Just a quick question, do any of you suffer from 'burning' feet? Mine used to be dreadful, I'd have to sleep with my feet outside the bedcovers even on the coldest night. I realised after I'd been diagnosed and on Levo for a while that they weren't so bad so assumed the problem was hypo related. Unfortunately, they have become worse recently, particularly my left foot, although no deterioration of other hypo symptoms. I just wondered if anyone can suggest something to ease them. I tried using a cooling foot spray but that made the pain worse. (The frustrating thing is that I'm a retired Chiropodist so should have a cure!! All the reasons I know about, Diabetic neuropathy etc. don't apply to me!) I Googled it and hypothyroidism was given as a cause (that was never in my text books in the old days!) I just want to know someone else has found some relief. Thanks.
Burning feeling in feet: Just a quick question... - Thyroid UK
Burning feeling in feet
Are you sure your thyroid levels are excellent- not just okay? I had burning feet when I was on Levothyroxine only but they resolved once I started adding T3 and my levels improved. If you can post recent thyroid blood tests, to include T3 T4 and TSH, plus B12, folate, Vit D and ferritin, members can comment.
Yes I found relief from burning feet by taking extra B5 (pantothenic acid) ~ I had been taking B complex and B12, but for some reason, (possibly connected to previously being severely Vit D deficient), I got the burning feet back again. Unfortunately, I can't for the life of me remember where I read it all...it was probably a link/advice from here.
Anyway, it worked for me ~ I don't know if there are other causes/remedys ~ I may have just been lucky, but worth a try? Good luck🍀 it's really annoying, especially at night when you're trying to sleep.
I also had peripheral neuropathy a few weeks after improving low vitamin D
Adding a daily vitamin B complex and sublingual B12 as well for few months soon resulted in complete improvement
Dr Gominak was great info
Ahh! SlowDragon ~ it was Dr Gominak! I remember now, it was one of your links I found it on. Thank you so much...it was so helpful to me👍.
My Vit D was 4 when GP was eventually 'persuaded' to test it, and I had bone deformities and terrible pain...all put down to fibro/CFS. I had been constantly assured my B12 was in range (just, and therefore ok)😕 but I discovered from my medical notes that folate had been BELOW range for many years, and I was never told. I ended up with a serious B12 deficiency.
The burning feet went when I started supplementing as advised on here, but despite this, after a while they started again, so I took the additional B5 separately for a while and it worked like magic. I also found that I was symptomatic of B1 deficiency, so took that separately in addition to the complex too.
I found it took a while for me to balance all the B's...I was in quite a state when I joined this forum, and it takes some reading and learning when your brain isn't functioning, but I got there in the end thanks to kind members like yourself supplying such useful links. I'm so grateful for all the help...I was so disabled before. 💐 x
Was your pain in your heels? Arms wrists hands fingers like all your tendons always hurt?
Hi
I did have the symptoms you describe, tendon pain/muscle weakness etc., and plantar fasciitis, where the pain in my feet made it very uncomfortable to walk, but in this particular instance I'm referring to burning feet...where the soles of the feet (in my case) become abnormally hot and uncomfortable, usually at night...this is what the B5 fixed.
If you are suffering the symptoms you mention, you could write a new post detailing your problems and medications and include test results. Then more members will be able to advise. It could be that your thyroid hormones, and/or vitamin and mineral levels are not optimal.
You might be suffering from plantar fasciitis - it is common in those with hypothyroidism.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant...
I used to have it, and in my case it was improved and eventually disappeared after I improved my vitamin D level and improved my T3 level.
Yes it can be a symptom of undermedication for hypo, but there are other causes too. This document has useful pointers to possible causes of burning feet racgp.org.au/afp/200312/200...
Peripheral neuropathy can be linked to low B vitamins and low vitamin D
All extremely common when hypothyroid m especially if Hashimoto's
Have you had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested?
Add results and ranges if you have them
Helpful info here
drgominak.com/sleep/vitamin...
