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.

Heel pain that’s worse in the morning or at night is often a sign of plantar fasciitis or related inflammation in the heel. When you’re off your feet for a while (like during sleep), your plantar fascia and Achilles tendon can tighten up. Then, when you first stand up or lie down and shift your foot position, that tension pulls on your heel, causing stiffness or pain.

Even though it feels better during the day, that’s usually because movement helps keep things loose, but the underlying issue is still there.

The good news is, you can manage it. Gentle stretching before bed and first thing in the morning can help. So can supportive footwear or, even better, custom orthotics. Our Plantar Fasciitis Custom Orthotics are designed to support your arch and reduce strain on your heel so you’re not restarting the cycle every morning.

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