Sharp and sudden pain in your feet in the morning can be debilitating. It can affect your movements until you treat the issue. From plantar fasciitis to plantar warts and rheumatoid arthritis, there may be several causes for your pain, but the good news is that your heel and foot pain have several treatment options. Dr. Petkov is committed to helping you walk, run, and live pain-free. He performs a detailed evaluation to identify the causes behind your pain and ensures you are making progress. Visit Premier Podiatry center today to get started with healing and strengthening your foot for long-term relief.
Waking up with pain in your feet or sharp stabbing pain as soon as you step out of bed in the morning can be aggravating. Healthcare experts believe your feet hurt more in the morning as the pressure and stress returns. After being off your feet all night, there is no pain, but when you wake up, the muscles reactivate, and all the pain and pressure come back.
Although plantar fasciitis is a common cause of foot pain in the morning, it is not the only one. Consult your healthcare provider to learn more about the causes of foot pain in the morning and how to treat it.
Here are four common conditions that might be causing you pain first thing in the morning. Read on to find out what you may be experiencing and how you can handle them.
It is one of the most common causes of foot pain if it strikes immediately upon getting out of bed in the morning. Plantar fascia is a band of tissue that runs from your heels to the balls of your feet. The excess pressure on the foot or an injury can cause tiny ligament tears or strain on the entire thick ligament, leading to inflammation. The pain hits in the morning when the ligament has tightened due to inactivity.
You can feel a tightness in your heel and experience a sharp pain quickly as you try to stand. The pain usually goes away on its own the more you walk and wake up the ligaments, but sometimes pain can continue off and on and linger all day. The pain can also worsen if you have been sitting down for longer periods and then get up. In some cases, the plantar fascia can also rupture.
It is more common in runners, but elderly people, people who are overweight and work all day on their feet, or those with flat feet or high arches can also be at risk. Doctors suggest stretching in bed when you first wake up before putting your feet down on the ground. There are several treatment options for plantar fasciitis that help to treat the tissue and relieve the annoying pain. Your treatment may be non-invasive or include plantar fasciitis surgery.
Read more: Pain In The Arch: What Causes Foot Arch Pain?
While plantar fasciitis sometimes goes away on its own, there could be another reason why your feet hurt when you get out of bed and stand up, and it needs medical attention. If you are experiencing heel pain every time you wake up, it is a sign that you should call your healthcare provider as soon as possible to prevent further pain and complications.
Some other causes of foot pain in the morning include:
Plantar warts can be painful. These warts are caused by a virus. However, unlike other warts that protrude from the outside of the skin, plantar warts grow deeper, causing significant pain.
They form on the sole, and as you get up from the bed and stand, the pressure or movement can cause considerable discomfort and pain. Leaving a foot wart untreated means continued pain and discomfort with every step you take. This may cause you to change how you stand, walk, or run to avoid pain. Over time, these changes to your natural posture may cause pain or stress in muscles, tissues, or joints in your feet and ankles.
Fortunately, plantar warts are treatable. Consult the best podiatrist to learn how these warts form and how to get rid of them for good.
It is another common condition that can be more painful in the morning. You are at high risk of developing Achilles tendonitis if you are an active runner or participate in sports or activities that push you to your limits. The Achilles tendon is at the back of the ankle and connects the calf bone to the feet. In case of any injury or stress, it becomes stiff and swollen, causing pain. You can experience pain in your feet first thing in the morning or when exercising, climbing stairs, or moving throughout the day.
Even though the structure of the Achilles tendon plays a different role and is in a different location than the plantar fascia, the causes of this condition are very similar to those of plantar fasciitis. When you increase your activity level beyond your body’s level of readiness, it can result in irritation or inflammation of the tendon. Slowing down and pacing yourself can often decrease the risk of developing this condition, but people who are overweight, have high blood pressure, or have flat feet are also at risk.
Untreated Achilles tendonitis can make it difficult for you to walk. Your foot doctor may recommend stretching, and wearing orthotics and more supportive shoes, along with medication to heal and strengthen Achilles tendon and help you feel better. But some people may require achilles tendon surgery.
Also called RA, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that can cause joint pain and even deformity. With RA, the body actually fights against itself, attacking the fluid within the lining of the joints and the joints themselves, which leads to inflamed painful joints. It causes other symptoms such as pain, and swelling in the wrists and hands as well as foot pain.
If you have painfully stiff feet when you wake up, and the soles are so tender that you cannot walk on them, it may be rheumatoid arthritis. RA most often affects the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints, which can cause an eventual shift in the toes. It can also cause pain in the ball of the foot and affect the talonavicular and ankle joints, making it difficult for you to put pressure on your feet and walk evenly.
RA is often manageable if you get the right treatment timely. Schedule an appointment with an arthritis specialist to prevent your pain from worsening when you first wake up.
If you experience foot pain first thing in the morning after you get up and stand, try stretching before you step out of bed and begin with your routine. You may also want to consider wearing a night splint to position your affected foot at a 90-degree angle while you sleep. It can stretch the tightened muscles and ligaments and prevent pain. Also, avoiding sleeping on your belly and letting your feet lay flat can keep the pain away.
It is best to consult your healthcare provider if the pain in your feet is recurring and intense. The doctor will examine your foot, look for signs of injury, and ask about your activities and routine to determine what may be causing this pain. He may recommend stretching exercises, rest, icing, over-the-counter medications, and activity modification to manage your discomfort.
Do not let foot pain make you dread getting out of bed and missing out on the activities you enjoy. Call Premier Podiatry today and schedule an appointment with a qualified and experienced podiatrist to find out why it hurts to put pressure on your feet in the morning. Dr. Velimir Petkov has helped hundreds of patients with their foot pain and focuses on the location and intensity of the pain to determine its causes. He comes up with treatment options that are designed to get you back on your feet as soon as possible.
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