It Hurts to Put Pressure on My Feet in the Mornings: Do I Have Plantar Fasciitis?

Having foot pain in the morning is enough to almost make you dread getting out of bed. If your feet hurt as soon as you put pressure on them in the morning, you might assume that you have plantar fasciitis.

Although plantar fasciitis is a very common cause of foot pain in the morning, it’s not the only one. The providers at Washington Foot & Ankle Sports Medicine explain more about the causes of foot pain in the morning and how we can treat it.

Why your feet hurt more in the morning

It’s definitely aggravating to wake up and know that your feet will hurt as soon as you step down on them. Your feet hurt more in the morning because it’s a return of pressure and stress being placed on them. After being off of your feet all night, your feet usually aren’t experiencing any pain. When you wake up, all the pain and pressure comes back.

Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is by far the most common cause of foot pain in the morning. If you have this condition, you may feel a stabbing pain in your heels. Although the pain will feel like it’s in your heels, it’s actually caused by an inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a band of tissue that runs from your heels to the balls of your feet. In severe cases, the plantar fascia can even rupture.

A telltale sign of plantar fasciitis is that the pain often disappears throughout the course of the day, as you get moving more. It can also be worse if you’ve been sitting down for long periods of time and then get up. It’s more common in runners, though people who are overweight can also be at risk.

Other common causes of foot pain

If you have heel pain when you wake up, it’s definitely a sign that you should call one of our providers to be seen as soon as possible. While plantar fasciitis sometimes goes away on its own, you could have a different cause for your morning foot pain that needs attention. Some of these other causes include the following:

Plantar warts

These common warts are caused by a virus. But unlike other warts, which protrude from the outside of your skin, plantar warts grow deeper inward. They can cause a significant amount of pain. The good news is that plantar warts are extremely treatable.

Achilles tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis is another common cause of foot pain. You’re most at risk for this condition if you’re active in running or any type of sport that pushes you to your limits. The Achilles tendon is in the back of your ankle, connecting your calf bone to your feet. It may get swollen and stiff. 

Achilles tendonitis is most likely to happen when you rapidly increase your activity beyond your body’s level of readiness. Slowing down and pacing yourself can often decrease the risk of developing this condition. However, people who are overweight, have high blood pressure, flat feet, or psoriasis are also at risk.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Sometimes just abbreviated as RA, rheumatoid arthritis typically causes other symptoms as well as foot pain. These include pain and swelling in your wrists and hands. It’s often manageable if you get the right treatment, which will require a referral to a rheumatologist.

If you have pain in your feet that’s worse when you first wake up, you should make a visit to the providers at Washington Foot & Ankle Sports Medicine. Contact us or request an appointment online.