4 Advanced Heel Pain Treatments You Can't Get Anywhere Else

Plantar Fasciitis is the most common causes of heel pain. It is the inflammation of a band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. Studies show that 7-10% of the US population has plantar fasciitis at any given point. If you fall into that percentage you understand the throbbing that comes from those first few steps in the morning. The post exercise pain and the feeling of stepping on needles after rising from hours of sitting, is just a part of your life. Perhaps you have tried the home remedies to no avail. You have even sought out medical expertise and yet, find you are still living with pain. Perhaps, you fear that you will live with pain forever.

There are other options to relieve your pain. Neuhaus Foot and Ankle uses a wide variety of treatments to ensure their patients can live a happy, active, and pain free lives. These options include; cortisone injections, shockwave therapy, custom orthotics, stem cell injections. Read on to learn more about these treatments. 

Ultrasound-guided Cortisone Injections:

Medical author Simon Johnson teaches that “cortisone is a fast acting and powerful anti-inflammatory drug that can provide quick relief to a variety of injuries and maladies”. Within seconds of receiving a cortisone injection, the inflammation will begin relieving itself. Our podiatrists use ultrasound to identify the precise point of inflammation so you get the most effective relief and avoid multiple trips due to less effective treatments.

Pro’s of Cortisone Injection:

• Quick fix
• Reduces swelling and inflammation instantly
• Maximum of 3-4 treatments a year
• Treatment’s pain is nothing more than that of a shot
• At Neuhaus Foot and Ankle we use ultrasound guided injections which are shown to be the most effective method

Con’s of cortisone Injection:

• Treats the pain, but not the cause
• Some patients may be at risk of allergic reactions
• Cartilage around the injection site can degrade with long term use of cortisone
• Weakened tendon with long term use
• Nerve damage around injection site after long term use

Shockwave Therapy:

Shock wave therapy sends mechanical energy into your body to provide fast pain relief and increased mobility of the foot. Sources show that shockwave Therapy for plantar fasciitis has a reported success rate of up to 88% of patients. Our doctors recommend shockwave with more severe cases in plantar fasciitis, but not all cases see results. It’s important to talk to your podiatrist to see if shockwave therapy is right for you.   

Pros of Shockwave Therapy:

• Fast pain relief and increased mobility
• Similar success rates to surgery but without the recovery
• Few complications

Cons of Shockwave Therapy:

• Most health insurances will not cover shockwave therapy for Plantar Fasciitis
• Treatments are repeated every 5-7 days: normally 3-6 treatments required
• No guarantee it will be a permanent solution

Custom Orthotics:

A custom orthotic is a prescribed medical device from a doctor. Custom means,  a doctor uses casts, impressions, or scans to perfectly fit your foot. A doctor-designed orthotic will control the alignment and function of your foot.  In practice since 2003, Dr. Neuhaus and the doctors at Neuhaus Foot and Ankle provide custom orthotics for patients dealing with foot pain, including plantar fasciitis. Plantar Fasciitis can be described simply as the flattening of the foot. An orthotic holds the arch high and eliminates this problem.

Pros of Custom Orthotics:

• Decreases tension of plantar fasciitis
• Effectively relieves pain by conforming to the arch of the foot
• Corrects the misalignment in the foot
• Half the price of non-custom orthotics from The Good Feet Store

Cons of Custom Orthotics:

• Must be wearing the shoe with the inserts to relieve pain
• More expensive than over-the-counter arch supports
• Not always covered by insurance

Stem Cell Injection:  A stem cell injection will regenerate the damaged plantar fascia. In the Nashville area, Neuhaus Foot and Ankle podiatrists are the only advertising the use of stem cell injections.

Pros of Stem Cell Injection:

• Permanent solution
• Prevents further damage
• Natural healing of the body
• Low risk of infection because stem cells come from your own body
• Virtually pain free procedure

https://bioinformant.com/plantar-fasciitis-treatment/

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Cons of Stem Cell Injection:

• Generally not reimbursed by insurance
• Newer method

Only podiatrists specialize in conditions of the foot and ankle. Neuhaus Foot and Ankle physicians have the proper training and treatments to provide you with the most advanced options for healing plantar fasciitis. Let us help you live a pain free life!