One of the methods of treating heel spurs is treatment using steroid (hormonal) drugs. They are injected directly into the heel (drug blockades are performed).
The effectiveness of the method is based on the provision of powerful local anti-inflammatory effects by steroid drugs, which usually does not take long to appear. The effect of administering a steroid drug is felt by patients immediately.
After all, the cause of unbearable pain in the heel is the development of inflammation in the tissues. Therefore, achieving an anti-inflammatory effect (and not eliminating the bony growth on the heel) is the goal of treatment. The most common steroid drugs used for this purpose are Kenalog, hydrocortisone and diprospan.
Diprospan is a drug from the group of glucocorticosteroids, with an active substance called betamethasone.
To treat heel spurs, diprospan is used in the form of an injection suspension or solution for injection. The suspension contains, in addition to betamethasone, many other excipients. These are, for example, polysorbate, sodium chlorite, nipazole, Trilon B and many others.
The injection solution contains two forms of betamethasone:
The first form easily dissolves and is absorbed, while the second form is absorbed more slowly, creating a kind of drug depot at the injection site. Therefore, the therapeutic effect after the administration of diprospan is very long-lasting (up to 10 days or more).
Since this drug has glucocorticosteroid activity, it has three main effects:
The main effect after the administration of diprospan is the elimination or significant reduction of heel pain. Since the drug is able to be deposited at the injection site, the effect will be long-lasting. But this depends on many factors. Some patients have to inject Diprospan several times (two or three times). Some people feel much better after the first injection. Much depends on the correctness of the procedure by the doctor, which is not very simple - it is necessary to inject the drug into the painful area as accurately as possible.
Diprospan is not used so often for the treatment of heel spurs, since it has to be injected directly into the heel, and not just into the heel, but into the most painful point. This is a very unpleasant procedure and is resorted to after the ineffectiveness of all other conservative treatment methods.
For injection into the heel, use a dose of 0.5 ml. Diprospan can be administered either alone or in combination with anesthetics. The second option is preferable. In this case, the steroid hormone and anesthetic must be mixed directly in the syringe. To do this, first, 0.5 ml of diprospan is drawn into the syringe, after which an anesthetic, for example, lidocaine. The syringe should be shaken well before administration.
This drug should not be used in people with individual intolerance to steroids. This is perhaps the only contraindication that absolutely excludes the possibility of using diprospan. Other contraindications are relative.
For example, use the drug with caution or refuse to use it if:
If you do not follow the doctor’s recommendations after the medicinal blockade of the heel spur with diprospan, do not make efforts to eliminate the causative factor of the appearance of the heel spur and do not support the arches of the feet, then most likely, heel pain will appear again sooner or later. This will require repeating the unpleasant procedure.
An injection with diprospan is not first-line therapy in the treatment of heel spurs, since the use of corticosteroids, which include diprospan, is not safe for the patient.
First of all, this is due to the risk of rupture of the plantar fascia, which neutralizes all the positive effects of their use. And the duration of the effect of injections, despite the speed with which pain relief occurs, does not have advantages over other methods of treating plantar fasciitis.
This page is dedicated to reviews of the treatment of heel spurs with Diprospan. If you are looking for unique techniques or are in doubt about a doctor's prescription, read the comments of real people who have used this drug to get rid of plantar fasciitis.
Treatment with Diprospan is usually resorted to if other methods to reduce the inflammatory process have proven ineffective. The main advantage of the method is the almost instant result. Injection with the drug is effective in more than 90% of cases. Almost immediately the patient feels relief: the heel hurts less, the swelling subsides, and former mobility returns. This persists for quite a long time. But such an effect can be deceptive - complete recovery has not occurred, only temporary relief has come. Therefore, you cannot stop at the result obtained. Treatment with Diprospan is only the beginning of complex measures that help get rid of bone formations and eliminate the root cause of the pathology.
If you have convinced yourself of the effectiveness of this technique, then leave your review about the treatment of heel spurs with diprospan. This will help other patients with a similar problem prepare for the procedure and get rid of unnecessary worries.
One injection in the heel and I’ve been running for 4 years now.
Does the injection hurt?
