There are few things more frustrating than foot pain. Whether you’re standing at the stove, walking the dog, or doing something more strenuous, such as running, all those activities can come to a screeching halt if you suffer with pain, tingling, burning, or numbness every time your feet hit the ground.
If this describes you, PodiaTherm™ radiofrequency (RF) therapy may be able to give you relief. Radiofrequency therapy delivers energy to heat up and deactivate the problematic nerve tissue. The nerve tissue is then no longer able to send pain signals to the brain. In this blog, the podiatry team at Premier Foot & Ankle explain what’s involved in radiofrequency therapy and what it can treat.
Foot pain can develop for a number of reasons. Here are some of the most common reasons:
Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the thick tissue band that stretches from your heel to your toes — the plantar fascia — becomes inflamed.
Diabetic neuropathy is a condition in which there is nerve damage in the foot.
A neuroma is a thickening of nerve tissue in the ball of the foot. This condition most often occurs between the third and fourth toes.
Heel pain can result from multiple causes, such as achilles tendonitis, a heel fracture, or a rupture of the plantar fascia.
Treatment with the PodiaTherm radiofrequency system is safe, quick, and you can go back to work or any planned activities immediately afterward.
First, your doctor gives you a local anesthetic, so you won’t feel any pain or discomfort during treatment. Then your doctor gently inserts a needle near your pain point. If needed, your doctor can use ultrasound imaging to insert the needle in a specific location.
Your doctor then stimulates the nerve to make sure the correct nerve will be treated. The radiofrequency energy is then sent through the needle to heat up and deactivate the problematic nerve tissue. Your radiofrequency treatment will be performed in two or three locations to ensure your pain will be eliminated.
The procedure should only take 15-20 minutes. After it’s over, you can put your shoes back on and walk right out of our office and back into your regular activities.
While pain relief may be felt right away, it usually takes 4-6 weeks for the full effect. Any side effects should be minimal. Any tenderness should go away in a few days, and any other residual sensations should be completely gone in a month or so.
Do note that if you’re a neuroma patient, the two toes affected by the treated nerve may become numb after the therapy.
Typically, the treated nerve regenerates in two years. Once it regenerates, the pain may or may not come back. If the pain returns, you can get another radiofrequency treatment at that time.
To learn more about radiofrequency therapy and to see if it may be able to relieve your foot pain, book an appointment online or over the phone with Premier Foot & Ankle today.
