What to do about Heel Pain

Expert Author
Dr. Jason Homan Podiatrist (Foot and Ankle Specialist) | Foot & Ankle Surgery Upland, CA

Dr. Jason Homan is a podiatrist practicing in Southern California. Dr. Homan is a medical doctor specializing in the treatment of the foot , ankle and related parts of the leg. As a podiatrist, Dr. Homan diagnoses and treats conditions of the feet. The feet are key body parts that give a person stability, absorb shock,... more

Heel pain is one of the most common complaints in the foot and ankle, second perhaps only to ankle sprains. In my practice, heel pain accounts for about 30-40% of my patient's chief complaints. Even if a patient comes in with another type of chief complaint, they are likely to express some level of heel pain or discomfort. 

In most cases, heel pain resolves without treatment, but sometimes, it can persist and become chronic. In this article, we discuss the causes of heel pain and how a person can remedy it.

Self-care

Heel pain often goes away on its own with home care. Try the following:

  • Rest. If possible, don't do anything that puts stress on your heels, such as running, standing for long periods or walking on hard surfaces.
  • Ice. Place an ice pack or bag of frozen peas on your heel for 10 to 15 minutes, three times a day.
  • New shoes. Be sure your shoes fit properly and give plenty of support. If you're an athlete, choose shoes that are designed for your sport. Replace them regularly.
  • Arch supports or orthotics. Arch supports that you can buy without a prescription can help relieve pain. Custom-made orthotics usually aren't needed for heel pain.
  • Pain medicines. Medicines you can get without a prescription can help relieve pain. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).

Schedule an office visit if:

  • There's heel pain even when not walking or standing.
  • Heel pain lasts more than 2 weeks, even after you've tried rest, ice and other home treatments.

Seek immediate medical attention if you:

  • Have serious heel pain right after trauma or injury.
  • Have serious pain and swelling near the heel.
  • Are not able to bend the foot downward, rise on the toes or walk as usual.
  • Have heel pain with numbness or tingling in the heel.
  • Associated symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomitting, or shortness of breath.