Heel pain can be nagging and dull or severe and debilitating or somewhere in-between. When the pain prompts a patient to seek medical treatment, there are a few things to keep in mind. Before a podiatrist can start treating the pain, a diagnosis must be determined.

Different conditions require different treatments. So, the first step is a physical examination, which will help determine the correct diagnosis. In addition, a thorough history is equally important. Information about the pain – its onset, duration and character – and any other symptoms will help the foot specialist determine the cause.

Other information that would be very helpful in determining both the diagnosis and effective treatments:

1. What makes the pain worse?
2. What makes the pain better?
3. What treatments have been tried by the patient?
4. Which previous treatments helped and which ones have not?
5. Has there been trauma?
6. Is there a history of any systemic arthritis?

All of these factors must be considered to evaluate the patient properly.