The plantar fascia supports the arch of your foot and helps absorb impact when you walk. Repetitive strain, standing for long periods, or tight calf muscles can lead to small tears and inflammation in this tissue, resulting in heel pain known as plantar fasciitis.
During the procedure, your consultant uses ultrasound to locate the thickened or inflamed portion of the fascia. A small amount of local anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory steroid medication is injected precisely around the affected area. The ultrasound guidance ensures that the medication reaches the correct location while minimising discomfort and reducing the risk of complications.
In selected cases, other injection options such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may be discussed if appropriate.
This is an outpatient procedure performed under ultrasound guidance. Local anaesthetic is used to numb the area and keep you comfortable throughout. The injection itself only takes a few minutes.
Sedation is generally not required but can be arranged if the procedure is done in theatre, under the care of a consultant anaesthetist. Sedation is not available for procedures done in clinic, but we can plan a theatre-based appointment if needed.
Afterwards, you will rest briefly before going home the same day. Some mild soreness or bruising at the heel may occur before improvement begins. We would aim for you to see a physiotherapist to advise on activity and exercises to enable further recovery.
Driving advice: You should not drive that day if receiving any sedation. Our procedures do vary on whether it is possible to drive home yourself. Please seek advice from your consultant about driving advice. If you are seeing us for an injection and planning to drive, please check with us beforehand about whether it will be possible to drive yourself home afterwards.
At Wessex Pain Clinic we find that the best results come from combining medical treatments with active rehabilitation. Procedures are often most effective when paired with physiotherapy, movement-based exercise, and â where appropriate â psychological support. This comprehensive approach addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of pain and supports longer-term improvement.
Results vary between individuals and cannot be guaranteed. Your consultant will discuss whether this procedure is appropriate for you.
At Wessex Pain Clinic, we work as a team and meet regularly to discuss complex, treatment resistant or unusual cases. As such you will often receive the expertise of several pain consultants. We believe that we are one of very few pain clinics to offer this. Wessex Pain Clinic provides consultant-led assessment and treatment for acute and chronic pain conditions. Our multidisciplinary team includes Consultant Pain Specialists, Physiotherapists and Psychologists, offering evidence-based interventions alongside rehabilitation and self-management support. We welcome patients from across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Surrey and Sussex, including Winchester, Basingstoke, Southampton, Portsmouth, and Chichester â with both in-clinic appointments and remote consultations available across the wider Wessex region.
Our friendly team is on hand to support you every step of the way. Please get in touch at any time.
