As the largest bone in your foot, your heel works hard. It not only connects your foot to your ankle, but it also supports the majority of your weight when you stand, walk, and run.
And when your heel hurts, you notice. Heel pain is one of the most common types of foot pain among adults of all ages, and when it hits, it can quickly force you to sit out on your daily activities.
Heel pain is often caused by an underlying condition, like plantar fasciitis or arthritis. Unfortunately, finding a treatment that effectively relieves your heel pain isn’t always easy.
Bryon Butts, DPM, can help. He specializes in heel pain at Performance Footcare PC, and he works with patients to treat their pain at the source. If you’ve tried other treatments for heel pain without relief, it’s time to learn more about platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.
PRP therapy is a type of regenerative medicine that shows promise as a means of pain management. PRP therapy works differently than traditional medicine because it can accelerate your body’s natural healing ability to reduce pain.
PRP is a serum that’s made with elements from your blood. It’s highly concentrated and it contains growth factors along with platelets, which research shows can support healing at a cellular level.
Dr. Butts uses PRP therapy to fight foot and heel pain because it works with your body’s natural regenerative process. Heel pain is often the result of overuse, injury, or deterioration, and PRP therapy can enhance your body’s ability to recover on its own.
Dr. Butts injects PRP directly into the part of your foot that’s causing you pain, and the platelets and growth factors start working. PRP can activate your body’s healing mechanisms to reduce inflammation, minimize scar tissue, and lessen pain.
In most cases, you can maintain your usual routine after receiving PRP therapy. You don’t have to undergo more invasive procedures or stay off your feet to find lasting relief from your heel pain.
If you have heel pain, start with a consultation at Performance Footcare PC. Dr. Butts does a comprehensive physical exam after discussing your symptoms with you, and he may order medical imaging to confirm his diagnosis.
Dr. Butts takes a conservative approach to care, and he specializes in a range of nonsurgical treatments. Depending on the cause of your pain, he may recommend a noninvasive treatment like shockwave therapy or a minimally invasive procedure like PRP therapy.
If you choose PRP to tackle your chronic heel pain, Dr. Butts talks to you about what you can expect during therapy.
To begin, he takes a small sample of blood from your arm. He places it into a centrifuge, which extracts platelets and growth factors from other blood elements.
Then, he combines the platelets and growth factors to create your unique PRP solution. He injects the PRP into specific areas around your heel and foot. After the injections are complete, you’re free to go home.
PRP therapy can take several weeks to begin working. As the platelets and growth factors stimulate your body’s healing response, you may begin noticing reduced pain and better mobility.
You don’t have to live with ongoing heel pain. Find out if PRP therapy is a good option for you at Performance Footcare PC. Call our offices in Lake Success, or New York, New York, or request your first appointment online now.
