There appear to be 2 major causes of heel pain: heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. A heel spur is a bony growth on the underside of the heel bone. The spur is only visible by X-rays often results from stretching of the long band of tissue that connects the heel and the ball of the foot, which is called the plantar fascia. Both heel pain and heel spurs are frequently associated with inflammation of the plantar band of tissue. The inflammation is called plantar fasciitis and can be quite painful. The condition occurs when the plantar fascia flattens out and elongates beyond its normal extension. This causes the fascia to tear at various points along its length, including at the heel bone. Rest and ice treatment provides only temporary relief. When you resume walking, particularly after a night's sleep, you may experience a sudden elongation of the fascia band which stretches and pulls on the heel. As you walk, the heel pain may lessen or even disappear, but that may be just a false sense of relief. The pain often returns after prolonged rest. Bursitis is an inflammation of a bursa, the lubricating sac that reduces friction between tendons and ligaments or tendons and bones. The more common localities for bursitis are the shoulders, the elbows, the knees, and the big toe (a bunion). Treatment options: generally speaking, plantar fasciitis is a self-limiting condition, lasting 3 to 12 months. This leads to frustration for patients and physicians. Rest was cited by 25 percent of patients with plantar fasciitis in one study as the treatment that worked best. Alternative treatment includes: arch supports and orthotic insoles, corticosteroid injections, night splints and anti-Inflammatory medications. Also, special stretching exercises can be useful to prevent further elongation of the plantar fascia. In addition to pain in the heel achilles tendonitis is also a very common foot complaint in a different area of the heel. Achilles Tendonitis is a term used to describe inflammation of a of a tendon. A tendon is a cord or band of fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscles, usually to bones. When the lining of the sheath surrounding the tendon is also inflamed, the condition is called tenosynovitis. Tendonitis and bursitis are often used interchangeably since bursae are often located near tendons. A bursa is a small sac of fibrous tissue lined with membrane (synovial membrane) and filled with lubricating fluid (synovial fluid). Bursae usually occur where tendons near joints move over each other, and help to reduce friction. Athlete's foot is an extremely common foot disorder and is the most common and most persistent of the fungal (tinea) infections. These dermatophytes that cause athlete's foot and similar infections, called tinea infections, live on the dead tissues of the hair, nails, and outer skin layers. Athlete's foot may occur in association with other fungal skin infections such as jock itch - a dermatophyte infection of the groin area. It occurs most frequently in adults. This condition is a very common foot complaint. Itching and burning may be present. On examination the affected area appears scaly and reddish. The scaling is often whitish due to maceration of the skin caused by the moist environment. Tinea infection may also involve the nails and other parts of the foot. These lesions are red and scaly, or vesiculopustular and crusted. The body normally hosts a variety of micro-organisms, including bacteria and yeast-like fungi, such as candida. Some of these are useful to the body. Others may, under proper conditions, multiply rapidly and cause infections. The fungi that cause this foot condition thrive in warm, moist areas. Susceptibility to this infection is increased by poor hygiene, closed-in shoes or moist skin.