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One-Time Treatment Helps Heel Pain Patients
Reported by JoAnne Purtan
Web Produced by Kelly Reynolds

	Almost half of patients experience relief immediately after the anesthetic wears off. Video

If you've ever suffered heel pain, you know how debilitating it can be. There's a new treatment being done right now in a doctors office that is helping some people get back on their feet.

People with chronic heal pain often try heel cups, or are prescribed night-splints to help their pain, but for about 5 to 10 percent of people, these things don't work. Well, now, there's a new non-surgical option for them.

David Marks is a salesman, and he's on his feet a lot.

"How bad has your pain been?" Health Reporter JoAnne Purtan asked David.

"At times, it has been extremely painful."

David has what's called plantar fasciitis, otherwise known as heel pain. Basically, it's the inflammation of the ligament that attaches to the heel bone on the bottom of the foot.

"It's kind of like stepping on a nail, constantly, everytime you put your foot down," David said.

Dr. Neal Mozen has had David try injections, night-splints and orthodics, but a number of times, the pain returned.

So instead of trying surgery, David is opting for a new shockwave treatment to relieve his pain. It's offered in hospitals, but there, it requires a general anesthetic. Dr. Mozen does the procedure in his office. He numbs the foot with a local anesthetic then, for about 10 minutes, a high energy soundwave is directed right at the area of pain in the heel.

"This hi-energy soundwave breaks up the inflammation, the fibrosis, the scar tissue, that forms between the ligament and the bone," Dr. Mozen said.

It's a loud treatment. And despite the anesthetic, David said it was a little discomforting, not painful though, almost like a small static electricity shock over and over.

Dr. Mozen says almost half of patients experience relief immediately after the anesthetic wears off, for the other half it can take a few weeks. There are machines that deliver lower doses of energy, and require a number of treatments, but a recent study in The Journal of the American Medical Association found they're not any better than a placebo in relieving heel pain.

"What are you hoping is going to come out of this?" JoAnne asked.

"I'm hoping I will have no sensation and be back to walking normally," David said.

David's treatment was about two months ago, and he says he's had no pain since it was done.
This one-time procedure costs about $2500 dollars and not all insurance companies will cover it.

For more information on heel pain shockwave treatment, call 734-542-9305. You can also learn more about Foot HealthCare Associates at www.michiganpodiatry.com.

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