When a structure of the body is injured there is an inflammatory response to that injury. This is a natural part of the bodies healing process, that while necessary, can often become a problem for a variety of reasons including:
- Not resting/recovering for a sufficient period of time to allow for the structure to heal.
- Disease process – Some medical conditions encourage or promote inflammation which can lead to a prolonged or self sustaining inflammatory response.
- Level of activity – The amount of force applied through a structure and the time it takes for that tissue to adapt and get stronger is about 4-6 weeks in most cases. Most people train the same muscle group, or limb multiple times in that period which can lead to a compounding cascade of inflammation.
- Diet – Certain people have problems digesting various foods which can lead to inflammation.
In response to this various conditions can occur ranging from Plantar Fasciitis ( Heel pain or Arch pain ) to Achilles Tendinosis ( Heel pain or Calf pain ) and many others. Often the main underlying problem common to all of these conditions is the inflammation cycle. Steroids work to interrupt the inflammation cycle. These work by inhibiting special proteins made by the body that are essential in various pathways that lead to inflammation.
Using Steroids we are able to interrupt the inflammation process and often rid you of your pain. However steroids are like a band-aid; they help cover the problem up and make it feel better, but they don’t fix the original problem. The same analogy holds true for many of the pathologies (Problems) that we use steroids for. Your Podiatrist will be able to advise you on whether a steroid is appropriate to help manage your pain, and what other treatments are required to ensure that you find your feet sooner.