"Painful Feet and Thyroid Health."

ISSUE 146, 8th February 2024

Welcome to all members of our thyroid family, new and old. It's lovely to have you here and a part of our thyroid family. 🤗

This free email newsletter goes out every two weeks on a Thursday.

I hope you'll find this issue inspiring, reassuring and useful in your own thyroid journey.

My aim is to share the information you need to live well with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's, as well as keep you up-to-date with what I'm doing in the thyroidsphere!

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Thursday Thoughts

Waking up with sore feet, as if you’re walking on broken glass.

What Exactly Causes Foot Pain in Thyroid Patients?

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Thyroid and Vitamin Levels

Ruling out causes for any joint and muscle pain, such as low Vitamin D levels, low B12, low magnesium, as well as thyroid hormone levels, is crucial.

Ensuring that thyroid levels Free T3 and Free T4 are optimal (as opposed to just ‘in range’) can make a huge difference.

I personally found that I stopped having any foot pain once my Hashimoto’s was in remission and my high cortisol ‘adrenal dysfunction‘ was addressed.

As a part of all this, I raised my B12, Vitamin D and magnesium levels to be well within their ranges, as well as reducing my thyroid antibodies to almost zero, reducing inflammation. I lowered high cortisol by doing a number of things - I’ll link in my Instagram story about all this!

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Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Those with hypothyroidism are also more vulnerable in developing a medical condition called tarsal tunnel syndrome, which is specific to the foot.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome may develop as the result of a pinched nerve or muscle damage in the foot. Symptoms include a burning, tingling pain sensation, particularly in the arch of the foot, although can occur all over the foot.

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Fluid Retention

Fluid retention, another somewhat common hypothyroid symptom, can cause pain, too. It’s most often seen around the ankles and feet and worsens with physical activity. This is also often solved with optimal thyroid and vitamin levels.

A painful foot condition known as plantar fasciitis can also develop in the feet, caused by fluid buildup around the nerves. It seems that there is a big link between having plantar fasciitis and thyroid conditions together.

This and SO MUCH MORE is covered in the number 1 bestselling thyroid book "Be Your Own Thyroid Advocate".

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Thursday Health Check-in

After finding out that my iron and Vitamin D were very low last month, I have continued to supplement in high doses and am already feeling better for it. I'll be testing levels in a month to see where we are!

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Outro -

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​This newsletter includes thyroid research, events, news, articles, discounts, tips, advice, and links to popular social media posts from the last fortnight. Enjoy reading!

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- Rachel Hill, The Invisible Hypothyroidism

Follow Rachel on: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Twitter​

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Sponsor a future issue of this newsletter and share your services or product with over 8,300 readers. 😊

Interested? Find out more here and email me for more info!

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• You can now subscribe to my Instagram for exclusive content!
• My LetsGetChecked discount code is 25INVISIBLE for 25% off.
• My Medichecks discount code is INVISIBLE10 for 10% off.
• I'm currently working my way through the hundreds of articles on my website and updating them one by one. Making sure information is still up to date and relevant is really important.
• I am slowly but surely working on a fourth book... about fertility, pregnancy, postpartum and parenting with thyroid disease. I have no deadline for this, so it could be a long wait. But I am sure it will be worth it.

Anti-rheumatic drugs could prevent thyroid disease

Anti-rheumatic drugs used for rheumatoid arthritis might prevent the development of autoimmune thyroid disease, according to a new observational study.

​Read more here.​

Thyroid Hormone Resistance

Thyroid hormone resistance (THR) is a rare genetic condition.

It occurs when the body doesn’t respond ‘normally’ to hormones produced by the thyroid gland.

This condition may be suspected when someone’s Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) level is not responding to an increase in thyroid medication, or their doctor suspects they are not absorbing their medication.

​Read this new article here.​

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10 Ways To Solve Thyroid Fatigue

Fatigue is by far the most complained of thyroid symptom.

Many of us experience this heavy, indescribable fatigue before diagnosis of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, and for many, it may not entirely go away once on thyroid medication either. Why?

​Read it here.​

The Most Popular Post from My Instagram page in The Last Fortnight:

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The Most Popular Reels From My Instagram page in The Last Fortnight:

• ​"Dear Doctor, it's not all in my head."​
• ​Signs of a missed thyroid issue​
• ​Exercising can be tricky​
• ​Are we more prone to illness?​

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Many Thyroid Patients Aren’t Converting Their Medication

Many thyroid patients are on thyroid hormone replacement medication, such as Levothyroxine or Synthroid and still feel unwell. It may be due to a lack of conversion from T4 to T3.

​Read this post here.

This is where I share my favourite thyroid health supporting tools and resources every fortnight. 😊

📖 Book: Tears Behind Closed Doors by Diana Holmes

Revisiting an oldie but a goodie. Author Diana Holmes is a thyroid patient advocate (much like myself) in the UK. After years of being undiagnosed and misdiagnosed of a thyroid condition, she has worked tirelessly to help many others who are suffering needlessly.

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👂 Podcast Episode: Goode Health Podcast: Goitrogens and Hashimoto's​

Nicole focuses on the topic of goitrogens and their impact on thyroid conditions, particularly Hashimoto's. Nicole also breaks down the difference between food goitrogens and chemical goitrogens, explaining that food goitrogens, found in cruciferous vegetables and certain fruits, are actually beneficial for thyroid patients, contrary to outdated research.

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🥘 Recipe: Strawberry Crumble​

I made this with my children, using GF oats and flour. And it was delicious.

You can read more on my approach to diet / dietary changes with thyroid disease here.

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🧪 Test: Vitamin D

Did you know that many people with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s also have low Vitamin D levels?

Actually a hormone, Vitamin D is important for our joints, energy levels, immune system and also ties in to our thyroid hormones too. After all, a deficiency in Vitamin D can stop T3 from correcting your metabolic rate, leaving you with symptoms such as low energy, cold intolerance and weight gain.

You can find a UK Vitamin D test option here, with a worldwide test option here. Doctors are often happy to check for this common deficiency, but not always. So ordering your own test can be a valuable resource.

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💙 Self-Care Nugget: Yoga

Yoga is a popular exercise choice for thyroid patients as it can be adaptable to wherever your health is on that particular day, boosts energy, sense of wellbeing and stretches those tired muscles in a gentle way.

I block time out of my calendar once a week for a yoga session in the evening, using YouTube Videos!

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🌟 Other things I'm loving at the moment:

• Iron bisglycinate for my low iron levels. This brand has returned my levels to optimal within 8 weeks previously, so I'm using them again.

That's all for this issue of The Thyroid Family Newsletter, but you can find more information and support:

⭐ In my website articles​

⭐ In my books​

⭐ In the 'Thyroid Family' Facebook Support Group​

⭐ On my Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Twitter

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Keep an eye out for the next issue in two weeks' time!

Rachel Hill, The Invisible Hypothyroidism

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Please Note: None of the statements in this publication should be taken as an official endorsement of any particular product, including any sponsored content. I strongly suggest consulting your doctor before making any changes to your lifestyle or health regimen. The information included in this publication is not meant to substitute the clinical guidance provided by a healthcare professional. Rachel Hill / The Invisible Hypothyroidism is not medically qualified and does not offer medical advice. Read the full disclaimer here. By reading this newsletter, you agree to understanding this information.

This newsletter may also contain affiliate links where I earn a small commission if you purchase through it. This does not change the way I work or the products I link to, and it doesn’t change your user experience. To find out more information, please read my disclosure statement. For example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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