Stabbing Foot Pain: Is It Plantar Fasciitis?

The location of your foot pain is a good clue about its possible cause. If the sharp, stabbing pain is in your heel, there’s a good chance you have plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is the top cause of heel pain and a common foot problem, causing enough pain to send at least two million people to their healthcare provider for help.

However, you could have piercing foot pain for several reasons, and that pain will only get worse if you don’t seek treatment. Vinai A. Prakash, DPM, at the Lake Washington Foot and Ankle Clinic, specializes in identifying the cause of your pain and providing exceptional care.

Plantar fasciitis causes

The plantar fascia is a connective tissue that attaches to your heel, runs along the bottom of your foot, and branches to connect to each toe. This crucial tissue supports the arch, absorbs shock, and promotes healthy foot movement.

Plantar fasciitis develops when the tissue is strained and stretched, leading to tears and degeneration. These problems most often occur because of the following issues:

Overuse injuries

Frequently repeating the same movement irritates the plantar fascia. Then, small tears and inflammation develop, and pain begins. These problems can’t heal if you stay active and don’t rest your foot.

Though anyone can develop plantar fasciitis, your risk is higher if you engage in high-impact activities like running and dancing or spend a long time standing or walking on hard surfaces.

High or low arches

An unusually high or low arch puts extra stress on the plantar fascia. Over time, the stress damages or tears the tissue.

Tight Achilles tendon or calf muscles

The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the back of your heel. You can’t bend your ankle properly if these muscles are too tight. As a result, the ankle pulls on the plantar fascia.

Pain caused by plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis may cause mild pain at first, but over time, it gradually increases. Many people experience:

• Sharp, stabbing heel pain (on the bottom of your heel)
• Heel pain that’s worse after sleeping or resting
• Heel pain that begins when standing for a prolonged time
• Pain in the arch of your foot
• Pain that’s worse after an activity (not during)

The severe pain that occurs when you first get up in the morning usually improves after a few minutes of walking.

Why treatment is essential

Many people put off seeing a healthcare provider, hoping the pain will improve. This approach seldom works for foot pain.

Even if you have a minor foot problem, the stress of walking (let alone running or jumping) is guaranteed to aggravate it. Treatment stops the problem from getting worse and prevents complications.

Without treatment, the arch could collapse, causing flat feet. A collapsed arch or severe inflammation can also lead to a complete rupture of the plantar fascia.

Seeking medical care is the only way to learn the cause of your pain and get the treatment needed to ease your symptoms and restore pain-free movement.

Other causes of stabbing foot pain

You can see some conditions that often cause foot pain, such as corns, bunions, and hammertoes. Other conditions aren’t visible because the pain comes from problems in the tissues, ligaments, tendons, and nerves.

A few conditions that may cause stabbing pain include:

• Achilles tendonitis
• Stress fractures
• Peroneal tendonitis
• Extensor tendonitis
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage)

It’s time to seek treatment when your pain doesn’t improve or worsens, swelling develops, you lose feeling in your foot, or you can’t put weight on your foot.

Have questions about foot or heel pain?

We’re here to help if you have questions about foot pain. Schedule an appointment by calling Lake Washington Foot and Ankle Clinic or booking online.