Feet that hurt from the first step in the morning
The particular misery of standing up in the morning and putting a foot on the floor before you are ready for it.
There are a few things worth checking first
The foot is rarely working alone
Calves, achilles and the whole back line of the leg are usually involved by the time the heel is complaining, and so is whatever you changed — new shoes, a new job, a new garden, a long trip.
So I work the calf and the back of the leg as a matter of course, not as an extra. I am not going to spend an hour on the sore part and ignore what it is attached to.
There is no walking involved
Which sounds obvious until you have tried to get to an appointment on a heel that hurts. I bring the table to you, you do not park anywhere, and you do not walk to the car afterwards.
What to do between visits
I will show you what I would do at home and what I would stop doing. It is usually less clever than people expect. If your doctor or podiatrist has given you a plan, bring it and I will work inside it.
Questions
Is it going to hurt?
Feet are sensitive and I go at the pace you set. Pressure changes the moment you say so. Bracing against someone digging into your arch does not achieve anything.
Do I need to have seen a podiatrist first?
No. But if the pain is sharp, sudden, follows an injury, or comes with numbness or colour changes in the foot, see a doctor before you see me.
Can you work on feet if I am diabetic?
Often yes, and gently, but tell me before you book. Reduced sensation and skin integrity change what is appropriate, and if I have any doubt I will ask you to check with your doctor first.