The Truth About Cortisone Shots for Plantar Fasciitis

If you're dealing with stubborn heel pain in Phoenix or Tempe, cortisone shots for plantar fasciitis might seem like a quick fix—but is a temporary reprieve worth the risk?

Cortisone shots for plantar fasciitis do have their place, but at the same time, most treatments in medicine do have some level of risk, and a cortisone shot is no different. At the end of this post, you hopefully will have a better understanding of how cortisone shots work, why they are used for plantar fasciitis, the risks, and the benefits, and then be able to decide if a cortisone shot for plantar fasciitis is right for you.

Important Info About Cortisone Shots For Plantar Fasciitis

Table of Contents:

Overview of Plantar Fasciitis

How a Cortisone Shot for Plantar Fasciitis Works

Pros of a Cortisone Shot for Plantar Fasciitis

Cons of a Cortisone Shot for Plantar Fasciitis

Other Side effects

Safer Alternatives to Cortisone Shots for Plantar Fasciitis

Overview of Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot problem that causes heel pain due to inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that connects your heel bone to the ball of your foot.

The plantar fascia has many functions, one of which is maintaining the arch and structure of your foot.

While most people improve with simple measures like stretching, footwear changes, or supportive devices, some turn to cortisone injections when pain lingers

How a Cortisone Shot for Plantar Fasciitis Works

Cortisone shots are made from synthetic cortisone, which is a steroid. Cortisone can be a powerful anti-inflammatory medication when used in the right way.

For plantar fasciitis, a cortisone shot would be injected around the plantar fascia to get rid of pain and inflammation. A foot doctor, or podiatrist is one kind of doctor that can give a steroid injection.

A cortisone shot for plantar fasciitis works by lowering the immune response in and around the plantar fascia, which then can decrease your inflammation and pain. Steroid shots also temporarily stop the body from making chemicals that cause pain and swelling in the heel.

Pros of a Cortisone Shot for Plantar Fasciitis

Can bring fast pain relief

The main pro about getting a cortisone shot for plantar fasciitis is the possible immediate pain relief. For someone whose plantar fasciitis is to the point where they are limping when they are walking, unable to stand without extreme pain, or on the verge of tears, a cortisone injection can work well and quickly for pain relief.

This for me is the best part about this treatment option for plantar fasciitis. Typically, there's no downtime with a cortisone shot for plantar fasciitis.

Cons of a Cortisone Shot for Plantar Fasciitis

Doesn't Get to the Root Cause of The Plantar Fasciitis Even though the possible immediate pain relief is great, it's important to stress that getting a cortisone shot for plantar fasciitis can be temporary. This shot does act on the inflammation and pain, but if your doctor and you the patient don't get to the root cause of your plantar fasciitis, the pain will come back.

Studies show cortisone injections often reduce pain and improve function compared to some treatments (like orthotics or autologous blood injections) in the short term (up to 6 weeks)—but they perform similarly to placebo overall, and their long-term effectiveness is inconsistent.[1]

This is why even if you opt to get a cortisone shot for plantar fasciitis, your foot doctor should still guide you on conservative treatment options in order to treat your pain from its source. This includes stretching, icing, wearing better shoes for your foot type, and more.

Risk of tissue damage

Cortisone injections given incorrectly or given to often do increase your risk of tissue damage. Steroids are powerful drugs, but they can be very harmful in the wrong hands.

Tissue damage includes the weakening of tissues surrounding the injection site. increased risk of tendon ruptures, thinning of the skin, depigmentation of the skin where the skin will get much lighter in comparison to the surrounding skin, and fat pad atrophy, which is when the fat that cushions your heel is damaged, which can cause chronic pain.[2]

Increased infection risk

Any time something enters the skin, there is a risk of infection. This is rare, but the chance is still there, especially if you have diabetes.

Diabetes weakens your immune system, which then makes it harder to fight off infection.

Diabetes also can slow down the blood flow to your feet, which also makes it harder to fight a foot infection. This is something to keep in mind.

Temporary pain flare-up

Ironically, one of the potential cons of getting a cortisone shot for plantar fasciitis is a possible temporary increase in pain after the shot. This is called a "steroid flare," and can happen because of the cortisone irritating your plantar fascia and the surrounding area.

This pain usually gets better in a few days. To learn more about steroid flares, click here for an article from Healthline https://www.healthline.com/health/osteoarthritis/cortisone-flare

Tolerance to cortisone

The body can develop a tolerance to cortisone shots over time, making each added shot less likely to work. Long-term use of cortisone shots for plantar fasciitis is not a sustainable choice for managing chronic pain.

Cortisone is overused

Podiatry guidance recommends reserving cortisone shots for cases that haven’t responded to at least 3–6 months of conservative treatments (stretching, orthotics, NSAIDs, night splints).[3]

So in many cases of plantar fasciitis, because cortisone injections are treated as a first-line treatment, option, they are actually overused.

Can slow down healing

While they may lower inflammation in the short term, they can stop the body's natural healing mechanisms.

Other Side effects:

Additional side effects from cortisone shots for plantar fasciitis include:

• facial flushing

• temporary changes in blood sugar levels (particularly in individuals with diabetes)

• mood swings

• insomnia

• weight gain.

• Note: These side effects are generally mild and temporary, but it's important to talk about concerns with your doctor.

Safer Alternatives to Cortisone Shots for Plantar Fasciitis

While cortisone shots may provide temporary relief, most people improve with safer, longer-lasting treatments that address the root cause of heel pain:

• Stretching & Strengthening

  Gentle calf and plantar fascia stretches help reduce strain and improve flexibility.

• Supportive Footwear & Orthotics

  Structured shoes with custom orthotics can relieve daily pressure on the heel.

• Lifestyle Adjustments

  An integrative approach to getting rid of plantar fasciitis pain, including appropriate diet changes, focusing on hydration, limiting alcohol, and being mindful of stress, can help support your body in getting rid of chronic inflammation.

• Laser Therapy

  A non-invasive treatment option that stimulates blood flow, reduces inflammation, and accelerates healing—without the risks of injections. Learn more about laser therapy for heel pain »

  
  

• Regenerative Medicine Injections

  And for plantar fasciitis pain that does not respond to all of the above, regenerative medicine injections, help to repair your plantar fascia, and quiet down inflamation once and for all.

Key Takeaways

Getting a cortisone shot for plantar fasciitis is an important decision that requires the risks and benefits to be weighed.

Each person is different, and it is important that a person be educated about the complete picture of steroid injections so that they can make an informed decision about their treatment. Work with for foot doctor to get rid of your plantar fasciitis for good.

Schedule Your Appointment at Direct Podiatry Arizona Today

If you’re in Phoenix or Tempe and plantar fasciitis is slowing you down, we’re here to help. My name is Dr. Tarr, and I am the owner of Direct Podiatry Arizona. To view available appointment times, click the following link here, and take the first step toward lasting relief.