Local podiatrist Dr. Danielle Shaper, founder of Finesse Footcare, has made it her mission to put together an arsenal of conservative, minimally invasive treatments to take away heel pain

By Patricia Nugent

Thanks to a litany of causes—overuse, injury, ill-fitting shoes, lack of stretching—heel pain is fast becoming one of the most common foot ailments, affecting more than two million Americans each year.

Local podiatrist Dr. Danielle Shaper, founder of Finesse Footcare, has made it her mission to put together an arsenal of conservative, minimally invasive treatments to take away the pain. She’s devoted much of her career to exploring emerging technologies in the medical arena.

First, to gain a clear picture of what’s going on with the biomechanics of the foot, she takes digital X-rays.

“I diagnose where and why the pain is happening, then begin with the appropriate treatment,” she says. “For instance, I may start with my FX 635 Laser or Radial Shockwave Therapy, both of which have been effective in total pain reduction in heel pain in even my most serious cases. They both penetrate the soft tissue.”

Using light energy that the body absorbs, the laser encourages the cells to produce more ATP to trigger natural healing.

With Shockwave, mechanical energy is transferred to the foot through a hand-held device. Pulsed energy heals inflamed tissue by increasing circulation on a cellular level and boosting the immune system’s natural response.

Regenerating Healthy Tissue
Regenerative amniotic injections are another manner of treatment Dr. Shaper has had success with. “Amniotic Fluid Allograft is a natural substance composed completely of amniotic fluid derived from a living healthy donor. It contains a rich source of growth factors and other beneficial proteins that can promote tissue repair and regeneration. Since it is all- natural, it is a promising alternative to surgery,” she explains.

After the heel pain is gone, Dr. Shaper does her best to make sure it stays that way.

“With each patient, I educate them about proper daily stretching techniques,” she adds. “It’s important to warm up before exercise. I cringe when I see people jump on a treadmill and start running without first stretching and warming up. I also recommend they take good care of their body with moderate exercise and a healthy diet.”

Durable Medical Equipment
With the end of the year near, Dr. Shaper wants people to know she can usually see them within a day or two of calling for an appointment, so you can have nagging heel pain or foot issues looked at, as well as get any durable medical equipment (DMEs) while you’re still on this year’s insurance deductible. These range from tapings to night splints, boots, ankle braces and custom orthotics.

With the goal of correcting the biomechanics of the foot, custom orthotics shoe inserts can be made to fit any footwear, from athletic shoes to business casual shoes, dress shoes, even ski boots and skates.

In addition to pain relief and improved functionality, she reports orthotics can also correct patients who have one leg that’s longer than the other.

“Any patient, at any age or stage in life, can see benefits from wearing orthotics,” says Dr. Shaper, who wears them herself. “With so many new treatments available today, really no one should be needlessly suffering with nagging foot pain when I can almost always make it better.”

Finesse Footcare is located at 5035 Mayfield Road, Suite 202, in Lyndhurst. The helpful ladies in the office can get you on the schedule to maximize your care before your deductible goes back to $0 on January 1, 2024. Call 216-382-8070 or visit FinesseFootcare.com for more information.