I’m amazed at what I learn from helping my mother and son with their disease. Mom may have Pseudogout. Which is a problem with calcium phosphate crystals depositing in her joints. The parathyroid gland controls calcium metabolism so it might be a problem with her parathyroid. Her X-rays revealed chondrocalcinosis in her knees. Her doctor recommended she stop taking her calcium supplement because there is no research that shows it helps our bones.
I have had mildly odd thyroid results for years, but nothing that would indicate hypo or hyperthyroidism. I stumbled across advice that recommends researching a variety of underlying conditions because of the connection to the thyroid function. We should screen for hyperparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, hypomagnesemia, hypophosphatasia, and hemochromatosis. Blood should be tested for intact parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphorous, thyroid-stimulating hormone, magnesium, ferritin, iron transferrin, and alkaline phosphatase.
My alkaline phosphatase levels have always been very low, but my doctor does not believe that low levels are an issue, only when they are high. My intact PTH was high when I was starting to go through menopause but now it generally tests within the acceptable range.
I have been taking allopurinol for years now. My gout has never been horrible but my uric acid levels have always been on the upper range of acceptable. I plan to stop the allopurinol this year and I will stop the calcium. It will probably take a year or more to notice any shifts, but I wonder if I will notice a difference in my joints!