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What Causes Pain In The Feet?
Question: The bottom of my feet hurt badly when I first get up. They get better with a shower and are fine when I put shoes on. They ache late in the day from use- lots of walking and standing. Why do they hurt in the morning?
Brief Answer:
Plantar fasciitis
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Morning heal pain is characteristic of plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is the connective tissue that covers the bottom of the foot. When there is torsion of the foot or prolonged pressure, there can be little tears in the fascia. Overnight when we sleep, the fascial tears form scars which then rip open and hurt when there is pressure from the heal bone on it when we first stand on it.
Treatment for minor plantar fasciitis is:
Exercises to stretch the plantar fascia. One of the best exercises I've found is to stand with hands against the wall, and put one foot directly in line behind the other in such a way that you feel a stretch in your lower calf and achilles tendon. Hold this for several seconds and then switch legs.
It is good that you have arch supports. Rather than a mushy comfortable shoe, you will need a rigid firm sole that doesn't twist much with motion. And a metatarsal arch support to prevent your foot from twisting (I do not mean twisting at the ankle, but in the foot itself).
You can also take ibuprofen, if you tolerate it well, 3 times a day after eating, for the 1st week to 10 days while this settles down.
If none of this helps, see your doctor and get an Xray of your foot as sometimes there is a heal spur making this worse.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Plantar fasciitis
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Morning heal pain is characteristic of plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is the connective tissue that covers the bottom of the foot. When there is torsion of the foot or prolonged pressure, there can be little tears in the fascia. Overnight when we sleep, the fascial tears form scars which then rip open and hurt when there is pressure from the heal bone on it when we first stand on it.
Treatment for minor plantar fasciitis is:
Exercises to stretch the plantar fascia. One of the best exercises I've found is to stand with hands against the wall, and put one foot directly in line behind the other in such a way that you feel a stretch in your lower calf and achilles tendon. Hold this for several seconds and then switch legs.
It is good that you have arch supports. Rather than a mushy comfortable shoe, you will need a rigid firm sole that doesn't twist much with motion. And a metatarsal arch support to prevent your foot from twisting (I do not mean twisting at the ankle, but in the foot itself).
You can also take ibuprofen, if you tolerate it well, 3 times a day after eating, for the 1st week to 10 days while this settles down.
If none of this helps, see your doctor and get an Xray of your foot as sometimes there is a heal spur making this worse.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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