Sudden Heel Pain??? So Weird!!!

[goolia75]

I am having some strange pains in my heel. It happens suddenly. It doesn't matter if I'm laying, sitting, or standing. I feel a sharp, stabbing pain, as if someone takes a needle and jabs it into my heel. It only lasts for a couple of seconds, then it's gone and I feel no pain at all. It happens randomly throughout the day. Sometimes it will happen 8 or 9 times a day. Sometimes only 1 or 2 times.

I have no clue what could be causing this. I've read about bone spurs, but I'm not sure if a bone spur would cause random sudden sharp pain that only lasts for a second or two at a time.

Has anyone ever heard of this before? I should probably go see a doctor, but I would like to find out if anyone else has experienced anything similar or if there is any information out there that I can read. I have no other pain in my heel or foot other than this and I've never had any problems with my feet before.

Thanks

[Linsey1107]

I'll join this list too. I've been having the same kind of pain to the right side of my right heel for a few weeks now. The worst was when I had an hour long drive home on Year years day. The pain was coming on every 5 minutes. It's never happened while I've been driving before and most definitely didn't occur so often. Maybe every few hours?
I hope someone can eventually shed some light on this. My insurance changed as of the 1st so now I can't even afford to go to the doctor to have it checked out.

[KarenNeedsAnswers]

OMG! Add another to the list of people. I went to foot specialist and he said it is NOT plantar fasciitis but that he thought it was caused by my back problems and sent me to my back dr. I have 3 herniated discs, L3-L4 and L5/S1. My back dr didn't believe that was the cause but I was due for an injection so we tried it. We were both shocked that my foot pain stopped and had nothing for 2 full weeks. That was 3 months ago. The pain has only gotten worse. I can't have another injection because I'm at my limit. Back dr sent me for MRI today. He's still not certain that it's caused from my back but that there was enough steroid in my system that it helped calm down my foot. The MRI has really flared up my foot is excruciating right now. I will keep you updated if I get any answers from it.

[jwsusmarine]

why does my heel have severe pain without weight on it

[AleRhesus]

Is pain like something between electrical discharge and needle shot?

[The_Frenchy_Frog]

Hi from France. I'll join this list too.

So that is my story... I went to docs and they could not find anything... the exams established to check if it there were a PLANTAR FASCIITIS or any CALCANEAL SPUR have not given anything.. the pain is similar to what many describe here, (when I get up from the bed or leave a chair and put first floor steps it hurts under the inner back side of right heel and sometimes under the left one as well), tho I still have not found the medical reason for this sharp pain.. but I could give people some clue here (I hope). I guess that everyone here does not suffer from the same ailment...

Years ago I was suffering from a very sharp pain located at the big toe, docs neither find annything so I did my investigations on the web and finally found the reason for my problem : GOUT ! (Also... if not located at the big toe it can be spotted at the back of the heel.. it is very painful and you do not have to walk to feel the ache).

As far as I am concerned today it is not another effect of the gout and at this moment I think rather of Medial / lateral PLANTAR NERVE COMPRESSION, need to perform exams that could validate (or invalidate) this hypothesis.

good luck 'yall

[The_Frenchy_Frog]

I got some more exams that gave nothing new... however "thanks" to another symptom I ended up finding where the problem came from : the sciatic nerve.
A simple exercise stops the pain: I sit on the floor, legs stretched and I grab my feet (at the toes, outside part of feet) to stretch my calves, I feel a little pain in the lower back , I repeat the exercise a dozen times by inhaling and exhaling deeply (at the rate of 20 ~ seconds in position of stretching). and when I get up, no more heel pain, or rather the pain is asleep by some sort of anesthetic tingling. Hope it helps. Au revoir!

[Ricardohawk]

A few years ago, I started having sharp stabbing pain in my heel.   Everyone told me it was plantar fasciitis, but I've had that before and this definitely wasn't that.    It seemed like it happened mostly on my right foot, after long drives where my calves were tight from depressing the gas pedal for hours.    Or when I've been on a ladder doing construction and putting a lot of weight on my feet and calf muscles.    So, there was a link there for me.

