Why does the back of my heel hurt when I lie down?

If your heel is hurting when you get to lie down during the night, it is caused by inflammation of the flat tendon-like structure that stretches from your heel to the bottom of your foot. This is called the plantar fascia.

You may be experiencing pain at the back of your heel because you have plantar fasciitis. It is the inflammation of the thick band of tissue between your toe and heel. It will often resolve itself with rest. Otherwise, you can use ice, NSAIDs, custom orthotics and massage to treat the pain.

Pain at the back of the heel, which is worse in the morning, may suggest that you have plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia. It hurts so much after rest because of the sudden tension generated when the shortened fascia becomes active again with movement.