Does the Mirena contraceptive have anything to do with my degenerating Achilles tendons??

"Hi Gary, 

Former elite athlete with depressed copper levels
associated with Mirena (progesterone) contraceptive,
consequently suffering severe back and sacroiliac
pain, including lumbar spondylolisthesis.

I have a theory to put to you. I have had a Mirena for 5 years, started running 4 years ago and for the entire period have suffered achilles tendonopathy that just wouldn't respond to the normal treatment. 

Near the end of the 5 year term the tendonopathy disappeared completely and inexplicably. Recently I have had the Mirena replaced and guess what - the achilles pain is returning. 

If the plan is to remove the Mirena I'd have to find another treatment for menorrhagia.

What do you think?"

"K"

________________
Gary:

Example of a young woman with elevated copper
associated with oestrogen contraceptive use,
consequently suffering tendon, ligament damage
and stress fractures.

There is definitely a link between the use of contraceptives such as Mirena and tendon and ligament disorders.  


I have now completed hundreds of Hair Tissue Mineral Analyses and can now dig out examples of just about any health condition you can think of.  Menstrual and connective tissue disorders are among the most common.  Let me explain why:

Adequate amounts of zinc and copper are needed in the body for the normal production of elastin and collagen, which are the primary components of tendons and ligaments, including the spinal discs.  Copper, specifically, is necessary for the cross-linking of proteins that give strength and integrity to these structures.  Zinc is required for the body to synthesize protein, therefore, an imbalance between copper and zinc can lead to tendon, ligament and structural abnormalities.

Copper and zinc regulate the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone.  Oestrogen is closely associated with copper; when the level of one rises, so does the other.  Zinc is associated with progesterone; the levels of these two rise in tandem.  Hence the use of copper in intrauterine contraceptive devices.

An imbalance between the hormones Oestrogen and progesterone, as well as zinc, copper and other nutritional factors, is likely to be the chief culprit contributing to menstrual problems including painful, heavy bleeding (menorrhagia).

If a woman has a high tissue copper level, her flow may be prolonged and heavy.  If a woman has dominant zinc levels, she may have a light and short menstrual flow, and her breasts may become extremely tender.  Too much copper, on the other hand, can also stop menstruating.  Women with eating disorders typically stop menstruating. High tissue copper levels are typically found in women suffering anorexia and bulemia.


Copper is an antagonist of iron.  Women with high tissue copper levels typically have low iron.  Iron supplementation may temporarily raise iron levels but the problem of low iron will persist for as long as copper remains elevated.


The liver regulates copper levels.  Men and women with elevated tissue copper levels often have a history of liver stress, typically a severe viral infection such as hepatitis, glandular fever or a severe case of influenza.   Women with heavy bleeding and other menstrual disorders may find relief with various combinations of contraceptives; but this is not remedying the underlying causes which could be a combination of factors, including poor liver function.


You might be wondering; "how come my medical specialists have never mentioned any of this to me?"  Well, they should have studied this in great detail as medical students.  Sadly, there is little interest in these matters in clinical situations with treatments well and truly entrenched in applying extremely expensive and often invasive patented treatments.  Basic elements and vitamins, such as zinc, magnesium and vitamin C, can not be patented.  They are ubiquitous and they are cheap.  There is no money to be made from prescribing them.


The health problems that you have described are very common, affecting countless thousands of women in New Zealand, let alone elsewhere.  These problems may be attributed to the near universal use of contraceptives, both uterine and oral, and from increasingly early ages when natural hormone levels are surging and attempting to find their natural, healthy levels.

Women are the unwitting subjects of an uncontrolled experiment 

on the grandest of scales

The next step in finding a healthy, life-long solution is to identify the underlying drivers of your tendon degeneration and heavy periods.  You can do this with a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis which I can arrange for you and then run you through the options for correcting any imbalances that show up.


For further reading about the relationship between hormones, minerals, ligaments and contraceptives - and female athletes, please go here.

___________________________________

About this website

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation.  Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Advice for a suspected case of tibialis posterior tendinosis

I've been suffering from medial ankle pain for about 2 to 3 months (since early May). I initially though it was a grade I deltoid ligament sprain (in both ankles) because the pain was delayed and pretty minor. The pain came a few hours after performing lower body exercises (squats, lunges, single-leg balancing) while trying to force my feet into a neutral position, because I am an overpronator. It responded well to ice and compression at first, and after 3 weeks the pain had subsided. I was walking normally and going up and down stairs as if I was never injured, and about 2 weeks later, the pain returned. What also aggravated it probably were the exercises that I attempted to do to rehab it (single leg balancing and directional movements with theraband resistance). I think I was too aggressive with the exercises. Heat and ice both assist in pain management, but now walking will just bring pain back immediately. I have no visible signs of inflammation - no swelling or heat - and stretching seems to help for the short-term. Exercise also isn't that bad (theraband directional movements and calf raises with the knees bent) but a bit after some discomfort will arise. About a week or two ago, I found out that the pain had to be from either my tibialis posterior or another muscle in the shin/ankle (the flexor hallucis longus? I'm not sure) Since the pain usually comes about with standing and walking, and the fact that I overpronate, led me to believe it is more likely my tibialis posterior, since this has a direct link over overpronating and such

Do you have any tips on rehabbing from tibialis posterior tendinosis?

Do you have any tips on rehabbing from tibialis posterior tendinosis? I've read that eccentric stretching and strengthening works best.

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