Heel pain is one of the most common forms of foot discomfort. While heel pain can occur at any time of day, it is most common in the morning when you first wake up. You might feel that your heels are sensitive to the touch or ache when you walk around. So, what causes heel pain in the morning? Read on to find out!
Common Causes of Heel Pain in the Morning
More often than not, heel pain is not the result of a serious underlying issue. In fact, it’s usually just the result of overuse or poor footwear. Here are a few of the most common reasons you may be experiencing heel pain in the morning:
- Poor footwear – If your shoes do not provide enough arch support or are the wrong size for your feet, it could cause discomfort in your heel. The most common reason for heel pain related to shoes is a lack of cushioning under your heels or arch.
- High heels – High-heel shoes put a lot of additional pressure on the heels of your feet. Wearing high heels for more than a few hours at a time frequently leads to heel pain.
- Standing for hours – If you work at a job that requires you to be on your feet all day, you’ll almost definitely experience morning heel pain. Like any part of your body, your heels need time to rest from excessive pressure. Without rest time, your heels will begin to let you know that you’re overworking them.
- Extended movement – If you’re the kind of person who likes to take long walks (longer than a mile) on a regular basis, you could be putting too much pressure on your heels. Moreover, if you like to participate in marathons or similar foot races, you’ll likely experience heel pain the morning after the event.
Other Causes of Heel Pain in the Morning
While the causes above account for the majority of heel pain cases, there are some conditions that can cause excessive pain in the heels. So, it’s worth looking at some of the other causes of heel pain in the morning as well:
- Plantar fasciitis – This is a condition that causes inflammation of the tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. The condition can be treated with special shoes, physical therapy, and even surgery. If you experience a stabbing pain in the heel that worsens in the morning, there’s a greater chance that it could be plantar fasciitis.
- Flat feet – While not entirely uncommon, flat feet are a long-term condition that can cause heel pain at any time of day. If the entire bottom of your foot touches the floor when standing (as opposed to having a higher arch in the middle), you may have flat feet. Typically, the only way to treat pain associated with flat feet is getting medically-prescribed shoes to help support your arch.
- Heel spur – A heel spur is similar to a bunion, though it appears on the heel rather than the big toe. It is simply a bony growth that often results from ill-fitting shoes. Some heel spurs go away on their own, but more serious heel spurs may require surgery.
Contact Us
At Northwest Surgery Center, it’s our mission to provide treatment for individuals suffering from foot pain. We specialize in minimally invasive surgery to correct conditions like bunions, heel spurs, hammertoes, and more. Contact us here to learn more about what we can do for you, or to schedule an appointment with us today.
To learn more about minimally invasive surgery for heel spurs, contact the experts at The Bunion Cure! or download our free “Guide to Minimally Invasive Foot & Ankle Surgery“!