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Original Message:
The bottoms of my feet are swollen(especially heels) and burn. It is very
painful and I can hardly bear weight on one foot. My heels feel like they
have hot jelly in them. Has any one had such a symptom? I remember seeing
an article that included info about celiacs losing padding in their feet,
but do not know the source. Thanks for helpful replys. Connie

Note To Responders: I finally located the source re: celiac and  loss of 
foot padding.  It was not an article, but a symptom listed in a long list 
printed in a brochure titled celiac disease the basics.  from the celiac 
sprue association, (csa) from www.celiacs.org.

24 Replies:

No solution.
Probably the shoes.
Doctors blow it off.
plantar fascitis
12 year old heel pain
Get a book on reflexology.
plantar facitis
Cut out all sugar
control gluten
No help. Have foot pain.
Stretch before exercise.
Walk barefoot.
Heel spurs
Grains in meat.
See an orthopedist.
plantar fasciitis
plantar fasciitis
I have had this problem. It also appears on the palms of my hands. It is 
called pompholyx or dishydrodic eczema. My hands were so bad that I 
couldn't have them touch anything. My dermatologist gave me a very strong 
cortisone ointment and cream that I had to use "off label" for the strength 
and frequency. It was itchy subdermal blisters that hurt to touch. He said 
that it was an autoimmune disorder that was unrelated to celiac. It is 
where the immune system attacks the protein that keeps the palms of the 
hands and feet connected to the body. It seemed to come in cycles. It would 
be bad for a week and then get better for a week, normal for a week and 
then the next week I would start the pattern all over again. The good news 
is that once I can recognize the feeling of a blister starting, I go strait 
to the cream and stop it in it's tracks.
The other thing that has helped immensely was Vitamin D. I take a daily 
supplement with calcium and since taking the Vitamin D I have not had a 
break out.
I originally thought that it was due to chemicals or latex. It turned out 
that the trigger was chemicals but not the cause. It only affects the 
palms, soles of the feet and rarely the outside of the elbows. Not the top 
of the feet or backs of the hands.
I am sorry you are in pain!!! I know it hurts so bad, hot, itchy and 
painful, like you skin is going to swell and crack or burst. Once the 
blisters (which are sometimes hard to see but easier to feel) stop forming 
you will feel better.
The pictures on the internet show worst case scenarios and this condition 
even when it is not extreme is still painful.
I wish you well!
Sounds like gout to me... My husband gets that ... a really good natural
remedy is Black Cherry juice. Not soda.. pure juice. You can find at most
grocery stores.
Hi, Connie, My daughter has terrible foot pain, and she is only 8 years 
old. I thought it was related to her celiac, and asked them to do a bone 
density test. Her bones were ok. She needed a podiatrist. She needs 
inserts, and has a foot turning problem that is the same as mine, and I am 
not a celiac. However, I have had these feet all my life, and they didn't 
hurt and require orthotics until I was middle aged, and my daughter started 
having severe foot pain at age 7. Do you recall where you saw the article 
on foot pain and celiac? Also, have you read about plantar fasciitis? My 
husband and sister both had terrible heel pain, and it was cured by wearing 
special splints at night. Good luck figuring it out. Please let me know if 
you remember where that article was on foot pain. Sincerely, Trudi
I just came back from the Podiatrist office. He redressed the heel with
the blister on it. The other heel is soft and mushy. He can give me no
good reason as to the cause, and will only say that it will take a long
time for it to heal. I also go to a wound care nurse for periodic
dressings, and she says the same thing. The Podiatrist gave me some foot
pillows to cushion the heel when I sleep at night. You can find them at
www.spenco.com or call
1-800-877-3626
Loosing the padding in your feet can be caused by a number of things. Aging 
is one of them. However, this could also be plantar faciitis (sp?), a 
relatively common foot ailment. It involves an inability to walk without 
pain because of calluses on the feet, heel pain, tendon pain in the arch, 
etc. You should probably go to a podiatrist or you primary care doctor. 
Hope you feel better!
Mary in California








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