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Methodist Health System • ❁ Fall 2011

PODIATRY ▸

Heal the heel pain

Are cortisone injections, orthotics, anti-inflammatory medications, or heel lifs failing to cure your heel pain? Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections may bring the relief you need.

“Platelets retrieved from a small amount of blood drawn from the patient are injected into the painful area,” says Martin Jackson, DPM, a podiatrist on the medical staf at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. “The natural healing powers of the platelets decrease pain and inflammation. The injections have an 80 to 85 percent success rate.”

Responses vary, but most people require three to six PRP injections. The treatment is covered by most insurance plans.

Your

feet shouldn’t hurt. Yet according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), many people resign themselves to foot pain — even when it can be treated.

Te APMA reports that women have four times as many foot problems as men. Women’s love of high heels is ofen to blame. Te normal wear and tear of aging and being overweight also can afect foot structure.

In these cases, the pain might be cure simply by changing shoe size. But foot problems may also be a warning sign of more serious illnesses such as diabete or arthritis.

Te most common complaint is pain in the bottom of the heel, which is usually worse in the morning and may improve throughout the day. “Pain is ofen caused by plantar fasciitis, which is irritation and swelling of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot,” says Martin Jackson, DPM, an independently practicing podiatrist on the medical staf at Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

Te American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society recommends that you see your doctor for any of the following symptoms:

ww Foot pain that persists for more than three days

ww Swelling of one leg or foot that persists for more than one day

ww Pain that increases with exercise

ww Pain that occurs at rest or with elevation of your legs

ww A blister or ulcer on the foot that doesn’t heal

ww Numbness or loss of sensation in a foot.

Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staf are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System.

What are your feet telling you?