Can arm, hip, and knee pain occur from low vitamin D?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have just found out that I am very low in vitamin D. I have just had lots of different blood tests, bone profile, 12 folates complete blood count, vitamin D and a couple of others, all came back normal apart from vitamin D. I have been getting an aching pain in my upper arm and elbow, hip and knee but mostly my upper arm. Can it be the low vitamin D that is causing it?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I cannot say it with utmost certainty, but yes it could be due to low vitamin D3 levels. The majority of patients with moderate to mild vitamin D deficiency (serum vitamin D between 15 and 20. The majority of patients with moderate to mild vitamin D deficiency (serum 25[OH]D between 15 and 20 ng/mL [37.5 to 50 nmol/L]) are asymptomatic. Serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase are typically normal. Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels are elevated in about 40 and 50 percent of patients with serum vitamin D levels less than 20 and 10 ng/mL, respectively.

Patients with low vitamin D and increased PTH (secondary increase) are at increased risk of having rapid bone loss, seen as low bone mineral density (BMD) in dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry [DEXA scans]), fragility fractures. With chronically low vitamin D levels one can develop secondary hyperparathyroidism, which can affect serum calcium and phosphorus levels. The patient usually develops symptoms at this stage with features of osteomalacia (bony pain, etc.). I do not know your vitamin D levels, but there is usually no harm in taking vitamin D supplements orally weekly or daily.