How would you know if plantar fasciitis is chronic or not? by the number of episodes w/i a period of time,or is there a test a podiatrist can perform?

Well...: There is a lot a podiatrist can do for plantar fasciitis after evaluating it in person: From prothetic inserts for your shoes, to teaching exercises, to splints, injections and even forms of ultrasound. You should not panic, and be proactive.

Length of time: most PF lasts a few weeks at most. Recurrent and chronic last longer. Custom functional orthotics are the gold standard for those cases