Plantar Fasciitis

[Golli]

I suffered from plantar fasciitis a couple of years ago which was relieved by steroid injection. I was wondering if there is a definite link to hypothyroidism as I’ve noticed other sufferers have mentioned it on this forum. , If there is a link, the question is , why should this be?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I think there are numerous possibilities for the causal links.

Mucin accumulation.

Impaired tissue repair.

Nerve conduction issues making us effectively harsher on our feet.

General muscle issues meaning our walk changes.

Blood supply impairment.

Quite possibly many more! And different from one person to the next.

But I am absolutely convinced there is a connection. It was the first symptom I actually went to a doctor about. (Got TSH test and further (unhelpful) investigations but any connection with thyroid was ignored - totally.)

[Golli in reply to helvella]

Thank you for your quick response Helvella.

That makes perfect sense and typically the connection is lost on the so called medics.

I’ve also noticed in the past year my gait has changed- unbalanced walk , ,slight limp left foot and if feels as if I’m slipping on ice , it’s weird , my husband has noticed it. Looking up the side effects of Levothyroxine. , apparently one of the rare ones is - limp or walk favouring one leg. And this seems to be the case with me. Doesn’t cause me too much trouble but just fees weird.

If I mentioned it to my GP. , he would think I was away with the birds! 🤨

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Golli]

I rather hope some others will pile in with their observations and thoughts. Who knows? We might just find something we can actually address directly - somehow.

By the way, I never had any real treatment. Certainly no injections. Best I managed was using diabetic super-soft insoles in shows which are designed to take such things. The exercises and hard insoles suggested made things worse, much worse.

[Goldengirl01 in reply to helvella]

Hi helvella, I also had plantar fasciitis a few years back, it was killing me and a consultant told me I would never get rid of it but just excercise by putting the heel on the floor And bringing the toes back towards heel. That was okay but I wanted something more lasting so I know it sounds funny and I know they are ugly but I got a pair of crocs (the clogs) I thought the rubber would be good to walk on, they were a bit hard for a week or two but when they softened a bit they were wonderful. I wore them for a long time as short periods is no good, I even wore them at work. It took about a year and now I’m fine and it’s never returned, cross fingers, that’s about 9 years since.

[nightingale-56 in reply to Golli]

Hi Golli my gait was much like yours and it appears that this could be due to Pernicious anaemia with me. After initial loading doses of B12 injections with GP, I now self-inject every other day with B12. It may just be that your Vitamin B12 is low and might be raised by sub-lingual tablets or BetterYou B12 Oral Spray.

[Golli in reply to nightingale-56]

Thanks for responding nightingale-56. My gait has definitely improved recently ,not completely.

That’s interesting, it may be due to low B12 . My B12 was on the low side tested in March) and I’m supplementing with Igennus B12 complex and am due to be retested soon. So there may well be a connection.

[Batty1 in reply to Golli]

Walking off balance for any length of time can cause your hips or knees to start acting up.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low Ft3, frequently implicated, very common if only on levothyroxine

Low vitamin D too

Changed gait can often be low B12

Low vitamin levels are EXTREMELY common, if under medicated and still hypothyroid

But also it’s extremely common to need to supplement virtually continuously to maintain optimal vitamin levels so that levothyroxine works well

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

What were most recent thyroid results

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were these last tested

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Do you have Hashimoto’s?

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

[Golli in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon . I have followed all the guidelines you have mentioned above. I’m supplementing with the recommended vitamins since March and want to retest soon. I’m also been gluten free for a couple of months and , there is a definite improvement,

so thankful for the help of this forum as I’ve suffered so much with gut problems for years and no medic made the connection with thyroid . Had OGD and colonoscopy 2 years ago and all normal, coeliac test was negative .So medics had no answers as to why I had constant diarrhoea, abdo pain, ,bloating , ...., my Gp put it down to IBS/ stress .🙁

My plantar fasciitis has not returned since I had steroid injection a few years ago , but was just interested in the connection with hypo.

I’m currently on 100mcg Levothyroxine and may be a poor converter, may need to introduce T3 , if so , will see an Endo from Dionne’s list ( managed to get my GP ,( must have felt unusually assertive that day! )agree to referral and increase my levo back to 100mcg even though he was horrified about my TSH at 0.01) . But waiting to see if my supplements have improved things with next blood test.

