Podiatrist wants to give me shots for painful heel spurs. anti inflammatory didn't help. i've heard shots aren't effective for long. is it worth it?

Works well: Shots are painful but usually work well. The options are anti-inflammatory medications, orthotics, injections, surgery. It sounds like an injection is your best option for now.

Many options: Treatment options for the management of heel pain includes conservative and surgical management. Conservative management options include use of orthotic devices, change in shoe wear, medications such as oral no-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids), steroid injections, padding, splinting and strapping.