Do you have or know anyone with Chronic Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis/Heel Spur Syndrome) or Achilles Tendon ailments?  These respective problems are usually managed quite well with conservatives measures, such as avoidance of non supportive shoes, anti-inflammatories, ample rest, stretching, and avoidance of aggravating activities.   In rare instances, if first and second line of treatments fail to gain significant relief for patients, cast immobilization and physical therapy may be needed.  Luckily, these measures are able to effectively manage upwards of 90% of people with these ailments.

Unfortunately, there are a small percentage of patients that have exhausted standard and reasonable treatments. Traditionally, surgery has been a viable option when all else fails.  However, in recent years, physicians have been able to offer their patients with these ailments with alternative non surgical treatments, with one being called Platelet Rich Plasma.

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a great non surgical treatment for Heel Pain due to Plantar Fasciitis(Heel Spur Syndrome) and chronic conditions of the Achilles Tendon.  The idea is that these ailments are stuck in a chronic inflammatory or degenerative state, resistant to the normal healing process. PRP has many growth factors or components that can help heal these conditions stuck in chronic phases. It is obtained by using a patient's own blood which is drawn at the office and spun to separate the different components of whole blood.  After separation of blood components, your doctor will inject the PRP obtained from the sample of blood into the area of problem after local anesthetic block.

Heel Pain due to Plantar Fasciitis (heel spur syndrome) and problems of the Achilles Tendon are not the only ailments that could benefit from Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).  PRP also has an application in major surgeries of the foot and ankle for those patients deemed a risk with healing problems, as determined by your doctor and medical history.  Also, the diabetic population with chronic wounds can benefit from the healing properties of PRP.

In short, Platelet Rich Plasma can be a viable alternative treatment.  If you or someone you know has chronic heel pain or Achilles problems, this may be a great alternative to surgery.

For more information regarding Platelet Rich Plasma, please call the office @ (704) 662-3660 to schedule an appointment.

Pain around your back heel area, also known as posterior heel pain, can be a very debilitating condition. The first step in treatment is a proper diagnosis because different causes of this type of heel pain can require very different treatments.

Three common causes of posterior heel pain are insertional Achilles tendonitis, pump bump (Haglund's disease), or an Achilles tendon rupture. Insertional Achilles tendonitis, also called Achilles tendinopathy, is a chronic inflammatory or degenerative disorder which affects the place where the Achilles tendon inserts onto the heel bone. A pump bump, Haglund's disease, is a bump on your heel bone that rubs on the back of shoes causing pain and inflammation. An Achilles tendon rupture is a total or partial tearing of the Achilles tendon. This condition usually requires immediate surgery and you should be evaluated by a podiatric foot and ankle specialist soon after the injury. Insertional Achilles tendinopathy and pump bump can often be relieved by conservative treatments although in some cases surgery is required. Only your foot and ankle specialist can determine what treatment is right for you. Today's topic will center around insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

Symptoms:
- Chronic posterior heel pain
- Tenderness at the Achilles insertion
- Insidious (gradual) onset
- Symptoms aggravated by shoes
- Symptoms relieved by backless shoes

Treatment:
- Rest
- Ice
- Heel lifts or custom molded shoe inserts (orthotics)
- Stretching
- Physical therapy
- Modifications in training or daily activities
- Immobilization or casting
- Surgery

Only a physician can decide which treatment is right for you. Here at Foot and Ankle Associates, Dr. Ades and Dr. Shapiro will design a custom plan of treatment to relieve your pain quickly and help return you to your activities faster. If you have any further questions about insertional Achilles tendinopathy, posterior heel pain, or any other foot or ankle problems please contact our office online at www.footandankleassociates.com or by phone at (704) 662-3660.

Are your heels hurting? The statistics say there is a good chance. According to a recent survey from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), heel pain is the foot ailment that affects Americans most-16 percent of the population regularly experiences it.

When you pound your feet on hard surfaces while playing sports, or wear shoes that irritate sensitive tissues, you can develop heel pain. Many people try to ignore the early signs of heel pain and keep performing the activities that are causing the problem. But when you continue to use a sore heel, it can quickly get worse and become a chronic condition, leading to more problems.

While it is a common misconception that heels spurs are to blame, the most frequent cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. With this condition, too much running or jumping can lead to inflammation of the tissue band (fascia) connecting the heel bone to the base of the toes. The pain is generally centered under the heel and may be mild at first, but tends to flare up when you take your first steps after getting up in the morning, or resting for a period of time. Plantar fasciitis is often successfully treated with custom orthotics, injections, prescription medications, physical therapy and immobilization. However, the longer you have untreated pain, the more difficult it is to find relief.

To avoid heel pain, always wear shoes that fit well and wear the proper shoes for each activity, not wearing shoes with excessive or unevenly worn heels or soles, and stretch the heel well before exercising. Fortunately, if detected early, heel pain can be successfully treated with several noninvasive treatment options.

Please feel free to contact our office to schedule an appointment if you are experiencing heel pain.