Heel pain at any time can ruin your day. But when you first step out of bed and experience that sharp, stabbing pain right as you step on the ground? Well, that starts your routine on the wrong foot. So, if you're wondering "Why do my heels hurt in the morning?" and looking for a way to find relief, this post has all the answers you need!
Why do my heels hurt in the morning? ![woman waking up in bed]()
There are several different causes of heel pain that Dr. Alvin Cowans sees in our podiatry practice in Powder Springs. But if your heels hurt in the morning, then gradually feel better as you move throughout your day, you likely have plantar fasciitis or inflammation in your plantar fascia that causes pain and can even interfere with mobility.
But what is your plantar fascia? It's a thick band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of your feet, originating at your heel and ending right around your toe joints. Now, this tissue band has an important job to do: it supports your arches, helping you use your big toe joints when you push off your feet to walk or run.
How does that happen? The plantar fascia stretches out when your foot hits the ground, then shortens as your foot rolls toward the joint of your big toe. So, when it's overworked, irritated, and inflamed, the simple act of walking can lead to heel pain and arch pain at any time. Still, many plantar fasciitis patients tell us that heels hurt worst in the morning. Why is that the case? Keep reading to find out!
Why Heel Pain in the Morning is at Its Worst
In addition to inflammation, an irritated plantar fascia can become stiff, causing further discomfort. Typically, the tissue band stiffens up when not in use, like when you're spending the whole night in bed, without placing any pressure on your feet. Now, during that rest, you'll probably enjoy some welcome relief from heel pain. But when you get out of bed in the morning, the combination of a stiff plantar fascia and the sudden pressure of your complete body weight make an uncomfortable combination. And that's why, when you have plantar fasciitis, your heel hurts in the morning, often starting to feel better as your regular movements loosen up the band of connective tissue.
Heel Pain Progression
When you first develop plantar fasciitis, your pain will be worse in the morning. And, throughout the day, it should improve or even disappear. However, that relief with movement won't last forever. In fact, if left untreated, plantar fasciitis heel pain will progress. Eventually, you could experience chronic heel pain all throughout your day. For that reason, it's important to seek treatment as soon as you notice pain in your heels or your arches. That way, we can provide effective, minimally invasive interventions. They can stop heel pain so you can wake up and comfortably hop out of bed in the morning!
Treating Heel Pain in Powder Springs
When you come in complaining of heel pain in the morning, Dr. Cowans will conduct a thorough examination. Then, if he diagnoses plantar fasciitis, he'll provide a customized treatment plan, depending on the severity of your condition.
Some patients can relieve heel pain by switching up their exercise routines. After all, plantar fasciitis is a common overuse injury. So, if you build rest days into your training schedule, you can take pressure off your plantar fascia. That will give the inflammation a chance to resolve, and your pain should improve.
At the same time, stretching will help treat your heel pain. We'll suggest moves that focus on your tight calf muscles. And we'll also suggest plantar fasciitis stretches you can do in bed, like pointing your toes toward the ceiling before flexing them backward, towards the shin. By doing these stretches before you get up for the day, you can help relieve heels that hurt worst in the morning.
Now, when heel pain is chronic, you may need additional treatment to find relief. Anti-inflammatory medications can help you feel better. And you can further reduce inflammation u icing the bottom of your feet, or rolling your arches on a frozen water bottle for up to 15 minutes each day. Finally, we may need to fit you for custom orthotics. These medical-grade insoles are built to provide support exactly where your foot needs it most. By doing so, they help optimize your foot function. In turn, you can relieve heel pain and keep it from returning.
Are you ready to stop your heels from hurting in the morning? Do you want to start and end your day enjoying optimal foot health? We're here to help! You can call our office at 770-727-0614 or go online to contact us and make an appointment today!
