Ultrasound, Shots Can Cure Heel Pain
Plantar Fasciitis Cured With Multiple Needle Sticks
POSTED: Monday, December 1, 2008
  NexusJay |
A one-time treatment can help cure heel and foot pain known as plantar fasciitis, according to a new study.Dr. Luca Sconfienza of Italy's University of Genoa said the technique combines ultrasound with steroid injections. It works 95 percent of the time, according to a news release.Plantar fasciitis, the most common cause of heel pain, is an inflammation of the connective tissue called the plantar fascia that runs along the bottom of the foot. It affects 1 million people a year in the U.S.Usually, it is treated with rest, stretching and splints.The release said that if those treatments don't work, people often try shockwave therapy, which is painful and takes multiple treatments. Sometimes, surgery is used.But Sconfienza's team tried using ultrasound and steroids on 44 patients who had not responded to conservative treatments.Under local anesthesia, doctors used ultrasound to guide a needle to the area of pain, then punctured it several times, followed by a steroid injection.After the 15-minute procedure, symptoms disappeared for 42 of the study's 44 patients within three weeks."This therapy is quicker, easier, less painful and less expensive than shockwave therapy," Sconfienza said. "In cases of mild plantar fasciitis, patients should first try noninvasive solutions before any other treatments. But when pain becomes annoying and affects the activities of daily living, dry-needling with steroid injection is a viable option."The study was presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
blog comments powered by Disqus
One of four fishermen rescued after they were found holding on to their 19-foot boat in western Lake Erie says a heavy catch of walleye may have led their craft to capsize.
Investigators used dental records to confirm that the body was that of 62-year-old John Gilboe of Hamburg Township.
McNair was found dead on a sofa in his downtown Nashville condominium, police said.
Detroit's police chief says he feels like he's been kicked in the stomach after learning he was being fired by the
mayor.
Just in time for the Fourth of July, 14 coworkers have won a measure of financial independence by sharing a $12 million Michigan Lottery jackpot.
A Diabetic driver goes the wrong way down a stretch of Interstate 94 and causes a multi-car crash. 
Local 4's Guy Gordon reports on NBC's Today Show's exclusive photos of Michael Jackson's children. 
Surveillance video from a shooting in Detroit was released to Local 4 News. 
Police found the arsonist who was responsible for starting the fire that killed 37 year old firefighter Walter Harris na few months ago
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
