How Long Does Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Take?
We’ve all got busy lives, which can make it easy to ignore a nagging pain and just keep on going. However, leaving painful conditions untreated can actually cause the treatment and recovery to take longer in the end. If you’re dealing with pain on the bottom of your foot, between your heel and toes, you might be suffering from plantar fasciitis. There’s no better time to get it treated than today!
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common foot pain issues we see here at Precision Foot and Ankle Centers. It most commonly occurs in middle-aged men and women, but can affect people of all ages. It especially affects individuals who are on their feet a lot during the day or those who participate in strenuous exercise regularly.
One foot or both can be afflicted with plantar fasciitis. It’s caused by strain on the ligament that runs the length of your foot from your heel to your toe - your plantar fascia. That strain leads to small tears or injuries that cause pain and swelling throughout your foot.
How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed?
As with many conditions, the longer you wait to get treatment, the more painful it will become. Once you make your appointment, your podiatrist will perform a full examination of your feet. They will determine the severity by:
Finding the location of the pain
Testing your reflexes in the affected foot and ankle
Establishing your degree of flexibility, alignment, and range of motion
Once the exam is complete, your doctor will recommend treatment that works with your specific condition.
What does treatment look like?
Treatment for plantar fasciitis varies from patient to patient depending on the severity. Here are the most common treatments:
Over the counter medications
Physical therapy
Stretches
Shockwave therapy
Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomies
Often treatment will include a combination of these methods.
How long will treatment take?
Since plantar fasciitis is caused by continued damage to your plantar fascia tendon, the healing process can take several weeks. This depends on the severity of the case, but for some patients, the pain can persist for several months during treatment. While there may be lingering discomfort, what’s waiting is a pain-free life afterwards!
Get in touch with our board-certified podiatrists, Dr. Eric Feit, Dr. Alona Kashanian, and Dr. Roohbakhsh Maher to schedule an appointment! Our offices are in Los Angeles, Torrance, and San Pedro, CA.