Treatment of Heel Pain

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After being diagnosed for the cause for your heel pain, your podiatrists will offer a comprehensive treatment plan based on your individual needs. A conservative approach will probably be implanted first. This can include:

• Taking oral or injectable anti-inflammatory medications
• Applying ice for swelling and pain
• Taping the foot to support the arch
• Recommendations of proper foot wear
• Stretching of the calf muscles to help with Achilles tendonitis
• Physical therapy
• Utilizing an orthotic device or night splint

The orthotic device is beneficial in correcting biomechanical misalignments. It offers support to the tendons and ligaments, sustaining the heel bone and control excessive pronation of the foot. The utilization of an orthotic device may be effective, thus a surgical approach to your heel pain may not be needed.
Shock wave therapy is another conservative approach that may be beneficial. This non invasive surgical procedure uses sounds waves to treat chronic heel pain. The process is done on a outpatient basis and typically takes about thirty minutes using local anesthesia. The shock waves are aimed at the localized site, increasing the blood flow to that specific area. This allows for a healing response. Typically, a patient is able to resume normal activity the day after the procedure is done, although strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for at least 4-6 weeks.

Conventional surgery may be necessary to treat chronic heel pain that has not responded to conservative treatment. Surgery typically involves releasing the plantar fascia tissue or removing a bone spur or bursa. When the plantar fascia is released, the arch of the foot may not function normally and orthotic devices will be prescribed and should be used to provide extra support and alignment for this imbalance. If the imbalances are not corrected, hammer toes and bunions may develop causing pain and aggravation.

Heel pain can also be treated with a nonsurgical therapy called radio frequency coblation. This an effective therapy used in cases that are not responsive to conservative care. After local anesthesia you podiatrists guide a catheter with a probe at its tip, and places it into your heel in the areas where you are experiencing pain. Then mild painless energy, similar to microwave heat, is transmitted thru the damaged tissue, theoretically destroying the pain causing area. This is typically a 15-20 minutes procedure in you podiatrist’s office or surgical suite. Patients are ambulatory immediately following the procedure with minimal discomfort. To date, the procedure doesn’t appear to cause significant complications, however long term studies have not been performed to determine its effectiveness.

Autogenous Platelet Concentration Procedure, or APC, has been used for decades and has proven to be especially effective in the treatment of:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Tibial dysfunction
• Achilles tendonitis
• Neuropathic or Trophic ulcers
• Neuroma

APC is composed of platelets and plasma. Platelets are tiny cells that are partially responsible for causing blood to clot and they also contain large reservoirs of natural growth factors. Arising from platelets, growth factors initiate connective tissue healing, promote the development of new blood vessels and stimulate the healing process. APC is made from small sample of you own blood. Your podiatrists will acquire blood in a technique designed to prevent fragmentation of the platelets. This process will separate your platelets from your red blood cells in less than fifteen minutes, resulting in a concentrated amount of platelets and increases the amount of growth factors naturally found in the body by 4 to 6 times. Injecting platelet rich plasma made from your own blood mimics the final step of clotting process and enables the injury site to quickly heal. This technique enables areas that may not receive optimal blood flow, such as tendons and ligaments, to heal and regenerate. Minutes after the procedure, you are able to leave the doctor’s office with a simple sterile dressing. You must not restrict from the use of non steroid anti inflammatory medications for two weeks prior to this procedure and throughout the process. And you will be immobilized in a walker boot and physical activity is prohibited. This ensures the platelets remain in site. The procedure should take one hour and bed rest should proceed for 4 days up to a week, if possible. If you have a tendon or ligament injury and conservative method has not resolved your pain, APC might be the next choice in therapy. Your podiatrists will discuss all treatment options with you and come up with a comprehensive plan based on your individual needs.

Phone: (505) 883-6600 |info@angelafootdoctor.com