Fibromyalgia often causes pain, stiffness, and abnormal sensitivity in the feet, which can make standing, walking, and wearing shoes unusually difficult and exhausting. These foot symptoms can significantly limit mobility and reduce quality of life for many people living with this condition.
What fibromyalgia is
Fibromyalgia is a long‑term pain condition in which the nervous system becomes unusually sensitive and amplifies pain signals from the body. Instead of acting as a normal filter, the brain and spinal cord overreact to touch, pressure, movement, and even temperature, so sensations that would not normally hurt can become painful.
Beyond pain, fibromyalgia is linked with fatigue, non‑restorative sleep, and problems with concentration, all of which can worsen the experience of foot pain and make day‑to‑day activities harder.
How it affects foot tissues
Fibromyalgia does not damage bones or joints directly, but it can affect muscles, ligaments, fascia, and nerves in the feet. Muscles that support the arch and control the toes may become tense and tender, while ligaments and fascia, such as the plantar fascia along the sole, can feel tight or sore, especially with prolonged standing. Nerve fibers in the feet may also become hypersensitive, sending stronger pain messages than normal when they are compressed by shoes or stressed by walking.
Some people with fibromyalgia also have structural or biomechanical issues, such as flat feet, high arches, or over‑pronation, which can interact with the sensitized nervous system and further increase foot discomfort. When the arch collapses or the foot rolls inward, pressure shifts to different areas of the sole, and in fibromyalgia even these normal mechanical stresses can be perceived as intense pain.
Symptoms in the feet
Studies suggest that roughly half of people with fibromyalgia report pain in one or both feet, much more often than in people without the condition. Foot pain may be described as burning, aching, stabbing, throbbing, or a sensation like walking on bruises or pebbles, and it often affects the soles, heels, sides, or tops of the feet. Many people notice that the first steps in the morning or after sitting feel especially painful or stiff, and even light pressure from socks or shoe uppers can be uncomfortable because of heightened sensitivity.
In addition to pain, there can be tingling, numbness, or “pins and needles,” which reflect nerve involvement or co‑existing conditions such as small‑fiber neuropathy. Tender points or trigger points in the feet—small, very sensitive spots in muscles or fascia—may cause sharp localized pain when pressed and can refer discomfort along the arch or into the toes. Stiffness in the small joints and soft tissues can make the feet feel wooden or inflexible, particularly after rest.
Effects on walking and daily life
Because the feet bear body weight with every step, fibromyalgia‑related foot pain often changes the way a person walks. Research shows that people with fibromyalgia tend to walk more slowly and take shorter steps, which may be a protective response to pain in the soles and ankles. This altered gait can in turn strain the knees, hips, and lower back, adding new areas of discomfort and contributing to overall physical deconditioning.
Everyday activities that rely on standing or walking can become draining or feel nearly impossible on bad days. Tasks such as grocery shopping, work that requires prolonged standing, or social events that involve walking long distances may be limited or avoided, which reduces participation in work, exercise, and leisure and often worsens mood and sleep.
Management and support
Managing fibromyalgia‑related foot problems usually involves a mix of nervous‑system‑focused treatments and practical foot care strategies. Approaches may include gentle physical therapy, stretching of the calf and plantar fascia, supportive footwear or custom orthotics to improve alignment, and pacing activities to prevent overloading the feet. Some people also benefit from medications used in fibromyalgia, such as those that calm nerve activity, alongside local measures like ice or heat, soft insoles, and targeted work on trigger points.
Addressing sleep, stress, and general fitness is important, because poor sleep and high stress can increase pain sensitivity and make foot symptoms feel more severe. Education about why the feet hurt in fibromyalgia can reduce fear and help people choose supportive habits—such as regular low‑impact movement and comfortable, properly fitted shoes—that protect the feet while still keeping them as active as possible.