If you have heel pain, you know the discomfort it can cause. There are many forms of treatment, including orthotics, physical therapy and medications, but what if all of those options fail? There is another: shock wave therapy. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds!
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is a treatment for chronic heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis or heel spur syndrome. Extracorporeal simply means “outside of the body.” So if you’re nervous about injections and needles, don’t worry! This procedure uses neither. It’s non-invasive and uses sonic waves. The waves are targeted at the area of pain.
If you have had chronic heel pain for over six months, shock wave therapy may be for you. It’s recommended that all conservative measures be explored before shock wave therapy is considered. The procedure is relatively short, usually lasting for only 10 minutes. At least three sessions are necessary for it to be effective. The sonic waves used stimulate a healing response by the body. It’s an outpatient treatment and is virtually painless and safe.
Shock wave therapy is not for you if you’re pregnant, have a pacemaker or are taking medications that interfere with blood clotting. If you have any additional questions about shock wave therapy or your foot and ankle health contact Dr. Sanjay Patel of Family Foot Care & Surgery by calling (203) 876-7736 or (203) 288-4055 or visiting our website.