What vitamin supplements do you currently take
Are you still only on 100mcg Levothyroxine?
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test,(taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
A year or so back I was checking out details of a well known brand of Vitamin B complex (my local chemist stocked it and I'd run low of my usual brand which I usually ordered online). I was interested to see this warning under 'Other Information/Cautions'
"Long term intake of this amount of Vitamin B6 may lead to mild tingling and numbness."
That made me think it could include burning feet.
I've stopped taking the B complex and I think my feet burn less frequently. I have poor circulation in my feet and I think this may be part of the picture. If it's really keeping me awake I apply hand cream in plenty and put on socks to keep it from spreading all over the sheets, then go back to bed, at least feeling that I've done something.
Good luck.
No more than 10mg of b6 should be taken a day, b complex should be taken for four months then a break of two months then continue for four etc
Yes that’s what I do take H&B one, too much B6 can be toxic.
Thanks. I've never been told to do that.
The brand I was checking has "Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) 50mg" and is suggested for daily use. The brand I used to take only has 10mg but suggests taking it 1 to 3 times daily.
I might start taking the complex occasionally.
You might find this abstract of some interest:
Toxicol In Vitro. 2017 Oct;44:206-212. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2017.07.009. Epub 2017 Jul 14.
The vitamin B6 paradox: Supplementation with high concentrations of pyridoxine leads to decreased vitamin B6 function.
Vrolijk MF1, Opperhuizen A2, Jansen EHJM3, Hageman GJ4, Bast A4, Haenen GRMM4.
Author information
1 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.vrolijk@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
2 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Utrecht, The Netherlands.
3 National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
4 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Abstract
Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that functions as a coenzyme in many reactions involved in amino acid, carbohydrates and lipid metabolism. Since 2014, >50 cases of sensory neuronal pain due to vitamin B6 supplementation were reported. Up to now, the mechanism of this toxicity is enigmatic and the contribution of the various B6 vitamers to this toxicity is largely unknown. In the present study, the neurotoxicity of the different forms of vitamin B6 is tested on SHSY5Y and CaCo-2 cells. Cells were exposed to pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, pyridoxal, pyridoxal-5-phosphate or pyridoxamine-5-phosphate for 24h, after which cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. The expression of Bax and caspase-8 was tested after the 24h exposure. The effect of the vitamers on two pyridoxal-5-phosphate dependent enzymes was also tested. Pyridoxine induced cell death in a concentration-dependent way in SHSY5Y cells. The other vitamers did not affect cell viability. Pyridoxine significantly increased the expression of Bax and caspase-8. Moreover, both pyridoxal-5-phosphate dependent enzymes were inhibited by pyridoxine. In conclusion, the present study indicates that the neuropathy observed after taking a relatively high dose of vitamin B6 supplements is due to pyridoxine. The inactive form pyridoxine competitively inhibits the active pyridoxal-5'-phosphate. Consequently, symptoms of vitamin B6 supplementation are similar to those of vitamin B6 deficiency.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Neuropathy; Neurotoxic; Pyridoxine; Supplements; Vitamin B6
PMID: 28716455
DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2017.07.009
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/287...
Thanks, Helvella, so beware pyridoxine - a little is good, but too much is not and it's a good idea to have a break from it.
Can we get B6 from anything other than pyridoxine? and should we be taking a B complex anyway?
Many vitamins exist in several differnt forms. These are called vitamers. The abstract refers to five vitamers:
pyridoxine
pyridoxamine
pyridoxal
pyridoxal-5-phosphate
pyridoxamine-5-phosphate
Of these, only pyridoxine appears to cause a problem. So there are (at least) four other vitamers which can be taken.
oh wow, I had no idea. I’ll observe this. Thank you
Yes, I have it too. Bottoms of my feet and when it’s bad it’s all into my calves too. It’s worse lately (last few months) since NatureThroid was reformulated. I’m going to try some of the suggestions from the other responders, like B5. I’m also looking into changing my NDT. Good luck! I know how aggravating it is, and interferes with sleep/rest.