Apart from Diproxan, neither ointments, nor tablets, nor anything else on your list helps, but why is it so difficult to get these painkilling injections, knowing that they do not cure, but relieve?
In June my heel spur will be three years old. The surgeon gave me a Deprospan injection and it helped for exactly six months. Such relief after the injections. Now I’m being treated with pepper plaster. So far there is no effect, it just stings and that’s it. Today I bought heel pads at the pharmacy. Apparently I launched this
disease. I will look for other methods. Who treated the spur with iodine?
I was helped by a hydrocortisone injection in the heel and ut. 3 years later the spur is on the other leg. I also think about treating.
I suffered terrible pain in my heel for several days until I decided to go to the doctor. He didn't even do an x-ray! I immediately said - spur. Like, give me 500 rubles, I’ll give you an injection and everything will go away... Diprospan. Will help. Who has encountered this, please tell me? Does it cure the spur or not.
Write to whom these injections were given, I beg you!
I was given a blockade with diprospan twice - to no avail, terrible pain in my leg.
Four years ago, the doctor diagnosed a heel spur. After a blockade, that is, an injection of Diprospan, the pain went away. But four years later it returned with such force that the same Diprospan does not help; five injections have already been made into the heel, which is very painful. Ready
I have to endure it as long as the pain goes away, no matter what. But the doctor said if we do anything else, the joint will simply fall apart. I don’t see a way out and I think that this drug does not cure but only blocks the pain, which is why they call it a blockade.
I have been injected with Diprospan 3 times already. The first injection lasted for a year. the pain went away immediately, but I could no longer stand on my heel. The second injection lasted for 3 months. and after the third I noticed changes. the heel became numb and began to crack. the skin on the heel has become thinner. Think,
that this injection should be done in case of severe pain. And start treatment immediately. Don't get hooked on Diprospan
In Russia, the treatment of various diseases with the hormonal drug “Diprospan” has become widespread. Its rapid healing effect attracts the attention of doctors and patients. But patients are not always able to realistically assess the risk of using hormonal medications.
Let's take a detailed look at the drug "Diprospan", its instructions for use - composition, side effects and contraindications. Let's find out what Diprospan injections are used for. What are the long-term health consequences of its use? Let's consider the features of its use for heel spurs.
This drug is used in the treatment of difficult-to-treat inflammatory, allergic, and skin diseases. It is also used to quickly relieve pain in diseases of the musculoskeletal system, including heel spurs.
Is Diprospan a hormonal drug or not? - yes, it belongs to the pharmacotherapeutic group of glucocorticosteroids (GCS) of long-term action and systemic significance.
"Diprospan" combines fast-acting and depot forms of betamethasone (synthetic glucocorticoid). One of its components, betamethasone sodium phosphate, is quickly absorbed after use, immediately has a therapeutic effect and, without remaining in the tissues, is excreted by the kidneys. The other component, betamethasone dipropionate, is a depot form. It is absorbed over 10 days, during which it has a continuous therapeutic effect.
Manufacturers of Diprospan are the international pharmaceutical group of companies Schering-Plough (USA, France, Belgium, Turkey). The drug is an injection suspension and is available in 1 ml ampoules. The package contains 1 or 5 ampoules; the kit includes syringes with two needles.
The therapeutic effect of Diprospan is associated with the activity of glucocorticosteroids, which have multiple effects:
The anti-inflammatory effect of Diprospan is due to many factors, the main one of which is the suppression of the phospholipase enzyme. As a result of complex chemical transformations at the molecular level, this leads to blocking the formation of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. In addition, the drug improves tissue microcirculation in the area of inflammation and reduces exudation (secretion) of fluid by stabilizing cell membranes. Thus, “Diprospan” affects different phases of the inflammatory process, preventing its spread.
The antiallergic effect of the drug is associated with a decrease in the number of mast cells, T-lymphocytes, inhibition of antibody formation and changes in the body's immune response.
The immunosuppressive effect of Diprospan is due to the suppression of the activity of T- and B-lymphocytes, as well as inhibition of the release of cytokines from macrophages and leukocytes.
The antishock effect of the drug is due to an increase in blood pressure.
