In pain for a year..... considering shockwaves / surgery??

Posted , 5 users are following.

Have been a sufferer for over a year now, 3 injections, ultrasound, physio, night splints, and ICE! Nothing has worked so far and really fed up with the pain. Have been looking at the shockwaves treatment. Has anyone had this??? Does it work...  Wondereing if anyone has had this on the NHS as it doesnt appear to be available everywhere???

Thanks

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    shock wave therapy won't make it worse (very important)

    surgery may make it worse (it did in my case - 10 times worse, based on the length of time I could be on my feet before it becomes torture)

  • Posted

    I have been suffering for 3 weeks !! been in agony,  tried ice, stretching, and going for accupuncture tomorrow. So fingers crossed.  Dont think I would go for surgery.
  • Posted

    Hi Kirsty, I had surgery on my right foot 12 years ago which proved successful. In 2012 I started to have trouble with my left foot and requested surgery to solve the problem. The medics did everything they could to stop me having the op. They tried injections, orthotics and despite my continued requests for surgery they suggested shockwaves therapy

    After 3 treatments last March/April I was left with severe heel pain as well as the original PF.  I eventually had surgery last November which seems to have cured the PF but has still left me with the severe heel pain.

    On a follow up hospital visit this week I was sent for an X-ray on the heel. When this was compared to the original 2012 X-ray it showed that the heel bone had apparently splintered at the site of the shock wave therapy! The medics were very non committal but did say "well it is used to zap kidney stones"

    We are all different, but be very careful re shockwave therapy. It is unproven for PF

    • Posted

      wow - that's awful!

      I had low intensity shock wave therapy - had to go every two weeks for 8 sessions - no good but certainly no negatives. I had the high intensity version done once - again no positive but also no negative either.

  • Posted

    Hi Kirsty

    Sorry to hear of your problems.  I had shock wave therapy last year on the Nhs, and initially it did seem to calm things down, but only for a month or so.  Now it's back, so I can say it didn't work for me.  I do know someone who it did work for though, so everybody is different.  I have had it for 4 years now and don't think I will ever really be rid of it.  Unusually mine gets worse as the day goes along, which just goes to show the different aspects of this horrible problem.  I wear Fitflops all the time which are relly my lifeline.  They make walking much much less painful.  Try them.  All the best

    • Posted

      I use crutches all the time - slows my pace and reduces my step length - life is slow but It does reduce the pain

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