What it is
It usually gets better within a year with rest, stretching exercises, supportive shoes, insoles and painkillers.
If pain continues, physiotherapy, shockwave therapy or steroid injections may be offered.
Common signs
- Pain on the bottom of the heel
- Pain worst with the first steps in the morning
- Pain after standing for a long time
- Pain easing during exercise but worse after
How it is usually diagnosed
- Questions about symptoms and an examination of the foot
- Sometimes an ultrasound or X-ray
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- GP or podiatry notes
- Physiotherapy plans
- Ultrasound or X-ray reports
Questions to ask your doctor
- Which stretches should I do?
- What kind of shoes or insoles would help?
- When should I consider other treatments?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Heel pain after a fall or injury, or a foot that is hot, red and swollen with a fever: get urgent help the same day
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.