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Message: [QUOTE="dirt bike dave, post: 775173, member: 18302"] I have had the misfortune of a few foot problems and you have my sympathy - it can be very painful. The fact that it hurts when you first get up makes me think it is the muscles contracting during your sleep. It happens to all of us, and on a healthy foot it is not a problem. But if the muscle is too short (atrophied while in cast or some other reason), it is being pulled taught across the bottom of the heel. If you have a heel spur or other bone irregularity, the muscle is getting irritated, which pulls it even tighter. After you get up and have some activity, it might be a little better as the muscle begins to stretch some, but then throughout the day the pain gets worse as the muscle gets irritated by the bone. During the day, any direct impact or use of the foot muscle like running or even walking is pulling the already sore muscle across the bottom of your heel, which may have a nice little spike or fishhook of bone on it. Try to stretch your foot to lenghten the muscles. Stand and do toe raises, that sort of thing. Talk to a foot doctor, and see what they recommend. Custom Orthotics (inserts for your shoes) can help keep your foot arched and muscles lenghtend. A podiatrist will check for heel spurs or other problems. He may have to surgically remove the spur, but lots of times just lenghtening the muscles will cure the problem. As a first step, they will probably soak your feet in a warm paraffin bath to soothe and relax the muscles. If your pain is bad, he may give you a cortisone shot. That can work like magic. Edit: The common name of what I've described is Plantar Fasciitis. You can find tons of info on the internet about causes and cures. The plantar is the muscle along the bottom of your foot. Good luck! [/QUOTE]

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