Crazy Transient Pain and Vitamin D Deficiency!

by Laurel Callahan
(Maui, HI USA)

I am a 52 year old female. I have battled chronic back and neck pain from arthritis for years. I take hydro and oxycodones for pain management.


4 months ago I had open heart surgery to repair my mitral valve. They also did the Maze Procedure to cure my AFib, which it did.

About a month postop I started to get these muscle pains. Now, at 4 months postop, I am in horrible pain.

Most of the time it is both quads and my shoulders. My right shoulder has now gotten way worse and sometimes its hard to lift my arm.

My leg pain is terrible. I can't get up from a seated position without great pain. Walking up and down stairs is painful as well.

At times it feels as if my entire body just hurts. I cannot sleep.

My vitamin D 25 hydroxy level came back at 30. It did not say the units measured.

Doc just prescribed 50,000 IU of Vitamin D once per week for 3 months.

Do you think my horrible pain is due to Vitamin D deficiency?

I am at my wits end with this pain. Pain meds dont even help.

Thanks, Laurel Callahan

Comments for Crazy Transient Pain and Vitamin D Deficiency!

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Possibly it's Magnesium Deficiency...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Laurel,




More About Vitamin D


That's perplexing. Your Vitamin D Level isn't THAT low to be in such intense pain, but definitely do get your levels up to the Optimal Researcher Recommended Levels, as it seems like your doctor is trying to do- only, you should read why Prescription Vitamin D is Not the Best Choice and why you should consider either:

1) Taking Vitamin D3 Supplements

OR

2) Getting out in that beautiful Maui sunshine every day until JUST before you burn- and NOT SHOWERING with soap and washing off the oils on your skin where the vitamin D is made!


But I'll tell you that it sounds MORE likely to be pain from magnesium deficiency. Both muscle cramps/spasms AND heart irregularities are Signs of Magnesium Deficiency. And when you have something done as stressful as heart surgery, you REALLY use up a TON of magnesium and you are likely to get magnesium deficient quickly after such a stressful event.

But you DEFINITELY had a magnesium level in the hospital- unfortunately it was likely to be normal- and therefore your doctor will tell you that you don't need supplementation. But this is NOT necessarily true. Lab Testing For Magnesium is virtually worthless and a better test is to follow the Magnesium Dosing guidelines and give it a try.



Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Easy Immune Health.com
Thank You
by: Anonymous

Thanks Kerri for all the great info.

I will look at the links you provided and give that a try.

Gotta say I am really impressed with your site and the individual care you take to answer questions personally.

As you can imagine, after going through something as HUGE as open heart surgery, I am so disappointed and frustrated that I am feeling poorly! I am supposed to be improving every day!

I am ready to do whatever it takes to get rid of this pain. I am on so many narcotic painkillers it isn't funny, and they don't work very well!

I am looking forward to the day when I am drug free. I'm gonna stick around here for sure!

warm alohas
Vitamin D supplementation
by: Laurel Callahan

HI Kerri,

Can I take a Vitamin D3 supplement while I'm doing the 50,000 IU prescription one?

thanks,
Laurel

I am finding your site amazing. thanks again!
Take a look at...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Laurel,

There is no reason to be doing both the Prescription and D3. Did you read the page about Why Prescription Vitamin D is Not Suitable for Supplementation?


Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Easy Immune Health.com
holy moly!
by: Anonymous

Dearest Kerri,

I went to our local health food store and got a powder form of Mag Citrate yesterday afternoon.

I took some last night, this morning, and this afternoon.

My quad pain is gone. I can't wait to see if it is still gone tomorrow! I have a feeling it will be!

I also feel much more relaxed and anxiety free. I also am not constipated anymore either!

I could kiss ya!

seriously, this is like a miracle,
thank you Kerri,
Laurel
That is so great Laurel. I'm so happy for you...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Yeah! That was so fast. I'm SOOOO glad that you wrote in. You would likely have suffered for YEARS with that pain with your doctors not being able to figure it out.

Just think how many poor people are out there with your problems that will never figure it out. Yipes! I hope that you are a believer in the power of nutrients and what they can do now!!

So now, so you don't get deficient in a bunch of other nutrients and have a bunch of other problems, really consider getting on a high quality multivitamin like Jigsaw Health's Essential Daily Packs. It's got 500 mg of magnesium and 5000 IU's of Vitamin D- and a whole lot of other essential nutrients to keep you at your best.


