Stubborn Heel Pain

 A New Approach to Heel Pain – Treating Partial Plantar Fascia Tears with Regenerative Medicine

Heel pain is one of the most common complaints we see at Cheltenham Podiatry, and it often stems from issues with the plantar fascia – the thick band of tissue running along the bottom of your foot. However, not all heel pain is created equal. One condition that can be easily missed is a partial tear of the plantar fascia. Pain due to a partial tear tends to be significantly higher than just an inflamed plantar fascia. 

In many cases, patients with persistent heel pain have seen multiple clinicians, tried various conservative treatments, and experienced little to no relief. Why? The root cause of their pain – a partial tear – has not been diagnosed and attended to appropriately.

Why Some Heel Pain Treatments Fail

Conservative treatments like cortisone injections, physical therapy, and custom orthotics can be effective for certain plantar fascia issues, such as plantar fasciitis or general overuse inflammation. However, when the underlying issue is a partial tear, these treatments may fail to provide relief because they do not address the need for tissue healing and repair.

Without a proper diagnosis, patients often endure months of ineffective treatment, frustration, and chronic pain.

Secondly, often standard approaches do not deal with all the tissues involved in the injury. Human body is an integrated system with many various tissues that need to work in harmony. Once injured, chaos occurs, and many adjacent tissues become involved: nerves and fascia may become pain generators as well as the torn the ligament or tendon. 

The Importance of Diagnostic Ultrasound

A key step in diagnosing a partial plantar fascia tear is a diagnostic ultrasound, which allows us to visualize the structure of the plantar fascia in real-time. Ultrasound is non-invasive, quick, and highly accurate in identifying tears, areas of degeneration, and inflammation.

By using diagnostic ultrasound imaging, we can determine whether your heel pain is due to a tear or another condition, ensuring you receive the most appropriate treatment from the outset. Here at Cheltenham Podiatry, we have a high end ultrasound machine that can image fine details.

Regenerative Medicine: A Better Solution for Partial Tears

When a partial tear is diagnosed, the treatment approach shifts to stimulating the body’s natural healing processes. This is where regenerative medicine comes in.

Two of the most effective regenerative treatments for partial plantar fascia tears are:

1. Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy involves injecting a dextrose-based solution into the injured area. This stimulates the body’s healing response by promoting the formation of new collagen fibers, strengthening and repairing the torn fascia.

2. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

PRP therapy uses your own blood, which is processed to concentrate the platelets and growth factors. When injected into the tear, PRP accelerates tissue repair, reduces inflammation, and enhances recovery.

Both treatments are minimally invasive and focus on restoring the integrity of the plantar fascia, rather than masking the pain.

Neural prolotherapy/ perineural injection therapy is often utilized as well, to attend to the local nerves and fascia if they are suspected to be involved. This ensures all parts of the injury are dealt with.

What to Expect from Regenerative Treatments

• Individualized Treatment Plans: Every patient is unique. We develop tailored treatment protocols based on the size and location of the tear, your activity level, and overall health.
• Gradual Improvement: Unlike cortisone injections, which can provide temporary pain relief but weaken tissue over time, regenerative treatments encourage healing. This means results may take several weeks to become noticeable but are long-lasting.
• Functional Recovery: With proper post-treatment rehabilitation, you can regain strength, mobility, and function without the risk of re-injury.

The Future of Podiatry for Heel Pain

At our clinic, we believe in treating the root cause of pain, not just the symptoms. By incorporating advanced diagnostic tools like high end ultrasound and cutting-edge regenerative therapies, we are transforming the way heel pain – particularly from partial plantar fascia tears – is managed. Our podiatrists have over 10 yrs of experience in regenerative medicine treatments. 

If you’ve been struggling with heel pain that hasn’t responded to traditional treatments, it’s time to consider a more targeted, regenerative approach. Schedule a consultation today and take the first step toward lasting relief and recovery.