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Hi,

I am conducting a study on CAD-CAM orthoses on adults who suffer from chronic heel pain, but I am finding it difficult defining what makes heel pain chronic. i.e. How many months need to pass for heel pain to become chronic? Help would be very appreciated.

Mark

 

The definitions of "chronic" vary from place to place and I not aware of any consensus.

You may have to make a judgement call and say "3 months" or "6 months"

 

Thanks for your reply Craig,

I'm going to have to find something concrete though that defines it as my research could end up being criticized on this point if I make an assumption. But yeah I agree, 3-6 months sounds about right

 

Hi

In Pavier and my study of bupivacaine infiltration for PF, we did not use any arbitrary figure but simply relied on patient reports of 'numerous previous treatment'. I do not think that the term 'chronic' has been defined in these instances, so as Craig suggests, I'd go ahead with 6 months and your paper will then define chronicity for our future colleagues. Fame, of a sort, forever!

Cheers

Bill

 

Historically it is daily pain X 6 months = Chronic.

 

The term "chronic" is not precisely defined but is generally understood within the medical profession to be pain lasting on daily or almost daily basis for over 3-6 months.

Here is what wikipedia says about the definition of chronic pain:

Hope this helps.

 

WIKIPEDIA:
3 to 6 months though some put it at 12 months, others more than 30 days.....

That does clear it up!
haha

Since there apparently isn't any definitive, quantitative time frame placed on the "chronic" in chronic fasciitis; and since I'm getting a tad old and need a legacy..... (besides Arbes' Cove...that small area just dorsal to a heel spur and inferior to the plantar surface of the os calcis as seen on a later x-ray for those with a spur).......

I hereby suggest that any patient with complaints of heel pain attributed to plantar fasciitis equal to or greater than a 6 month period (using the Gregorian Calendar) be termed CHRONIC FASCIITIS. Since I have taken the opportunity to document this on a world wide forum used by millions of foot professionals, I think it only fitting that Chronic Fasciitis be known, from here on forward, as (ready?).......................................................................

Arbes' Fasciitis.

Got a nice ring to it.

Symptoms must be genuine and not merely a useful complaint to get out of domestic chores such as taking the garbage out or mowing the lawn; nor using heel pain as an excuse to sleep in on Monday Morning and missing work after a long weekend.

Back to work

Steve

 

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! Much appreciated.

Mr. Kirby, at my university in Malta we learn about your work, particularly the Kirby Skive, so I can say I am some what honored ;)

Dr S Arbes, nice try! Going to be a little harder than that to get your new terminology to become mainstream.. but it does have a nice ring to it, I'll give you that :)

Thanks again