I’ve read your comment regarding you testing low for B12, you need B12 injections every other day until symptoms stop improving if neurological symptoms are present.. if you were eating meat and dairy and testing low then you are not absorbing B12 from food and so you won’t absorb it correctly through supplements.. testing whilst on supplements will give a false high level as the B12 from the supplements will be floating around in your blood stream unable to get to a cellular level where needed, hence the nerve damage. It will take at least four months to get the supplement out of your blood stream to get a correct level when testing.
Hi I’m a visitor to this site as I am interested in how the body works and had various autoimmune problems. I am interested in B12 at the moment and following the logic of B12 supplements remaining in the blood as not absorbed would that apply to dietary B12 as well? I had a right hemicolectomy last year so recently found out B12 was activated and absorbed in the terminal ileum. As I now lack this I take sub lingual B12 as have symptoms of deficiency but my blood levels are on the high side! I should say I ‘doctor’ myself now as was never told about B12 or bile salt absorption following surgery. Interested in your (and anyone else who has an opinion) thoughts on the subject. Thanks
Morning. I can't help with B12 I am afraid. But I can say that you are more likely to get responses to you question if you post it as a new query. Folk will not see it when it is tucked away in someone else's.
If you can’t absorb B12 through food then you won’t through a supplement, you need injections for life.. especially as you have had an important part of the process removed, it will be impossible to get the B12 to where it needs to be.. you’ll have false high levels of B12 in your blood.. I’ll see if I can find some literature for you to read
Thought sub lingual would be absorbed straight into blood stream! Thank you for response I’m interested in all info at the moment.
Very high doses of sublingual would need to be taken to get the amount you’d need.. injections are the only way to treat neurological damage.. lots of people use sublingual B12 in between injections
Yes my serum levels are high too, as I take sublingual B12, and also Better You spray. I was left deficient in everything for many years as I was unable to absorb anything through the gut (SIBO). GP's don't seem to understand how the body works😳. My gut issues have greatly improved since changing my thyroid medication, increasing good bacteria and taking supplements as advised on here.
All I know is if my levels go below 2000 I get symptoms back, tremors, etc. I can't go through yet another battle with Drs to get B12 shots, and to be honest, I'm just happy to be rid of the debilitating symptoms.
I may at some point source the shots for myself depending on how it pans out, but I'm hoping I won't need to. If you put this up in a new post, you will get more responses. I wouldn't worry about the high levels too much, as long as you feel ok.
The member Marz may have useful info for you...unfortunately, I seem to be unable to 'summon' her to your post by highlighting her name, as it's not working for some reason?! 😕
Thanks good to know my ‘logical thinking’ is shared. My GP is aware of my gut issue but seems unwilling to accept that perhaps I’m not absorbing B12! Do wonder if GPS are under instructions not to give medication if bloods are within normal values even if symptomatic! Have a lot of information to absorb now thanks. Think this is a brilliant community have learned a lot.
Cassiejo you could hop over to the Pernicious Anaemia forum on HealthUnlocked, where ou will get a lot of information about B12. It is another very useful and helpful site.
Thank you will do.
Hi - I would recommend reflexology, it’s natural and non invasive and also helps support your whole body.
I’m menopausal and got off very light overall 👍
My primary symptom however was hot, hot feet - even in the middle of winter and, like you, I’d have to leave them poking out from under the covers at night.
It can be B12d symptom, one of many. A lot have that although I’m B12d mine were always freezing & warmed up on injections. Used to wear bed socks even in Summer.
Yes I have burning feet also loss of feeling in legs can't stand my feet covered tingling &sharp pins and needles Diagnosed with Axonal Nueropathy . Started as if I had chilblains but my chiropodist sad no so went Private to a Nueropodist hence diagnosis .
