Plantar Fasciitis

Medications

Your doctor may recommend medication to relieve the pain and inflammation caused by plantar fasciitis. Drug treatment does not cure plantar fasciitis, but by reducing pain, medicine may make it easier for you to follow other treatment steps, such as stretching. But you should not use medication as a way to continue the activities that are causing heel pain.

Medication options include:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin, for example), naproxen (Aleve, for example), or aspirin. You can buy these medicines without a prescription. NSAIDs are often used if you have only had symptoms of plantar fasciitis for a few days or weeks. They are less likely to work if you have had symptoms for more than 6 to 8 weeks.
• Corticosteroid shots. Your doctor may recommend shots if you have tried other treatments for several weeks without success.¹ Doctors may recommend shots sooner for some people.

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Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH	Last Updated: July 23, 2007
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Barry L. Scurran, DPM - Podiatric Surgery
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