A lot of people say their foot pain is worse with their first few steps in the morning, but for others their dogs are barking at the end of their day. But what types of foot problems typically lend themselves to worse symptoms in the evening? We take a look at some of the reasons why your feet hurt at night in today’s blog.
Why Do My Feet Hurting In The Evening?
There are a number of reasons why your feet could be most achy at night. We’ll start with some of the least serious and most modifiable conditions and work our way out from there.
Stress and Dehydration – If you’re on your feet all day, there’s a good chance that your feet hurt at the end of the day simply because they’ve been stressed for an extended period of time. Poor water intake can exacerbate this problem in the form of muscle cramps and spasms. If you’re dealing with soreness and stiffness at night, it’s probably just an indication that you had a long day on your feet. Try to give your feet some rest, and the soreness should subside. However, if you’re dealing with sharp or shooting pain, general stress is probably not what you’re dealing with.
Morton’s Neuroma – We talk more about Morton’s neuroma on this page, but essentially it is a condition in which tissue around the nerves in the feet become thickened. If these nerves become compressed, pain can occur. Symptoms associated with the condition tend to be worse after stressing your feet, which is why it can be more noticeable at the end of the day. Switching to better-fitting shoes, using orthotic inserts or taking over the counter anti-inflammatory medications can help with Morton’s neuroma.
Plantar Fasciitis – Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the tissue that supports the arch of your foot becomes inflamed. Many people complain that their plantar fasciitis pain is worst with their first few steps in the morning, but activity can also trigger inflammation and lead to pain at night. High arches, obesity, tight calf muscles and overstressing the area are all risk factors for the condition, so weight loss, arch supports and muscle stretching can help to calm and protect the plantar fascia.
Diabetes – Diabetes can affect your circulation, and by the end of the day this limited circulation can leave your feet feeling tired and sore. Working to control your blood sugar and regular exercise can help improve your circulation and prevent diabetes from leading to foot pain at night.
Fibromyalgia – Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that affects the central nervous system and causes pain in frequently used areas of the body, like the feet. This discomfort may be more noticeable at night because your body releases lower levels of an anti-inflammatory hormone called cortisol when you sleep. There is no cure for fibro, but exercise, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and improving sleep quality can all help with symptoms associated with the condition.