http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_fascia

This is a stubborn condition that can present itself from day to day activities but is a common result for runners and triathletes.

Physical therapy, rest and wearing shoes with proper arch support will help with recovery. Most people over use their running and walking shoes. For running shoes, I have heard opinions they should be replaced after 300 miles.

In physical therapy, the treatments you will most likely receive will be stretching, deep tissue work, ice, exercises to promote arch strength and prescribe a boot or sock to wear while sleeping to promote stretching.

It can take weeks to months to correct.

I would recommend getting a professional opinion.

Good luck

Try this for a few days... it's inexpensive and easy.

Get excellent quality adhesive tape, and make three to six "U" applications around the posterior part of your heel just below where the Achilles tendon attaches and down to the lower part of your heel. If the tape doesn't firmly adhere to your skin, use "Tincture of Benzoin" first on the skin, and let it dry, before applying these u-shaped/horseshoe-shaped adhesive tape strips.

Strapping your heel this way thickens the heel pad substantially lessening the trauma. You should get same day relief, and within a week, no longer require the taping.

Let us know.

1. I used a night splint like this: http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=185647&aid=336064&aparam=plantar%20fasciitis%20night%20splints&scinit1=plantar%20fasciitis%20night%20splints

2. purchased a hard nubby ball that I rolled my heel on while working on the PC etc

3. froze a water bottle and rolled my heel on it daily

4. when it hurt, it was like a poker running through my heel, then, when it didn't it was like lucy holding the football waiting for charlie brown to kick it, then, all of a sudden, to let me know that it didn't go away, the poker returned.

for me, it lasted about 6 months, for others, it lasts shorter and for others, much longer

best of luck

You MUST wear a "night splint" when you sleep. Good ones are on amazon for not much money. Goes a long way toward decreasing morning heel pain, and speeds healing.

Be the change
you wish to see

In the interim, you can try heel cups to ease pressure on heel, knee and leg. When I was a young guy, I bruised my heels often due to running hurdles and these helped.
http://www.google.com/search?aq=0&oq=heel+cu&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=heel+cups

1. Get the night splint, this will aid with the heel pain when you get up in the morning.

2. Ibuprofen can help with pain throughout the day.

3. Buy some inserts for your shoes. These are the ones I have been using for over 10 years, I swear buy them, only thing I wear, you get free shipping if you order more than $50.
http://www.strabell.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=31

4. Buy shoes that have stability, I pretty much will only wear New Balance or Asics now, look for ones that have Stability in their description The last models I have bought are New Balance 1011 & Asics Gel Kayano. No more Nike, Adidas etc... A quick test when you shop for shoes is grab the shoe from the bottom, one hand under the heel and the other hand under towards the front part of the shoe. Now twist the shoe, basically you want that thing with almost no movement, if the shoe twists easily don't buy it. This is what causes the injury. See the pic in this link:
http://www.netterimages.com/image/4638.htm
The ligament that is attached to the heel is the Plantar Fascia, when it twists it becomes inflammed causing the heel pain. In extreme cases you can tear the ligament.

http://forum.myredbook.com/dcforum2/User_files2/a8dzn1n65qw4kzpq.jpg

Remember buy shoes that have strong stability, that is the key to prevention of re-occuring injuries.

Good Luck!