Is Plantar Fasciitis a Permanent Condition?: Leonard Greenwald, DPM: Podiatrist (2024)

FAQs

Is Plantar Fasciitis a Permanent Condition?: Leonard Greenwald, DPM: Podiatrist? ›

Far from being a permanent or chronic condition, plantar fasciitis typically responds well to treatment.

You may even feel throbbing or stabbing pain during periods of rest. Therefore, in the absence of interventions to control or minimize Plantar Fasciitis, you may reach a point where you feel pain all day. you do not treat your Plantar Fasciitis, permanent disability may even occur.

If untreated, plantar fasciitis may result in permanent disability. Luckily, minor cases of plantar fasciitis can be treated at home. Icing the affected foot can help relieve the compression experienced in the heel and reduce pain and swelling; OTC medication can achieve the same effects.

Daily load on the plantar fascia exacerbates the inflammation, and in just a short time frame of 2-4 weeks, the condition becomes chronic. In some patients, heel spurs may also form as the fascia pulls at the attachment point on the bone.

Most people who have plantar fasciitis recover in several months with conservative treatment, such as icing the painful area, stretching, and modifying or staying away from activities that cause pain.

Inflammation and tension on the plantar fascia can cause tiny tears in the fascia over time. Your pain will gradually worsen as a result, and if left untreated, these tears could multiply and enlarge, making the plantar fascia more prone to rupture and disablement.

How long does plantar fasciitis last? Plantar fasciitis can typically take anywhere from 3-12 months to get better. But how fast you heal depends on your level of activity and how consistently you're using at-home treatments. But again, if you're not feeling relief, don't wait to get care.

If it has gotten so bad to the point where you can't walk without being in a significant amount of pain, it's time for you to try physical therapy. Working with a physical therapist can help you reduce your pain and support your plantar fascia for improved comfort when walking.

Plantar fasciitis in one or both feet that is responsive to treatment will receive a rating of 10%. If the plantar fasciitis affects one foot but is not responsive to treatment, the condition will be rated 20%.

In these cases, the strain on the plantar fascia has been so great and so repetitive that acute inflammation develops as does extreme pain. Patients with severe P.F will usually describe to the sports podiatrist an extreme level of pain that is present for most of the day.

Should I limit walking with plantar fasciitis? ›

In fact, walking may actually inflame the plantar fascia more, leading to an extension of your treatment. While it's not walking alone that could further inflame the ligament, if you're not wearing the right shoes or are exerting yourself too much, the plantar fasciitis can flare up.

High-impact sports or activities – Like running and plyometrics, any exercise involving high impact on the feet can cause aggravated plantar fasciitis pain. Constant pounding of the grass or pavement, like in football or soccer can cause inflammation of the plantar fascia.

While it is a prevalent foot condition, it's crucial to recognise that several other conditions can mimic its symptoms. These include heel spurs, tarsal tunnel syndrome, Achilles tendinitis, stress fractures, and bursitis.

Applying ice to the injured tissue, massaging the area, or using a combination of both approaches 2 to 3 times daily for 5 to 10 minutes at a time can help to treat plantar fasciitis. Rolling the bottom of your foot on a plastic ball covered in soft spikes is an easy form of massage your doctor may recommend.

One of the main reasons why plantar fasciitis takes so long to heal is because the plantar fascia is subjected to a lot of stress and strain on a daily basis. The feet bear the weight of the entire body and are subjected to a lot of impact, particularly when we engage in activities such as walking, running, or jumping.

Stage 3 is for those who have had plantar fasciitis for one year or longer, whose symptoms are severe and preventing them from work or recreation. It involves a surgical release of part of the insertion of the plantar fascia.