You get in your 10,000 steps a day, or whatever the recommendation is this week. You try to eat well and keep your weight stable and healthy. You don’t wear high heels or pointy-toed shoes.
So why do your heels hurt every morning? Isn’t your body supposed to rejuvenate itself while you sleep? What’s going on with your heels? How can you help them get off to a pain-free start in the morning?
Our board-certified podiatrist, Nathaniel Alabi, DPM, and the podiatric team at Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group help your heels feel and function better, 24/7. We get to the root of your heel pain at our Houston, Texas-area offices.
Why do your mornings start with heel pain? Following are a few possible reasons, along with some action steps to take.
If your morning heel pain is situated at the back of your heel, you may have Achilles tendinitis. Your Achilles tendon joins your calf muscle to the rear of your heel.
When your Achilles tendon is torn or stretched, it may become inflamed. You may (like the hero after whom the tendon is named) feel pain and vulnerability in your heel. You’re most likely to develop Achilles tendinitis if you’re a runner who suddenly increases the distance, speed, or difficulty of your runs.
However, you may also develop Achilles tendinitis if you’re a weekend warrior who overdoes it on the playing field. Depending on how severely your tendon was injured, we may recommend simple at-home care including rest and icing the injury. However, if your tendon is severely torn, you may need surgery.
One of the most common causes of heel pain is plantar fasciitis, which affects the bottom of your foot. Morning heel pain is often associated with this condition.
Your plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs from your toes to your heel. Over time, with overuse or injury, this tissue may develop microtears that cause it to tighten. A tight plantar fascia may pull on your heel, causing pain and discomfort.
Untreated tears, or tears that are severe, can also cause inflammation, which leads to tenderness and pain. In addition to experiencing heel pain in the morning, you might also feel the same stabbing sensation if you’ve sat or remained inactive for too long.
In addition to rest and icing, you may benefit from therapies that help stretch the plantar fascia so it can absorb shocks, which minimizes foot stress and pain. Some possibilities include:
Rarely, we may recommend surgery to correct an overly tight and inflamed fascia that doesn’t respond to other treatments. We then detach the plantar fascia from your heel bone to relieve pressure.
While plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis are the most common reasons for heel pain, many other factors also come into play. Heel pain may also be caused by:
The only way to know for sure what caused your heel pain and what to do about it is to consult with an expert podiatrist. By thoroughly examining your foot and looking inside its structure with advanced imaging techniques, our team comes up with a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Do you have morning heel pain that could be caused by plantar fasciitis or another condition? To schedule a heel pain evaluation, call us at the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online today.
We service Greater Heights, Pearland Market, League City, Lake Jackson, Manvel, Rosharen, Alvin, Fresno, Missouri City, Arcola, Friendswood, South Houston, Kingwood Market, Humble, New Chaney, Atasciacita, and Northeast Houston, Texas.
