Steroids can be a useful therapy for immediate relief from foot pain, but there are risks associated with these types of injections. Although steroid injections are well within the standard of care, side effects include fat pad atrophy, weakening of the fascia and even rupture or tearing of the fascia. Steroid injections are commonly utilized as an invasive method to mask the pain of plantar fasciitis, but you should note that the relief is temporary if you don’t take steps to address the cause.

The cost of injections run about $50-300 per shot, not including the office visit, X-ray, and possible advanced imaging, so it can get pretty pricey over time. Because of these issues and risks, your doctor may recommend only a few treatments a year. Check out our article on the risks of steroid injections for more information.

Change your Footwear

A great way to treat your plantar fasciitis without the use of steroids is to use footwear that helps your own body naturally correct and heal your feet as you walk.

We recommend using the Original Healing Sole patented flip flop. This patented flip flop, developed by board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Meredith Warner, is designed to help heal your feet as you walk. While we like to think it works like magic, there’s actual science behind how The Healing Sole shoes correct and help treat the symptoms of plantar fasciitis.

The rocker bottom sole of the shoe minimizes the concentration of weight placed on the foot and supports the muscles, fascia, tendons & ligaments of the feet.
The raised big toe lift (AKA the Cluffy Wedge®) works with our rocker bottom to provide a gentle and necessary stretch to the plantar fascia as you walk.
The raised arch support provides you with low profile arch support to keep your body aligned, balanced and supported. This also seeks to offload the forefoot, another common area of pain.
Our firm footbed with the patented metatarsal bar, which is 100% unique to our design, protects your feet, provides support to the arch and sole, and offloads the muscles of the foot as you walk.
A compressible inner heel and non-compressible outer heel provides support and comfort at the point of maximum pain. This also allows for a normal heel strike during walking to avoid the abnormal tilt many people use to avoid putting pressure on the painful area.

Add Anti-Inflammatory Supplements to Your Daily Routine

In addition to changing your footwear, you should consider adding anti-inflammatory supplements. The fundamental problem with the connective tissue and plantar fasciitis is damage from chronic low-grade inflammation.

Tart Cherry Extract

We highly recommend starting with the tart cherry extract supplement by The Well Theory. This antioxidant-rich supplement helps relieve pain and promote muscle health and recovery. It reduces inflammation by blocking the same enzymes as over-the-counter pain relievers. For more information on what this supplement can do, check out this article on how tart cherry helps plantar fasciitis.

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Joint Health Multi

Another supplement to help with inflammation and pain relief is Turmeric. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which is a very strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Many consider this spice for their natural pain relief, rather than a chemically-based alternative. There’s a whole list of reasons and benefits of adding turmeric to your diet.

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Vitamin C

New research has shown that vitamin C may have potential anti-inflammatory effects as well as may promote the healing of connective tissue. However, more research is needed to fully understand its potential benefits for plantar fasciitis, and vitamin C supplements should not be used as a substitute for other treatments for plantar fasciitis. Vitamin C is a necessary cofactor for the normal development of strong connective tissue.

If you are considering taking vitamin C supplements for plantar fasciitis, or any supplement, it's important to speak with your healthcare provider first to determine the appropriate dosage and to ensure that it is safe for you.

We’ve only listed a few here, but there are so many other foods that help fight pain naturally.