Do You Have Morning Foot Pain?

If the first steps you take each morning are extremely painful, you may be among a large group of people with plantar fasciitis. One of the main symptoms of this heel/foot condition is pain when you take your first steps after you get out of bed. While the pain may dissipate after a few minutes, it may come back later in the day with a vengeance. Here are some signs you may have plantar fasciitis and what you can do to relieve your pain.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a tendon that runs from the heel to the toes on the bottom of the foot. When this tendon tightens or becomes inflamed, this is called plantar fasciitis. This can be caused by a variety of factors, from flat feet and heel trauma to bone spurs and obesity. Stress on the tendon can result in acute or chronic heel pain that can be debilitating for some people. Symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:

• Morning foot pain or pain after rest
• Increased heel pain when standing for long periods
• Foot pain when walking or running long distances
• Foot pain that radiates from the underside of the heal to the toes
• Foot pain on the bottom, inner side of your foot

Plantar fasciitis can suddenly occur due to injury, or slowly become worse over time. Like most forms of tendonitis, this condition can recover on its own with rest and healing. However, if the condition is caused by performing certain activities or other anatomical issues, plantar fasciitis can become chronic and require treatment.

Treatment for Heel Pain

There are many conservative treatments for plantar fasciitis heel pain. These can include stretches and exercises, as well as orthotic devices to relieve the tendon pain. If conservative treatments are not effective at relieving pain, it is important to see a foot specialist for an evaluation to receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment options.

If you have ongoing heel pain in the morning and other symptoms of plantar fasciitis, contact the office in Stuart J. Mogul, DPM, FACFAS in NYC. We can schedule a foot exam and consultation with one of NYC’s best foot specialists.