At a Glance

Q: Why does my heel hurt when I get out of bed?
A: Morning heel pain is often caused by plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of tissue under your foot. Learn what triggers it and how to find relief.

• Pain usually starts near the heel
• Try ice, orthotics, and gentle stretches
• Severe cases may benefit from radiation therapy

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For many people, the first steps out of bed hurt so badly they’d prefer climbing back in. A sharp, stabbing pain shoots through the heel or along the bottom of their foot. And it often lingers throughout the day. This common condition, called plantar fasciitis, affects about 1 in 10 people.

“Plantar fasciitis can be incredibly disruptive. For some patients, it’s a nuisance. But for others, it can really interfere with their lives,” says Dr. Anthony Paravati, executive medical director of Oncology and chief of Radiation Oncology.

Treatment focuses on rest, stretching, orthotics, and other traditional measures. But for patients who can’t find relief, Dr. Paravati and his team now offer a treatment that might surprise you: low-dose radiotherapy.

Why does my heel hurt?

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel to your toes. Repeated stress or microtears in the tissue can cause inflammation and pain, which is most noticeable in the morning or after sitting for a while, after the fascia hasn’t been used and has grown stiff.

Athletes are prone to plantar fasciitis, but it’s just as common in non-athletes—especially women between 40 and 60, people with higher body weight, and those who spend hours standing at work.

Typical ways to find relief from plantar fasciitis

For most people, symptoms improve with simple measures:

• Rest and ice
• Stretching exercises
• Supportive shoes or inserts
• Over-the-counter pain relievers

When these aren’t enough, doctors may recommend physical therapy or steroid injections. Surgery is rare but sometimes necessary for severe cases.

Low-dose radiation therapy for plantar fasciitis

For those with chronic pain, or for those who aren’t candidates for surgery, Dr. Paravati points to a newer treatment option: low-dose radiation therapy. 

Granted, it’s not typical to think of radiation when dealing with inflammation. But as Dr. Paravati explains, “Radiation therapy isn’t just for cancer anymore. We’re using very low doses of radiation to treat chronic inflammatory conditions like plantar fasciitis.”

Unlike cancer treatment, where radiation aims to destroy tumors, this therapy delivers tiny doses to the inflamed tissue to alter the immune activity in the area. This calms inflammation and helps the body heal.

“As the name implies, the dose is extremely low,” Dr. Paravati explains. “Patients often experience significant pain relief, and if needed, we can safely repeat the course.”

Studies show that about 70 to 80% of patients with chronic tendon pain find relief with low-dose radiation therapy, making it a good option when other treatments haven’t worked.

How safe is low-dose radiation therapy?

But is low-dose radiation therapy safe? Understandably, many patients ask this. Dr. Paravati is clear: the risks are very small.

“Because the dose is so low and the patients are typically middle-aged or older, the risk of long-term complications like second cancers is minimal,” he says. “We also use modern machines that spare the skin and don’t interfere with future surgeries like joint replacements.”

In Europe, low-dose radiation has been used for decades to treat plantar fasciitis and other inflammatory conditions. Even Olympic sprinting legend Usain Bolt went through radiation therapy to help him overcome chronic heel pain.

Who should consider it?

Low-dose radiation isn’t for everyone. Dr. Paravati emphasizes that it’s not a first-line treatment.

“If you’ve just started having heel pain, we recommend stretching, orthotics, and physical therapy first,” he says. “But for patients who have tried injections, shockwave, even surgery and still struggle, this can be a game-changer.”

Kettering Health now offers this therapy through its radiation oncology program.

“We’ve just launched the service and already received referrals,” Dr. Paravati says. “It’s exciting to offer something new that can give patients their quality of life back.”

If chronic heel pain is limiting your daily activities, talk with your doctor about low-dose radiation therapy.