Pain that comes from behind or beneath the heel is more likely to be a case of Achilles tendonitis. There are other causes, and location (pain on the side of the heel, for example) is a clue when ...

Heel pain causes a throbbing, aching, burning, or stabbing sensation in the back or bottom of the foot. This type of pain is a common complaint for people of all ages and activity levels.

Let’s dig into each of these in turn. “The most common cause of heel pain I see in the clinic is plantar fasciitis,” says Dr Fox. “This is a common condition that affects the base of the heel.