Heel pain is a common condition in which weight bearing on the heel causes extreme discomfort.

Thousands of people suffer from chronic heel pain syndrome (also called plantar fasciitis), which can result from repeated trauma in daily life or from athletic injuries. Typically the pain is the worst with the first few steps in the morning. It is sometimes referred to as a heel spur.

The plantar fascia is a thick broad inelastic band of fibrous tissue that courses along the bottom of the foot. It is attached to the heel bone and fans out to attach to the bottom of the metatarsal bones in the region of the ball of the foot. Because the normal foot has an arch, this tight band of tissue is at the base of the arch. In this position, the plantar fascia acts like a bowstring to maintain the arch of the foot. If there is repeated trauma, it can result in inflammation of the plantar fascia. The repeated trauma often results in microscopic tearing of the plantar fascia at or near the point of attachment of the tissue to the heel bone. The result of the damage and inflammation is pain.

Typical conservative treatment usually involves the use of anti-inflammatory medications, ice packs, stretching exercises, orthotics, physical therapy, cortisone injections, or splints. In extreme cases, open surgery may have been required.

ESWT (Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy) is a non-invasive, outpatient treatment that consists of high-energy pressure waves applied to the area of pain. About 20 minutes prior to the treatment, local anesthesia is administered. High-energy pressure waves are applied to the afflicted area during the procedure. The entire process takes approximately 30-45 minutes and patients are most often able to walk immediately after the procedure and resume normal daily activities within 12 to 24 hours. Although the treatment may take one to three months to be fully effective, the pain experienced prior to treatment is dramatically reduced with ESWT. After a few weeks of follow-up care, most patients are able to resume athletic activities like aerobics and jogging.

Generally, candidates for ESWT include patients with chronic heel pain syndrome or other tendonitis conditions in which the pain has lasted for more than several months without responding to conservative therapies.

ESWT has been used internationally for over a decade to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions like heel pain syndrome. Clinically, ESWT provides some advantages over more traditional surgical treatment including no scar tissue or risk of infection, significantly less expensive and results proven to be equal to or better than surgery.

If heel pain affects your daily activities, talk with the podiatric professionals at Lexington Foot and Ankle Center, PSC to see if ESWT is an appropriate treatment for you. Our offices are conveniently located in Lexington, Frankfort, Georgetown, Berea and Mt. Sterling. To make an appointment at any of the office locations call 859-278-8855 or 888-689-3668.