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- $Unique_ID{BRK00869}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Could Neck Tenderness be a Thyroid Gland Problem?}
- $Subject{thyroid infection Hashimoto Infections infection Endocrine gland
- Glands subacute thyroiditis benign nodules fever malaise fatigue muscle
- soreness}
- $Volume{A-22}
- $Log{}
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- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- Could Neck Tenderness be a Thyroid Gland Problem?
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- QUESTION: My husband has been complaining about tenderness in his neck for
- over a month, along with feelings of fatigue and even a slight fever. Could
- the problem be in his thyroid gland?
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-
- ANSWER: Well, that's one possibility, so let's discuss it. To determine if
- the source of your husband's pain is in fact the thyroid gland, a physician
- will usually inquire if the pain has existed for less than three months, since
- most conditions which cause thyroid pain rarely last for a longer period.
- Next, a careful examination of the neck to see if there is tenderness,
- swelling, or a sensation of warmth in the area of the thyroid.
- Thyroid conditions can cause considerable discomfort for sufferers.
- Luckily, however, such disorders are nearly always relatively short-lived, as
- well as benign and easy to treat. Among the most common pain-causing thyroid
- conditions: subacute thyroiditis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and benign thyroid
- nodules.
- Subacute thyroiditis is the most common of the three and often follows an
- upper respiratory tract infection. Some characteristics of the disorder,
- which usually runs its own course within three months with no medication
- required, include fever, malaise, fatigue and muscle soreness. The symptoms
- of Hashimoto's thyroiditis resemble those of subacute thyroiditis although the
- pain is usually less intense. This condition also disappears on its own.
- Benign thyroid nodules can cause patients pain because of hemorrhage into the
- swollen nodules.
- Most conditions that cause pain in the thyroid can be helped with
- relatively little medication and a lot of patience as they run their rapid and
- benign course. Just a word: although we have discussed thyroid conditions as
- the cause of your husband's problems, there are other possibilities which may
- best be discovered by a thorough examination.
-
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-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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