Our doctors offer an alternative to heel spur and plantar fascia surgery called "extracorporeal pulse activation treatment", or "EPAT" therapy. It delivers low frequency sound waves to the foot, similar to the acoustic shock waves used in a lithotripsy treatment that breaks up kidney stones. The treatment only takes about 10 minutes per foot and delivers 3,000 pulses to the affected area.
The intensity of the pulses is adjusted to what you can tolerate, so a local anesthetic isn't ever needed. It increases blood circulation, stimulates tissue to regenerate and gets the healing process started in the area. Eventually the pain goes away and never returns.
EPAT is also used to treat Achilles tendonitis, bursitis, capsulitis & neuromas.