Injection Therapy: Is it Right for You?

Patients often ask, “What is injection therapy and how does it work?  Aren’t Cortisone injections bad for you?”  These are common questions we hear at our offices, and I’d like to expound on these topics!

Injections in the feet are actually utilized to treat a number of conditions.  Some injections are anti-inflammatory and treat conditions like bursitis, joint pain, or tendonitis.  Nerve inflammation is also a very common reason for an anti-inflammatory, or Cortisone, injection.  Neurolysis injections can be very effective and often curative for nerve conditions. Injection therapy can be used combined with other treatments as well. It’s important to discuss a comprehensive treatment program for your foot problems with your podiatrist to determine if injection therapy should be done.

Cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication that reduces inflammation in many painful conditions.  It’s effective in treating arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis and other conditions of the foot.  An injection puts a large, potent dose directly on the area of inflammation.  This helps tremendously with pain on a faster and longer lasting basis than oral medication.  The primary concern is that there are certain tendons that are especially prone to rupture when treated with cortisone for long periods of time.  In addition, healthy tissue surrounding the area of injection can sometimes be affected.  This is a more common concern in younger patients.        

It’s important to see a podiatrist for any of the conditions listed above.  In some cases, injections may not be needed, and a more conservative treatment option may be available.  In the end, the result is the same; living free of pain!  Give us a call at any of our three locations or click here to request an appointment.

 

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