"Diprospan" is distinguished by a variety of methods of application. It can be administered by many routes other than intravenous and subcutaneous. Depending on the area of application, it is administered intramuscularly or directly into the lesion of an allergic or inflammatory nature. "Diprospan" is applied inside the joint or its bursa, as well as surrounding tissues.
The doctor determines the scheme, regimen and dosage in each specific case individually, taking into account the patient’s condition. "Diprospan" is used in the following doses.
intra-articular administration of Diprospan for rheumatoid arthritis
In case of exacerbation of gout, 0.5–1 ml of the drug is administered.
After achieving a therapeutic effect, the dose of the drug is reduced, and subsequent injections are given after an interval. In case of long-term use, the drug is discontinued by gradually reducing the dosage. After using large doses of Diprospan, the patient should be observed by a doctor for 1 year.
The instructions describe in detail what Diprospan is used for. This drug is used by orthopedists and rheumatologists, ophthalmologists and allergists. It is effective for diseases of the musculoskeletal system and soft tissues. It is used for autoimmune diseases and malignant blood diseases.
Indications for use of Diprospan are as follows:
Important! Although Diprospan is used in many areas of medicine, it does not belong to a number of drugs for first-line therapy. It is used in cases where the therapeutic effect can only be achieved with the help of systemic hormonal drugs.
Doctors prescribe Diprospan according to strict indications in cases where other means have been exhausted to no avail. Moreover, it is used not instead of the main course medications, but along with them.
Like any medicine, Diprospan has side effects. They are observed in various body systems.
ophthalmological disorders - cataracts
Lability of the nervous system is noted, manifested by a change in excitement and drowsiness, the development of depression with a suicide attempt. In some cases, seizures occur.
The drug suppresses the immune system and weakens the function of the main gland - the pituitary gland, which regulates the production of all hormones in the body, which causes changes in the functions of the ovaries, adrenal glands, thyroid and pancreas. As a result of a malfunction in their work, women's menstrual cycle is disrupted, blood pressure and blood sugar increase, and Itsenko-Cushing's disease develops. A decrease in the production of sex hormones leads to the development of osteoporosis.
"Diprospan" affects the metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Under its influence, carbohydrate metabolism changes in such a way that the glucose level in the blood increases. The medicine affects protein metabolism, inhibiting synthesis and increasing protein consumption. This is manifested by thinning of the skin and the appearance of stretch marks (stretch marks) on the skin, deterioration of healing processes. For the same reason, weakness and muscle atrophy appear.
"Diprospan" has moderate mineralocorticoid activity. This is manifested by a delay in the absorption of calcium in the intestines with its simultaneous removal from the bones. As a result, osteoporosis (low bone density) develops - the cause of fractures of tubular bones and the spine.
Long-term use of Diprospan disrupts the coordinated functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system. This leads to a malfunction of all endocrine glands.
The scale of destruction in the body can be compared to the introduction of a virus into computer software. But all these consequences develop after using Diprospan not suddenly, but gradually, slowly but surely. Itsenko-Cushing's disease develops several months after treatment with Diprospan. The patient himself, and not every doctor, may not connect the emerging disease with the consequences of Diprospan.
Diprospan has benefits and harms in one syringe. Patients compare the effects of Diprospan with “the mechanism of aging introduced in an injection.” Before you decide to use this remedy, compare the expected therapeutic effect with numerous side effects, for example, with a heel spur - the risk of rupture of the plantar fascia.
The development of side effects directly depends on the dose used and the duration of treatment. With the correct dose and technique, treatment with Diprospan is predictable. With a short course of treatment, side effects do not appear or they are reversible.
"Diprospan" has, like most medicines, contraindications. Diseases for which the use of Diprospan is dangerous are the following:
Local contraindications for the administration of Diprospan are infectious arthritis and joint instability.
When using Diprospan, you should remember that this is a long-acting hormonal drug. Therefore, it should be used in the minimum effective dose and for as short a time as possible.
infection and decreased immunity
During treatment, precautions must be taken.
The instructions for use of Diprospan contain a warning about the prohibition of alcohol for the entire period of treatment. Diprospan and alcohol, if taken separately or together, suppress the immune system. This means the appearance or intensification of adverse reactions after drinking alcohol during treatment. In addition, allergic reactions may develop when drinking alcohol.