Watch this space☺️

“

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I had excruciating plantar fasciitis for about 5 years

When I mentioned it to (Ex) GP as PF being strongly linked to being hypothyroid and low Ft3/low vitamins he neatly fell off his chair laughing

Strictly gluten free diet and lots of vitamins helped to some extent ...but still remained very painful and walking badly affected

Whose laughing now ....when I was finally prescribed T3 alongside levothyroxine (on NHS) one of many, almost instant improvements, was plantar fasciitis disappearing

[m7-cola in reply to SlowDragon]

Quite!

[tattybogle]

I've read many, many, associations between plantar fasciitis and hypothyroidism.

Unfortunately, because i didn't suffer from it, i didn't keep references.

I have a feeling some or them might have been in the evidence from the rather long winded doctor (possibly German?) that gave(lots of !) evidence in support of Dr Gordon Skinner at one of his hearings....... not much help i know ,sorry.

[Golli in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you tattybogle, ...it’s interesting to see there’s a connection, things have definitely improved since supplementing and going gluten free . See response to SlowDragon above.

[humanbean]

I got plantar fasciitis, but over the last few years I have got rid of it. The things that made the difference were managing to improve my levels of Free T3 and optimising the nutrients that get discussed repeatedly on this forum.

If I had to guess I would suspect the increase in my Free T3 was the main cause of my improvement but I have no proof of that.

Before I developed plantar fasciitis I had had sore feet all my life under certain circumstances. For example, as a pre-schooler and at infant school I wanted to jump off walls like other kids, but discovered that it caused a shocking pain to shoot up through my feet and ankles. If I landed wrong even jumping off a 6 inch kerb could hurt sometimes.

When I was a teenager and bought my first high heels I discovered that I was in agony within a few minutes of wearing them.

When I started working I would walk to work in trainers, put on low heels when I arrived, switch to flat open sandals late morning, then after lunch I would walk around the office with no footwear on, all because I had constant sore feet.

Improving my hormone levels and my nutrients has improved my feet tremendously. But I can't explain it biologically.

[Golli in reply to humanbean]

Thank you humanbean, See my response to SlowDragon above. I have definitely noticed an improvement since supplementing and going gluten free.

[Hidden]

I've had pains at rear of foot occasionally. But real problem has been gout which reoccurs now and again. This has render both big toes permanently numb. All these things may be related in some way but GP and podiatrist have been equally useless.

[Golli in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to hear that Panda321, I hope you can get to the bottom of it and eventually find something that will help.

[jrbarnes]

Yes, I get the foot pain on the bottom of my foot but usually when my Levothyroxine is not enough for me, which results in lower T3 levels. When I raise my Levo it goes away. My levo has to be at the top of the reference and a little over to get rid of those symptoms. It also causes me wrist pain, carpal tunnel, and peripheral neuropathy.

[Golli in reply to jrbarnes]

Yes , I suffer from carpal tunnel, at times , over the years, also strange fleeting pains, ( like pin pricks) in hands and feet,

The joys of thyroid sufferers 😕

[Alwaystired5]

I’m new to this forum and totally gobsmacked. I’ve been on 100mg of Levo for years and never feel it’s got to grips with my tiredness and for 5 years I had planta fasciitis - went away finally with acupuncture. Now I have a really sore hip - is that a symptom too?

[Golli in reply to Alwaystired5]

Hi Always tired,

I too , was totally unaware of a lot of symptoms related to thyroid until I joined this forum. It has been so informative and has helped me so much and I hope it helps you

I can’t say if your hip pain is a symptom , it may be, but you should start a new post with your query , otherwise it may get lost here as you’ve added it to the plantar fasciitis post , and you may not get many responses .

All best to you

[Goldengirl01 in reply to Alwaystired5]

Are you sure it’s your hip and not the bone below which is associated with bursitis Which is very painful and what I have.

[McPammy]

I had plantar fasciitis and a gait issue. I’d been on Levothyroxine for a number of years. It got worse especially with any form of exercise. I became much worse and could barely walk.

To cut a very long story short after a long time of getting nowhere with NHS Drs I went private. In just two consultations I was diagnosed as a poor converter of T4 Levothyroxine medication. I was only converting 8% to the very important active T3. I was prescribed T3 medication and oh boy what a huge difference that has made to my life. I’m transformed into the person I was before Hashimotos came into my life 12 years ago. I also did the DIO2 gene test through Regenerus Laboratories which cane back as positive. I suffered for many years not knowing what was wrong and no NHS Dr could help. I now get T3 medication on the NHS.