I'm soooo glad that you are feeling better Laurel! You just can't imagine how great that is to know that you are not suffering any longer. Be sure to let your doctor know what did it. He likely won't believe you, but if people keep using nutrients and getting good results with them, doctors will HAVE to begin to sit up and take notice and maybe other people won't have to suffer either.

Thanks so much for writing back and letting us know how you are feeling!


Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Easy Immune Health.com
there is more
by: Laurel

Hi again,

I am still having good results with the magnesium. My leg pain isn't totally gone, but it is significantly better.

I have developed something else! I don't remember if I mentioned it.

It started with pain in my shoulders in both arms. Now it is mostly in my right arm and bicep.

When I reach up and to the back a little, I get an extremely intense burning pain. It has a few second delay before the pain sets in after I make the movement.

The pain can literally bring me to my knees. The burning lasts for what seems like minutes, but I'm sure its no longer than one minute, which is a long time!!!

Mag isn't touching that pain. I am afraid of this, as I am not using my arm like I should. I don't want my muscles to atrophy.

I have so many aches and pains still. I know I havent been on the magnesium for very long or the Vitamin D, but its discouraging.

I feel like the docs are kind of dismissing me, and not really listening to what I'm telling them. I am in pain all the time.

Again, thanks for all your great info. Have you ever heard of this kind of burning pain?

thanks
Laurel

ps, when I get caught up from my open heart surgery, etc. I would really like to sign up with your program. ;-) I'm saving up for you!
Hmmm. That's a toughie....
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

I'm not really sure what could be causing such intense burning pain like that, Laurel. It's possible that it's not nutritional or medical, but muscular and/or structural.

Have you had a massage therapist or a physical therapist evaluation for that? When they do surgery, they often put you in weird positions or push or pull you or leave you lying in a strange position for long periods of time. So, get a prescription for some Physical Therapy and see if they might be able to get you some answers there.

Also, it just kind of sounds like you might have a systemic inflammatory problem and that could be causing all sorts of crazy illnesses. Heart disease, too, is definitely related to inflammatory issues. Did I point you in the direction of the book, The Great Cholesterol Lie?

It's really all about inflammation and how that affects you and what to do about it. As a former heart surgeon turned alternative health guy, the author really knows what he's talking about.


Two other nutritional suggestions. You could start on the anti-inflammatory process by getting on some Omega 3 Fatty Acid Supplements, and since the magnesium worked, but not all the way, you might want to try rubbing Transdermal Magnesium Gel right into the part of your neck,shoulder, arm that has the burning pain as well as right into your thighs.

The magnesium gets absorbed right through your skin and you can use it even if you are maxed out on your oral magnesium supplements. It might be worth a try.



Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Easy Immune Health.com
thanks again
by: Laurel

Great suggestions, Kerri.

Got to tell you, my quads are really doing well. I did wake up with some pain this morning, but now, well into the morning, it is still gone.

I also am to the point where I can drink the Natural Calm and not have running to the bathroom episodes! I've found my balance. Wonderful!

I do have an appointment for physical therapy. I'll let ya know how that goes.

Oh, they did give me a diagnosis finally. Can't remember if I told you. Its something called Myofascial Pain Syndrome.

Again, you are really the best and provide such a wonderful service.

Thanks Kerri.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome is...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Laurel,

Hah! Myofascial Pain Syndrome translated into English means "You say that you hurt all over and we have no idea why."

We've come such a long way in medicine, haven't we?!

If you can find her and your insurance will pay for it, Dr. Carolyn Dean, author of The Magnesium Miracle and has the Dr. Carolyn Dean's Future Health Now Program is a practicing medical doctor AND a Naturopathic Doctor AND she lives on Maui!!

I don't know if she sees clients over there, but I know that she is still doing telephone consultations and maybe you could get an appointment.




Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Easy Immune Health.com
MPS
by: Laurel

You are so right! That is too funny, but oh so true.

I signed up and downloaded the intro from her already. I did notice she had an 808 area code!

I'm gonna look her up.

aloha,
laurel
Update on all that crazy pain!
by: Laurel Callahan

Hi Kerri!

I just have to update you on my pain etc.

First of all, the quad pain. Remember I could not get up from my chair? I could not climb stairs? it was EXCRUCIATING!