Diprospan has substitutes and analogues. Complete substitutes for the original Diprospan in composition:
There are incomplete substitutes that contain only the fast-acting form of betamethasone sodium phosphate. Such drugs are:
There are many analogues of hormonal drugs. What can replace Diprospan depends on the disease. In the case of allergic, skin diseases and bronchial asthma, short-acting suspension solutions are used. For intra-articular use, when a long-acting hormone is required, Diprospan injections are used.
Treatment of heel spurs with Diprospan is carried out according to strict doctor’s instructions, in the absence of effect from other treatment methods. Blockade of the heel spur with Diprospan injections is done in cases of severe pain and swelling of the foot.
The anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect of this medicine relieves a person of inflammation and pain in the foot, but does not eliminate the cause of the disease. In addition, according to orthopedic doctors, the duration of the effect of Diprospan injection for heel spurs does not have an advantage over other treatment methods. In addition, hormone injection carries the risk of rupture of the plantar fascia, which complicates the outcome of the disease.
To summarize, let us emphasize the main points. "Diprospan" is a long-acting glucocorticosteroid. It is used for acute and chronic diseases of an allergic and inflammatory nature where other drugs and treatment methods are powerless. At the same time, “Diprospan”, when used for a long time, causes disruptions in the functioning of all body systems, suppressing the function of the pituitary gland, which is a kind of control panel for human health. With a short course of treatment and the correct dose, few side effects are observed.
Heel spur blockade is necessary if the symptoms of the disease are too severe.
In this case, injections are given in the area of the heel spur, and the most common drugs are hormonal agents.
The effectiveness of such injections is explained by the fact that they have an almost instantaneous analgesic effect and relieve the inflammatory process.
The blockade is a rather complex injection, which is carried out exclusively by an experienced surgeon. In this case, the result depends entirely on his actions.
It is necessary to inject exactly the most painful point on the heel.
The point of the whole procedure is that an injection with an anesthetic or anti-inflammatory agent is placed at the most painful point on the heel. Since we are talking about a heel spur, the location is chosen above the bone growth.
As a rule, the injection should be placed here, since this is where the pain syndrome is most pronounced.
Due to the fact that there is a high tissue density and a thick layer of skin, it is somewhat more difficult to place an injection than in the buttock muscle area, for example.
Why do we pay so much attention to getting the injection into the most painful area on the heel? The fact is that a heel spur always causes severe pain, and the blockade will not be effective if the injection is placed in another area.
If there is an error in injection, the drug does not reach the pathological area, spreads throughout the tissues around the spur and is not able to relieve inflammation or pain.
However, the most dangerous thing about an incorrect injection is that it can lead to:
When applied correctly to the desired area, there is an immediate reduction in pain and inflammation.
Most patients note that relief occurs immediately after the first procedure. So the blockade always has positive reviews.
However, it is worth noting that the result of the blockade often depends on the choice of drug and on the dosage used in the injection.
A blockade is prescribed if the conservative treatment prescribed earlier did not give a positive result, or turned out to be ineffective, and the pain continues to intensify.
In other cases, such treatment is not a priority. As we said above, the treatment method has its own complications, however, in addition to improper administration, there is a possibility of complications due to a violation of the integrity of the plantar fascia.
Let us note the main complications:
It does not matter which drug is administered, for example, Diprospan or another, complications are associated precisely with the violation of the integrity of the fascia.
After the injection has been successfully given and the blockade has been found to be effective, the patient is advised to adhere to several basic rules and recommendations.
An injection in the heel for a heel spur cannot be given if there is an individual intolerance to the drug or its active components. The injection is given with caution for the following problems:
The most common drugs are Diprospan, Hydrocortisone, Genalog, Nimesulide. Most often, a heel injection is given with just such means.
Among the drugs, we highlight Diprospan. This drug belongs to glucocorticosteroids, and its active substance is betamethasone.
In addition to this substance, the injection contains auxiliary components. Diprospan is presented as an injection solution and as a suspension.
Diprospan has a long-term therapeutic effect, which can last for at least 10 days.
In this case, Diprospan leads to complete relief of pain or to its significant reduction.
