Parathyroidism Foot Pain

Parathyroidism, also known as parathyroid disease or hyperparathyroidism, is a medical condition in which the parathyroid glands function improperly. The parathyroid glands are four pea-sized glands located in the neck. This condition can cause foot pain as well as a range of other symptoms.

Parathyroid Function

• The main function of the parathyroid glands is to secrete a hormone called PTH. Your body uses PHT to maintain proper levels of calcium and phosphorus in your blood.

Parathyroidism Effects

• In parathyroidism, a dysfunction in your parathyroid glands, sometimes a small non-cancerous tumor, causes your glands to produce too much PTH.

Significance

• Elevated levels of PTH in your blood can cause your body to remove too much calcium from your bones, weakening them.

Foot Pain

• The process of removing calcium from your bones that results from parathyroidism may cause pain, usually in the limbs and often in the feet. In addition, bones weakened by parathyroidism are more brittle and can break easily.

Treatment

• According to the National Institutes of Health, most cases of parathyroidism are treated by surgery to remove the malfunctioning gland. There's about a 95 percent success ratio. In addition, some drugs called calcimimetics may be able to improve this condition.