What is it about the Achilles tendon in underac... - Thyroid UK

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What is it about the Achilles tendon in underactive thyroid?

sheenah profile image
11 Replies

Can anyone enlighten me what the Achilles tendon does when hypothyroid is present?

XX

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sheenah profile image
sheenah
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11 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Could be low vitamin D or low FT3

Very common to have plantar fasciitis when hypothyroid

Foxtrot89 profile image
Foxtrot89 in reply to SlowDragon

Oh wow I never knew this! Plantar fasciitis was the very first thing I went to my doctor for before I started feeling exhausted etc. Had no idea it was linked.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Foxtrot89

Here are posts about plantar fasciitis

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

sheenah

When hypothyroidism is present, the reaction to the Achilles tendon reflex test is slow. It's one of the tests that Dr P did when I saw him. There's an article here with a video showing a normal reaction to the test and the reaction of a hypo person:

functionalps.com/blog/2011/...

CornishChick profile image
CornishChick in reply to SeasideSusie

That’s really interesting! If someone is correctly medicated, would the Achilles reflex test be normal?

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to CornishChick

CornishChick

I don't know as I never had mine tested again, one would expect if optimally medicated and 100% well with no symptoms of hypothyroidism (which I'm not anyway) then it would be normal, but I really don't know.

TSH110 profile image
TSH110

It can suffer from inflammation leading to scaring and pain as it is constricted in its sheath. Achilles reflexes are slower than normal so if you get a doc hammer your knee with a rubber mallet to see you leg Jerk up this is what they are testing. I am not sure the actual connections between hypothyroidism and Achilles’ tendon problesare fully understood but there certainly is a connection.

Worth a look, scroll down below diabetes heading for hypothyroid section with mention of T3 receptors

academic.oup.com/bmb/articl...

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

Dr Skinner did the same!

Achilles_Pain profile image
Achilles_Pain

As my login suggests......hurt! When I get out of bed of a morning I do a Charlie Chaplin impression until they warm up because I can't bend my ankles. Going through a bad patch at the moment and the only way to get down stairs early on is sideways, though once they've warmed up they're usually not too bad. Unfortunately exercise doesn't help - I did a 10 mile trail race yesterday, can't walk today - but stretching does. I try and stretch once or twice every day - heels over the edge of the stairs and gently alternate dropping one heel to take all or most of your weight on one foot, then switch to the other, for about ten seconds for ten reps each, as prescribed by my physio. Plus various other stretches - Dr Google can be useful, search for Achilles Stretches - which all reduce the pain/discomfort massively. It isn't an instant cure, you may need to keep at it for a few weeks, but it's a couple of minutes a day so not exactly an onerous task.

Heloise profile image
Heloise

Hi sheenah, have been searching for two decades and just the other day a couple of us posted a video about fascia. Fascia covers all the organs and muscles and recently have found it has a lot of pain sensors. Turns out that fascia is made mostly of water which of course means hydration. If it dries out it causes friction and I assume that is where the pain comes in. Hyaluronic acid seems to be the lubricant. I think it's a problem for us.

You can check it out if you care to.

youtu.be/bWU_DnC9t4I

sheenah profile image
sheenah in reply to Heloise

Thank You to everyone who answered my post and with so much information !!

XX

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