Like other drugs used in the blockade, Diprospan is most effective when injected correctly.
There is no exact number of injections, but we can say that for a complete blockade, 1 to 3 injections of the drug may be enough.
Hydrocortisone is a hormone of the adrenal cortex. In order to achieve effective pain relief, several injections are prescribed at once.
Plus, injections are given here with a minimum time interval. This is necessary so that the active substance accumulates in the area of inflammation.
Kenalog is a synthetic drug that is an analogue of glucocorticosteroids. Injections of this drug can quickly eliminate pain from heel spurs or increase periods of remission.
However, along with its positive qualities, it is Kenalog that has the highest percentage of complications, especially such severe ones as necrosis.
In conclusion, we will say that, despite their high effectiveness, blockade and injections in the heel for spurs remain an extremely controversial treatment.
The high risk of complications and many contraindications cannot make the blockade method quite popular and often used.
After the blockade, strict adherence to all the rules and recommendations of the doctor is mandatory, only in this way the effect will be long-lasting and periods of remission will be months and years.
To learn more.
The newest remedy for TREATING JOINTS
You just need to use it.
whoever survived a prick in the heel, well done. Personally, I chickened out and preferred to be treated in other ways.
Only yesterday I finally decided to have an injection, since 8 months spent on various methods of treating heel spurs did not lead to any results.
I expected much more pain, but thank God for the wonderful hands of an experienced surgeon who gave me an injection that can be compared to a mosquito bite))) after the procedure I went home without even limping, and today I woke up with the amazing feeling that my leg was gone drenched and I can walk
Kenalog and icecaine were administered.
I recommend not to be afraid and especially not to delay self-medication!
I endured the pain for three months, and they applied river fish and raw potatoes, it only helped for half a day, and then the pain was even worse again. It’s great if folk remedies help you, and I really hoped for them, because when I looked at the reviews about heel injections, they described such horrors that I never went to the clinic. But autumn began, and soft shoes gave way to hard ones, and it became impossible to walk, or to get up from a chair and suddenly stand on your heel, it’s a wild pain, and if God forbid you step on something, for example, on a wire in an apartment or the edge of a carpet with your heel, then You can climb the wall.
Therefore, I had to go to the clinic, they took pictures, the heel spur was already visible, but not very pronounced (initial stage), the doctor immediately sent me to the pharmacy for an injection with Diprospan. It was scary to go back to her.
I lay down on the couch, she took my heel and quietly inserted the needle, it took about 4 seconds at most, and I didn’t understand, I asked “that’s it?”, the doctor said, now I’ll bandage it and get up)) You know, I’ve read so many reviews about the injection, that people fainted and screamed and the nurse held them, and that this feeling was something like being cut with glass... it’s just terrible, of course, after such reviews I suffered all summer and never went to the clinic.
I respect all people's feedback, but I appeal to those who are afraid to get an injection! You know, the pain is not sharp, from which you can squeal, it is dull and fast, the skin on the heel is rough, so you can’t feel the needle, you only feel an injection into the bone itself, and then the pain is so dull that it is not clear that it is an injection, personally, it was much more painful for me step on the heel than this injection.
And I also want to say... everyone probably gave themselves group B injections in the buttock, which are very painful, which reduces the entire side of the buttock and legs, these injections are really painful, and the pain is sharp and long... But this injection will not hurt you even the next day you will be healthy, and your heel will say “thank you very much.” Be healthy.
And excellent health to you, Elena! I hope your heel doesn't bother you anymore??
A common way to treat heel spurs is with hormonal medications. However, it is important to understand that diprospan for heel spurs is prescribed only if conservative treatment fails and symptoms progress . In other cases, it is preferable not to resort to this treatment method. The medicine is injected into the heel itself, which is called a drug block.
The main reason for the effectiveness of using a steroid drug is the anti-inflammatory effect that does not have to wait long; the patient will soon feel strong relief. The cause of terrible pain in the heel is the development of inflammatory processes in the tissues. The goal of treatment is to achieve an anti-inflammatory process.
The most commonly used drugs for this are Kenalog, hydrocortisone and Diprospan. There are other drugs used in the treatment of blockade, such as polysorbate, sodium chlorite, nipazole and others, but these three have the best effect.
