Complete recovery is expected when trench foot is diagnosed early; but when sensation returns, there can be severe temporary pain to the affected area, even when a complete recovery is expected.
Although the symptoms of trench foot may be alleviated by slowly warming up the affected extremity, there’s a possibility of long-term (chronic) tissue damage and chronic pain, particularly in severe cases.
A person who has been diagnosed with trench foot could end up requiring long-term follow-up medical intervention for one of several potential complications of trench foot (such as long-term damage to the blood vessels).
The amount of exposure time, coupled with the severity of the influential factors (such as outdoor temperature) will factor into a person’s prognosis.