Faqs Before Cortisone Injections In The Plantar Fascia

24 May 2021
 Categories: , Blog


If you've tried ice, rest, stretching, and a foot wrap — and yet your plantar fasciitis still makes it hard to walk — your doctor will likely recommend cortisone injections. Getting these injections is a lot easier and less invasive than surgery, and they do tend to be effective for many moderate to severe cases of plantar fasciitis. But if you have a few questions before that needle sinks into your foot, you're not alone. Here are some common questions people ask before cortisone injections in the plantar fascia.

Will the injections hurt?

Sadly, the answer to this question is "yes." Cortisone injections are known for being uncomfortable. You'll feel more stinging and burning than you would with a basic vaccine injection in your arm. This is because your doctor is directly injecting the connective tissue in your foot — the plantar fascia — and therefore has to go pretty deep with a pretty big needle. Luckily, the injection does not take long. It will be over almost as soon as you feel the pain. And afterward, the relief you get will make up for those few seconds of stinging!

How soon will you feel results?

Results are not instant. The cortisone that is injected into your foot is in a crystallized form, and your body has to slowly break it down or dissolve it for it to become active. Most people start to feel relief from their plantar fasciitis within a day or two of the procedure, but the relief continues to build for a few more days after that. 

How long will the relief last?

This depends on the person. Some people metabolize cortisone faster than others, and some cases of plantar fasciitis are worse than others. However, you can expect at least a month of relief from an injection, and sometimes as much as three months of relief. 

Can you get a second round of injections?

If your plantar fasciitis pain comes back a few weeks or months after a cortisone shot, you can have another one. However, many patients find that after one shot, their body is finally able to "catch up" and heal the plantar fascia, so they no longer have pain or only have minimal pain.

Hopefully, some of your questions about cortisone injections have been answered in this article. These shots really are a great choice for managing plantar fasciitis. They're minimally invasive, long-lasting, and effective. 

For more information on plantar fasciitis treatment, contact a podiatrist.


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