Editor’s note: Eight years ago, 35-year-old Ms. Liu found out that she suffered from hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism for short) and was still not cured after oral drug treatment. So this year, 43-year-old she took iodine 131 treatment. Hyperthyroidism was cured, but she was complicated with hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism for short). Although taking thyroxine, thyroid function control is not ideal.
Recently, Ms. Liu has always felt pain in her waist and back. She felt that as she got older, she didn’t care and didn’t go to the hospital to have a look.
A few days ago, Ms. Liu accidentally fell down and broke her ribs. This forced her to go to the hospital.
Arriving at the hospital, the doctor told Ms Liu that she had severe osteoporosis, which was the reason why Ms Liu was especially prone to fracture after wrestling.
Ms. Liu: Ah, the bones deteriorate as you get older. What can I do? Can calcium supplement be good?
Doctor: The main cause of your osteoporosis is not your age. After looking at your medical history, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are the main causes of your osteoporosis.
Doctor: What is osteoporosis? I don’t know if you understand it or not. Let me explain it briefly: If bones are compared to tree trunks, if the tree trunks become thinner, the internal tissues become thinner or even broken due to various reasons, it is useless to see. A little wind and rain will easily break off. This state is osteoporosis.
Ms. Liu: Doctor, your explanation is clearer. But is osteoporosis related to my thyroid disease history in what?
Effect of hyperthyroidism on bone
1. Hyperthyroidism leads to more bone destruction than the formation of new bone.
In the process of bone metabolism, part of bone tissue is dissolved and destroyed every day, and new bone tissue will be generated. The balance between the two maintains the stability of bone.
Thyroid hormone is secreted too much during hyperthyroidism, resulting in greater bone destruction than new bone formation and increased bone loss.
2. Hinder vitamin D synthesis
Calcium is the raw material for new bone formation. Vitamin D can promote the absorption of calcium, while hyperthyroidism causes insufficient synthesis of vitamin D in the body and obvious reduction of calcium absorption.
3. Diarrhea caused by hyperthyroidism will also affect calcium absorption.
Hyperthyroidism is often complicated with diarrhea, calcium absorption becomes more and more difficult, and the possibility of osteoporosis increases.
These situations mainly occur in patients with hyperthyroidism who have not recovered for a long time and have recurrent attacks.
The hyperthyroidism mentioned here is not all caused by thyroid gland secreting more thyroid hormones, such as thyroid cancer mentioned below.
Bone Health of Postoperative Patients with Thyroid Cancer
For thyroid cancer, thyroid gland is generally completely or partially removed, and postoperative patients will suffer from hypothyroidism, which must be treated with thyroxine instead of drugs, such as Youjiale and Retiz.
In order to prevent tumor recurrence, slightly larger doses of thyroxine will be given to control thyroid function to a slightly [hyperthyroidism] state, which belongs to [hyperthyroidism] caused by medication and also brings the risk of osteoporosis.
Of course, these drugs are all considered after weighing the pros and cons.
Less thyroxine is not conducive to bone strength.
If hypothyroidism is not controlled for a long time, the metabolic rhythm in the body will slow down, and the speed of bone destruction and regeneration will also slow down. Although the balance does not seem to be broken, the metabolism of bone tissue will slow down. Most of the bone tissue is of [veteran] grade. These [aging] bone tissues will also lead to osteoporosis.
Knowing the culprit of Ms. Liu’s osteoporosis, the treatment will be more targeted. At the same time of treating osteoporosis, thyroid function must be well controlled to prevent the suspect from coming out again to do evil.
Reminder from Doctor
Many patients with osteoporosis have no obvious symptoms in the early stage, and are often found only after fracture occurs and is examined.
In fact, waist and back pain or overall bone pain is one of the typical symptoms of osteoporosis. Severe cases may include height shortening and hunchback, spinal deformity and limited stretching.
For thyroid dysfunction, even if osteoporosis has not occurred, but has entered the middle-aged and elderly, or has been menopausal, it is best to take some preventive measures under the guidance of doctors.