Traditional sports medicine treatment of plantar fasciitis:
The first line of treatment is usually to recommend that the runner stop running and then to only gradually begin running again. Massaging the foot with a tennis ball and application of ice are commonly recommended. A standard practice of traditional sports medicine doctors when these things do not work is to inject steroids into the foot or to prescribe anti-inflammatory medications in order to relieve the pain associated with weakened the plantar fascia. Often taping, orthotics, and night splints are used as well. However, in the long run, these treatments do more damage than good. Cortisone shots and anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to produce short-term pain relief benefit, but both result in long-term loss of function and even more chronic pain by actually inhibiting the healing process of soft tissues and accelerating cartilage degeneration. For example, cortisone will eventually weaken the fascia. If they are not strengthened, a painful heel spur will result. Plus, long-term use of these drugs can lead to other sources of chronic pain,allergies and leaky gut syndrome. Ross Hauser, MD, wrote a very interesting scientific paper that appeared in the February 2010 issue of the Journal of Prolotherapy entitled The Acceleration of Articular Cartilage Degeneration in Osteoarthritis by Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs. To read the full article, click here. He also authored another study entitled The Deterioration of Articular Cartilage in Osteoarthritis by Corticosteroid Injections that appeared in the Journal of Prolotherapy in 2009. These articles discuss in great detail how these two mainstay treatments actually accelerate the degenerative process for which they are being given in the first place.
Surgery: Not a good option: When all else fails, patients who experience chronic foot pain are usually referred to a surgeon. Unfortunately, surgery often makes the problem worse. Surgeons will typically use x-ray technology as a diagnostic tool, which does not always properly diagnose the pain source. Surgery does not do anything to repair the weakened fascia and ligaments and, thus, does not alleviate the chronic pain that people with this condition experience. Therefore, it is not uncommon for us to see patients post-surgery who are still in pain and still looking for answers.
Caring Medical’s alternative treatment for Plantar Fasciitis
We find that a better approach for treating plantar fasciitis is to strengthen the fascia with Prolotherapy, and provide an arch support if the condition has remained untreated for years. Prolotherapy is the safest and most effective natural treatment for repairing tendon, ligament and cartilage damage and ending the chronic pain associated with this troubling condition. In simple terms, Prolotherapy stimulates the body to repair painful areas. It does so by inducing a mild inflammatory reaction in the weakened ligaments and cartilage. Since the body heals by inflammation, Prolotherapy stimulates healing.
Prolotherapy offers the most curative results in treating chronic pain. It effectively eliminates pain because it attacks the source: the fibro-osseous junction, an area rich in sensory nerves. What’s more the tissue strengthening and pain relief stimulated by Prolotherapy is permanent!
Exercise prescriptions: Dr. Hauser, being an avid runner himself, also guides the runner/athlete through an aggressive rehabilitation program that includes getting the runner back to running as quickly as possible. Running on soft surfaces such as soft tracks can accelerate the process, as well as wearing proper running shoes. He will also provide the runner with foot strengthening exercises that will help prevent development of a recurrence in the future.
Caring Medical is a full time Prolotherapy doctor’s office. We have successfully treated all of the conditions we write about. This is why patients travel from across the country and internationally to be treated by our Prolotherapy physician Dr. Ross Hauser. The difference is in the care, technique, and experience you get with Dr. Hauser and team at Caring Medical.
The treatment regimens suggested here are based on the experience of Caring Medical. They do not apply to every case or condition. A person using these recommendations without the aid of a personal physician does so at their own risk.
This information is provided for informational purposes only. It is essential to have your condition evaluated by your own personal physician.
For an appointment with Ross Hauser, M.D., please call 708-848-7789. or email us at scheduling@caringmedical.com.
