I've seen Botox used for stress headaches, but until now I was unfamiliar with the fact that Botox can also be used to treat Plantar Fasciitis.

The article below detalis some of the new reasearch, but I'm wondering if anyone is using / has used Botox in this way and what the results were? (Leave a comment.)

Botulinum toxin (BTX)A may be more effective than steroids for the treatment of plantar fasciitis.

The 19 patients given a total of 250 U of BTX-A split between two medial and lateral calf muscle sites and the soleus had significantly faster and greater improvement than the 17 patients treated with intralesional dexamethasone (8 mg) plus 2% lidocaine (2 mL).

Although there was no significant difference between the BTX-A and steroid treatment groups at baseline for the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain (7.1 vs 7.7), patients given BTX-A had a significantly lower average score than steroid-treated patients at the 1-month check up (1.9 vs 3.4 points). Scores were also significantly lower at 2 (1.6 vs 3.6 ), 4 (1.5 vs 3.7 ), and 6 (1.1 vs 3.8) months.

Similarly, despite comparable Maryland Foot and Ankle scores at baseline, the BTX-A-treated patients had significantly greater improvement over the whole study than steroid-treated patients.

Although both patient groups experienced significant improvements of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores and Foot and Ankle Disability Index scores at 15 days after treatment, BTX-A was associated with a faster and more sustained treatment response than steroids.

The researchers note that all patients were shown dorsiflexion and plantarflexion stretching exercises to begin within a week of treatment.

“It is important to note that patients must perform plantar fascia stretching exercises to obtain a rapid and sustained improvement of plantar fasciitis,” say Carlos Acosta-Olivo (Hospital Universitario “Dr Jose E Gonzalez,” Universidad Autonomade Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico) and co-workers.

Read the entire article here.

Additional articles on the same subject:
http://www.methodistorthopedics.com/plantar-fasciitis-heel-pain
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/sp-bbs011713.php
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130117152009.htm
>http://connection.sagepub.com/blog/2013/01/30/botox-beats-steroids-for-painful-foot-condition-plantar-fasciitis/