Of all the above drugs, diprospan should be highlighted. Diprospan belongs to a number of glucocorticosteroids. Their feature is a reduction in inflammation due to inhibition of the action of tissue-destructive enzymes. The main component of diprospan is betamethasone, or rather betamethasone sodium phosphate and betamethasone dipropionate. The first component is a substance that is quickly eliminated from the body and absorbed into the tissue, which ensures the immediate effect of the drug. Betamethasone dipropionate is excreted after ten days, which ensures an effective and long-lasting effect. Diprospan also contains other substances; the drug has the form of a suspension and looks like a transparent, colorless, with a possible yellowish tint, liquid.
This medicine is administered intramuscularly and creates a blockade that lasts for ten days without causing any pain. The main advantage of diprospan is its almost instantaneous action. The drug will have the most pronounced effect when administered correctly. To forget about the pain, diprospan is applied up to three times. The injection must be done with a minimum time difference; this is important because the medicine must accumulate in the tissues to be effective.
Due to the fact that the drug is hormonal, when administered it has the following effects:
Some time after the injection of diprospan into the heel, the patient will feel the elimination or reduction of pain in the disturbing area. Not all patients feel better after the first injection; some feel relief after repeated administration of the medicine. The difficulty of administering the serum is that diprospan must be injected into the most painful place on the heel. Diprospan is administered preferably together with anesthetics (usually lidocaine is used for these purposes), mixed directly in a syringe in equal proportions. The dosage of diprospan and lidocaine is 0.5 ml of each. Due to the fact that the effect of diprospan is almost instantaneous and it begins to work immediately after the procedure, reviews of diprospan injections for heel spurs are mostly positive.
most important contraindication is human intolerance to steroids . All other contraindications are conditional, but remain important. Patients refuse or agree with caution to an injection for the following reasons:
It is worth following the instructions left by the doctor, because otherwise the pain will return at an unforeseen moment.
First of all, the factor causing heel pain is eliminated. A recurrence of pain will mean that this painful procedure will be required again.
If a heel spur is caused by a tendon injury or excessive stress on the body, complete rest should be observed for two to three weeks.
The administration of the drug should not be abused because the body becomes accustomed to it. Diprospan is injected one to three times with a ten-day break. For immediate and long-term effect, you should pay attention to the following factors of complications of heel spurs, such as excess weight, incorrect shoes, perform special exercises for the legs and do not overload yourself with heavy physical work.
Diprospan, like any other drug, has its disadvantages and complications that may follow its administration. Due to the fact that diprospan contains glucocorticoids, addiction to the medicine is possible. Since hormones are introduced artificially, the adrenal glands stop secreting the necessary hormones, and accordingly, the production of this hormone in the body is reduced, which leads to serious problems.
The main problem, possible as a result of this procedure, is injury to the heel fascia if the injection is incorrect. With such damage, the patient will not be able to stand on the affected leg normally.
There is a possibility that the drug will leach calcium from the bone and cause additional musculoskeletal problems. There may be tissue death at the injection site of diprospan, necrosis, as well as purulent lesions of the foot. In addition to this nature of complications, the development of osteoporosis is possible.
To avoid all sorts of problems during or after treatment, it is important not to use the drug if the body is intolerant and follow the doctor’s instructions regarding lifestyle, shoes, etc.
You should never delay treatment, as over time the pain will only intensify, and moving around, and simply living comfortably, will become more difficult. It is worth going to the doctor immediately, and only with a referral should you resort to a blockade, which is nevertheless one of the fastest-acting and at the same time effective methods of treatment. Good luck and health to you!
An injection should only be given by an experienced, highly qualified surgeon, since the needle pierces the skin at the site of pain in the area with a bone growth on the heel, injecting the drug together with an anesthetic or anti-inflammatory agent. It is important to hit the right area of the heel, because if the injection is performed incorrectly, the drug will spread throughout the tissues near the spur, not reaching the target and not relieving the inflammation, and with it the pain. An experienced physician (surgeon, orthopedic surgeon) is also important because the skin on the heel is much thicker than in other places, and correctly piercing the sore spot with a needle seems to be a difficult task for an inexperienced person. The injection technique must be high to avoid injury.
