Whether the pain is on the bottom of the heel or in the back of the foot at the Achilles tendon, it is important to understand the nature of the deformity in order to appropriately treat the symptoms. Heel pain syndrome, usually known as plantar fasciitis or heel spur syndrome, is a chronic condition caused by an altered walking pattern.
Heel pain is usually present with the first step of the morning or when rising out of a chair after sitting for a long time. It can also be present after walking for long periods of time and at the end of the day. Usually a biomechanical alteration of normal gait, heel pain can be effectively controlled without surgery in most cases.
Orthotic management and control is the most important treatment for reducing heel pain and controlling the mechanics of the altered walking pattern. Other treatments for heel pain include ice, anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injection therapy, stretching, night splinting, physical therapy, and orthotics.
Our doctors offer the newest and extremely effective technology for heel pain syndrome called extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) otherwise known as orthotripsy. The modality delivers focused shock waves to the body, inducing microtrauma to the area that the body recognizes.
This non-invasive procedure only requires three treatments performed weekly to achieve an 80% reduction in symptoms.
This process divides the different types of blood cells. The product that is reinjected into the injured site is rich in growth factors that stimulate a healing cascade in the body. It signals to the body to initiate healing that has slowed or ceased causing long-term pain in a given area such as the plantar fascia. The benefits are that it is an individual’s own cells that are used. This does not use any energy, grafting, or outside modality making this truly a “green” medical treatment.
In most cases, the procedure is done in an office visit and only one session is required. Although this is not covered by insurance, it is certainly the most advanced and cutting-edge treatment that has kept many patients out of surgery.
