Heel spurs are typically not considered the root cause of heel pain. They often occur as a result of stress and inflammation caused by plantar fasciitis. The body reacts to the stress by producing an excess of bone tissue, eventually leading to a spur. The bottom line is that heel pain, no matter the cause, is never normal. Any pain of the toes, feet, or ankles should be evaluated and treated as soon as possible to avoid long-lasting, harder-to-treat problems.