Plantar Faciitis/ heel spur and Ciprofloxacin connection

by Nigel
(Newburgh, NY )

I am a 59 year old man who was diagnosed with diverticulitis five years ago. That was the first time I was put on Cipro for about a week and that took care of my condition at the time. Four years later, last December I had the same symptoms and called my surgeon and he called in the Cipro prescription to the pharmacy and my problem was taken care of. I had to take the medication for about 6 days. Four months later I had the same symptoms and the situation was remedied the same way.

I am generally in good health, work out 4 to 5 times a week, run and play tennis. Shortly after my third bout with diverticulitis in May 2011, I was playing tennis and discovered sudden heel pain. Since I had never had this problem before, I iced it and continued playing until someone suggested that I may have heel spurs or plantar fasciitis.

I rested it for a few days thinking it might go away to no avail. I went to a Podiatrist and after an x- ray he concluded that it's a heel spur. When I stretch my calf muscle and do the exercises he recommended I feel better but the stiffness returns very soon. Today upon further research I stumbled upon the effects
Cipro can have on the tendons.

I am upset thinking Ciprofloxacin has caused this problem and more concerned not knowing what I should do if I am confronted with another bout with diverticulitis. Is there a safer medication for diverticulitis that has no side effects? If Cipro is the root cause of my current problem, what is the remedy?

Thank You,

Nigel