Has anyone ever had a cortisone injection in the heel for treatment of plantar fasciaitis? Being that I hate needles, I am wondering about the benefits derived from this type of treatment. Any success stories?

http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/gene...heelspur_2.htm

"What is the treatment of a heel spur?
Treatment of plantar fasciitis is with short-term rest and controlling the inflammation. Avoiding the precipitating activity (e.g. a few day off jogging or prolonged standing/walking), as well as icing, exercises and stretches, and anti-inflammatory medications. These modalities alone will cure the plantar fasciitis pain in most patients. Be forewarned that the symptoms will not resolve quickly. Most patients find relief within about three months, and over 90% within one year.

If the pain does not resolve, an injection of cortisone can decrease the inflammation of the fascia.<B> Some physicians do not like to do this because there are potentially serious problems with cortisone injections in this area. </B>The two problems that cause concern are fat pad atrophy and plantar fascial rupture. Both of these problems occur in a very small percentage of patients, but they can cause a worsening of heel pain symptoms. "

I had one in my knee a while ago. As I recall the doctor stuck the needle in there, poked around until he found a spot that made my eyes pop out of my head, said "There it is" and injected it.

I felt better almost immediately, my doctor told me afterwards that there's a little pain killer in there that helps reduce the pain until the cortisone starts to act.

It did help my knee quite a bit but I eventually had to have it scoped anyway to take out some scar tissue.

Good luck.

I've had the knee thing done too...and it hurts when they find the right spot, but like Dan says, the relief is within seconds and it helped a lot!

I had one in my ankle...my doctor started with a pain killer then moved to the cortisone...it doesn't hurt nearly as bad as you think it is going to, or at least that was my feeling. I did leave permanent finger prints in the table from white knuckling it though...not from the pain, from the thought of the pain LOL....I however do have a brother who is a pharmacist, who reccomends avoiding cortisone, especially if it will have to be a continuous long term solution (ie several injections)..the long term effects are far worse than the short term gain...

I agree with CMatthews. I received a shot in the ankle to deal with tendonitis back in the day. I remember thinking the pain would be alot worse.

The Dr. injected the tendon area. When I thought the shot was over, I looked down at my ankle. He disassembled the needle from the syringe (needle still stuck in tendon!). He then attached the syringe with the cortisone and injected it. Turns out the first shot was to numb the area.

My thought now is, I wonder if he was trying to save money by using only 1 needle or if he had depleted his supply of needles earlier in the day. ;) Or maybe this is just a Wyoming thing.

Naw, THIS is just a Wyoming thing:
http://www.sodamnfunny.com/Picture/Animal/datewyom.jpg

Sorry. Couldn't help myself. :D

A guy needs a sheep skin.
Thought that was a colorado buffalo thing.

What Mick said is exactly right.

Possibly your Dr. can give you some really really good anti-inflamitories <-sp) and do some heel stretching. While seated and using a rolled up towel, place the ball of your foot in the center of the towel and then you can pull the towel and stretch that heel. Do this several times per day and especially in the morning before you walk on it. I'm pain free for 1 1/2 year.

Best thing for this is rest and see ya next month.

When I wrote "what Mick said is right", I hadn't read the whole thread. The comments I'm referring to is his orig reply.

Sorry for the confusion and I think I just learned a lesson.

Having battled this condition for 2 years, I had to resort to surgery. Mine was a fairly unique situation, as I had a bone spur that was rubbing on a connecting band on the side of my heel. The sawbones went in and "detached" the connecting tissue and I am on the road to recovery. I had the procedure on Aug. 6, 2004 and should be back to workouts next week. If the condition is not related to a bone spur, there is equipment that can increase bloodflow to the foot/heel area. Follow this link (or cut and paste it to your browser): http://www.tpmassageball.com/.

I found some relief when the pain was at its worst with the massage ball and the baller block from this company. It also is good (the baller block) for achilles tendon massage. Gives a great deep tissue massage.

I had 3 injections in each foot for my battle with plantar fasciaitis. That is the most that my dr. would do. The injection thins the plantar fascia and can lead to a rupture if it gets too thin. I had only temporary relief from my pain and ended up having a release on the p.f. My dr told me that I was in the "lucky" 5% of people who don't respond well to the typical treatments (ice, anti inflamitories (including cortizone shots), orthodics, stretching, etc.) and I only got long term relief from the surgery.

The shots weren't any fun, but they did help temporarily (for me anyway). Lots of people get relief from the shots. Email me if you want more info.

I had problems with plantar fasciaitis to the point I could barely walk the morning after a game. I had shoe inserts (orthotics?) prescribed by a podiatrist. After a few months, the pain was completely gone. That was two years ago and I have had no heel problems since then.

Mick,
I thought the last time you brought that picture out that you got from my mom, that we would let it rest LOL

JR did it.
I ain't that clever.
Now ewe need a cigarette? :)
mick

Years ago with that problem, I went to see a podiatrist who recommended orthodics. That was a big help. Got rid of the problem and was able to run again in 10 days.

My doctor told me that cortisone shots in the foot are a <b> bad, bad </B> deal because they actually make the tendon (plantar, achilles etc.) weaker.

Z

Well, I opted not to have the shots and ended up having surgery. Was off my foot (workouts) for 4 weeks and have no pain now. So every situation is different. I think going to a foot doctor as opposed to the regular doctor may be a clue as to taking a shot as opposed to not taking one. My regular doctor told me the same thing: that the shots could weaken my tendons around the shot area. My foot doc said it wouldn't, as long as you rested it a few days. So I guess opinions vary, as do solutions to the problem.

We just started Fall Leagues and most of the guys that I knew were hurting the last time I saw them, seem to be moving pretty good after a few weeks rest. I prescribe that resting your dogs will help. Although, if you don't deal with it, pain will come back.

Just a quack observation from someone who has gone through a lot of foot pain in the last few years...If your pain is caused by incorrect posture or an awkward walk, the pain will come back. You have to fix the cause of chronic foot pain or it will recur.

Sometimes the wear pattern on your shoes can give a hint. If you walk with your feet pointed in or walk with your toes pointed out, your shoes will wear out on the inside or the outside of the sole, respectively. If, when you look at the them from the back, they look like \___| |___/ or |___/ \___|, then you will probably get foot pain every time you buy a new pair of shoes.

If this is the case, make sure you wear an older pair of shoes to the podiatrist and show him the wear pattern. He may be able to give you orthotics that will straighten your walk out.

If this is not the case, visit http://www.heelspurs.com for a good forum with people's experiences with various treatments, and you might be able to get some hints or practical advice.

Plantar Fasciitis
 

There is a new brace that really helps that Plantar Fasciitis. It's from a compnay called AirCast. You can go to their website and find out where one can be purchased. Either that or ask your doctor if he can get you one. I know a coupl eof guys that have used them and prolonged the cortisone shots. The product number that part is; 09A-B.

good luck, Tim