sharp pain in heel when running

Question
Hi, so I just started running last week after not having done ANY consistant exercise in over 5 years.  The first day was brutal but I survived.  However, the second time ran, which was 2 days inbetween runs, I started running and about 1 min. into the run I got a VERY sharp pain in my left heel, which felt like a thorn or needle poking me.  I wasn't wearing running shoes.  The pain would stop when I stopped running, only when I run and put strain on the tendon and weight on the heel of my left foot does it hurt.  Its fine all day and even when I'm walking . .but the second I start to run its very painful.  People keep saying it might be planters faciatis . . but it doesn't hurt for hours afterwards or anything like that.  I even started wearing my new balance running shoes in the hopes that would help and it doesn't.  Please help!  Any ideas?

Answer
This Chicago, South Loop & Elmhurst Orthopedic Podiatrist of AnklenfootCenters.com says.......

Dear Amy

Sorry for the delay-was on vacation-just returned-that said.....
Sounds like  plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is the pain that a patient feels when the plantar fascia pulls at the calcaneous and has some small tears. The pain may hurt at the time of tearing and may or may not hurt after-wards-but usually hurts.
Make sure you do good stretches and warm-ups before and after your running. Stretch your plantar fascia & calves also.
Try wearing running shoes all the time until the pain in the heel subsides(about 4-6 weeks).
Go to AnkleNFoot.Com and check out http://anklenfoot.com/Videos/PlantarFasciitis/tabid/80/Default.aspx or search on our website under plantar fasciitis for more info.
Hope This Helps!
and
Good Luck!

The podiatrists of AnkleNFootCenters.com are specialists in foot& ankle fractures.
We are Podiatrists in Chicago & Elmhurst
Dr George Tsatsos & Svetlana Zats
Podiatrist Chicago 60618 & Elmhurst 60126 Podiatrists
Board Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery & Orthopedics
New South Loop Location-Chicago 60661
AnkleNFoot.com
Runnersdoc.com
BabyFootDoc.com

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