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Your heel pain should get better by itself. But it may take several months for you to get back to normal. Some people have heel pain that doesn't go away for a few years.

Research shows that discomfort from a painful heel usually goes away with or without treatment.¹ But it can take some time to get better. There was a survey of 100 people who had been treated for heel pain four years before.² It found that:

• 82 no longer had heel pain
• 15 still had heel pain, but this didn't stop them working or being active
• 3 had bad heel pain that stopped them from doing things.

About a third of the people in the survey said their heel pain had felt so bad that they would have considered surgery at the time.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.