Hyperparathyroidism Support Group

Hyperparathyroidism is overactivity of the parathyroid glands resulting in excess production of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Increased PTH consequently leads to increased serum calcium (hypercalcemia) due to 1) increased bone resorption, allowing flow of calcium from bone to blood, 2) reduces renal clearance of calcium, and 3) increases intestinal calcium absorption.

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DarknessEmbraced 04/29/2013

I know that hyperparathyroidism can cause muscle cramps. I was out today and walking around a lot. When I came back home I started having muscle cramps in my legs that won't let up. I'm drinking more to make sure it's not from dehydration. If it's from high calcium there's not much that can be done until I get sent to my endocrinologist. Does anyone else suffer from these cramps?

deleted_user 04/29/2013

Just muscle and bone pain all over, mostly hip down, though.

DarknessEmbraced 04/29/2013

Today I have muscle cramps in my legs and feet. I also get bone pain all over, mostly in my hips, legs and hands. I also get eye twitches sometimes. I really do hope that all of us who are suffering can get surgery.

cc22 04/29/2013

I've been reading a lot about magnesium recently. If you are deficient that can cause muscle cramps. Calcium helps muscles contract and magnesium helps them relax. You need a balance. So if it were me and you are not going to be able to do anything else for a while try soaking your feet in some warm epsom salt water. It gets absorbed through the skin and epsom salts are cheap and easy to get at any drugstore or grocery store usually.

DarknessEmbraced 04/29/2013

Thanks for the suggestion cc22! I will definitely look into getting some epsom salts!

deleted_user 04/30/2013

HPT doesn't normally cause muscle cramps. Calcium sets firing thresholds for nerve tissues. If your calcium is high (HPT), then nerve tissues (including muscle) are less excitable, so muscles become weak. Conversely, low calcium (hypocalcemia) leads to hyperexcitable nerves. High calcium is associated with muscle weakness, and low calcium is associated with muscle cramps. In fact, low calcium can be life-threatening due to muscle contraction of the heart and larynx. For most people interested in this discussion board, low calcium is what happens after treatment for HPT until calcium in the bone is restored to normal levels.

This isn't to say that HPT cannot cause muscle pain. Weakness in the muscles (and tendons) probably can produce issues that result in pain. Cramps are not normally associated with HPT, however.

DarknessEmbraced 04/30/2013

I think maybe in my case yesterday the cramping may have been due to dehydration because once I drank more the cramping stopped. Thanks for the info PostPT Joe! It's useful to know. :) I do find that I have muscle weakness as well. Some days are worst than others.

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