Plantar fasciitis and neuromas may be debilitating situations, inflicting persistent heel ache and discomfort for these affected. Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Alan Shih at Head to Toe Healthcare, PLC in Southern Arizona advocates for different approaches when conservative remedies and surgical procedure is probably not the optimum options.
Plantar fasciitis, marked by irritation within the plantar fascia, is a prevalent reason behind heel ache. Elements similar to poor foot construction, unsupportive footwear, and extended weight-bearing actions contribute to its growth. Surgical interventions, together with the slicing of the plantar fascia, are sometimes thought of for extreme instances. Near a 3rd of sufferers have a heel spur seen on an X-ray. Nevertheless, Dr. Shih emphasizes that such procedures compromise the foot’s stability, doubtlessly resulting in elevated stress on the remaining plantar fascia.
Within the case of neuromas, a painful nerve situation generally discovered between the third and 4th toes, conservative remedies like cortisone injections and orthotics might not all the time present lasting reduction. Whereas surgical procedure is a typical advice, Dr. Shih prefers a extra nuanced strategy. He advocates for surgical decompression of the nerve, preserving nerve anatomy to permit the nerve to perform correctly. This strategy goals to alleviate discomfort with out the chance of issues like stump neuromas, a priority when slicing out a nerve.
Dr. Shih clarifies, “I’m not inherently in opposition to surgical procedure however I consider it must be rigorously thought of.” For neuromas, he emphasizes the significance of preserving nerve anatomy by decompression surgical procedure, versus the extra frequent observe of slicing out a bit of the nerve. This strategy aligns together with his dedication to sustaining nerve perform whereas minimizing potential issues.
Whereas surgical interventions are sometimes the go-to possibility for recalcitrant neuromas and plantar fasciitis, Dr. Shih introduces Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) as a viable different. Extensively utilized in interventional ache drugs, RFA includes utilizing radiofrequency power to disrupt the painful alerts within the nerves, offering reduction with out resorting to surgical procedure.
Not like cryotherapy, which might result in the destruction of each sensory and motor nerves, RFA acts like a precision instrument, isolating sensory nerves chargeable for ache sensation. This focused strategy minimizes the chance of muscle perform loss and foot deformities related to broader nerve destruction. Dr. Shih highlights the security and minimal invasiveness of RFA, usually leading to excessive affected person satisfaction and a swift return to regular actions.
Dr. Alan Shih’s strategy to addressing power plantar fasciitis and neuromas emphasizes preserving nerve anatomy and exploring alternate options to conventional surgical procedure. By advocating for surgical decompression and introducing Radiofrequency Ablation as a minimally invasive possibility, Dr. Shih provides hope to people looking for reduction from persistent foot ache. Because the medical area continues to evolve, non-surgical interventions like RFA might play a major function in offering efficient and environment friendly options for these frequent foot situations.