I once more have what was last called plantar fasciitis. This time in my left heel rather than my right heel last time a few years ago. It is agonising especially when getting up in the morning or after sitting. Eventually I get going but walking the dog has me in tears with pain, i have had this for a few months now and havent seen anyone what with covid. Does anyone have any helpful advice? I am sure it is thyroid. Related. I have hashis and am on a part T3 part Levothyroxine medication, supplying the former myself. In fact I had run out of T3 and was on Levo only for a few months... wondering if I should try NDT instead and if so any messages about purchasing such appreciated.
Thanks
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ffranny
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I had plantar Fasciitis for years when I was on Levothyroxine, 2 things helped me taking vitamin D and calcium, my vitamin D level was extremely low then and eventually what stopped it happening again was taking Thyroid S (NDT) If you have not done it yet have a blood test to check your vitamin D and calcium level. If this does not help I would definitely consider taking NDT.
Plantar fasciitis was one of the earliest reasons I asked for a thyroid function test. OK - just TSH!
When, eventually, I started levothyroxine, it did resolve.
Not that long ago, I was under-dosed for a while, and it came back. Resolving when I upped my dose.
I have had carpal tunnel and operation to cure it - certainly seems to have been caused by taking levo instead of NDT.Currently have a number of foot problems but cannot figure out what the specific cause is or perhaps there are several causes. Tried the GP but nothing useful from there.
Could be gout causing numbness in big toes. Could be tarsal tunnel as symptoms somewhat similar to carpal tunnel. Could be plantar fasciitis as area of concern matches description. Could merely be that I'm overweight. Also get pains in knees - housemaid's knee and pains in lower legs - goodness only knows what that is.
Taking NDT for last 7 years and currently Vitamins C and D on and off and every day is different, symptoms seem to take it in turns to annoy me. The only thing that helps is to simply take it easy and plenty of rest. It's not nice getting old.
I think arch supports are immensely valuable for some - but the message I received was that I must have arch support of some sort. And it ended up being an extraordinarily painful experience.
There are a lot of different arch supports out there, if one makes you worse it's worth trying another. I use soft ones in my indoor shoes which don't solve the problem completely, but do make being on my feet a bit more bearable. I also find rigid ones very painful. (by the way, I'm a retired Podiatrist)
I completely gave up when the people who might have been expected to help caused worsening of everything. So the answer is no, I don’t.
They suggested standing on stairs and effectively stretching the arches and/or standing on a wedge while doing the washing up. Both made me worse day by day.
I don’t think arch supports are the ideal, it’s raising the heels that help alleviate the pain. They don’t cure the plantar fasciitis unfortunately. I had PF when my idiot GP decided to stop my levo so for me it was definitely under medication. Sorry to tell you, it took months to resolve ☹️
Wearing a raised heel to alleviate PF is a bad idea especially if your doing it for extended period of time like couple of weeks or more because it will cause the achilles tendon to shorten which will create achilles tendonitis... which is a beast to get rid of . Speaking from 4 years of experience with Achilles Tendonitis only to discover I have psoriatic arthritis that attacks my tendons..... such a joy!
Though I have never been able to comfortably wear truly flat footwear. With PF, although barefoot is good, a certain degree of heel is essential as soon as I put on any shoes. Just a few millimetres can be enough.
Definitely no flats if you have PF but for achilles tendonitis wearing shoes with and elevated heel really does cause a shortening of the AT if you wear them all the time and I can 100% attest to this with my 4 year battle with psa.
If they relieve the pain, yes. I bought soft gel heel inserts and put them in whatever shoes I was wearing on the day. Definitely better than wearing flats. Good luck, hopefully it won’t last too long especially if you get your dose right 😊
yes i wonder if i should increase T 3 a bit... and i dug out a pair boots with a bit of a heel and they help alleviate the pain when walking..pains in the feet are the worst!!
I was regularly visiting a chiropodist when my plantar fasciitis started. He recommended a heel support which worked great. It was a couple of years later when I was diagnosed hypo, I’ve never connected the two.
I’ve had bouts of pf before and went to see physiotherapist. The daily exercises I was given really helped to strengthen around the area and I’ve not had it since. Depending on your own mobility levels I’m sure there would be some physio movements out there to help you. Best of luck!
That's really interesting Helvella. I didn't know about diabetic insoles. The slight heel raise makes sense to me as I prefer wedge heels and can't wear flats. I've been meaning to see a physio for the last couple of years with left ankle problems and will be interested to find out if s/he links thyroid issues with foot pain.
I went to a podiatry clinic because at the time I had no idea it was thyroid related. They devised some arch support for me because even i could see how flat my feet had become - they were a size larger than previously. The supports helped and it eventually resolved but cant say how or why! As Helvella says it may not help, but then again an assessment wouldn't hurt.
