Plantar Fasciitis Recovery Time

Plantar fasciitis recovery time will range from about 2 weeks to 12 months, depending on the severity of the case. For mild cases, recovery time can be between 2 to 4 weeks, moderate cases can stretch to 6 to 12 weeks, while severe or chronic cases can take between 3 to 6 months or more.

Key Takeaways

• Recovery time is largely dependent on the severity of the case. Recovery time can be as short as 2 to 6 weeks, in mild cases, to as much as 6 to 12 months in severe cases.
• Early treatment ensures that recovery time is faster because the severity level will still be mild.
• With treatment, consistency is crucial to ensure, quick and steady recovery.
• Chronic or severe cases will require more aggressive treatment options, which will require much longer recovery times.
• Recovery from plantar fasciitis is possible without treatment. It will, however, take much longer.
• Full recovery from plantar fasciitis is possible. In fact, about 80% of people with plantar fasciitis recover fully with the right treatment.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, caused by overuse and repetitive stress, which results in microtears. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that is located on the bottom of the foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes. This tissue helps absorb shock during movement and also provides important support to the arch.

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

When the plantar fascia gets inflamed as a result of the micro-tears caused by repetitive stress and overuse, the following symptoms are often experienced:

• Sharp heel pain that’s felt more with the first steps in the morning or after a prolonged period of rest, but eases off with movement.
• Pain that gets worse after activities rather than during activities.
• Stiffness in the foot

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment and Recovery Time

The treatment of plantar fasciitis focuses on reducing inflammation and pain, while also addressing the underlying factor to prevent a recurrence. Generally, the typical treatment phases will look like this:

1. Diagnosis and Treatment Plan - This is the initial stage where diagnosis is made and a treatment plan, recommended.
2. Treatment and Pain Management - At this stage, treatment has commenced with a view to reducing inflammation and the pain associated with it.
3. Rehabilitation and Preventive Measures - With inflammation and pain reduced, this is where muscle strength and flexibility is restored and steps taken to prevent a recurrence.

Each of the stages above will take varying lengths of time, depending on some factors, with the level of severity being the top factor.

Treatment and Recovery Timelines by Severity

The severity levels under consideration are:

• Mild Plantar Fasciitis
• Moderate Plantar Fasciitis
• Severe/Chronic Plantar Fasciitis

Mild Plantar Fasciitis

This describes an early-stage condition where the heel pain is mild, even with the first steps in the morning. This type of pain will improve as you continue with the day's activities, and even at its peak, it doesn't significantly hamper your daily activities.

At this stage, plantar fasciitis can be treated with:

• Activity Modification and Rest - Giving the foot some rest by cutting down on high-impact activities for between 1 to 2 weeks.
• Pain Medication - Use of over-the-counter pain medication like NSAIDs for quick, short-term relief from pain and inflammation.
• Ice Therapy - Applying ice packs on the affected area for between 15 to 20 minutes, especially after activities, to reduce swelling.
• Orthotics and Supportive Footwear - Using orthotic insoles and shoes that offer arch support and comfort.
• Simple Exercises - Exercises, like plantar fascia stretches and calf stretches, that help with plantar fasciitis.

When carried out consistently, the treatment plans listed above will result in pain relief in about 2 to 4 weeks. For most mild cases that are treated quickly, full recovery is achieved within 6 weeks.

Moderate Plantar Fasciitis

Moderate cases of plantar fasciitis usually develop from mild cases that were ignored or badly treated. At this level of severity, the pain level has increased, with the morning pains more intense. Recovery times between flare-ups also take longer.

Treatment at this stage will usually require the following:

• Activity Modification and Extended Rest - Give the foot some rest by changing from high-impact activities to low-impact options. Examples include swimming and cycling.
• Custom Orthotics - Using specially made orthotics, like Stride Soles' Custom Orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis, to increase arch support, increase shock absorption, and weight distribution.
• Corticosteroid Injections - Used to provide pain relief for severe heel pain that is unresponsive to other pain medications.
• Night Splints - For keeping the fascia stretched through the night to reduce heel pain in the morning.
• Physical Therapy - Structured exercises to strengthen the plantar fascia, the calves, and the ankles.
• Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) - Used to increase flexibility in the fascia, and to stimulate the healing process by increasing blood flow to the damaged tissue.

