Advanced Foot & Ankle provides non-surgical option for heel pain

If you've been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis (heel spurs), you already know how frustrating the condition can be.

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain and affects about 2.5 million people each year in the U.S. The ligament that stretches along the bottom of the foot (the plantar fascia) is responsible for maintaining the arch of your foot. When the plantar fascia pulls away from the bone, your heel becomes painful. Your body may react by filling this space with new bone - a heel spur. Most people think that heel spurs are the cause of their foot pain - but the pain is actually caused by the inflammation or irritation of your plantar fascia muscle.

Plantar fasciitis is caused by a number of factors and is a common sports injury among runners, walkers and athletes. Overweight people and those whose jobs require a lot of standing or walking are also at higher risk. Other factors leading to plantar fasciitis include flat- or high-arched feet, worn out or improper shoes, jogging on sand - and increasing age.

Unfortunately, many treatment options are inadequate for some who suffer from the heel pain caused by the resulting inflammation. Our specially trained podiatrists utilize a FDA-approved Dornier Epos Ultra® device that uses shock waves to provide relief. This device sends high-energy shockwaves through the foot to jump start the healing process. The procedure is non-invasive and is performed in our office — and it is approved by many insurance carriers.

The shockwave therapy system produces the actual shock waves (also known as pressure or sound waves), which travel through the therapy head's water-filled cushion. This cushion is placed against your foot during treatment. The entire treatment takes approximately a half hour. Based on worldwide medical experience, extracorporeal shock wave therapy is a safe and effective alternative to the traditional treatment methods available. Shock wave therapy relieves pain and provides a short recovery period. This therapy may eliminate the need for surgery altogether, which is often expensive and could cause other health problems.

There are very few side effects or risks involved with shock wave therapy. The most common patient complaint during therapy is some pain or discomfort during and after treatment. Other side effects might include minor skin bruising and/or reddening, as well as swelling for a brief period of time.

Dr. Kenneth Bloom and Dr. Kurt Massey can discuss treatment options and whether shockwave therapy is right for you.