Heel pain - Diagnosing heel pain

Your GP or podiatrist (a healthcare professional who specialises in foot care) may be able to diagnose the cause of your heel pain by asking about your symptoms and examining your heel and foot.

You will usually only need further tests if you have additional symptoms that suggest the cause of your heel pain is not inflammation, such as:

• numbness or a tingling sensation in your foot – this could be a sign of nerve damage in your feet and legs (peripheral neuropathy)
• your foot feels hot and you have a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above – these could be signs of a bone infection
• you have stiffness and swelling in your heel – this could be a sign of arthritis

Possible further tests may include:

• blood tests
• X-rays – where small doses of radiation are used to detect problems with your bones and tissues  
• a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or ultrasound scan – which are more detailed scans