It’s worth getting your T3 levels checked but the NHS are reluctant to do this. You can get it it done privately and the DIO2 gene test too.

[Golli]

Hi McPammy,

Thank you for responding. So sorry to hear you’ve suffered needlessly over the years before getting the treatment you needed. I too ,over the years, have gradually been getting more and more awful symptoms , and poor, ill informed management from medics , and now since joining this forum am taking things into my own hands and I hope to have my life transformed, as you did ........fingers crossed !

Things are improving slowly and I’m hoping to see an endo soon, as I may be a poor converter to T3. (GP labs won’t test , have had it done privately)

I’m also interested in the Dio2 test but I fear it’s very expensive.

I hope you continue to feel well and live life as it should be lived.

[Hypopotamus]

Another one with foot pain for about a year now. I got a diagnosis of gout, then arthritis, then after an X-Ray showed little but wear "consistent with my age", was told to take painkillers and carry on walking. All this without even seeing me!

I think that my problem is more like Morton's Neuroma than Plantar Fasclitis, and it does seem to be worse since I had to move from the NDT that I was OK on, to a new Thai brand.

I self-inject B12 every month so shouldn't be deficient, and am fairly sure that I keep all my other vital nutrients up to scratch. I have actually just done a second B12 injection about two weeks after the last as I am desperate to get out walking again.

I'm not sure what my thyroid levels are because I somehow got "lost in the new system", and haven't heard from my endo since about May. This despite him knowing about my switch in NDT.

I've also been experimenting with insoles for my shoes, but what seems to work one day, doesn't the next. And locating the pain is different as it moves almost from one hour to the next, although the burning sensation is constant.

[Golli in reply to Hypopotamus]

This has given me more food for thought, thank you .

Knowledge is power. ... I’ve never heard of Morton’s neuroma.

Hopefully we can learn to manage and try to eliminate all these nasty symptoms . Keep well

[Wired123 in reply to Hypopotamus]

How do you get self inject B12? Is this available on the NHS?

The standard 3 monthly NHS nurse administered injections are so painful! Plus by month 3 levels drop so monthly seems a better way if keeping it stable

[humanbean in reply to Wired123]

For sources of injectable B12 and how to inject yourself with B12, join/follow the Pernicious Anaemia forum here on HU.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to humanbean]

Helpful.

There are also many comments - on the PAS forum - about B12 being painful - or not. It appears clear to me that technique, including ensuring the B12 ampoule is at the right temperature, and choice of both needle and location for injection make quite a difference.

[Wired123 in reply to Hypopotamus]

Mine moves around too. I’ve been investigated for Morton’s neuroma and had injections but the only thing that worked is stretching. Seems like Very tight muscles mess up my hair and cause a knock on effect on certain parts of the foot.

Try some yoga/Pilates and/or Physiotherapy (they can do assisted stretching). Takes some effort and regular work but believe me it works.

[Hypopotamus in reply to Wired123]

Thanks a lot. I was only reading about the importance of stretching calf muscles yesterday. I already do yoga every morning, but nothing that stretches the leg muscles, so that is what I am targeting now.

[crimple]

Golli, I was diagnosed hypo 13 years ago and not properly treated. When my TPO 's were high I suffered terrible pains in the balls of my feet, like a red hot lance. Eventually saw a podiatrist who diagnosed Morton neuroma. The cure is wider fitting shoes so that your toe area isn't squashed.

I have since been plagued with aching in my ankle. Saw a another podiatrist, who did a gait analysis and taught me some exercises. Have another appointment next week as I cockled over on my ankle during lockdown and things have got worse.

I do think that Hypo folks suffer with more musculoskeletal issues and keeping an eye on Vit D levels is really important. Also B12 levels need to be high, for me about 1000!

It is forums like this that help folks to make the connections. Often you think it is just you being weird and it is such a relief to read others have the same issues. Hope you continue to improve

[Golli in reply to crimple]

Yes indeed crimple , sometimes I feel I’m a hypochondriac when I mention all these weird pains to someone else, and this forum really makes me feel vindicated.

Sorry to hear about your ankle , hope you get some relief soon.

Take care.