What Treats Heel Pain?

Cortisone Injections

If at-home treatments haven't been effective enough at reducing heel pain related to plantar fasciitis, one option a doctor may suggest before surgery is a cortisone injection. Cortisone injections can help relieve inflammation and pain from an overstretched plantar fascia, particularly for those dealing with chronic pain. The body naturally produces cortisone in the adrenal glands as a response to inflammation, allergens, and stress. A corticosteroid injection uses a manmade version of cortisone with the same chemical makeup. It targets a specific portion of the body to reduce a single point of inflammation. The same basic principle applies to the injections as the one that allows ibuprofen to relieve pain, but the medication is administered in a targeted and localized manner. When treating plantar fasciitis, the injection will generally be given at the point on the foot experiencing the most pain. Doctors usually administer the injection through the inner portion of the foot, since puncturing the heel has the potential to damage the bone and other important internal structures.