Radial shockwave therapy: Relief from stabbing heal pain without drugs or surgery
By Patricia Nugent
About two million Americans seek treatment each year for heel pain. This nagging daily discomfort can range from bothersome to excruciating, stabbing or burning.
While heel pain can have different causes, podiatrist Dr. Danielle Shaper has found an effective treatment: radial shockwave therapy. She introduced it last year after exhaustively researching emerging therapies.
“I’ve been impressed with the improvement my patients are seeing in the reduction of chronic pain,” says Dr. Shaper, founder of Finesse Footcare. “And we’ve found the therapy treats much more than just heel pain, as it addresses inflammation where it starts, deep in the tissues. It works well on tendonitis, Achilles conditions and ankle sprains.”
She explains that the therapy involves waves of mechanical energy transferring to the foot through a hand-held device. It reaches deep into the affected tissues. Pulsed energy heals inflamed tissue by increasing circulation on a cellular level and boosting the immune system’s natural response.
“This is one of my favorite conservative measures,” she says. “There’s little discomfort, no anesthesia and zero downtime. I recommend five weekly sessions, and they only take about 10 minutes.”
For many patients she combines other therapies, such as stretching, night splints and orthotics, to make sure the pain stays away long-term.
Dr. Shaper reports that treating the heel and Achilles tendon can be challenging.
“From a clinical standpoint, there’s not a lot of ground for treatment between custom orthotics and surgery,” she explains. “You can’t really work with injections in the heel, as the tendon could rupture.”
How Radial Shockwave Therapy Works
Dr. Shaper works with a jelly similar to what is used during an ultrasound, then slowly moves the device over the affected area. During treatment, she interfaces with a touchscreen monitor that pinpoints and displays the amount of energy transfer.
Patients can leave the office and go about their day, even go for a run if they wish. And although there is sometimes minimal discomfort involved during the 10-minute treatment, anesthesia is not necessary. Most patients feel immediate relief after the first treatment, and then lasting relief after three to six weekly treatments. It’s a great fit for patients who are teenagers through seniors.
“Most of my patients with heel pain are runners, athletes and dancers,” says Dr. Shaper, who is also a dancer and understands how the foot’s structures can be affected by the stresses of repetitive high impact. “As a doctor, following the most conservative, least-invasive path of treatment has always been important to me. This therapy fits my mission to a tee.”
She says that although it is not covered by insurance, the therapy’s cost is far less than surgery, or however long recovery from surgery might take.
Finally, Relief from Stabbing Heel Pain
Meet Carolyn A.
For the past 15 years, she’s suffered from stabbing pain in her heel. She had tried everything from steroid injections to massage, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy—yet the aches worsened.
“I heard about radial shockwave therapy, and when I Googled doctors in our area who offer it, Finesse Footcare and Dr. Danielle Shaper’s name came up,” she says.
Carolyn says after just one treatment, the pain went away and she’s never felt better.
Finesse Footcare is located at 5035 Mayfield Road in Lyndhurst. In addition to heel pain, Dr. Shaper treats everything from ingrown toenails to bunions, toenail fungus, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, corns, warts, calluses, sprained ankles, and spurs, and offers diabetic foot care. The practice accepts a wide variety of insurance plans, however radial shockwave therapy is not covered. Call 216-382-8070 or visit FinesseFootcare.com for more information.