making this diagnosis. From there, he will probably examine the likely causes of this pain. For some situations a biopsy may be required to determine what exactly is irritating your thyroid gland.
As with most conditions, the exact treatment will depend on the type of thyroiditis you have as well as the cause of your symptoms. Addressing the symptoms without addressing the cause is only going to work for a short period of time before the symptoms reoccur. Most doctors prescribe medicine that will decrease a rapid heart rate as well as reduce the tremors that are frequently associated with a hyperactive thyroid gland if this is the case. However, if you are deficient in the hormones generally produced by the thyroid gland, your doctor will supply supplements to place these hormones back in your body. For pain, anti-inflammatory medicines are generally prescribed with the likelihood of steroids. Again, these medications will be prescribed to address your current symptoms until the proper diagnosis is made and the cause itself is treated.
In conclusion, thyroid pain proves to be annoying at the very least. Although there are some relatively mild situations in which a person experiences pain, it is recommended that medical advice be sought in order to reduce the symptoms and address the causes. Be sure to consult a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms or a combination of these symptoms for more than a couple of days.