If you experience foot pain when you step out of bed in the morning, you are not alone! Many people experience foot pain on waking or taking their first steps each day, and this can be extremely frustrating. Looking at the causes of morning foot pain can help you to identify what you can do to relieve the pain, and our experienced team can help you to find the best solutions for you and your lifestyle.
While you are asleep, inflammation and fluids can build up in the body to cause pain and stiffness when you begin your day. Let’s explore why this happens and find out how you can treat it to keep your feet feeling great all day long.
Morning Foot Pain: Common Causes
There are many reasons why pain in the feet develops, and pain that occurs first thing in the morning can be the result of several common foot conditions. Read on to find out more about these, and don’t forget that you can visit our professional team at Foot Solutions to identify the causes of pain in your feet and find out about the solutions we offer.
Common causes of morning foot pain include:
- Plantar fasciitis. For many people who experience foot pain first thing in the morning, plantar fasciitis is the cause. Plantar fasciitis is a condition common to runners, and it affects the plantar fascia, which is a thick band of tissue that connects the heel to the toes. The pain caused by plantar fasciitis is often felt in the heel and can be particularly painful first thing in the morning. It is also more likely to occur during pregnancy, and sufferers of the condition will need to rest the area completely and then use specific exercises to rehabilitate the foot.
- Arthritis. People who have rheumatoid arthritis and/or osteoarthritis will often experience pain and stiffness in the joints that feel worse in the mornings. There are many bones, joints, muscles and ligaments in the feet, and this means that there are many different components to consider. The smaller joints in each foot are particularly susceptible to arthritis pain, and this can be extremely frustrating to live with.
- Achilles tendinitis. Achilles tendinitis is another condition that is common to runners and those who do a lot of exercise, but it is also prone to irritation as you age. The Achilles tendon runs from the calf muscle to the heel bone and is the largest tendon in the body, making it a common site of pain and discomfort. If you experience pain and stiffness in the back of the heel and the ankle, it may be an injured Achilles tendon causing this.
- Stress fractures. A stress fracture occurs when the bones of the foot become cracked, and this can happen because of overuse, so it is fairly common among people who run on roads and other hard surfaces. When the feet are hitting the ground at full force, stress fractures can develop, and these can be especially painful in the morning when pressure is placed on the feet again.
- Peripheral neuropathy. If you have diabetes, you’ll already be aware of the risks of developing peripheral neuropathy, a condition in which the nerves of the feet become damaged, leading to numbness, tingling, burning or sharp pains in the feet, which can be worse on waking in the morning. Although this condition is most common in people with diabetes, you should talk to your doctor if you are concerned about it.
- Wearing the wrong shoes. Believe it or not, the shoes you wear can make a huge difference to the way your feet feel first thing in the morning. Well-designed shoes can accommodate the contours of your feet, providing the cushioning and stability you need to maintain good foot health. If the shoes do not offer enough support, you will find that your feet come under additional strain, and this can lead to inflammation and pain throughout the foot, which can feel extremely painful when you first get up in the morning.
While you are sleeping, the inflammation associated with the above conditions can worsen, as the body attempts to heal. This leads to more intense pain when you get out of bed and start walking around, and this is known as morning foot pain.
How to Treat Morning Foot Pain
At Foot Solutions, our Foot Wellness Experts take their time to understand your lifestyle and find the cause of the foot pain you are experiencing. We use scans to find out more about your feet where this is indicated, and we work with you to find the best solutions and make you more comfortable. Once we have explored the options with you, we might recommend:
- Rest/ice. If your foot pain is caused by a condition such as plantar fasciitis, it may help to take a complete break from your normal exercise routine and rest the affected area. It can be soothing to use ice packs, especially when the condition first occurs, as this can reduce inflammation.
- Specific exercises. Many people with foot pain find specific exercises that can relieve the pain and help you to feel more comfortable throughout the day, as well as when you first get out of bed.
- Anti-inflammatories. Painkillers that aim to reduce inflammation in the body can help to alleviate pain and can sometimes be used on a long-term basis. It is, however, important to ensure that you rest your foot if you have an injury or condition that relates to overuse, rather than using anti-inflammatories while continuing with your usual routine, as this could lead to further damage.
- Custom-made orthotics. We use scans to create custom-made orthotics that can help to correct the positioning of the feet in the shoes, and this can relieve pain and improve alignment. Many people are surprised by the difference custom-made orthotics can make, and sometimes a simple adjustment to the alignment of the feet can help to alleviate pain in the feet, knees, hips and lower back.
- Surgery. In extreme cases, it may be suggested that surgery is necessary to relieve your foot pain. This is usually only an option if a structural repair is required, or if your mobility is being impacted. If you think that surgery may be an option for you, you can discuss this with your doctor or podiatrist if you feel that you have exhausted all the other options.
Address Foot Pain at Foot Solutions
At Foot Solutions, we can tailor our approach to suit each client, and our Foot Wellness Experts use a range of techniques to find out more about how your feet work, including proprietary 3D laser scanning, pressure mapping and design software. We are committed to finding the best solution for every client, taking your lifestyle and your budget into consideration.
We have a wide range of comfortable, stylish shoes for working, exercising and casual occasions, and we offer services such as gait analysis and custom-made orthotics to find the best fit. Our Foot Wellness Experts will be happy to offer you a free foot assessment to find out more about your feet and how they work, and you can book an appointment online or come and speak with us in-store.
