Plantar Fasciitis vs. Heel Spurs: What’s Causing Your Pain?
- posted: Jan. 20, 2026
If you’ve ever hopped out of bed in the morning only to feel like you’ve stepped on a stray Lego or a sharp tack, you’re definitely not alone. Heel pain is one of the top reasons people come to see us at the Norfolk and Suffolk, VA, offices of AAL Podiatry Associates.
Most people have heard of the two main reasons for heel pain: plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. While they sound like the same thing, they’re actually distinct issues, though they often come as a pair. Dr. Jesse Anderson III and our team are here to help you figure out which one is making your life difficult.
Understanding Your Foot Structure
To understand what’s going on, we have to look at the bottom of your foot.
- Plantar Fasciitis: This is an issue with a thick band of tissue (the fascia) that runs from your heel to your toes. Its job is to support your arch. When it gets tiny tears or becomes inflamed from too much stress, it hurts. This is usually the stabbing pain you feel during your first few steps in the morning.
- Heel Spurs: A heel spur is a calcium deposit that creates a bony protrusion on the underside of your heel bone. While a spur sounds painful (like a tiny thorn in your foot), the bone itself isn't always what’s causing the ache.
How Are They Related?
Heel spurs don't just pop up out of nowhere. They are often a response to long-term plantar fasciitis. When your fascia is constantly pulling on your heel bone, your body tries to protect itself by growing extra bone to "anchor" the area.
Many people have heel spurs and never feel a thing. The pain usually only starts when the soft tissue around the spur gets inflamed.
How Can You Tell the Difference?
It’s tough to tell them apart just by how they feel, but here are a few clues:
- The Morning Test: If the pain is sharpest right after you wake up but "warms up" and feels better after a few minutes of walking, it’s a classic sign of plantar fasciitis.
- Point Tenderness: If you have a specific, localized spot on the bottom of your heel that feels like a bruise when you press it, a spur might be the cause.
- Chronic Aching: If the pain comes back after you’ve been standing or walking for a long time, both issues are likely working together to make you miserable.
How We Fix It
The good news is that we don’t usually need surgery to get you back on your feet! At AAL Podiatry Associates in Norfolk and Suffolk, VA, we provide several kinds of solutions.
Dr. Anderson might suggest things like:
- Custom Orthotics: To take the pressure off that exhausted fascia.
- Stretching Routines: To loosen up the tight calves and feet that cause the pulling in the first place.
- Professional Footwear Advice: Because those old flip-flops might be the reason your heels are protesting.
Get Back to Your Life in Hampton Roads
Whether you’re a runner, a busy parent, or someone who stands all day at work, you don’t have to just "tough it out." We can use digital X-rays to see if a spur is present and create a plan to reduce inflammation for good.
Don't let heel pain keep you from enjoying everything Norfolk and Suffolk have to offer. Schedule a visit with Dr. Jesse Anderson III at AAL Podiatry Associates by calling our office in Norfolk, VA, at 757-625-2962 or Suffolk, VA, 757-539-2098.
- posted: Jan. 20, 2026
If you’ve ever hopped out of bed in the morning only to feel like you’ve stepped on a stray Lego or a sharp tack, you’re definitely not alone. Heel pain is one of the top reasons people come to see us at the Norfolk and Suffolk, VA, offices of AAL Podiatry Associates.
Most people have heard of the two main reasons for heel pain: plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. While they sound like the same thing, they’re actually distinct issues, though they often come as a pair. Dr. Jesse Anderson III and our team are here to help you figure out which one is making your life difficult.
Understanding Your Foot Structure
To understand what’s going on, we have to look at the bottom of your foot.
- Plantar Fasciitis: This is an issue with a thick band of tissue (the fascia) that runs from your heel to your toes. Its job is to support your arch. When it gets tiny tears or becomes inflamed from too much stress, it hurts. This is usually the stabbing pain you feel during your first few steps in the morning.
- Heel Spurs: A heel spur is a calcium deposit that creates a bony protrusion on the underside of your heel bone. While a spur sounds painful (like a tiny thorn in your foot), the bone itself isn't always what’s causing the ache.
How Are They Related?
Heel spurs don't just pop up out of nowhere. They are often a response to long-term plantar fasciitis. When your fascia is constantly pulling on your heel bone, your body tries to protect itself by growing extra bone to "anchor" the area.
Many people have heel spurs and never feel a thing. The pain usually only starts when the soft tissue around the spur gets inflamed.
How Can You Tell the Difference?
It’s tough to tell them apart just by how they feel, but here are a few clues:
- The Morning Test: If the pain is sharpest right after you wake up but "warms up" and feels better after a few minutes of walking, it’s a classic sign of plantar fasciitis.
- Point Tenderness: If you have a specific, localized spot on the bottom of your heel that feels like a bruise when you press it, a spur might be the cause.
- Chronic Aching: If the pain comes back after you’ve been standing or walking for a long time, both issues are likely working together to make you miserable.
How We Fix It
The good news is that we don’t usually need surgery to get you back on your feet! At AAL Podiatry Associates in Norfolk and Suffolk, VA, we provide several kinds of solutions.
Dr. Anderson might suggest things like:
- Custom Orthotics: To take the pressure off that exhausted fascia.
- Stretching Routines: To loosen up the tight calves and feet that cause the pulling in the first place.
- Professional Footwear Advice: Because those old flip-flops might be the reason your heels are protesting.
Get Back to Your Life in Hampton Roads
Whether you’re a runner, a busy parent, or someone who stands all day at work, you don’t have to just "tough it out." We can use digital X-rays to see if a spur is present and create a plan to reduce inflammation for good.
Don't let heel pain keep you from enjoying everything Norfolk and Suffolk have to offer. Schedule a visit with Dr. Jesse Anderson III at AAL Podiatry Associates by calling our office in Norfolk, VA, at 757-625-2962 or Suffolk, VA, 757-539-2098.
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