Hi there I suffer occasionally with this condition. The best thing I found was a company that sells a liquid foot orthotics called Solemates. You have to quite literally use these for six weeks ..no walking in anything but these. So I was transferring them from shoes to slippers etc. The reason is that every time we walk with fasciitis we are breaking and tearing any healing the body is trying to make..it worked amazing and to be honest haven’t had a reoccurrence since.
really feel for you, i suffered for years with this! Had to give up my job, until i had ultrasound guided injection into my foot, instant relief! Ive had 3 now over time and the last one has lasted over 2 yrs and still no pain! Wonderful .
Injections? Like steroids? Dangerous steroid injections can and will break down tendons and this is not a road anyone would want to travel down.... my brother does this too.
when you can hardly walk at all i was willing to try anything being in constant pain even when sitting, that was 6yrs ago since my 1st injection. Still pain free and no problems with my foot apart from abit flat footed which i was warned about beforehand, but hopefully might not need another injection !. My quality of life has completely changed for the better. No regrets here.
I used to have horrible PF—I’d get out of bed in the morning and be barely able to walk. Hurt sooo much!
But (feel the need to “touch wood” ) since being on a decent dosage of thyroid hormones it’s gone away. No physio required, no arch supports (although I used them at the time with mixed results)—fixed and gone. It took a while—a few months I’d say—but in some ways it was confirmation of how much I’d needed my “sub-clinical” hypothyroidism sorting out.
Keep us posted if you find an answer. I have had it for like 5-6 years .....I just mange it at this point. When I first got hit with it...... I could hardly walk its a mess. I am on a facebook group of people that have it. But it seems ......you just have to keep trying different things and see what helps. I feel for you! All the best!
thanks i had it befire years ago in my other foot and it took about 2 years to go tho I hadnt connected it with thyroid then.. this time it seems more painful tho.
I get it............. it started on one foot for me......... seemed to ease....... then I got it really bad in the other foot....so afraid of going back....... to the horrible pain...Like I said .......I am just managing............. Seems my troubles started ..........when I found out........ I have the thyroid problems.
I had plantar fasciitis for some years, was advised by a nursing friend to put a tin (bean tin or similar size) on the floor and roll my foot on it so it was rolling along the floor under my arch, adjusting pressure to suit. This helped enormously and is easily repeated as necessary
When I get the initial twinges I use a coke tin and roll my foot along it for 15 mins or more, several times a day and it seems to stem it. I didnt realise it was a thyroid problem
I found FS6 Socks helped relieve the morning pain as they hold the foot in the correct position so the muscle doesn't tear when putting your foot on the floor, I've had 2 episodes one lasted 18 months and the second lasted just over 12 months, I found a small heel during the day also helped, I also found stretching helped (stand with toes on the edge of a step or stair raising up & down, such relief) I also used the rolling technique on a tin of beans which also relieved the pain. Just keep trying different things until you find what works best for you, I hope your PF heals and you are pain free soon 😊
I had excruciating pain in both soles of feet. My doctor tried acupuncture and pain gone after 2nd session. That was at least 12 years ago. Worth a try?!
As side from all the other suggestions above which applied to me too the game changer for me was b12 injections for heel pain.Hadn't associated the two but it disappeared in an hour.
Prior to that I couldn't walk for more than 20mins without excessive heel pain.
After the injection I was able to walk around IKEA for two hours ! (Don't judge)
Also check if you have other b12 symptoms like dizziness vertigo, ants crawling sensation etc
I suffered from this when I first noticed I had a goitre & my thyroid gland was not working properly. I had physio & was told to do exercises, but it was wearing Boots green gel pads which really helped. I was told to push out the middle piece in them, so that there was a hole in the center of the pads & then there would be no pressure on the heel when walking.
Hi I have an underactive thyroid and have taken thyroxine for many years. I suffered from severe plantar fasciitis and was eventually given a moon boot to wear for 6 weeks. I was also told my calf muscles were very tight which can give plantar fasciitis. I wear very supportive trainers or trainer boots and, now that I can, do proper stretches several times a day, all definitely helps. Especially after a long walk or any forms of exercise.
Interesting point raised re levels of thyroxine taken does affect all parts of my body ! I now, do not , take mixed manufacturer thyroxine and always ask chemist to give the same make for all doses. Hope you find some kind of solution. This forum is amazing.
I found the most important thing with plantar fasciitis is to stretch the soles of your feet BEFORE you get out of bed in the morning, as the healing of the tissue overnight shortens it, and then when you put your full weight down as you stand it tears the tissue again. Also helps to keep stretching the soles of your feet regularly during the day, eg by rolling them on a rolling pin. I feel for you. It’s agony. But it does heal eventually. Stretching is the key.
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) since being on a decent dosage of thyroid hormones it’s gone away. No physio required, no arch supports (although I used them at the time with mixed results)—fixed and gone. It took a while—a few months I’d say—but in some ways it was confirmation of how much I’d needed my “sub-clinical” hypothyroidism sorting out. 
Neurological pain - carpal tunnel syndrome. 
Burning and Painful Feet in the Night
Twitching legs and feet. 
Is anyone else suffering from aches and pains in their legs, feet and shoulders?
Aches and pains after exercise 
