Dr. Barnett had a dream of starting his own practice, and one of the main reasons was actually in how he wanted to treat heel pain. Heel pain affects millions of Americans each year, and Dr. Barnett felt the way the many medical facilities handle this troubling ailment was downright wrong. Medical offices mostly catered to insurance, doing infective treatments with multiple follow-up visits with increasing cost with little benefit. For example, cortisone is one of the least effective treatments for heel pain, yet the most widely used therapy. Why? Insurance pays for injections and it is a quick visit for the doctor. Dr. Barnett wanted to educate people about the root cause, then cure it for good!
Is Plantar Fasciitis Heel Pain?
Heel pain could have many causes, like an injured bone or nerve, but the most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. This is one of the simplest diagnoses to treat due to similar pain patterns and a myriad of information online. The first step in the morning or after rest is the most common symptom, with severe sharp or dull pain in the base of the heel that may or may not get better with movement. The plantar fascia is a band of tissue the helps hold the arch up in walking, but over time, tight calves, unsupportive shoes, and minor trauma to the fascia causes heel pain. Plantar fasciitis can be diagnosed by exam, ultrasound, or MRI. Why is Dr. Barnett so adamant about proper education and treatment for heel pain? He is passionate about getting someone better as fast and affordably as possible, with no limitation to the treatments he recommends or uses. If someone knows why heel pain occurred, then they can resolve it and keep it from returning in the future.
Image from ultrasound showing a thickened plantar fasciaBasic Therapy for Heel Pain
Modern medicine has advanced tremendously over the last ten years, but insurance has not adapted. Because of this lack of interest by insurance companies, only oral steroid, Aleve, steroid shot, or physical therapy is approved before covering surgery. These options are not necessarily bad, but they may not work for a large amount of people, therefore even if these are tried and failed, what now?!?! NOTE: Surgery is not necessary in over 95% of people with heel pain so it does not need to be considered to resolve heel pain.
Class IV Laser
This is an excellent option of heel pain, using specific high energy waves to stimulate the tissue to self-repair. Laser therapy induces a photchemical reaction in the damaged tissue to improve local blood flow and regenerate new tissue. The treatment is painless and usually takes 4-10 sessions to see full results.
Amnion Tissue/Platelet Rich Plasmas
Injectable biologics, either from one’s own body or from umbilical tissue, are utilized to repair damaged soft tissue and joints. These are highly effective treatments but have a slightly higher out of pocket cost ranging from $500-$2000. Dr. Barnett has done hundreds of these injection with excellent results. 1-3 may bee needed to resolve heel pain.
BUT…
Is There Anything Better? What if all these treatments fail or you want to skip to the most effective treatment in literature?
INTRODUCING…
Titan Shockwave
With dozens of level I studies to support shockwave as the most effective treatment for heel pain, orthotripsy is the simplest and most effective in-office treatment. Utilizing specific therapeutic sound waves, Titan Wave triggers VEGF, the enzyme responsible in growing new blood vessels. This is key to healing damaged tissue; the more blood to damaged tissue the faster a problem resolves. Shockwave not only triggers new blood vessel growth, but it resonates into the fascial tissue, micro-traumatizing damaged tissue, not healthy tissue. It is done in the office without anesthesia, with no downtime. Dr. Barnett has had runners still running miles a week while being treated with full resolution. Shockwave works independent of your activity, therefore rest is not necessary! Dr. Barnett does recommend good shoe support, daily stretching, and a good diet to help speed up the process with Shockwave, but no walking boots or rest required! Dr. Barnett recommends 4-6 sessions over 2-4 weeks and then 6-12 weeks to full repair the tissue.
Final Thoughts
A multimodal approach is always best, using many different options at once to speed healing. This may involve a steroid shot and pills, or more safely using laser with shockwave, to get over the problem for good and custom molded inserts and stretching can help maintain foot structure and prevent recurrence.
