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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

Oh and I forgot to state that my feel also feel and are burning hot…

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@lisavargas1993

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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I did a lot of research online about my painful heel symptoms. Went to sites for internal photos of feet, physical therapy for heel pain, description of possible disorders and best first aid items for relief of pain and to heal condition. You have more serious symptoms than I. For me (and because I also have flat feet) I wear Heal The Pain heavy Plantar Fasciitis inner soles with a sturdy arch inside of Nike high top basketball sneakers for ankle support. My shoes were made in 2015 so I bought 3 more used pairs on Ebay so they don't wear out so fast. At first I could only wear these for extended walking and used inner soles in padded slippers in the house. Stretching and massaging heal everyday multiple times gradually decreased pain to now an occasional ache if I sit on couch or in car too long without stretching foot with my hands. I am a massage therapist so didn't think my symptoms were severe enough to visit my doctor. He agreed when I told him on phone how I was treating myself. I never needed to take pain relief meds or use ice on heal.

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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, I wrote this 2 weeks after the second shot.

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i had the moderna vaccine 7 months ago and i am still having heal pain. i really didnt attribute it to the vaccine at first-now i am hearing from others that they have experienced the same thing

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@308tree

i had the moderna vaccine 7 months ago and i am still having heal pain. i really didnt attribute it to the vaccine at first-now i am hearing from others that they have experienced the same thing

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I had my Pfizer vaccines in March and April of 2021, about a week after getting my first shot I started having pain in my heel. I tolerated it for about 3 weeks then went to a podiatrist. He gave me Arthritis medicine, 30 day supply. It did nothing for the heel pain, can barely walk by 2nd half of the day. Bought orthotic sandals and shoe inserts and then stayed off my feet as much as I could. Made it through the summer, extremely limited walking. I just got my booster two weeks ago and the heel is still painful. I am trying a velcro ankle brace since the pain is also going up the inside of my ankle, tendonitis maybe?
If anyone has had this and has found relief, please let me know.

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I got the Moderna vaccine back in January. I was working in Wyoming and I live in Indiana. The next day when I woke and got out of bed I almost fell on the floor the pain in my heel was so severe. I have never experienced foot pain so I just knew it was from the vaccine. I did call and report this side effect to Moderna. They seemed to not really believe that it was a side effect from vaccine. I tried to explain that I never experienced foot pain before the vaccine. I am so glad I found this because since literally everyone I told really didn’t believe me. Anyway I was too afraid to take the second round. Just yesterday I decided to try again and I just woke to use the restroom and wouldn’t you know it, heel pain in my left heel again. BTW it took several months for mine to go away. Also I was experiencing something like sciatic pain in my left side also back in January. I didn’t feel that just now when I used the restroom.

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@jocelyneg

I had my Pfizer vaccines in March and April of 2021, about a week after getting my first shot I started having pain in my heel. I tolerated it for about 3 weeks then went to a podiatrist. He gave me Arthritis medicine, 30 day supply. It did nothing for the heel pain, can barely walk by 2nd half of the day. Bought orthotic sandals and shoe inserts and then stayed off my feet as much as I could. Made it through the summer, extremely limited walking. I just got my booster two weeks ago and the heel is still painful. I am trying a velcro ankle brace since the pain is also going up the inside of my ankle, tendonitis maybe?
If anyone has had this and has found relief, please let me know.

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I had severe heel and sciatic pain with the Moderna vaccine. It took months for the heel pain to go away. I still cannot sleep on either side because I get severe sciatic pain.

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I had an auto accident many years ago that left me with a broken hip and sciatic nerve damage, I do not like to take pharmaceuticals for pain so I delved into natural healing and herbs. My suggestion is to find a yoga teacher who can show you yoga poses for releasing the sciatica. You can also Google this on line. I also have a Chi Swing machine [you can find these on line], this releases the tension in the hip joints and allows the lymph to flow freely. To get rid of possible toxins created by the vaccine I suggest the following: I personally use the tinctures, they are more readily absorbed rather than the dry herbs; start with echinacea.
What herbs cleanse the lymphatic system?
Using herbs is a popular way to naturally purify your lymphatic system. Calendula, echinacea, and dandelion are just a few of the many herbs that promote lymphatic drainage, reduce any swelling and pain, and boost your immune system.

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My mother in law had a horrible bout of sciatica pain and intestinal issues. Not sure if it was from the vaccine, but there you go.

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@moti5272

I got the Moderna vaccine back in January. I was working in Wyoming and I live in Indiana. The next day when I woke and got out of bed I almost fell on the floor the pain in my heel was so severe. I have never experienced foot pain so I just knew it was from the vaccine. I did call and report this side effect to Moderna. They seemed to not really believe that it was a side effect from vaccine. I tried to explain that I never experienced foot pain before the vaccine. I am so glad I found this because since literally everyone I told really didn’t believe me. Anyway I was too afraid to take the second round. Just yesterday I decided to try again and I just woke to use the restroom and wouldn’t you know it, heel pain in my left heel again. BTW it took several months for mine to go away. Also I was experiencing something like sciatic pain in my left side also back in January. I didn’t feel that just now when I used the restroom.

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I’ll keep an eye out for heel pain. I imagine it’s related to blood clots? (I’m not a doctor, just a skeptic) have you checked the VAERS database?

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