Vitamin D and Rib Pain

I started having low back pain and rib pain back at the end of December. I thought it was my old bed and went and bought a new one. Things seem not to improve so I went to my family doc and she performed a full battery of test and xrays which all came back normal except low Vitamin D Level of 17.5.

The family doc told me to begin a supplement regimen of over the counter Vitamin D3 Supplements and get out in the sun for 15 minutes a day. She really didn't tell me how much supplement to take so I bought some and starting taking I think 4,000 units a day.

I began to do my own research and found that wasn't enough to bring my level to normal range. I have been taking 10,000 units a day for approx 4 or 5 weeks. (Total time has been 9 weeks since lab work). My low back pain has subsided some and my rib pain is better however I do have intermittent areas on my body that still get sore and my joints still ache at times.

I am 35 years old and have been healthy with no medical problems except I began to have eczema approx 3 yrs ago which I have attributed to occupational exposure to harsh hand soaps. I am a RN and work in surgery.

My question is: How long should I expect to still have the muscle and joint pain with the taking of vit d supplements supposing that my levels are going up? Also, about a month into taking the Vitamin D3 Supplements I started having muscle twitching and some Muscle Cramps.

I have been taking mag supplements for 2 1/2 wks and it seems to be getting better but how much mag should I be taking and should I be taking a calcium supplement with it also? My Blood Calcium Level was good back when I had the doctors visit. Thanks for your time. Finally, have you ever heard of people having rib pain with low vit d levels?

Comments for Vitamin D and Rib Pain

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Vitamin D Deficiency can cause ANY pain...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Well, I'm glad that you are feeling better on the vitamin d and that your doctor actually checked your level and you didn't get some crazy diagnosis such as Symptoms of Fibromyalgia or something even worse.

Yes, if you read my page on Vitamin D and Pain, you'll see that you can have ANY pain as one of the Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency. ANY pain- really!!

So, yes, your cramps are likely to be a Sign of Magnesium Deficiency- just read the Magnesium Dosage page to find out exactly how much magnesium YOU need, because it's different for everyone.

I don't suggest that the vast majority of people take calcium. And please read my page on Blood Calcium Levels, because they have nearly nothing to do with your calcium INTAKE.

Osteoporosis nearly always occurs at NORMAL calcium levels. Once you get enough vitamin d and magnesium, you'll actually ABSORB your calcium, so there is no need for most people to take any calcium.

OK, now here's the hard part. You will likely feel better when your Vitamin D Level is in the optimal range and your bones and muscles have built back up to their previous levels- which could be as long as several months.

BUT.... that's only IF that is the only thing going on with you... You definitely had a vitamin d deficiency and a subclinical magnesium deficiency. What else are you deficient in that your doctor can't even test you for? And how did you get deficient in the first place?

And since all of your other labs were 'normal' and you're an RN, you may be VERY interested in looking at this Functional Diagnosis Blood Chemistry Book which will give you a VERY different perspective on your 'normal' lab results!!

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

Rib pain follow up
by:

I sure my low vit d level came from lack of sun exposure considering I work in a hospital and I work long hours with little exposure outside.

When you say I could have other things going on what do you mean?

What other things should I be looking for? I take a load of vitamins everyday. Thanks!

WHY are you deficient...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi again,

So, yes, it's likely that your vitamin d level is low because of not getting out in the sun (that's the reason why EVERYONE is low), but why are you deficient in magnesium? And why do you have joint pain?

These are NOT normal things to have when you are 35 (or really any age). These things are all telling you that maybe your lifestyle is not optimal- working long hours and not getting much sunlight is not healthy. What about exercise?

Most nurses that I know don't get much at all- and that is really going to catch up to you at some point. A subclinical magnesium deficiency also tells me that it's pretty likely that your diet probably doesn't include as many vegetables as you probably should be.

If you really ARE getting plenty of vegetables, then you may not be absorbing nutrients well and THAT may be part of the problem.

So, my thought is that you should NOT be having these problems at 35 years old and that you are getting an 'Early Warning Sign' that you could be treating yourself better OR that you may have some intestinal issues and these issues are putting you at really high risk of chronic health problems later on.

So, this may be especially true since you have been taking 'A Load' of vitamins every day- yet you are still deficient in vitamin d AND magnesium!!

Hmmm.

I could go into details if you are interested...

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

PS: If you found this website helpful, please consider using the
Easy Immune Health Product Store the next time you purchase your supplements online. Thank you for visiting my site!

10 YEARS!
by: Patti

I have had fibromyalgia (or so they have told me) for over 10 years. Of course, I have never been happy with that diagnosis. I have finally found a doctor to listen to me, after now having the most horrible back and rib spasms of my life!

I finally just told my doctor to send me to a pain doctor- which, thankfully she did. This doctor has found that my vitamin D level was at 25 ng/ml ...which explains a lot. I am going for a cortisol test as she also thinks I produce too much cortisol and she also did an ultrasound of my thyroid, that result will be coming back very soon.

Meantime, I am floored by what I am reading!
How can I get the level back up? She said 1,000 units daily- ha! I feel like when I had growing pains when I was a teenager, especially in my legs- keeps me up at night.

Of course, no one understands the pain...and I just get the "look".

Thank GOD, I found this site, and you. Please advise! I am now curious too about magnesium levels and knowing where I stand on that as well. Should I just take a supplement?

Thanks!

I can't wait to get my life back!

Just take the magnesium...
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Patty,

I'm so glad that you are finally getting the care that you deserve. But you are right, 1000 IU's is a newborn infant's maintenance dose- not an adult's dose who has vitamin d deficiency.

Please see my page on Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment page to see that most experts recommend around 7000 to 1000 IU's of vitamin d per day for treatment until your levels get up into the OPTIMAL range as outlined on the Vitamin D Level page.

Be sure to ignore the 'normal' range on your lab sheet since it is not 'optimal'.

While vitamin d blood tests are accurate and useful, your Magnesium Level is not and you should simply go by symptoms- of which I consider 'Fibromyalgia' to BE of the Signs of Magnesium Deficiency.

And particularly if you have Muscle Cramps, that's a HUGE problem with magnesium deficiency as well.

So, rather than worrying about blood tests for magnesium, you can simply follow the instructions on the Magnesium Dosage page.

Be sure to also take B vitamins as well as you won't be able to absorb magnesium if you are vitamin B6 deficient!!

So, that's a start. Let me know if you have any questions.

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

PS: Don't forget to get your FREE Ebook when you Sign Up For My Newsletter

Vitamin D deficiency
by: Anonymous

I m having pain in my back n ribs both sides sometimes i feel numbness in my arms n sometimes feel dizzy

I have low vitamin D 1.95..
Is it due to deficiency of vitamin D???

please read the thread again
by: Kerri Knox, The Immune Queen

Please read the thread again. It answers your question already. Plus, your vitamin d level is almost undetectable. Please read the thread and this site more and you'll understand why that is a problem.

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