I have had two injections of a steroid into my left foot over the years.

1)...this first one was into the ball of my foot which was swollen, and Xrays showed a broken sesamoid bone (which is still there BTW)... the steroid worked for the tendon inflammation caused by the broken sesamoid bone moving around. I then rather guarded my foot, and it did not recur...the terrible pain that is.

2) I had a spider bite on that ankle many years later, and after it resolved from the medications a doctor on vacation gave me (antibiotics, Atarax, prednisone), the ankle still hurt. So I went to a different podiatrist and he injected the ankle with a steroid...this DID NOT work and has created pain and some swelling that comes and goes in that ankle where he did the shot.
I am not sure if this is connected, but it seems so. I won't be eager for any future shots should they be offered. My Xrays in July showed lots of spurring on the ankle bones. Right now the ankle is not swelling so much and is mostly quiet. So I am enjoying the lull.

I also find Salonpas patches OTC original formula, do afford some anti-inflammatory relief and I use them pretty frequently on my instep and ankle, when I feel pain in that foot at night. I had the left big toenail removed after a minor accident with that foot in July (stubbed it), and for some reason removing the toenail quieted the swelling I was having in that ankle for YEARS. I wonder if there was a minor fungal infection under that nail? The ankle has been in good shape since the nail was removed. This new development is puzzling for sure!