Cortisone Injections for Plantar Fasciitis in South London
Cortisone injections for plantar fasciitis at our clinic
We are a leading cortisone injection clinic offering steroid injections for pain from plantar fasciitis, also known as plantar fasciopathy in medical terms. Steroid injections can bring significant relief from your plantar fasciitis pain and bring you much-needed respite from your condition.
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We offer private injections at our South London clinic and also offer home visits in the South London area. A free telephone consultation is available to understand whether injections will be helpful and appropriate in your particular case, and your appointment also includes a diagnostic ultrasound consultation to ensure your injection will be safe and give you maximum benefit.
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Booking is quick and easy, please see our book appointment page for more details.
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a common condition characterized by disorders of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes. Plantar fasciopathy or plantar fasciosis are preferable medical terms as there is not always an inflammation. Plantar fasciitis typically causes stabbing pain in the heel, especially during the first steps in the morning or after periods of rest. Plantar fasciitis is often associated with overuse, strain, or microtears in the plantar fascia, and it is a frequent cause of heel pain. Factors such as obesity, excessive standing, walking, running, or improper footwear can contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis. More information can be found here.
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In order to ensure injection therapy is the right course of action in your particular case, we offer a free virtual consultation to get a quick picture of your health and the condition you are experiencing, and advise on whether steroid injections are a good course of action for you. At your appointment we will also carry out a full ultrasound-led diagnosis and assessment to ensure you are receiving the most appropriate treatment and best possible care.
What our patients say
How do cortisone injections help with plantar fasciitis?
Recent medical research suggests that cortisone injections combined with exercises is the best treatment option for plantar fasciitis. A cortisone injection can rapidly reduce pain, bringing much-needed relief and increased mobility. If you have found your work or other daily activities involving walking, running or anything being hindered by your pain, a steroid injection can allow you the freedom to get back to work and normal life.
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Pain is not to be underestimated and when it becomes bad it can become debilitating and lead to depression. Pain can also lead to inactivity which can cause further problems such as postural and health issues, leading to even further inactivity, known as the chronic pain cycle. It is crucial to seek help when you are in pain and not simply try to live with it, as when left unchecked pain can cause gradual deterioration of both mental and physical health.
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The break from pain and other symptoms brought by steroid injections will also allow you to take other actions to proactively combat your problem. In particular, you will be able to follow a physiotherapist-prescribed exercise programme to deal with your condition at the root by stimulating healing of the plantar fascia fibres. It is important you do any exercises your physiotherapist gives you to avoid your problem worsening in the future and potentially leading to more problems further down the line.
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All our treatments include a written report and guidance on moving forward with treating your problem following your injection, so that you can use the opportunity the injection gives to set yourself on a path to better health. We also include a personalised physiotherapy exercise plan wherever appropriate.
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For more information about cortisone injections and frequently asked questions, see our cortisone injections page.
Are cortisone injections a long-term solution for tendonitis?
Corticosteroids have a short term effect (around 3 months) but a common belief is that cortisone injections do not address the underlying causes of your pain and will only stop the symptoms.
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First of all, your pain has a massive impact on your daily life and any relief, even temporary, can help significantly with your sleep, work or family activities, and as a result, improve your general well being and mental health. Fortunately, simple pathologies, even when causing severe pain, tend to improve overtime and by the time the steroid has stopped working, we expect that your body has healed by itself and the pain won't return.
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Secondly, the pain free period allowed by steroid injections (up to 3-6 months on average and sometime over 1 year) is a window that will be used to begin further treatment such as a prescribed exercise program or sessions of physiotherapy, in order to address other causative factors for your problems.
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In some cases steroid injections can also be a permanent solution by stopping chronic inflammation or disrupting your pain signal. More information about pain can be found on our blog.
At your virtual consultation and first appointment, your clinician will ask questions and assess you to diagnose your problem and explain to you the options available. This will help you to understand how you can use the respite from pain which a corticosteroid injection provides, to work directly on your problem and provide you with a personalized exercise plan to avoid reliance on injections in the future.
Your clinician
All our injection treatments are carried out by our experienced physiotherapist and injection clinician, Maxence Legout. Max has over 15 years experience and holds a senior position in the NHS, where he carries out over 2000 ultrasound-guided injection & procedures every year.
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For more information please see our clinician page, or book a free online or telephone consultation to speak to Max directly.
What other treatments are available for plantar fasciitis?
After an acute injury, such as recent repetitive strain or overuse, usually rest, ice, activity modifications and painkilling treatments like over-the-counter medications or gels are often sufficient. Fortunately, most plantar fasciitis will resolve naturally overtime. If symptoms do not settle after 6-12 weeks the following treatments can be alternative, complementary or subsequent to cortisone or hyaluronic acid injections.
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Physiotherapy and exercises is an important aspect of plantar fascia rehabilitation as it modulates pain, helps strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and promote healing with an exercise induced response in collagen turnover, blood flow, anti-inflammatory activity.
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Night splints keeping the ankle in prolonged dorsiflexion.
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Orthotic Devices (custom or over-the-counter) such as shoe inserts or special footwear can provide additional support and help distribute pressure more evenly.
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Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) uses shock waves to stimulate healing in the affected plantar fascia.
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Barbotage for calcifications which involves the injection and aspiration of fluid into and out to remove calcific deposits.
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Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy involves injecting a concentrated form of the patient's own blood platelets into the plantar fascia to promote healing. There is currently limited evidence to supports its use in regard to costs.
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Surgery might be necessary for rare severe cases not responding to conservative management.
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The specific treatment approach depends on the type and severity of plantar fasciitis, and it's crucial for individuals experiencing symptoms to seek professional medical advice for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management
MEDICAL REVIEW - The medical information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy by Maxence Legout, MSc, Physiotherapist.