5 Common Reasons Why Your Feet Hurt When You Wake Up In The Morning

Do you know that serene feeling when you wake up from a deep slumber? That little toss and turn you do before you’re finally ready to get the day going? Well, what would you do if a sharp stabbing pain burst through your body as soon as your foot touched the ground?

Now, before you hop on over to scour the internet, asking, ‘Why do my feet hurt when I wake up?’ Let us stop you there. That agonizing feeling of your feet hurting after waking up isn’t uncommon. In fact, most people experience it. Sometimes it could just be a side effect of sitting for too long. Other times, it could be a sign of some underlying condition at play.

Why Do My Feet Hurt When I Wake Up?

Have you ever experienced the top or side of your feet hurting after getting up in the morning? If so, don’t worry. It’s not always meant to be something serious. But knowing your condition and being able to diagnose it is just as important. Here are some common causes why your feet hurt when you wake up:

1. Plantar Fasciitis Plantar fasciitis is a condition where the bottom-most tissue of your foot becomes inflamed. You might experience intense, stabbing pain as soon as you take your first steps of the day. However, as time progresses, the pain dulls down on its own.
   Oftentimes, plantar fasciitis occurs from overexertion or moving after being still for a long time. For instance, athletes or people who exercise a lot can develop this condition. However, those who stand still for a long time or stop moving before resuming movement might also suffer from plantar fasciitis.
2. Achilles Tendonitis You’ve probably heard the story of Achilles Heel, which is what gave birth to this condition. Achilles tendinitis, then, is related to the big tendon in your foot that runs along the back of your leg. It’s what connects your heel to the calf muscles. Thus, when this tendon gets inflamed, it leads to Achilles tendinitis. This is why if your feet feel sore or stiff in the morning, it could be due to Achilles tendinitis as well.
3. Arthritis Arthritis is sadly a common condition, but did you know it has sub-types as well? Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis are both causes of morning foot pain. Where osteoarthritis destroys the cartilage in your joints, rheumatoid arthritis causes the lining of your joints to swell due to inflammation. Some of its symptoms are stiffness, swelling, visible redness, and extreme pain.
4. Hypothyroidism When your thyroid gland does not produce the necessary hormones your body needs, it can lead to myxedema. This is a condition where the skin of your feet grows extremely thick and dry. So when this layer of skin begins to crack, it can cause severe bouts of pain. Sometimes, the pressure can get really intense and extend over to the tarsal tunnel, a small part of your leg that contains bundles of nerves and blood vessels. This, then, could be a highly painful experience in the morning.
5. Bone Spurs A bone spur is a disorder that occurs when a part of your foot’s bone grows abnormally. This abnormal growth can offset the other tissues and nerves in your foot, leading to sharp pain in your feet right when you wake up. Since most bone spurs sprout in the heel area, it is a given that as soon as your feet touch the ground, you might feel that sudden discomfort travel up your legs.

What’s Next?

If you’ve found yourself wondering why your feet hurt when you wake up in the morning. By now, hopefully, you have an idea of what could be causing it. If you need further assistance or information, schedule an appointment with us or contact Paramount Family Medical Clinic at (281) 372-6892.