Cortisone injections can be a quick and effective way to treat tendonitis or plantar fasciitis but it is not without its drawbacks. Steroid injections alleviate pain and inflammation in the short term but can soften cartilage in joints and rupture tendons with repeat injections. It rarely fixes the underlying condition and should not be used as a stand-alone treatment. In the skin multiple injections can damage and cause atrophy, whitening of the skin. We rarely if ever, use steroid in and around the Achilles tendon for fear of rupture. We need to use special care with diabetics because cortisone can cause blood sugars to be elevated for 3-4 days following.
Pros
· Covered under insurance
· Quick in office procedure
· Sometimes immediate relief
Cons
· Painful, anxiety inducing
· Elevates blood sugar
· May rupture tendon
· Softens cartilage worsening arthritis over time
· Does not fix the problem
· May damage the skin
With the advent of regenerative medicine, we have safer treatments for inflammatory conditions like neuromas, ankle arthritis, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, peroneal tendonitis and posterior tibial tendonitis. We have pain-free, needle less treatments; radial pulse therapy aka shockwave, Kinesio taping and laser therapy and amniotic membrane injections if there is a tendon tear.
If you have foot or ankle troubles please call Michele Kurlanski, DPM at Lighthouse Foot and Ankle Center. Dr. Kurlanski offers expert and professional podiatry services in Cumberland County, Maine. Please call us today at 207-774-0028 to schedule your appointment in our Scarborough office.