Botox Injections For Plantar Fasciitis

What is Botox?

Botox is a prescription medication that temporarily paralyzes your muscle. It’s injected into your muscle through a tiny needle and begins working shortly. The treatment takes minutes and causes only minimal pain, and you may also use ice or topical numbing cream to keep you comfortable. Botox is best known for minimizing facial lines and wrinkles associated with aging, but it can help reduce symptoms of plantar fasciitis, too.

How can Botox help plantar fasciitis?

Once injected into the plantar fascia of the affected foot, Botox paralyzes the adjacent muscles on your heel bone that sits just above your plantar fascia. The paralyzing effect causes Substance P,  a neurotransmitter associated with pain, to deactivate, leading to less plantar fasciitis pain. Botox also provides anti-inflammatory benefits to the area which can further minimize your pain and other inflammation symptoms, such as swelling and redness.

Does it work?

Yes, Botox injections can help you manage plantar fasciitis symptoms. A study published in 2017 treated 50 plantar fasciitis patients with a placebo saline solution or Botox injections and analyzed their symptoms. The Botox injections reduced patient pain, significantly improved their foot function, and decreased their need for surgical treatment. You can also use Botox along with stretching exercises as a useful alternative to conventional steroid treatment. Talk to Dr. Herzog to find out if Botox treatment may be ideal for you.

Are there any side effects?

Botox may cause side effects, but they tend to be mild and temporary. Some people experience swelling, redness, or tenderness around the injection site. You can avoid more serious side effects such as allergic reactions by discussing your health history with Dr. Herzog in advance.

How long does Botox last?

Botox typically produces noticeable results within 24-48 hours. Your effects can last up to four months, at which point you and Dr. Herzog can decide whether you’d benefit from additional treatment.

How much does Botox for plantar fasciitis cost?

Health insurance doesn’t typically cover Botox. The cost is $800 per injection. You will probably only need one 50-unit injection to treat your condition.

Botox Injections for Plantar Fasciitis

• Botox is a neurotoxin which paralyzes the muscle, preventing it from releasing the transmitters which activate muscular action.
• Injection of the plantar fascia paralyzes the adjacent muscles which pull on the heel bone lying just above the plantar fascia. Substance P, a neurotransmitter that regulates pain, is deactivated. Botox also has an anti-inflammatory effect on the plantar fascia.
• Botox injections are not covered by insurance. You typically only need one 50-unit injection.

• Cost is $800 per injection.

*Individual results may vary.