Yes terribly, mine was low ferritin and b12 , unfortunately it can be part of an autoimmune condition related to this disease. I do still have the odd occasion where my feet get hot in bed but nothing every night like i did which was horrendous
Yep! As soon as I lie down to sleep. Just found the perfect relief: hot water bottle treated to a freezer stay overnight. It stays icy cold all night. I don't weld my feet to it, just lightly touch or have it nearby.
The only time my feet burned as you described was when I found out I had RA.
I've had the same problem for my entire life, always have my feet out of the bed. My brother also has the same problem and he doesn't have thyroid issues . I've always thought of it as a hereditary thing as mine started way before my thyroid issues. I've always used a podiatrist foot moisturiser to ease the dry feeling rather than a normal moisturiser as these are too oily and exasperate the problem.
My burning feet pretty much stopped when I started self injecting B12 weekly. If I’m late injecting by a couple of days it starts to come back.
Hi Countrykitten I also have burning, pins and needles in my feet, but mine is on the tops of my feet and heels. Just can't get comfortable in bed. Have tried sublingual B12 with no improvement and neuropathy specialist couldn't find any cause. So discharged 😞 Think gluten free helped for a while though if you haven't tried that yet. Good luck.
I am really confused, I am hyper graves disease, and blood tests show its ok now and not on any medication. however I have been reading posts about burning hot feet. I always had very cold feet until I was diagnosed with graves disease and since then my feet and lower legs feel hot all the time, it feels like someone has thrown boiling water over them, I mentioned this to my doctor but he took no heed to what I said. anybody know why they are burning hot all the time
I remember the misery of burning feet, it was one of my main hypo symptoms along with bone crushing fatigue and joint pain. B5 sorted my burning feet, I remember the first time I walked into kitchen rather than hobbled, my gp was utterly clueless. The fatigue and joint pain 80% gone with T3 and Im sure the t3 also helped with the burning feet. I described it to my gp as being like 2 steam irons on my feet, thankfully have been free of this pain for 4 years.
It’s hat your a tad bit over medicated probably. It happens to me regardless of what the tsh shows. I would just decrease my synthroid just a little and bam all better. A lot of people think that taking iron or starting vitamins helped them but in all actuality the vitamins decreased their absorption of thyroid just enough to relieve the overage of thyroid meds. See the thyroid can overstimulate the peripheral nervous system and it causes burning
Have you checked out erythromelalgia? Sounds like that.
I haven’t tried the B5 for my burning feet but magnesium seems to help a lot and propping my feet up on a pillow when I lay down to sleep.
Funny thing, with me it started when on a lot of thyroxine. While hypo I had paresthesia, numbness in feet, hands and face. Got much better on thyroxine, only residual amount in thumbs, big toe and sometimes face. Several years later I started the burning feet. I always thought it was from overdosing (even slightly) and it did get better one time I stopped taking T3 (I only take a very small amount anyway, between 2,5 and 5µg). Nowadays I still have it, but much less (but am on a lower dose). I always thought it was a result of the paresthesia of before. You know, like the nerves being damaged and then when normal temperature comes signalling heat? My feet were not hot to the touch, just the burning. But my whole body is different from before, I am almost always dressed thinner than the rest of the people.
When the burning was at its worst I bought a chillow pillow and used it in bed.
Thanks everyone for your experiences and ideas. I can discount some, but Vit B5 deficiency sounds a possibility. I've read up on symptoms and suffer from a few as well as burning feet. I've ordered some Solgar brand and will await results.
That's" the brand I took...hope it works for you.
Thanks. Fingers crossed!
I get this in both hands and feet and sadly not been able to find what's going on. I have uat and Hashimotos disease in on 85mg of Levo and t3
Hi! How are you coping with neuropathies? Did they improve in any way? I'm having the SAME issues!
Sore toes and feet
Sore Feet & Tiredness
hypothyroid pins and needles in feet
Burning feet and aching legs
Does a small increase in Levothyroxine normally result in feeling worse?
