Heel pain is most often caused by plantar fasciitis, a condition that is sometimes also called heel spur syndrome. Heel pain may also be due to other causes, such as a stress fracture, tendonitis, arthritis, a pump bump (or Hagland's deformity), nerve irritation, flat feet or, rarely, a cyst.

Because there are several potential causes, it is important to have heel pain properly diagnosed. A foot and ankle surgeon is able to distinguish between all the possibilities and to determine the underlying source of your heel pain.