Both stabbing pain and dull pain is the complaint of patients with plantar fasciitis. The most commonly occurring symptoms include:
Pain after a prolonged period of rest or sitting down
It is one of the most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis just like taking the first steps in the morning. A long period of resting, lying down, and sitting such as after a long car ride can put extra pressure on the plantar fascia, the ligaments supporting the walk. Therefore, there is increased pain in the bottom of the heel. Although the pain disappears after taking a few steps.
- Pain near the heel
A dull or stabbing pain usually radiates up to the muscles surrounding the heel and does not affect the heel itself.
- Pain in the arch of the foot
As plantar fascia supports the arch of the feet, any inflammation in those ligaments leads to a painful arch of the foot.
- Swollen heels
Plantar fasciitis which is of severe nature sometimes leads to swollen heels thus indicating intense inflammation of the plantar fascia in the feet.
- Pain that remains for months
In some people with plantar fasciitis, the pain in their heels or nearby areas remains for months and does not subside on its own until they get proper treatment.
- A stiffness of the Achilles tendon
Tightness of the Achilles tendon in patients with plantar fasciitis is quite common. In fact, almost 80% of plantar fasciitis patients report stiffness of the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon is a structure in your lower body that joins the calf muscles to your heels.
- Pain in the toes
Plantar fasciitis can occasionally lead to pain in your toes. Although painful toes are not one of the usual symptoms of plantar fasciitis but occur sometimes. Plantar fasciitis patients experience painful toes typically due to the fact that the pain originating at the heel starts to extend towards the toes.
- Pain in the calves
Plantar fasciitis can also result in painful calves. The reason behind that is the muscles around the feet get too stiff after all the inflammation of the plantar fascia thus leading to pain in the calves. However, if calf muscles are too tight, that adds up to additional stress on the arch of the feet thus making plantar fasciitis even worse. Some medical specialists report that plantar fasciitis does not lead to calf pain in a direct manner.
- Ankle pain
Although plantar fasciitis actually leads to painful heels but sometimes, the pain can also extend up to your ankles. If the inflamed plantar fascia irritates a nerve in the ankle area, it causes pain in the ankles.
- Back pain
Patients with plantar fasciitis might go through back pain. It is unclear how plantar fasciitis leads to back pain. Perhaps your painful back actually occurs from a switch in your gait and posture as you are trying to avoid the painful heels by not putting extra pressure on your foot. Any change in how your body weight’s distribution or balance changes how your muscles around your leg and hip use themselves to support walking. Therefore, it could lead to muscle aches and strain in your back. (4)