My heels hurt. What can I do about the pain?

A:

The most common cause of heel pain is what is known as plantar fasciitis. This is inflammation of a ligament on the bottom of the foot called the "plantar fascia" at its point where it attaches to the heel. What you can do first, is avoid walking barefoot. Then, wear a shoe with a good arch support, ice the heel, and take an anti-inflammatory such as Motrin or Advil. If this does not help, see your podiatrist so your problem does not become chronic and more difficult to treat.