Cortisone shot for Plantar Fasciitis

X and G's mom

DIS Veteran
Joined
Sep 10, 2008
Has anyone gotten a shot in their foot for Plantar Fasciitis? I'm going to get one in a couple weeks so I can enjoy my Disney vacation :)
What I'm wondering is: How much does it hurt? Will I be able to drive after?
(The doc told me it is painful :) )
TIA!!!
 
We have discussed them but never made it that far. From what i understand it is a painful procedure and you will hurt worse for a couple of days before it starts to take effect, so schedule accordingly.
 
It isn't that painful. It kind of burns. Your foot will feel kind of numb in that area for a few days.

However, I didn't get any long term relief from the shot. And actually, found out that cortisone shots simply weaken the ligaments, making it take longer to recover fully from the PF, and occasionally resulting in tears. Rest and good, supportive shoes healed my PF but it took almost a year.
 
I wouldn't do it because I am a chicken, my husband did it and he had good results.
We now don't walk barefoot on the tile , we wear crocs and haven't had any issues in a few years.

I hope you feel better, I know its a painful condition.
 


I had the cortisone shot a year ago for plantar fasciitis. It helped me, but it did not totally make the PF go away. The cortisone is basically an anti-inflammatory medicine that is concentrated right at the point of the inflammation. In my case, the cortisone reached much of the area of pain, but there were some areas where the cortisone did not reach, and the pain continued there.

The pain of the shot was not terrible. The key is for the DR to put the shot in the right place so that the cortisone reaches as much of the inflammation as possible.
I was also told that I could get a maximum of 3 shots, and that realistically, if 2 shots did not cure it, the odds that a third shot would help would be quite low. In the end, I only got the one shot, because it helped enough that the rest of the inflammation eventually went away by itself.

When I tried the shot, I had already tried ice, stretching, deep tissue massage, Tylenol, and everything else that had been recommended (except resting it!) And I was playing tennis every day, so it was not getting better. So I tried the shot.
 
I have had a shot in almost every joint in my body. The 1st one in my foot hurt the worst because I didn’t know what to expect. After that when I knew what it was like it was no big deal.
 
Thanks for the information. I had this in my Left foot last year and the pain went away. This year I have it in my right foot. I would just keep icing and stretching but I'm going to Disney and want to have fun (10 days after the shot) :)
I will still be stretching and icing every day. Plus wearing good shoes :)
 


+1 on the suggestion of supportive shoes! I tried hiking boots—instant relief. Also, the Plantar Fasciitis compression socks are very helpful if worn overnight.
 
Another vote for compression socks! I always keep a pair with me in the theme parks and if my foot (it's generally in my right foot) starts to bother me, I can pull those on and keep going. I also wear them at night if my foot has been bothering me.

I found some good insoles called Happy Feet that have also helped tremendously to prevent the PF flaring up. I've never been able to spend more than 3 or 4 hours on my feet without feeling some level of discomfort. I wore these insoles for three 10-14 hour days in a row at WDW (walking about 10 miles per day according to my FitBit) and it wasn't until the end of the very last day that my feet gave out. They are a little expensive, but if you catch a buy one/get one free sale and then take advantage of their follow-up offer that lets you get 4 pairs for just the cost of shipping...you can end up with 6 sets of insoles for the price of one.
 
I've had a couple of cortisone shots, not for PF. One was no big deal. One was SO painful. The pain popped up a day or two later and was nothing like what the shot was supposed to relieve. Burning, constant pain. I won't do another anywhere.

As for PF, I find that walking is a good cure for me. In good shoes, of course. The other thing I've noticed recently is that it seems to pop up for me when I sleep certain ways that causes my foot to be pointed as opposed to flexed. I don't think I'd be able to sleep in a PF boot, but I have simply wrapped my ankle in an ace bandage at night when it's bad. It doesn't keep my foot in a firm flex position, but it does keep me from pointing my foot too much. fwiw.
 
I had one for PF and I almost hit the roof it hurt so much. was fine once it was done and it helped. My feet were really bad though, I could hardly walk. I also got a rx for naproxen. I drove home after, so it was fine.
 
Hurt like hell, actually, but because they also gave me a local anesthetic, not for very long. However, I got zero benefit from it. My foot felt great for the 2 hours it took for the local to wear off, and then it was just as bad as before. At that point the podiatrist said that I needed surgery, and that it would prevent me from driving for at least 4 months. Um, not without a second opinion. I went to an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in foot problems, and he said that I did NOT need surgery. He put me in a walking boot for 2 months and prescribed physical therapy sessions. Six months later I was fine.
 
