Consider professional evaluation if heel pain is severe, lasts more than a few weeks, keeps returning, affects your ability to walk, or does not improve with basic self-care. Seek prompt care if pain follows an injury, you cannot bear weight, you have significant swelling, numbness, tingling, fever, redness, or pain in both feet with other concerning symptoms. A clinician can confirm whether plantar fasciitis is the likely cause and help rule out other problems.