PF Cort Shot?

I have PF and my doctor wouldn't do a cort shot.  Yes, it is for temporary pain relief...it's basically injecting the pain medication directly into the affected area.  My doctor said it's not even guaranteed to make the pain go away and it may even make things worse.  Plus the thought of having a large needle put into my already hurting foot was disturbing.

What worked for me the most was deep tissue massage on the calf and arch (like to the point where you're almost screaming and they leave bruises).  Rolling your arch on a golf or tennis ball is also good.  I also got custom orthotics which have also helped.

Good luck!  It does finally ease up after a while.  Mine developed in January of this year and it's just now to the point where it's almost gone (for now!).

I've had two shots for pf and they work wonders.  Yes, it is "temporary" but that usually means weeks or months.  In that time you can be doing all of the stretching and massage to help it heal.  The discomfort of the shot is nothing given the amount and duration of pain relief.

OK lets start at the beginning...cortisone is a steroid.  a steroid is a VERY strong anti-inflammatory.  We actually rarely use "cortisone" anymore but we use a variety of corticosteroids and its easier to say cortisoen because people know what that is kind of.  PF is an IMFLAMMATORY condition, therefore we treat it with ANTI inflammatories by mouth and the principle of the injection is to put the medicine exactly where the inflamation is.  SO...in some people it makes the problem go away completely, in others it takes more than one shot in others it does nothing.  Its inaccurate to say it is temporary.  Probab;y the thing that is going ot help the most is the stretching program. 

FYI Cortisone can weaken ligaments and tendons which is what happened to me after I received the shot, ended up making the condition worse than it was prior to the injection, unfortunate side effect that took a season of running from me.

Stretch, physical therapy and take an oral anti inflammatory, I didn't think it would happen to me!

If you decide to get the shot, I would only caution that you not over do it because you don't feel the pain.

I had an injury a few (well many) years back that I had a cortisone shot for to relieve the pain, the shot worked and I felt so good that I continued activity and ended up making the injury worse.

Not sure if this is something that could happen with PF, but maybe just something to consider

Listen to Socks.  She knows what she is talking about.

I had one shot in my heel for PF.  I had two docs there...one to hold down my leg so I wouldn't kick the one doing the shot!

It felt great for about two months...I continued stretching and stuff...but, alas...it came back.

So it didn't work for me.  I would be willing to have one more before I give up on that line of thought.  Maybe after my IM when I can reduce my training load.

you also have to remember that any injection has some associated risk.  Granted in this case, a low risk.  But anytime we break the skin with a needle, there is the risk of infection.  Also, corticosteroids can do funny things to fat pads.  The fat pad under your heel is an important one.  It keeps your bone from ulcerating through the skin.  Make sure the person performing the injection has experience and injects above the fat pad.

Also, there are two "off label" injections for PF.  One is prolotherapy (taking irritating sugar water and injecting to cause a new inflammatory response).  It is controversial with extremely limited data.  The second is PRP (plasma injections taken from your own blood).  In theory it puts your own growth factors from your plasma at the injury site.  Again, a new concept, but with some new new data supporting further study.  Again, these would be off label, and in my opinion only performed when all else has failed.  The mainstay of treatment should be stretching, massage, +/- heel cups or orthotics.

Brian