Treatment with diprospan is relatively cheap among alternatives, since the result of most patients is visible after the first injection, therefore, only one ampoule is required, the cost of which is within 250 rubles. You will have to pay extra for the surgeon’s work only when treating in a private clinic, at the patient’s choice. The procedure, as a rule, costs 200-500 rubles. As a result, it actually turns out cheaper than other methods of treatment, which blocking the heel spur with diprospan also attracts.
A common way to treat the painful symptoms of plantar fasciitis or “spur” is to inject the heel with special medications. Thanks to this, the patient can not only feel relief from an acute condition, but also regain the ability to walk normally for some time without experiencing pain. The method is known under the special name “blockade” and, due to its effectiveness, has received many good reviews from patients who have undergone the procedure.
Special pain-relieving injections into the heel area are prescribed in cases where the size of the heel spike becomes the cause of chronic pain. Simple medications and other selected treatments aimed at eliminating the underlying cause of the disease may not be effective enough. This deficiency is usually expressed in the inability to walk normally without experiencing pain with every impact on the sole of the foot in the heel area.
The bone growth and the inflamed tissues surrounding it create a focus of pathology, which is sometimes very painful, even in situations where the patient is at rest. Any action associated with the need to walk or simply stand on your feet causes an increase in pain symptoms.
The injection procedure is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. An incorrectly chosen area of influence will not allow you to achieve the desired result. When blocking a pain symptom, it is important to administer the medicine as precisely as possible and to the right place. Otherwise, the medication will simply spread over the heel without having any relief effect.
Please note that there is a risk of complications such as tendon inflammation, sepsis, and tissue suppuration. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to negative reviews from patients who have undergone the procedure. Drug antisymptomatic blockade for heel spurs is a proven highly effective technique. The lack of effect is usually caused by unprofessional injections.
Injections into the heel for heel spurs performed by a professional surgeon allow you to regain the ability to move normally for some time. But it is very important to pay attention to the professionalism of the doctor performing the procedure.
A distinctive feature of a spur on the heel is the fairly dense structure of the surrounding tissues. Therefore, targeted needle insertion requires additional effort and time to accurately administer the medication.
The name of the drug that reduces foot pain and its dosage also play an important role. The most common option is to treat heel spurs with Diprospan. The standard acceptable dose is 0.5 ml. Together with Diprosan, an additional injection of an anesthetic is usually given in the same dosage (for example Lidocaine).
For treatment, chemical compounds such as Hydrocortisone and Kenalog are used. Each of the drugs has its own positive and negative properties. Therefore, the selection, prescription and subsequent treatment of the mentioned medications can only be carried out after the approval of the attending physician. They are prescribed based on the results of an individual examination of the patient and only if other methods to remove the symptoms of the pathology have not been effective enough. It’s not worth making an independent choice based on recommendations and reviews of other patients. Each medical composition has its own indications and contraindications for use.
Technically, treatment of heel spurs with a heel injection is a targeted injection of a selected chemical drug into a special area of the pathology. In the vast majority of cases, the target area is the root of the newly formed bone process.
Next, we'll look at the three most common chemical blockers for the symptoms of heel spurs.
Diprosan, Hydrocortisone and Kenalog - these are the compounds most often prescribed by the surgeon as a strong anti-symptomatic agent. But due to the strength of its effect on tissue, using any of the mentioned medications on your own is strictly prohibited.
If you do not follow the doctor's recommendations, a relapse may occur, which will require an additional session. For some time after its completion, the doctor will monitor the patient’s condition, noting improvements and other changes in his well-being.
Only on the basis of the results obtained is the procedure considered effective. But even in this case, the patient should adhere to a number of recommendations for some time. They are as follows:
The completion of the drug administration procedure is not the final stage of treatment. To get rid of the spur and the unpleasant symptoms caused by the disease, the most precise adherence to the surgeon’s recommendations is required.
Steroids are not only effective, but also quite dangerous drugs due to the increased risk of complications. In addition, they require targeted injection into the selected area because they have a strong effect on healthy tissue.
