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Cushing's Disease & Foot Pain

Foot pain is not listed as a symptom of Cushing's disease, but the two are closely linked. Bone pain and bone stress are a common problems with associated Cushing's disease. The bones of people with Cushing's disease grow weak, and fractures can develop in the feet simply by running or jumping. Foot pain and swelling are usually the first signs of a fracture.

  1. Cushing's Disease

    • Cushing's disease is caused by an overproduction of cortisol. There are two types of Cushing's disease: exogenous and endogenous. Exogenous Cushing's disease is caused by external factors such as corticosteroids, while endogenous Cushing's disease is the result of natural causes such as diseased or damaged adrenal glands, pituitary tumors or hormone producing tumors. Symptoms of Cushing's disease include weight gain, fatigue, acne, depression, rounded features, glucose intolerance, bone pain and bone loss.

    Osteoporosis

    • Cushing's disease causes bones to thin, which can lead to osteoporosis. Bones become more brittle with osteoporosis, and loss of bone density is often permanent. The risk of fracture greatly increases for anyone who has osteoporosis. Osteoporosis combined with the extra weight of Cushing's disease places added stress on the bones of the feet. Simple activities such as running, jogging or jumping can cause fractures for anyone with low bone density.

    Stress Fractures

    • Stress fractures are the most common type of fracture, especially in the feet and lower legs. Over time, repetitive movements on overstressed bones cause bone fatigue and small cracks to develop. If these cracks are not allowed to heal they mature into fractures. Because stress fractures are not the result of acute injury, the warning signs are often disregarded. However, foot pain is a sign of a fracture and should never be ignored.

    Signs of a Fracture

    • The pain of a stress fracture may be easy to ignore at the beginning, but it grows worse over time. Signs of a stress fracture include persistent pain, bruising, pain that becomes more intense with time, swelling, pain with physical activity and pain in specific areas of the foot. Chronic foot pain, particularly in people with Cushing's disease, should be brought to the attention of a medical professional.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Stress fractures need to be diagnosed quickly to help prevent long-term damage. Doctors typically diagnose a stress fracture with a physical exam, X-ray or CT scan. Rest is the most common recommended treatment for a fractured foot. In fact, resting when foot pain first appears is the best way to avoid a stress fracture. However, if an injured foot is not given time to recover, surgery might be needed to repair the damage.

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