I don't have an answer for anyone, except to do vigorous deep massage on the calf muscles, behind the need, seeking out those painful trigger points that follow the nerves down the leg and into the heel.

My heels hurt so bad, I can't put a lot of weight on it, and I'm afraid to move it or bend it much.   Then, after about four or five days, it just disappears.   No residual pain, just some stiffness, but no gradual improvement.   It's just gone.    

I hope we can track this down and find out if there is a way to prevent this pain, because it is incredibly debilitating, for sure.    Thanks for all of your answers.   We are not alone in this suffering!

[AleRhesus]

It's so unfair to write here, and then just gone.  I have the same problem for two months already, and still have no answers from my doctor. All med tests are just perfect. Please somebody, did you find the solution?

[Dlall555]

After reading the responses, im wondering how many people experience the pain in their "right" foot only? Can it be associated with driving? Stretching to reach the gas pedal? I deliver mail and have over 700 stops which means im off and on the gas pedal for approximately 4 hrs a day. And  i only have this pain in my right foot? Anyone else see a connection?

[KarenNeedsAnswers]

It's my left foot!

[KarenNeedsAnswers]

I did see there is a Tarsal tunnel syndrome when I was researching my symtoms

[Justbyses]

In the last couple of years I've had periods where I'd have a sudden sharp stabbing excruciating pain like someone struck a knife in the side of my knee that would only last 5 to 20 secs and would come and go almost instantly... Sometimes once or twice a day... This went on for several months. Then about a yr later it started happening again for a month or so. Then again a similar thing in my big toe. It started again in my big toe, but this time it was happening all morning about every 2 to 5 mins apart. I couldn't take it anymore. I took Advil migraine... Nothing. I read this thread and saw where it was recommended to take magnesium and water. It seems to me too simple and to good to be true, but from the moment I took magnesium, I haven't had any reoccuring pain the last 2 hours. We'll see how it goes, but amazingly it's seems like it could be working for me. At least it's worth a try for others

[ledbelly]

I started having this two days ago a couple times a day.  Lasts 2 or 3 seconds.  Hard to believe there is no answer.

[mels1109]

I drink almost a gallon of water a day and still get them :(

[pmerv]

I hope you are eating salt, too. That;is a lot of water.

[mels1109]

This has happened to me 2 times in the last week!! I have never had sharp shooting pains like this before... Almost like a knife being rammed into my foot!!! This happens on my right foot only... Have you found out what it is caused from??

[mels1109]

This has happened to me 2 times in the last week!! I have never had sharp shooting pains like this before... My right foot is only affected as well... Have you found out what it is caused from??

[momexley]

I too have been having these stabbing pains in the left top of the inner right foot, between my ankle and my heel - I take lots of Vitamin D, exercise regularly in the water.  It just comes and goes, but it knocks me out to the point of buckling at the knees this morning.  I know it's not plantars facilitis because it's on the side of my foot, not the bottom.  Sure hope someone can find an answer.

[Kkkkaty]

Can't believe there are no helpful comments on here! The symptoms are all very similar. Hey guys- have an ultra-sound like I did. Plantar Fasciitis is the usual bruised foot/can't walk in the morning issue (same symptoms as a heel spur). But the stabbing pain  (like an injection or knife) that comes suddenly and unexpectedly may well be a torn plantar fascia which is what I have. No fun. I'm having shock therapy for this issue. That's no fun either! But gradually I feel that the symptoms are improving. Roll your heel repeatedly over a frozen lemon each night. Look up suitable exercises for plantar fasciitis. Stretching the calf is important especially in the morning.

[Kkkkaty]

Can't believe there are no helpful comments on here! The symptoms are all very similar. Hey guys- have an ultra-sound like I did. Plantar Fasciitis is the usual bruised foot/can't walk in the morning issue (same symptoms as a heel spur). But the stabbing pain  (like an injection or knife) that comes suddenly and unexpectedly may well be a torn plantar fascia which is what I have. No fun. I'm having shock therapy for this issue. That's no fun either! But gradually I feel that the symptoms are improving. Roll your heel repeatedly over a frozen lemon each night. Look up suitable exercises for plantar fasciitis. Stretching the calf is important especially in the morning.

