How can I fix the pain in my heel, particularly when I wake up in the morning?

Q. I am a 57-year-old recreational tennis player who has had worsening heel pain. The pain is particularly bad when I get out of bed in the morning. After I walk around and take a hot shower, though, I feel better. During the day, I feel OK unless I am sitting for a long time and then get up. About an hour after playing tennis, the bottom of my heel hurts and burns. So far, resting from playing has made no difference. What is my best course of action to get better?

A. The condition that you describe is likely plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia, better known as your “arch,” begins as a thick fibrous band of tissue that attaches to the bottom of your heel. Usually the inflammation of this tissue has been present for a long time and some increase in your activity or shoe wear changes causes this inflammation to worsen and become symptomatic.

Symptoms include significant morning heel pain and stiffness, pain during or after sports activity and walking difficulty after periods of inactivity. Due to the poor micro circulation of the plantar-fascia attachment, these conditions may be slow to heal.

There are many ways to treat this condition. I would suggest not walking barefoot and wear comfortable shoes. Anti-inflammatory medications can help. Physical therapy and stretching can also be effective.

Cortisone or PRP injections can be effective for patients whose symptoms don’t improve with these more conservative measures. I recommend you see an orthopedic surgeon or foot specialist to confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment.

Dr. Harlan Selesnick is team physician of the Miami Heat and director of Miami Sports Medicine Fellowship, Doctors Hospital. Send your questions to HarlanS@baptisthealth.net

This story was originally published September 16, 2022 at 1:00 PM.