I had the full series of 3 shots for pf in my right foot. I wanted to get these done before our Disney trip this past spring. The first shot helped, so got the next. Then waited the full time for the third shot. Only one of the shots really hurt, but not unbearable. Just think of the reason you are getting the shots. :)
It helped a lot while at Disney, but I still rented an ECV while at Epcot; just too much walking in WS for me.
I'd do it. Can't hurt and can only help. Good luck.
The other thing that helped the most was wearing shoes in side the house. I always went barefoot before, but no more. I wear comfortable sketchers which has made all the different. No more PF for me, and leaving for WDW in 3 months.
Oh, for your question about driving? Never had a problem with it.
 
I got it for Plantar Fascities a few years ago. The shot itself was VERY painful. The doctor did the shot and the nurse basically held my hand and coached me through it. I got relief almost instantly and it lasted. If I have another bad flare up, I won't hesitate to get another shot even though it hurt like heck while he was doing it.
 
+1 on the suggestion of supportive shoes! I tried hiking boots—instant relief. Also, the Plantar Fasciitis compression socks are very helpful if worn overnight.
where did you find the socks or who sells them. I need some. My left heel is bothering me. A few years ago my right foot, heel and arch hurt so bad. This time its just my left heel. Its been bothering me so bad so I went for deep tissue massage/ It helped a lil but I need to go atleast another 2-3 times
Another vote for compression socks! I always keep a pair with me in the theme parks and if my foot (it's generally in my right foot) starts to bother me, I can pull those on and keep going. I also wear them at night if my foot has been bothering me.

I found some good insoles called Happy Feet that have also helped tremendously to prevent the PF flaring up. I've never been able to spend more than 3 or 4 hours on my feet without feeling some level of discomfort. I wore these insoles for three 10-14 hour days in a row at WDW (walking about 10 miles per day according to my FitBit) and it wasn't until the end of the very last day that my feet gave out. They are a little expensive, but if you catch a buy one/get one free sale and then take advantage of their follow-up offer that lets you get 4 pairs for just the cost of shipping...you can end up with 6 sets of insoles for the price of one.
I use the Dr. shols inserts for heel, arch and ball support and sketchers are the only shoes that seems to work but I'd like to checkout Happy feet insoles. Where can I buy some? Which stores carry it?
 
where did you find the socks or who sells them. I need some. My left heel is bothering me. A few years ago my right foot, heel and arch hurt so bad. This time its just my left heel. Its been bothering me so bad so I went for deep tissue massage/ It helped a lil but I need to go atleast another 2-3 times
I use the Dr. shols inserts for heel, arch and ball support and sketchers are the only shoes that seems to work but I'd like to checkout Happy feet insoles. Where can I buy some? Which stores carry it?

The socks I use came from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXK0J3O/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I3QE4MXRGSS11G&colid=1S0SLIXVMKSA3. Sometimes the price will drop. I paid $12.95 for my last pair (I have two sets).

These are the insoles I bought: https://www.happyfeet.net/product/massaging-liquid-insoles/. I don't think they have a store front, or at least they don't near me. My mom actually discovered them in Silver Dollar City at Branson, MO of all places. I was highly skeptical and the only reason I even tried them was because she got me my first pair as a Christmas gift. One weekend in WDW was all it took to sell me on them...I came straight home and placed an order for another set.

I will say that my pain is not directly in my heel. It's more along the arch of my foot and right where my arch becomes my heel...if that makes any sense. I also have very high arches. So...your mileage may vary depending on your specific problems.
 
I had PF for over a year. The things (all at the same time) that I did that made it finally go away were taping with KT tape, using Heal That Pain heal seats, and getting shoes with memory foam insoles.
 
Just a suggestion. I ended up with terrible heel and ankle tendonitis on my last trip. I was desperate to try anything to help. I ended up buying Kinisio tape via Amazon Now and had it delivered to my resort. I watched some videos on how to apply and wore to the parks. It didn't make the pain go away totally, but I felt a definitive difference and my ankle felt supported. There are videos showing how to apply it for PF. I would give it a try. It can't hurt.
 
I have had many of those shots over the years- they usually hurt a little bit but one I got hurt so much they could hear me scream a 4 letter word out in the waiting room! They usually work short term- only think I found long term that worked was custom orthotics-once I started wearing them I never had pain again. My podiatrist says to always wear a good sneaker, like Nike or New Balance and never wear crocs- he jokes that crocs keep him in business!
 
The cortisone shot I got when I was diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis HURT really badly. The doctor told me it was because the area was inflamed and the cortisone would push against the inflamed areas. It was so bad I gasped, said a couple of ugly words and clenched my teeth. My wife warned me it was going to hurt, but I didn't believe it would hurt that much!

The doctor gave me an air cast to wear around my foot and angle to keep pressure of fit. I was able to drive afterward.
 

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