When Is Surgery Needed for Heel Pain? Heel pain is a common issue that can cause pain whilst standing or walking. There are many cases where heel pain can be managed by way of conservative treatments such as rest, orthotics, and stretching. However, there are cases where you need surgery, so you get lasting relief from the problem. Understanding heel pain Before you go for surgery on your heel pain, you must understand the problem and its underlying causes. The most prominent conditions when you get heel pain are plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, Achilles tendonitis, and stress fractures. These conditions often happen because of problems such as overuse, injuries, and biomechanical issues. Conservative treatment options In most cases of heel pain, the foot and ankle specialist usually recommend conservative options in the beginning to deal with the same, such as the following: Rest Stretching exercises Orthotic devices Physiotherapy Shockwave therapy NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) You may promote healing and alleviate tension in the affected area by stretching your plantar fascia and calf muscles. You may also use shoe inserts or custom orthotics to get the necessary support and correct biomechanical issues leading to heel pain. Indications for surgery There are certain situations where you need to be surgically operated on to deal with your heel pain, such as failure of conservative treatments, tendon ruptures or tears, structural anomalies, and chronic conditions