Three nights ago when I went to bed, my right big toe joint became very painful and woke me up. I took ibuprofen, which is what works for me, and it alleviated the pain. Two days ago, I awoke again with the pain and put myself on a regimen of IB every four hours and that kept the pain at bay. (I don’t usually do this-- I take as needed and that works most of the time). Yesterday morning I awoke with the pain and started taking IB every four hours, but it did not help. The pain was a burning in my right foot with the added feature of feeling like someone was driving a nail through my big toe joint. There was some burning in my left foot, but not the toe pain. Last night I couldn’t sleep at all for the pain. I finally took some IB during the night and slept for two hours. When I woke up at 4, the toe pain was better, but now I’m getting the burning in both feet.
I walk every morning for 40-50 minutes. I had sciatic pain on the right side last year, and it got better, but lately it has come back, and it usually eases up as I get into the walk.
I’m thinking back to any changes in what I ingest on a daily basis, and the only thing I can come up with is: Last week I had a routine Zoom appointment with my oncologist and she suggested I start taking Vitamin D3. No levels established; she just said that it would be a good idea. She said she takes 5,000IU daily, but she wanted me to take 2,000IU per day. I’m 71 and five years out from lumpectomy. I see her or someone from her office once a year.
I ordered NatureWise Vitamin D3 2,000 IU from amazon and started taking it. Ingredients- Vitamin D3 (as Cholecalciferol); Other Ingredients: Organic extra virgin olive oil, softgel capsule (gelatin, glycerine, purified water). Contains no wheat, dairy, corn, soy, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, or shellfish. I noticed the whisper of foot pain starting right after that. This is the only recent change in anything I’m taking.
I’ve been searching for side effects of D3/cholecalciferol, and hives is one of them. Can hives manifest as burning foot pain?
Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is gout, which my symptoms fit pretty well. I don’t eat a lot of meat or drink sodas. I don’t drink alcohol at all. I don’t have high blood pressure. I drink lots of water. I’m about 15 lbs overweight. My kidney and liver function are both normal. (Recently had a complete blood count and the numbers were great.)
Other background:
-
I have type 2 diabetes (for about 16 years) that is pretty well-controlled (A1c a month ago was 6.1. In the past it has been as high as 8.). I DO have neuropathy in my feet, which primarily takes the form of stiffness, not so much a loss of sensation. The burning I’m feeling in my foot isn’t “pins and needles,” it’s heat, and my foot feels hot to the touch.
-
Also, as part of breast cancer treatment, I take 1mg of an estrogen-blocker called Arimidex (anastrozole), which is well known for causing joint pain, especially in small joints. I’ve had friends who have had to go off of it because the pain was intolerable. It has a whole raft of side effects, but the one I have experienced the most is constant hot flashes. In the last year or so those hot flashes all over have diminished and now occur (oddly) in my lower legs from the knees down. At different times, my skin feels on fire-- this lasts for a couple of minutes. I’m due to go off this drug as soon as my current supply runs out, which is in July. I’m counting the days. It seems unlikely to me that the joint pain would kick in after almost five years. <shrug>
-
I am something of The Princess and the Pea when it comes to medication. I’m very sensitive and react to drugs quickly. If there’s a side effect, I’ll likely have it. I’m prone to anxiety and panic attacks. The current lockdown situation is messing with my head big time (as it is most of us-- I know that doesn’t make me special). When I was in high school I developed massive raised hives all down my back and the backs of my legs. I don’t remember what the treatment was-- they just eventually went away. A few years ago, I also developed hives on my face and lips (swelling) and my inner thighs. I went to the doc, but also don’t remember what she came up with. I think I took an antihistamine for that. I’ve thought about taking an antihistamine to see if it helps with the current sitch, but I’m not one to keep throwing meds at a problem. I’d rather wait it out.
I’ve decided to stop the D3 to see if that helps. I’m not doing any in-person visits to any doctors these days, and this doesn’t seem life-threatening, so I probably won’t call my PCP. I might call my pharmacy and ask about the D3 angle, as they always know a whole lot more about side effects and such than any doctors I know.
Any thoughts/advice/suggestions/similar stories? (If you’ve read this far, thanks. 
)