These treatment options, when followed through, can lead to noticeable pain relief within 6 to 12 weeks. Full recovery, to be able to return to high-impact activities, may take between 3 to 6 months.

Chronic/Severe Plantar Fasciitis

Chronic, or severe plantar fasciitis, describes a case where the heel pain has persisted for over 6 months. This will also usually result in major limitations in mobility, which will in turn affect your ability to perform your daily activities.

Severe, or chronic plantar fasciitis, usually means that conservative treatment has failed to provide any real solution. In fact, cases like these may have also been further complicated with issues like tissue degeneration or heel spurs.

Treating severe cases like these will often require more aggressive treatment options like:

• Complete Immobilization - This may entail having to wear cast or walking boots to ensure that the plantar fascia is completely rested.
• Extensive Lifestyle Changes - These may include modification of contributing workplace factors, weight management, and permanent foot support.
• Advanced Medical Solutions - Examples include Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections, which stimulate the healing process, and Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), which promotes flexibility and also increases blood flow to the damaged tissue, speeding up the healing process.
• Surgery - While this option is rarely used, it may become necessary if plantar fascia release is required or if there's a need to remove heel spurs.

The non-surgical treatment options may show results within 3 to 6 months. Recovery from any of the surgical procedures will take between 6 to 12 weeks, and then 3 to 6 months for rehabilitation. Generally, full recovery and return to normal activities for the two will take between 6 months to 1 year.

Factors that Affect Recovery Time

The recovery process will not be the same for everyone. Certain factors will determine how quickly one will recover from plantar fasciitis. These factors include:

• Severity of the Condition - This is an obvious factor and has been discussed above. The milder cases will have a faster recovery time than the more severe cases.
• Age - As we get older, our bodies take longer to heal and recover. Younger patients will recover faster than older ones.
• Occupation - Folks whose work requires that they spend extended periods on their feet will likely take longer to recover because their feet won't have enough rest time.
• Lifestyle - People who engage in high-impact activities and continue to do so during treatment will have a difficult time recovering.
• Body Weight - Obesity increases the stress on the fascia, interfering with the healing and recovery process. This means: more weight, longer recovery time.
• Footwear Choices - Wearing appropriate footwear (shoes that offer arch support and comfort) will speed up the recovery process, while inappropriate footwear (flat shoes, worn shoes, and high heels) will slow down recovery time.
• Consistency with Treatment - Treatment consistency ensures that recovery time is faster.

How to Speed Up Recovery

The following tips will help speed up recovery from plantar fasciitis:

• Treatment Consistency - Staying consistent with your treatment plan is the first step to speeding up recovery.
• Lifestyle and Activity Adjustment - Reducing high-impact activities to give the plantar fascia time to recover and heal ensures that recovery happens faster. This will include switching high-impact activities to lower-impact ones like cycling and swimming.
• Supportive Footwear - These provide continuous arch support, shock absorption, and weight distribution, which reduces the stress on the fascia, helping it recover faster.
• Supportive and Recovery Devices - These include orthotics, massage tools, and compression socks, all of which can facilitate the recovery of the plantar fascia.
• Weight Management - Keeping your weight down will reduce the strain on the fascia, making recovery easier.

Conclusion

We’ve taken some time to discuss plantar fasciitis recovery time and factors that can affect it, and how to speed this time up. With this information, you can now ensure that you’re taking the right steps to make your recovery time faster, and not slower.

FAQ

Can plantar fasciitis heal without treatment?

Yes! It can heal without treatment, but it will take much longer. However, for healing to occur, the underlying factor must be addressed.

How long does plantar fasciitis last without treatment?

Plantar fasciitis can last from up to 18 months without treatment. This time can be considerably reduced with medical treatment and the right care.

Is complete recovery always possible?

Yes! Full recovery from plantar fasciitis is possible with the right treatment! It, however, is important for the underlying risk factors to be addressed to avoid a recurrence.

Does running affect recovery time?

Yes! Running is a high-impact activity, which will put more strain on the fascia, causing more micro-tears and making recovery time longer.

Must I completely stop exercising during recovery?

You can switch high-impact activities, like running, for lower-impact activities, like swimming and cycling.