The heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis or by a heel spur can be hell to live with. If you’ve experienced heel pain like this then you'll know just how debilitating it can be. But - as with all things medical - understanding the cause of heel pain can go along way to providing relief and reassurance.So what are the causes of heel pain and why is it sometimes called plantar fasciitis?The plantar surface is the name given to the sole of the foot. Fascia means gristle and the suffix (–itis) is us.