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Increased Bone pain/itching when supplementing for Vit D deficiency?

Posted , 3 users are following.

austin40571
austin40571

I have just started to try and raise my vit d from a level 5ng/ml.  I have bone pain in the pelvis, thigh, and foot and a intermittant burning sensation on my thighs.  I am clearly deficient by blood test, however, when i take vit D I get a side effect of increased bone pain, and increased itching, that makes it difficult to sit and difficult to work.  So far I have tried script 50,000IU Ergo and I cannot tolerate that, I have now tried 1000 IU D3 and I still get increased bone pain and itching, but lasting for much less time.  

Can anyone comment on a similar experience, or knowledge of a patient who was 10 years deficient prior to diagnosis who may have had similar response to corrective vit d supplements?

I would like to know if this is to be expected in correcting Vit D  osteomalacia and is there a approach that can decrease the pain while supplementing, perhaps adding other nutrients?

Help is much appreciated.

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Jaybelle
    Jaybelle austin40571

    Posted

    Hi Austin, I too went many years before diagnosis with vitamin D deficiency/osteomalacia and have had the same experience of increased bone pain on high dose vitamin D, which seems to be quite a common side effect. I found it worse when taking supplementary calcium - perhaps due to rapid skeletal re-hardening, I don't know. I have read that a good dose of magnesium can alleviate this when taking a calcium supplement, but I know of no scientific studies to back that up. Anyway, I gritted my teeth, upped the painkillers and got on with it. It was worst for the first six weeks, then seemed to improve. 

    Perhaps the best solution would be to ditch the supplements and opt for a month's nude sunbathing in a sunny location. Desert island, anyone? 

    All best wishes.

    :-)

    • austin40571
      austin40571 Jaybelle

      Posted

      Hi Jaybelle, I like the island idea!

      Thanks very much for your reply, because you are the first person I have found that experienced increased bone pain with supplementation, my doc said that was very atypical.

      I suspect you are correct that the pain is related to rapid bone remodeling.  I will try the magnesium.

      But I think the key thing you said that I am missing is painkillers to get thru the supplementation period.  I would rather supplement high dose D, with some pain killers, than low dose and have this carry on for a long time.

      Can I ask what type of doc managed your recovery, a rheumatologist, or primary, or ortho?  

      I don't know if you can tell me, but what type of pain killers made the "gritting your teeth" phase bearable?

      Thanks again!

    • Jaybelle
      Jaybelle austin40571

      Posted

      Hi Austin. 

      I have seen several people mention worse pain during the early part of vit D supplementation, so we are not alone. Doctors really know very little about recovery from osteomalacia - it's a very newly recognised issue for UK medics, and all they seem to know is 'dull bone pain' and 'high dose vit D for 10 weeks'.

      I am being seen by a GP, who takes a very low key approach and thinks my pain is an expression of depression(!). OK, been here many times before with doctors, but at least this one ordered the blood test that ID'd the low vit D.  He suggested nothing more than paracetamol for the pain, but I usually take a regime of ibuprofen supplemented with ibuprofen+codeine when really bad or at night. 

      All best wishes.

      :-)

    • austin40571
      austin40571 Jaybelle

      Posted

      Hi Jaybelle,

      It's comforting to know that we are not alone in this.  It has taken 10 years of vague pain complaints for someone, US Doc, to finally test my Vit D.  

      Thanks for sharing your pain regimen.  I think you must have a higher tolerance for pain than I do sad    

      I am going to see another doc or maybe a pain management doc to see if I can get something for just a 2 month duration to keep me working.

      Thanks for your help.

      Best wishes!

  • frankiefoo
    frankiefoo austin40571

    Posted

    The pain you're experiencing with taking vitamin D supplements is caused by the body mending, mainly the bones. The itching could be a mild case of vitamin C dificiency, so I suggest you drink a glass of orange juice with your vitamin D supplements, which can do you nothing but good. Also take vitamin K and F in natural forms - leafy greens and linolic acids - to help distribute the vitamin D to the bones. What dosage are you taking at the moment as 1,000 IU a day is TOO LOW for deficiency? Increase it to 10,000 IU a day and if the D3 causes you the same problems as D2 (Ergocalciferol) then try a liquid or spray form of the supplement as the ingredients in tablets are bulked and include sucrose among other irritants. 
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