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Waking Up with Heel Pain? The Top Causes and Fast Relief Options
Do you dread taking your first steps each morning? Sharp, stabbing heel pain is a common reason patients visit us at Chicagoland Foot and Ankle.
Our team of specialists serves communities across the greater Chicago area, and we know how frustrating morning pain and stiffness can be. We’re here to help you walk comfortably again.
While many people assume a bone spur is the culprit, morning pain usually points to other issues. Here are the three most common causes we see and how we treat them.
Plantar fasciitis is the primary culprit
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of morning heel pain. This condition occurs when the thick band of tissue on the bottom of your foot tightens overnight and stretches painfully when you stand up.
One small study of adults with plantar fasciitis showed that daily home stretching reduced pain by 35% over six months, making stretching just as effective as formal physical therapy. For quicker relief, a study of 40 adults showed that elastic kinesiotape improved pain within one day.
At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, we teach you these targeted stretches and offer taping to help you get moving. We also provide custom orthotics to support your arch and prevent future strain.
Heel spurs are often misunderstood
Many of our patients believe a sharp bone spur is stabbing their heel. In reality, heel spurs are usually a byproduct of long-standing tissue strain, not the primary cause of your pain.
The bone spur itself does not cause the sharp morning pain. Instead, the pain comes from the inflamed tissue pulling on your heel bone.
Our specialists use advanced digital foot and ankle X-rays to look at your bone structure. We focus on calming the soft-tissue inflammation rather than surgically removing the spur.
Other structural issues like nerve or bone stress
If your pain is not from plantar fasciitis, it may stem from other structural issues. These can include thinning heel pads, stress fractures, or pinched nerves.
To address overnight tissue tightening, we may recommend a 1-3-month program of night splints. These splints keep your foot gently flexed while you sleep.
We offer comprehensive evaluations to pinpoint the source of your discomfort. If conservative options do not provide enough relief, we also offer steroid injections to target stubborn inflammation.
You do not have to live with painful morning steps. Our board-certified specialists are ready to build a personalized recovery plan for you. To find relief, schedule a visit at one of our convenient offices today.
We have offices in the Mount Greenwood and Portage Park areas of Chicago, as well as Orland Park, Bartlett, Niles, and New Lenox, Illinois.
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