At Hurley, we do everything we can to help you manage, reduce or eliminate pain.

Techniques may include acupuncture, massage, biofeedback and stretching exercises. Your physician may also prescribe pain medications, alone or in conjunction with these other therapies or surgery. These medications may include:

• NSAIDs: These are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin, inbuprofen, naproxen and nabumetone. These medications can help reduce pain, inflammation and fever. While some require a prescription, many can be purchased over-the-counter at your local drugstore.

• Cortisone: Cortisone shots, as well as oral (by mouth) and topical (ointments) versions of the medication, can help decrease inflammation, provide energy and help the body repair tissue. One advantage of delivering cortisone by injection is that it can provide very high concentrations of the medication, keeping potential side effects to a minimum. These injections usually work within a few days, and the effects can last up to several weeks. Cortisone and its related corticosteroid medication should only be prescribed by a medical professional and the patient must be monitored carefully.

• Muscle Relaxants: Muscle relaxants can decrease pain caused by muscle spasms that accompany foot and ankle pain. While there are a number of muscle relaxants that a doctor can prescribe a patient, perhaps the best known of this group of medications is Valium. Muscle relaxants work by having an overall sedative effect on the body, which causes the muscles to relax and reduce the stress they are placing on the injured or painful area.