If a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis was correct, would an mri show tears? i have been treating it for two years with no success and still have extreme pain. the mri showed only fluid.

Possibly: You are correct to quesiton the diagnosis. Fluid within the plantar fascia may represent torn areas. Fluid around the plantar fascia is just inflammation and may be caused by something else. There are several other diagnoses to be explored if the diagnosis of plantar fasciits can not be confirmed. There are nerves, muscles and other soft tissue structures that could be causing the pain.

No: Mri's are wonderful tools but can miss things that are there and show things that are not clinically significant in terms of producing symptoms. I would recommend you see a good podiatrist or orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle conditions.

Not always tears: Plantar fasciitis is not tears of the tissue, but thickening of the tissue.

Plantar fasciitis: If your diagnosis is plantar fasciitis and after 2 years of treatment you have not been helped, then it stands to reason that either the treatment is innappropriate for you or the diagnosis may need to be more comprehensive then just your foot problem. Generally, patients who do not heal through conventional therapies need to take a very close look at their immune system.

No: By definition "-itis" means inflammation. Tears do happen but then the diagnosis would be plantar fascial tear..... Biomechanics plays a role in the condition. You didnt state what treatments you tried. If the fascia is injured or inflammed it needs to be rested and you need to decrease the strain on it.