Common questions asked by many dealing with this painful injury. Read to find out!
Almost everyone who is experiencing plantar-fasciitis feels like their pain will NEVER go away.
Many report that they feel the following:
- “Constantly standing on rocks”
- “A pin is stuck in their foot”
- “First few steps after being seated are excruciating”
- “A dull ache all the time”
A common question I get asked is will my plantar-fasciitis last forever?
The answer to this solely depends on what you do about it. It is very rare to see anybody experience such an injury for longer than 6 months, however it is not impossible. Experiencing plantar-fasciitis forever is extremely unlikely unless there were many repeated mistakes in the treatment and management of the injury.
The next question that commonly gets asked is, “if this won’t be forever, then how long before I can get back to doing all the things I used to pain-free?”
This is a very tricky question as it depends on the individual and the severity of the plantar-fasciitis. Majority of cases that I see will depend on
- How long have they had the injury? (less than 3 months or greater than)
- What footwear are they wearing 90% of the time?
- What is their occupation?
- How much do they weigh?
- How many hours a week are spent walking/running/sporting activity
- What is their lower-limb muscle strength like?
- Have they had any previous injuries?
- What is their walking pattern like?
- And many more factors!
Essentially there are over 50+ factors that can determine the time of rehabilitation and return to work/sport/pain-free living so it is too difficult to provide a generalised figure. If I had to provide a range, I generally see very positive results within 1-3 months of consistent treatment (with the exception of a few complex cases).
The last question I get asked is, “if this generally takes 1-3 months to resolve, what can you do for me that will get me back to pain-free living as fast and effectively as possible?”
Plantar-fasciitis can be treated through the following (however a biomechanical analysis during your initial consultation will be required to determine which of these is most appropriate for you)
- Exercise program targeting specific muscle groups and deficits
- Orthotics that can redistribute the pressure
- Footwear recommendations and modifications
- Taping, Massage, Assisted stretching, Dry needling, Mobilisations
- Shockwave therapy, Low-level laser therapy
- Various other techniques.
I highly recommend that if you do experience plantar-fasciitis or any foot-related pain, that you seek a professional opinion as soon as possible. It is not normal to experience pain in the lower body on a daily basis, and that pain is always stemming from something in the body. Until you address the root cause, it will always be persistent/linger/or return when you least expect it to and you run the risk of taking more time off work and reducing your quality of living. Trust me, we see this happen all too often!
Do not delay treating your heel pain!
Should you have any questions or would like to know if we can help you, then do not hesitate to call our team on (03) 9711 7562 or make an appointment with me through Book Online | The Footcare Clinic on our website!
