My general schemes for treating plantar fasciitis:
- foot stretching exercises
- Anti-inflammatory meds like naproxen or ibuprofen
- Taping the feet
- Orthotics
- Physical therapy, including ultrasound
- Steroid injections.
That’s sort of the hierarchy I follow, 1-6, but not rigidly; depending on the severity, patients’ needs, availability of things like PT and orthotics, and considering the nearest syringe and steroids are only a few feet away from me. So’s the tape, but that actually takes longer to put on that just injecting the feet. Limber folks can be taught to properly tape their own soles.
Steroid injections generally do give immediate, long-lasting relief. Results for the other modalities tend to be variable, but taping tends to give quick relief for most folks also.