Since I started taking Vitamin D2 and Magnesium in the form of Natural Calm, my quad pain is gone 100%. I can get up and down like a champ, can climb stairs, no problemo!

The only pain I may get is in my knees from my arthritis, but that isn't even very bad and sometimes non existent!

The shoulder pain turned out to be Bursitis, which I got two shots of cortisone for. I hate cortison, but it did work. The Bursitis is almost gone.

Once in a while I still get cramps in my quads at night, but that is usually if I don't drink enough Natural Calm.

My lower back pain even feels better. I have actually been experimenting with skipping doses of my pain meds. I am on Opana ER, which is pretty strong, and I have been skipping one dose per day (i take one every 12 hours) and I don't notice the difference. I tried skipping 3 in a row, and I had bad muscle pain, I think that was WD, as I've been on them 6 months straight. So I have to go slow and taper.

Thank you for the Ebook, I have shared it with my daughter who has cancer. She is also now drinking Natural Calm and its helping her quite a bit. She is going through chemo, and gets anxiety and constipation, so Mag really helps her.

I think she needs Vitamin D as well. I'm moving off the island to Ft. Lauderdale to take care of her April 1, so I'm going to make sure she has the proper nutrients and supplements!

I just wanted to thank you. Being without this pain is truly freeing. Don't get me wrong, I still have my arthritis pain and all that, but the muscle aches, the crazy horrible quad pain, etc. that is all GONE! GONE GONE GONE!

I attribute that to you and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I know this is long, but I think that everyone needs to know that the things you say and recommend REALLY DO WORK!. They really do!

Do you have any suggestions for chemo patients? She is taking oral chemo.

Anyway! Love ya girl,
Laurel
Pain gone...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Yeah!! That is amazing!!! I'm soooo glad. You just made my day. It makes me sooo happy to know that you'll not have to suffer with that stuff for a DECADE- because there are just no doctors out there who would have figured that out.

Someone MIGHT have tested your Magnesium Level, but magnesium levels are almost ALWAYS going to be normal- even in those with fairly severe deficiency like yours.

So, I'm glad that you didn't have to endure that for too long.

I'm sorry to hear about your daughter, though, uggh. But chemo. Ick. That stuff is amazingly toxic and she needs to get on stuff to counteract her toxicity.

I'll tell you, I'm not an expert on it, but it has some VERY nasty long term effects and she really needs to get on antioxidants and nutrients.

I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend that you get the book Winning The War on Cancer. I just finished reading his other books on:

Magnesium The Ultimate Heart Medicine

and

Iodine- Bringing Back the Universal Medicine
and they were both incredibly well researched and both talk EXTENSIVELY about some of the therapies that he talks about in Winning the War on Cancer. I don't think that you could have a better investment into helping her to get well than that book will bring you!

Keep in touch about both you AND your daughter.


Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
Hmm, my hot flashes are gone...
by: laurel

Hi again Kerri,

I will definitely take a look at the above referenced books, thank you!

I just had a thought. I have had horrible horrible hot flashes now for about 5 years. They are debilitating.

I know you told about prescription Vitamin D, but I must admit that I did take it for the first two months, of the three prescribed. For the third month, I decided not to renew my rx and I went to the health store and got 5,000 IU Vitamin D3. I have been taking one daily now for two weeks.

In the meantime, about 3 or 4 weeks ago I tried yet another herbal hot flash med. It was supposed to work right away, but it didn't, just like everything else I have tried. I have not stopped taking it, HOWEVER,

Now that two weeks of steady Vitamin D3 intake has gone by, my hotflashes are GONE. Completely! Day sweats and night sweats.

So now I wonder if the other has kicked in, or was it simply the good Vitamin D3 like you told me in the very beginning?

Hmmmm. I'm thinking Vitamin D3. Does Vitamin D deficiency cause sweating?

thanks again!
Laurel
Yes, it can help your pain I think.
by: Anonymous

I had chronic pain from my head to my toe and began taking 10,000 IU a day. Within some weeks, my pain started to subside and as I continued taking it, all the pain and throbbing thru-out my body went away.

I tell everyone who will listen what it did for me. I continued taking that much for two years. I never had my vitamin D tested but I was desperate for a cure and knew I had not been in the sun for years nor did I consume a lot of vitamin d.

IT saved my life. I continue to take lots of vitamin d as well as many other vitamins and nutrients.

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