Plantar Fasciitis Surgery Recovery Time

First, let us understand what is plantar fasciitis actually. The human foot consists of a thick fibrous band of tissues, that originates from the lowermost surface of the heel bone and further extends up to the sole of the foot. This thick fibrous band of tissues is called plantar fascia, and plantar fasciitis is the painful and inflammatory condition of the plantar fascia.

Although the exact cause of plantar fasciitis is not yet identified, there are many factors that result in this condition. Some of them are prolonged walking, or standing at a single place which puts undue pressure on the feet. Being overweight also contributes to plantar fasciitis, as the excessive weight of the upper body puts a lot of stress on the feet. Other possible causes leading to plantar fasciitis are injury to the feet, wearing poorly cushioned shoes, and structural abnormalities such as tight calf muscles, high arches, flat feet, and abnormal inward and outward rolling movements of the feet. Though rarely, diabetes is also observed to be one of the causative factors for plantar fasciitis. Diagnosis is done by observing the patient standing, walking, and also by means of X-rays and/or MRI. But how can it be prevented and treated? Well, there are many cures for this problem. Let us have a look at some of them, and we will also take a closer look at the surgery option besides discussing the plantar fasciitis surgery recovery time.

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

Usually, plantar fasciitis is treated with the help of stretches and exercises. However, if the situation is too aggravated, then doctors might advise surgery as the best option for plantar fasciitis treatment. Some of the simple ways of treating plantar fasciitis are regular stretches prescribed by a specialist. Stretches help in muscle relaxation and also improve blood circulation to the feet. Heel stretching is the most effective and popular exercise for plantar fasciitis. All you have to do is stand facing a wall and rest both your palms on the wall. Now bend your left knee in the front and stretch your right leg towards the back, with the heel touching the floor. Feel a sufficient stretch in the heel and then repeat the exercise with the other leg. A couple of other effective stretching exercises for plantar fasciitis are toe walking and bench stretch.

Apart from stretches, remedial measures with a doctor's consultation, such as losing weight to release the stress off the feet, medications such as ibuprofen, ice treatment which involves the application of an ice pack on the feet for about 10 minutes in a day, sufficient rest, and special plantar fasciitis shoes, are also found to be effective. Let us now move onto the surgical procedures involved in curing plantar fasciitis.

Surgery for Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis surgery becomes necessary either when the condition is not cured with any of the aforementioned remedies or when the condition has caused a lot of damage to the person's feet, and the pain is unsustainable. Generally, treatment for plantar fasciitis are in the form of therapies. However, it should be noted that a medical intervention is necessary before going in for any of these surgeries. Some of the commonly followed surgeries are mentioned below,

• Plantar Fascia Release: Plantar fascia is the most common surgical procedure. Plantar fascia release, as the name suggests, is a surgical release or removal of the fascia. This surgery is done by preparing a small incision on the inside of the heel and then the painful tissues or the inflamed part is removed.
• Physical Therapy: Physical therapy does not involve any surgery. Rather, in this, the plantar fasciitis specialists suggest some advanced plantar fasciitis exercises and stretches that would help in relieving the pain.
• Injection Therapy: In some cases, injection therapy is implemented. This therapy involves the use of corticosteroid injections to alleviate pain in the plantar fascia region.
• Orthotic Devices: If structural abnormalities are also found to be a major reason for plantar fasciitis, then orthotic devices are placed in your shoes. These orthotic devices repair the structural abnormalities and thus relieve the person from pain

Recovery Time for Plantar Fasciitis Surgery

The recovery time needed after a plantar fasciitis surgery generally varies from person to person and also depends upon the severity of the problem. Normally, younger people recover faster as compared to the elderly. On an average, for a normal adult, it takes around 3 to 4 weeks for the tissues to heel. In some cases, complete recovery takes a couple of months or more. However, in most cases (almost 90 percent), the recovery time is almost a year after the surgery. The patient might also be required to wear a cast or take the help of crutches to stand and walk around. The best way to reduce the recovery time is to perform regular exercises and plantar fasciitis stretches, as prescribed by the foot and ankle specialist.

As mentioned earlier, plantar fasciitis surgery recovery time largely depends on the patient and severity of the situation. Nevertheless, now you have a fair idea of how much time it takes to recover completely. If you are experiencing any such problem. it is better to consult your doctor in case of pain and inflammation, and get the problem cured at an earlier stage itself.