The skill of the surgeon is very important because an incorrectly selected area for steroid injection can cause serious damage to the plantar fascia. In addition, negative reviews report such side effects as:
Negative reviews reporting such complications are not always the result of a surgeon’s error or an incorrectly chosen chemical composition. Sometimes patients deliberately hide information that the procedure is contraindicated for them or do not follow the postoperative recommendations of the attending physician.
Often the reason for a negative review of the effectiveness of steroids is the decision to give yourself such an injection yourself. Therefore, it is important to know and take into account the contraindications of this method of treating plantar fasciitis.
Before giving an injection using strong chemicals such as steroids as a symptom blocker, it is recommended to try less hazardous medical treatments.
Hormonal and steroid drugs are considered one of the most dangerous chemical compounds for the treatment of diseases. It does not matter which of the compositions will be chosen for treatment and prophylactic measures - their use is prohibited in any form in a number of cases. Relative or “temporary” bans on the use of steroids include:
Sometimes the administration of medication in the above cases is acceptable, but only if the therapy is carried out with great care and by experienced professionals. The absolute reasons for banning the use of steroid medications include:
The use of such strong drugs as Diprosan, Kenalog and similar drugs for the treatment of plantar fasciitis requires mandatory preliminary preparation of the body. Uncontrolled independent use of them can not only not have the expected effect, but also make it impossible to walk normally due to severe damage to the sole.
Plan any treatment and preventive procedures together with your doctor - after all, not a single negative review can restore health to your feet.
Attention: this article is for informational purposes only. Self-treatment of heel spurs with steroid injections is strictly prohibited!
This method of getting rid of spurs is prescribed if the following conditions are met:
If your heel spur hurts unbearably, which doctor should you go to to get a blockade prescribed? The blockade is prescribed and carried out by a surgeon or orthopedist.
Attention! There is a misconception that the block is especially effective if performed when the first symptoms of a heel spur appear. In this case, the effect of the injection will be insignificant compared to the possible side effects and complications. In addition, at the initial stage of the disease, introducing the drug into the fascia can only increase inflammation or lead to its rupture.
The point of the procedure is to inject a steroid into the very center of the bone spine. Considering that the thorn has a bone-salt nature, it is quite difficult to inject correctly. It is important to inject directly into the bone growth, and not into the surrounding tissue.
Drugs used to block the inflamed fascia have the following effects:
What injections are given for heel spurs?
The active substance is betamethasone, which has a long-lasting effect of up to 10 days. Treatment of heel spurs with Diprospan allows you to quickly get rid of pain and relieve inflammation. The drug also has an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect.
The drug contains artificial hormones similar to those produced by the adrenal glands. To get rid of a spur, a course of 3-5 injections is required.
A drug based on synthetic corticosteroids. After administration, it instantly relieves pain and promotes the onset of stable remission. Kenalog can be used no more than once every 6-9 months.
It is impossible to make a blockade on your own for several reasons:
The effectiveness of the blockade is 90% dependent on the correct administration of the hormonal drug. The depth of the injection and the speed of injection of the medicine are also of great importance.
An anesthetic is used because the procedure is extremely painful. Novocaine, ultracaine and other painkillers can be used as an anesthetic.
Complications after the blockade occur in 15-20% of people. In most cases, they are associated with improper administration of steroids and due to the individual characteristics of the body.
After the procedure, the person should inspect the heel daily for complications. The first signs that the blockade has caused complications are redness, blackening, pain or numbness of the heel, etc. If you find these or other atypical symptoms, you should immediately contact a surgeon.
Note! Complications after the blockade can occur several weeks after it is carried out. This is due to the prolonged action of steroid drugs.
To enhance the therapeutic effect of the blockade, doctors recommend following the following tips:
Even with the most unbearable pain, spur blockade is contraindicated in the presence of the following pathologies:
Also contraindicated in women are taking COCs, pregnancy, and gynecological diseases. In each specific case, the decision on how to treat a heel spur is made by the doctor.
Reviews online about the effectiveness of steroid blockade for heel spurs are divided as follows:
The opinion of experts on the use of steroid injections in the treatment of heel spurs is that this method, although it gives an excellent result, is rarely used due to its complexity.