I woke up and felt pain as soon as I put my foot on the ground, but it got better after a while. What's the reason for this?
Nov 15, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Lei
Introduction
In most cases, if the foot hurts when stepping on the ground after waking up but the pain soon subsides, it may be related to improper sleeping posture, cold exposure to the feet, soft tissue injury, Achilles tendinitis, or plantar fasciitis. It is recommended that patients promptly visit a hospital and follow medical advice for treatment. In daily life, attention should be paid to foot health, including keeping the feet warm and wearing comfortable shoes that are properly sized and appropriately snug.
Generally, if the foot hurts for a while upon stepping on the ground after waking up and then improves, it may be related to improper sleeping posture, foot chilling, soft tissue injury, tendonitis, or plantar fasciitis. It is recommended that patients seek medical attention promptly and follow medical advice for treatment. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Improper sleeping posture: Maintaining the same posture for a long time during sleep can compress the foot, possibly leading to poor blood circulation. When stepping on the ground after waking, pain may occur but usually subsides quickly as circulation improves. It is recommended to adjust sleeping posture to avoid prolonged pressure on the feet.
2. Foot chilling: Cold exposure to the feet during sleep may slow blood circulation, causing pain when stepping on the ground upon waking, although the discomfort usually resolves on its own afterward, often accompanied by coldness in the feet. It is important to keep the feet warm, and soaking feet in hot water before sleep can help promote circulation.
3. Soft tissue injury: External injuries to the foot's soft tissues may cause local inflammation and pain, particularly when stepping on the ground in the morning, and may be accompanied by swelling and tenderness. Patients should use medications such as celecoxib capsules or diclofenac sodium sustained-release capsules under a doctor's guidance to aid recovery.
4. Tendonitis: Wearing ill-fitting shoes or being overweight may lead to tendonitis. Pain is more noticeable during initial movement after waking up or after prolonged rest, but usually decreases with activity. Patients are advised to take medications such as loxoprofen tablets, aspirin tablets, or naproxen tablets under medical guidance to alleviate symptoms.
5. Plantar fasciitis: Prolonged standing or walking can keep the plantar fascia in a tense state, possibly leading to plantar fasciitis. Pain upon stepping on the ground in the morning is common and improves with movement, but long-term cases may result in thickening and hardening of the plantar fascia. Patients should promptly follow medical advice to use medications such as diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets, blood circulation-promoting and pain-relieving capsules, or prednisone tablets for treatment.
In daily life, attention should be paid to foot health, including keeping feet warm, choosing comfortable shoes that fit well and are neither too tight nor too loose, and avoiding high or overly stiff heels.
