The Different Ways Your Feet Can Reveal Thyroid Issues

We often associate the thyroid gland with metabolism and energy levels, but did you know it can also impact your foot and ankle health?

For this week’s blog, we’re capping off National Thyroid Awareness Month by educating our patients on the foot’s role in this important gland. Continue reading with us at PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center to explore their intricate connection.

How Thyroid Issues Affect Your Feet and Ankles

Your thyroid is a miniature, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that secretes hormones that regulate various bodily functions, including those affecting your lower extremities.

Thyroid disorders, particularly hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, manifest variously throughout the foot region:

  • Hypothyroidism:

    • Swelling: Fluid retention can lead to swelling in the feet and ankles.

    • Dry Skin: Decreased sweat production can cause dry, cracked skin on the heels.

    • Cold Feet: Slowed metabolism can lead to poor circulation and cold feet.

    • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: This condition involves compression of a nerve in the ankle that causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the foot.

    • Muscle Weakness and Fatigue: This can affect gait and balance and increase the risk of falls.

  • Hyperthyroidism:

    • Excessive Sweating: Increased metabolism can lead to excessive sweating (which makes the feet more prone to fungal infections).

    • Tremors: Tremors or muscle weakness can affect balance and coordination.

    • Osteoporosis: Hyperthyroidism can increase the risk of osteoporosis and raise the risk of fractures.

Different Types of Thyroid Issues

In addition to the symptoms above, other thyroid-related disorders can cause numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the feet.

Conditions such as Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Grave's Disease, Goiter, and thyroid nodules all include a weakening, enlarging, or tumorous growth of the thyroid gland that can mimic the effects of both underactive and overactive thyroid glands.

At PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center, we care for an expansive variety of foot and ankle ailments. Dr. Charlotte George, Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, Dr. Laura Vander Poel, and the rest of our team are happy to serve our Hartford County patients. To book an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.

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