Heel pain is a relatively common complaint, affecting over one million people per year in the United States. The most common cause of heel pain is a condition called plantar fasciitis, which is a problem with a ligament on the bottom of the foot. A frequent symptom of plantar fasciitis is pain in the bottom of the heel after getting out of bed in the morning or after standing and walking for prolonged periods. About half of people with plantar fasciitis have a heel spur, but it’s important to know that the spur is not the cause of the pain.