Waking up and stepping out of bed should feel refreshing — not painful. But if you feel a sharp, stabbing pain in your heels when you take your first steps in the morning, you’re not alone.
At Manhattan Podiatry Associates in Midtown and Downtown Manhattan, New York City, we understand that heel pain can quickly disrupt your activities and daily to-do list. Since there are many possible causes of heel pain, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team if you're experiencing discomfort.
In the meantime, read on as our board-certified team shares what might be causing your discomfort and what you can do about it.
The most frequent culprit behind morning heel pain is plantar fasciitis. About one million people seek medical care for this condition each year. This breaks down to about 10% of the general population, although it jumps to 22% in runners.
The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. Plantar fasciitis happens when this tissue becomes inflamed.
During the night, the tissue tightens slightly. When you stand and put pressure on your heels first thing in the morning, the band can stretch suddenly and cause pain.
You might suspect you have plantar fasciitis if you notice:
Although training too fast and hard can increase your risk of plantar fasciitis, it’s not the only risk factor. Other risk factors include being overweight or having flat arches, high arches, and tight calf muscles.
While plantar fasciitis is the most common reason for morning heel pain, other conditions can also be to blame.
If your pain is located more at the back of your heel, it might be Achilles tendonitis. This condition occurs when your Achilles tendon (triceps surae) becomes inflamed — often because of overuse, tight calf muscles, or improper footwear.
Athletes have a 24% lifetime chance of developing this condition, but it can happen to anyone.
You might have morning pain and stiffness with Achilles tendonitis, but pain tends to increase after activity. Your tendon may also be warm, swollen, and tender.
Heel spurs are bony growths that develop on your heel bone due to long-term strain on your muscles and ligaments. Although heel spurs themselves may not cause pain, they often appear alongside plantar fasciitis and can contribute to morning discomfort.
Inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or reactive arthritis can lead to heel pain that's especially noticeable in the morning. However, you may notice other symptoms if you have an inflammatory condition. For example, reactive arthritis can also cause skin and urinary problems.
If your feet hurt when you stand first thing in the morning, try stretching your feet and calves before you get out of bed. You may also find that cold compresses help reduce inflammation.
That being said, don’t power through heel pain on your own. There are many causes of heel pain, and your Manhattan Podiatry Associates podiatrist can pinpoint the culprit.
First, we examine your feet and review your symptoms. We may look at your gait (how you walk) and review imaging tests like X-rays. Once we know what’s causing your pain, it’s time to get started with your treatment plan. You may benefit from:
For plantar fasciitis that doesn’t resolve with these treatments, we may recommend MLS laser therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, and ESWT shockwave therapy — all of which are available at our offices.
The bottom line is that if you’re dealing with heel pain — whether it’s the first thing you notice each day or a constant, nagging pain — call our location of your choice or click to schedule a consultation with our team today.
