Heel pain after COVID-19 vaccine

Posted by kneadmuscles53 @kneadmuscles53, Apr 14, 2021

Five days before my first Covid 19 vaccine, after several hours of shopping and walking, I suddenly developed a bruised feeling under my right heel. Thinking it was from poorly fitting shoes, I next day switched to more padded and supportive shoes with a good arch support and gradually it began to subside. One hour after receiving my first vaccine shot, after sitting in my car all the hour, I stepped onto the parking lot to go shopping and felt the pain in my heel so strong that I couldn't walk! I sat down to stretch and massage my foot and then limped into the store to briefly shop. I lived very far away from any doctors, so wanted to stay close to the vaccine clinic for a while longer to make sure I had no serious side effects. For a few more days I researched causes of heel pain and called my doctor about it. I had guessed it was Plantar Fasciitis because the symptoms and relief from suggested therapies matched my own. My doctor suggested the vaccine caused inflammation and said to take tylenol if I needed it along with stretching, massage, icing and using arch supports. Two weeks after the second vaccine shot, along with intense self therapy, the pain is very gradually subsiding. It is very upsetting because I have never had any type of foot discomfort in my 72 years and some people in medical blogs said their intense discomfort wouldn't go away. Finally, yesterday I discovered wearing Nike Hyperdunk basketball sneakers with Heel the Pain inner soles completely eliminated the discomfort along with continuing the manual therapy. If it returns, I will visit my doctor. Is anyone else suffering from this condition and what is your story?

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@kneadmuscles53 Heel pain seems like such a random symptom from the COVID-19 vaccine but it's a new an nasty virus.

It's wonderful to hear that you were able to find particular shoes that eliminate the pain and I hope you continue to heal and overcome the pain.

You'll notice that I moved your question to the COVID-19 group. I did this so you could connect with members that may be going through something similar.

Did you say it has been 2 weeks since the vaccine?

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@erikas

@kneadmuscles53 Heel pain seems like such a random symptom from the COVID-19 vaccine but it's a new an nasty virus.

It's wonderful to hear that you were able to find particular shoes that eliminate the pain and I hope you continue to heal and overcome the pain.

You'll notice that I moved your question to the COVID-19 group. I did this so you could connect with members that may be going through something similar.

Did you say it has been 2 weeks since the vaccine?

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Yes, it has been slightly over 2 weeks after the second Covid 19 Moderna vaccine. My heel pain has lessened to a feeling of a slight bruise. My walking gait is normal again and has gained in speed. Oh yes, I have added a daily zinc and extra vitamin C supplement to my regimen to encourage healing. I'm also adding cinnamon and turmeric to my diet to eliminate inflammation. The only stubborn symptom is a slight swelling on bottom of heel and around ankle bone. I will ask my doctor if he wants to take an xray to look at the bone in the bruised area.

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I had the maderna vaccine on 1-23-2021, three days later I couldn't get out of bed because of severe joint and muscle pain. All joints except my ankles. Episodes would come and go. I had second vaccine 2-20-2021 and around the middle of March the pain is still persistent and sometimes extreme and does not seem to be getting any better. Has anyone HAVE any advice?

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@franksimmons

I had the maderna vaccine on 1-23-2021, three days later I couldn't get out of bed because of severe joint and muscle pain. All joints except my ankles. Episodes would come and go. I had second vaccine 2-20-2021 and around the middle of March the pain is still persistent and sometimes extreme and does not seem to be getting any better. Has anyone HAVE any advice?

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I would say that after 6 weeks, you need to contact your doc to figure out what is going on. This is not a normal situation - my family members who had high response were each better after about a week. Even after a serious immune response to the vaccine, you should be feeling better by now so you should be screened other problems.
Sue

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Hello @franksimmons and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Like @sueinmn mentioned above, it does seem right to contact your doctor for evaluation.

I found this article from the CDC which supports seeing your doctor if symptoms last longer than a few days:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html#

Have you had an prior joint/muscle pain or is this the first time experiencing it post-vaccine?

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@franksimmons

I had the maderna vaccine on 1-23-2021, three days later I couldn't get out of bed because of severe joint and muscle pain. All joints except my ankles. Episodes would come and go. I had second vaccine 2-20-2021 and around the middle of March the pain is still persistent and sometimes extreme and does not seem to be getting any better. Has anyone HAVE any advice?

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@franksimmons- Good morning. I had Moderna and the second dose is a doozy. But after this much time, you should be over your side effects. I shudder to ask this and I know that this sounds off the wall but have you been tested for COVID-19 since that time? It is a possibility that you have become infected with one of its variants. I agree with bothe Sue and Amanda. You need to have some help here. Does this make sense?

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@merpreb

@franksimmons- Good morning. I had Moderna and the second dose is a doozy. But after this much time, you should be over your side effects. I shudder to ask this and I know that this sounds off the wall but have you been tested for COVID-19 since that time? It is a possibility that you have become infected with one of its variants. I agree with bothe Sue and Amanda. You need to have some help here. Does this make sense?

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Thank you for your input, I think I will get the test to make sure. Thank you

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@amandajro

Hello @franksimmons and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Like @sueinmn mentioned above, it does seem right to contact your doctor for evaluation.

I found this article from the CDC which supports seeing your doctor if symptoms last longer than a few days:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html#

Have you had an prior joint/muscle pain or is this the first time experiencing it post-vaccine?

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I had trigger finger and wrist pain. Had injections in both the end of Dec. 2021 it took care of pain. Other than that, nothing.

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@merpreb

@franksimmons- Good morning. I had Moderna and the second dose is a doozy. But after this much time, you should be over your side effects. I shudder to ask this and I know that this sounds off the wall but have you been tested for COVID-19 since that time? It is a possibility that you have become infected with one of its variants. I agree with bothe Sue and Amanda. You need to have some help here. Does this make sense?

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Do you currently have poly myalgia rheumatica? Did the vaccine give you a flare up ?

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@kneadmuscles53

Yes, it has been slightly over 2 weeks after the second Covid 19 Moderna vaccine. My heel pain has lessened to a feeling of a slight bruise. My walking gait is normal again and has gained in speed. Oh yes, I have added a daily zinc and extra vitamin C supplement to my regimen to encourage healing. I'm also adding cinnamon and turmeric to my diet to eliminate inflammation. The only stubborn symptom is a slight swelling on bottom of heel and around ankle bone. I will ask my doctor if he wants to take an xray to look at the bone in the bruised area.

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This is exactly what happened to me. I took the first Pfizer doze on Thursday afternoon and today is Saturday. My heel pain started yesterday, it’s pounding. It feels if I walked all day or ran a marathon. The pain is killing me… it hurts when I walk to a place from another…. It’s just the heel… I’m starting to feel tingly on my heel and lower leg… please tell me, did your heel pain go away?? Please advise

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