Before I start, I want to reiterate the fact that pain is NEVER normal. If your feet or ankles hurt, there is usually a reason. Some common reasons may include poor shoes, infections, injuries or strained or torn tendons or ligaments. Understanding and fixing the cause of the pain, or making adjustments to alleviate the pain over time is often possible. What I want to discuss is a new treatment that allows correction of pain that is not alleviated through standard treatments.

Topaz Radiocoblation/Microdebridement treatment is a minimally invasive surgical procedure utilized to treat chronic foot pain from tendon or ligament abnormalities. For years, chronic pain to tendons or ligaments that didn't resolve with conservative treatments including rest, stretching, bracing, oral or topical medicine or injections often lead to aggressive surgical procedures with long periods of recovery. Topaz Radiocoblation now provides a minimally invasive procedure that won't compromise the mechanical structures of the foot caused by traditional surgical techniques. Recovery is also quick and easy without the need for splints, casts, walking boots or physical therapy. Often, a treated patient will return to regular shoes within 4-5 days. This return to usual shoe gear is often accompanied by a significant improvement in pain.

Topaz Radiocoblation is performed either through small incisions or through small "pin holes" (percutaneous) and often allows rapid return to regular shoegear and activities. This procedure utilizes a small wand that produces radiofrequency waves within the tendon or ligament to stimulate new blood vessel formation (neoangiogenesis), migration of growth factors, decreased inflammation, decreased pain and ligamentous or tendinous repair. This procedure is commonly performed on plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis, and has been shown to be 80-90% effective at resolving pain from these entities.

The effectiveness of this procedure can also be improved through the addition of platelet-rich plasma injected locally. During the procedure, a small amount of blood can be drawn from the patient and concentrated to allow a large combination of proteins, growth factors, platelets and healing cells to be directly injected in treated tendons or ligaments to further speed the recovery process.

Platelet-rich plasma or PRP has been utilized for years to treat wounds and stimulate healing in areas that were previously difficult to heal. By adding this treatment to the already effective Topaz procedure, the probability of healing increases to 90% or above. Similar results were not considered possible with previous treatments.

Although these treatments are state-of-the-art when it comes to foot pain treatment, they have been used for years by orthopedic surgeons in treating tendons elsewhere. They likewise found good success with these treatments.

So remember, your pain is not normal. Suffering from foot pain is now unnecessary, even when previous conservative treatments have failed. A new technique now exists to help alleviate your pain and return you to regular activities more quickly. Pain is no longer a necessary companion to walking. You deserve to be free from this pain. It's your turn. You should have the opportunity to enjoy life as you always have.

Copyright (c) 2008 Mountain West Foot & Ankle Institute