[OmaMoMo]

I have that too but actually keep mine at bay for several years and when it comes back I stretch that foot for a month until it’s gone. You’re basically trying to move the nerve over and that’s what the stretching is for. Look on google as to how to stretch it

[nebor0628]

update...my attacks still continue...so doing more research i decided it must be nerve issue..so i made appt. with my chiropractor which I have gone to for back pains over the years...I described the area of pain, wa la after one treatment my attacks were gone....after a week I started to feel the attacks wanting to return but never amounted into a full attack. So, I made another appt and now I feel I have found the root cause and treatment.      

[nebor0628]

Follow up to doctor visit..I had my foot xrayed and a few things showed up,  a bone cyst and a heel spur ..the spur is toward the back of the heel not under the heel. Both of which per the doctor are not causing my problem. I did start taking a potassium and magnesium pill daily (i believe this has helped as it has others) . He said that was fine and also suggested B-complex...I researched B1 has neurological  benefits. So, at end of the day he agreed I have a very strange problem...he believes some type of nerve thing and nothing to do with my foot. He did prescribe a topic cream that can help inflammation in the area of the pain. Also said that an MRI would show tendon problems and more on the bone cyst if I wanted to pursue that more. For the record my attacks have reduced and the pain not as server...the other day I had no attacks...so I guess I will say the vitamins are helping.

[4ster]

Well, if 20 people feel the same pain there could be 20 different causes.

But I'm suspecting, for me, this might be some sort of sciatica incident. I have a burning discomfort in my right leg from sciatica, fairly constant. I suspect it's caused by piriformis muscle pressure.

Last night, watching tv, i got the sudden heel pain in my other leg. Excruciating. Several stabs. Made me say bad words. Interestingly, i had felt some discomfort in the gluteus just moments before.

Anyway, for anyone looking for an answer, this is something to check out. Sciatica can cause all sorts of leg pains.

[medicare1]

I have been experiencing the pain primarily when I've been in bed after about two hours.  It affects me most of the night on and off.  I thought I had dry skin that had cracked and was irritated at first and tried using a skin lubricant "Gold Bond" to sooth the pain.  I finally put two and two together and determined that I only experience the pain when I'm in bed at night.  I elevated my bed and sleep on two pillows that seems to help.  I told my Doc and he gave me a prescription to relax my blood vessels.  The thinking here is that I have an arterial obstruction.  That seemed to work after several days but I experienced dizziness when going from seated to standing. I have just had an arterial sonogram and it indicates that I have about 50% blockage in my legs and am scheduled for a stomach angiogram.  The cardiologist thinks that the pain is not a result of the blockage because normally you would experience blockage pain in the calf.  We'll see.  I'm due to have the angiogram after thanksgiving and a stent if found necessary.  The cardiologist said the angiogram would reveal if blockage is causing the pain.  In the mean time I'm going to try 600 mg of magnesium to see how that works.

[Kerivanlane]

Have you found an answer to your pain? I am have the exact same issue. Please help. I heard it may be nerve entrapment? I am seeing a Chiropractor and postural therapist and getting orthotic inserts. This is driving me crazy I am in fine shape except for this issue. Please share any info you can.
Thank you

[Kerivanlane]

I am having the same foot / heel pain . Did you find a cure?
Please help

[Kerivanlane]

Have you found a cure? I am having the same jabbing pain.
Please share any info you can.
Thank you

[Kerivanlane]

i am having the same heel issues. Did you find a cure?
Please help!

[Kerivanlane]

I have had the same random sharp jabbing nerve pain for weeks at a time. They come 10-12 times a day. mostly when sitting or sleeping but it has happened while standing. It is so severe it feels like my heart stops and takes my breath away. I have seen a chiropractor and physical therapist and nerve entrapment has been discussed. It went away after treatment by them for almost 6 months now it is back.
Did you get any results from your doctor ?
please help me if you have any news to share.