The Doctors of Belvedere Podiatry are certified in the use of ESWT treament for chronic heel pain. This groundbreaking procedure should be considered by anyone with heel pain.

What is ESWT?
ESWT stands for Extra-corporeal Shock Wave Therapy, which is a big fancy name and high technology when, in fact, it is a very simple, quick, non-surgical procedure.

Lithotripsy, a similar procedure, is used regularly for breaking up and dispersing kidney stones. When Urologists reported that patients who had their kidney stones treated with Lithotripsy were presenting increased bone density and new tissue growth, the possibilities of Shock Wave Therapy were revisited. As a result, ESWT was studied for chronic heel pain resulting from plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. An FDA study was performed for patients who suffer chronic plantar fasciitis with or without the presence of a heel spur. The results were an amazing average reduction in pain of 92% with only one treatment. (This data reflects the results of all patients treated in the study one year after receiving one treatment with the Dornier EPOS ESWT machine).

How does it cure my condition?
The Dornier Epos ESWT machine has inline ultrasound allowing the physician to view the damaged tissue and spur site. The painful unhealthy tissue is first targeted with ultrasound and then the machine produces and directs powerful shockwaves to the damaged tissue. This causes micro-trauma to the tissue and activates your body's own healing process. The newly traumatized tissue is replaced with strenghtened new fibers called Fibroblasts. This new tissue is stronger and more flexible than your previously damaged tissue.

What is involved in the procedure and does it hurt?
Perhaps the most exciting thing about this procedure is that it is not a painful, invasive procedure. There is no lengthy recovery period, no costly time off from work, and no risk of causing further damage or injury.

You lie back in a comfortable chair with your foot resting on the machine on a soft rubber membrane. The staff will make sure that you are comfortable throughout the entire procedure.

Though not necessary, and simply to ensure patient comfort, a local anesthesia is used for the procedure.

The procedure does not hurt. The equipment has a wide range of settings and penetration depths. This allows our doctors to fine tune the procedure to your individual diagnosis. Ultrasound will be used to view and target the damaged location. During the treatment, all you will be aware of is a repetitive clicking sound as the pulses penetrate the center of your pain site.

What kind of recovery can I expect?
The FDA ESWT studies using our treatment protocol show an overwhelming success rate. In the study, a group of 150 patients was asked to rate their pain level on a scale of 1-10. The AVERAGE pain level before treatment was 7.7. After receiving one ESWT treatment, the patients were asked one year later to rate their pain level again on a scale of 1-10. The average pain score post ESWT was 0.6. This is a 92% reduction in pain and a much higher rate of success than any non-surgical or surgical procedure. What's more, ESWT cannot cause further damage, as we all know surgery can.

ESWT is forcing your body to create new tissue cells in the damaged area so you need to expect a gradual healing to take place over many weeks. In fact much of the healing takes place between week 6 and week 12. Many patients feel pain relief immediately. The ESWT shock waves produce an "analgesic affect" which can cause a break in the pain cycle, often resulting in an immediate pain cessation. Every patient is individual. In some, the majority of the pain relief is immediate. In others it gradually gets better from day one through the first six weeks. With ESWT the pain and the casual condition will begin getting better immediately after the treatment. You do not need to plan recovery time off from work or your life!

 
**The information contained here is not meant as a substitution for direct medical advice. Please see your doctor if you are experiencing any troublesome symptoms.**

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