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Pain in the heel is very common, affecting nearly 2 million Americans each year. Miguel Cunha, DPM, and the physicians at Gotham Footcare can treat patients in Downtown, Midtown, and the surrounding areas of greater Manhattan in New York. Get your foot care today!
There are many causes for heel pain. They range from simple mechanical issues to complex metabolic diseases. One of the most common reasons for heel pain is faulty foot structure. For example, flat feet or high-arched feet, wearing non-supportive footwear on hard, flat surfaces, or even obesity can cause heel pain. Plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, arthritis, or a stress fracture can all be contributing factors for heel pain. Because there are many different causes, it is recommended that you visit Gotham Footcare so that we may properly evaluate your condition, diagnose its exact cause, and provide you the best treatment.
The most common complaint for heel pain is plantar fasciitis, a condition that affects the bottom of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the band of tissue (the plantar fascia) that extends from the heel to the toes. In this condition, the fascia first becomes irritated and then inflamed, resulting in heel pain. Morning pain and pain after periods of rest is characteristic and can progress to pain all the time. As the pain worsens, the heel can hurt even while not weight-bearing.
Most people suffering from heel pain recover with conservative non-surgical treatments. At Gotham Footcare the following techniques can be used for treating heel pain.
In some cases, injection therapy is used to help reduce the inflammation and relieve pain.
Other options if conservative treatment fails:
Tenex is a minimally invasive procedure to identify and remove the pain generating scar tissue from the foot, which can occur due to various musculoskeletal conditions such as plantar fasciitis and achilles tendonitis.
The Tenex procedure involves the following steps:
1. A local anesthetic is given to numb the affected area
2. Ultrasound imaging identifies precisely the location of damaged scar tissue within the tendon
3. A small incision is made to allow the TX1 Tissue Removal System to go in and break up the damaged scar tissue with the use of high-frequency vibrations, while not affecting the surrounding healthy tissue.
4. The Tenex system gently removes the broken up scar tissue and an adhesive bandage is used to close the incision
Recovery time is significantly reduced from several months (with traditional surgery) to only one to two weeks with the Tenex procedure. Most patients can begin light weight-bearing exercises within two weeks.
· Chronic pain relief
· Faster recovery time
· Small incision
· No scarring
· No risks from complications of surgery or general anesthesia
· Enabling patients to return to vigorous activities
PRP injection therapy is a non-invasive treatment and uses your body’s own healing mechanism. Since it is involving your own blood, there are no risks or side effects. Studies have shown that PRP injection is very effective in healing Plantar Fasciitis and the effects are far superior then a cortisone injection because it delivers a month’s worth of blood nutrient supply in a day to promote fast healing to an area like the plantar fascia that usually has a limited amount of blood supply at its disposal.
The PRP Injection for Plantar Fasciitis procedure involves the following steps:
1. Draw blood from your arm and spin it in a centrifuge to extract PRP
2. The PRP is then directly injected into the plantar fascia with the help of Ultrasonic imagery.
3. A CAM (Controlled Ankle Movement) shoe is worn for two weeks to limit movement.
· No risks
· No side effects
· Effective for a year
· Non invasive
Amniotic stem cells are also used to aid in the repair of bone fractures, arthritis, and other conditions affecting the foot and ankle. The treatment is performed by injecting the afflicted area. For cases where there is a severe break, the injection will occur over a period of time.
The difference in stem cell treatment versus the traditional treatment with cortisone shots is that stem cell therapy treats the root cause of the condition, seeking to change the course of the condition and create healing. Cortisone shots only lessen the pain and do not have the ability to change the course of the actual condition.
The amniotic stem cell therapy can help patients avoid surgery and obtain pain relief with achilles tendonitis, ankle arthritis, difficult to heal wounds, plantar fasciitis and more. The results of this treatment are amazing. In most cases, within two weeks there is a marked improvement in skin condition.
In an effort to minimize out-of-pocket expenses, we accept most managed care plans and insurance providers. For any questions regarding insurance, please contact our offices.
"Dr. Cunha is kind, takes the time to answer all my questions, and helps me find alternative solutions when my insurance doesn't cover what he first suggests."
"The staff was extremely friendly their positive vibes were contagious! Dr. Cunha was great, he took his time to answer all of my questions."
"Dr. Cunha truly cares for the well-being of his patients. He is extremely professional and knowledgeable."
"Dr. Cunha was attentive, accommodating, and willing to answer any and all questions I had through my recovery process. I would highly recommend Gotham Footcare."
"All of the staff are super friendly, energetic and efficient. Dr. Cunha is attentive and finds solutions quickly, offering more than one option for treatment."
"Dr. Cunha is knowledgeable, personable and really cares about his patients. His staff is wonderful; They are always friendly and helpful."
