A Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, attorney says a new type of treatment that uses sound waves to stimulate cell regrowth has been a game-changer for her.

The treatment, called Shockwave, provided relief after years of chronic Achilles tendinitis that had gradually become debilitating. The woman, who asked not to be identified for privacy reasons, says she continued running through the pain for years before her condition worsened.

At one point she started walking on her heels, not going through her full range of motion because of the pain. The years of running through the pain did damage.

“It’s really created a lot of scar tissue for me. So, nothing else worked. They did blading and a number of different PT [physical therapy] approaches with me, and they weren’t making any meaningful progress for me. But the Shockwave completely worked,” she says with a smile.

Blading is a soft tissue therapy that uses a smooth, hard tool to scrape or glide over the skin and underlying muscles, fascia and tendons. Looking for a noninvasive, drug-free treatment for chronic pain, the woman turned to Shockwave. Shockwave therapy uses sound energy delivered through a handheld probe to stimulate the body's natural healing response. Her sessions last 20 minutes [10 minutes for each foot and ankle], with one session each week for a month.

“Been like magic”

She says the treatment has been like magic for her. Gel is applied to the area, and a technician runs the Shockwave wand along the affected area.

“It took me from not being able to enjoy being out and about and walking and doing all of the things that one does physically during the day without pain. With this treatment, I am able to enjoy all of that and be pain free. So, it’s really been a remarkable avenue of treatment for me.”

People suffering from chronic foot, ankle and soft tissue pain might have a promising alternative to surgery through Shockwave therapy, according to Bryce Paschold, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon with OSF HealthCare who has delivered the high-energy acoustic wave treatment for more than a decade.

Dr. Paschold explains the treatment creates controlled stress in damaged tissue, encouraging increased blood flow and tissue regeneration.

"Basically, what it's doing is it's kind of creating this new external stimulus, really causing this internal response by the body. So, it's helped the body's healing itself," Dr. Paschold explains. “It's an all-natural way of doing things.”

The therapy is most commonly used for conditions such as rotator cuff tears, golfer’s elbow, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis and other inflammatory soft tissue injuries. People typically undergo four weekly treatments, each lasting about 10 minutes.

No downtime

One of the biggest advantages, Dr. Paschold says, is that people can resume normal activities immediately after treatment. There’s little to no downtime.

“We treat Illinois Wesleyan and Illinois State athletes and high school athletes around. We’re doing this a lot on them because it's just a great tool that is safe, and they can go right back to practice and play."

The local lawyer who was debilitated by her tendonitis says the treatments are a little uncomfortable as sound waves are sent into the damaged tissue.

“They’re getting thousands of those [sound waves] in a treatment in a few minutes. And it goes very quickly. And it’s moving all around, and when you get to the second level, which is the superficial level, it feels a little bit more intense,” she describes. “There is some discomfort at some points but all very tolerable and absolutely worth it.”

Dr. Paschold shares that stories like hers are not uncommon among people who have exhausted other treatment options. While Shockwave therapy is not appropriate for every condition, he believes it has significantly reduced the need for surgical intervention in many soft tissue cases.

The attorney occasionally returns for maintenance treatments when symptoms begin to reappear, particularly after activities that place extra stress on the tendon. Even so, she views the therapy as an important tool for managing her condition.

Follow all other recommendations for healing

Dr. Paschold emphasizes that people should continue following recommended stretching, strengthening and footwear guidelines alongside treatment. The attorney agrees, noting that she has learned to balance activity with recovery and follow medical advice after treatments.

“I usually feel so good that I immediately want to go out and do a fast walk or bike, and I would say that following the directions and really trying to not do that for 24 to 48 hours does help the end results. It’s just hard because you’re feeling better,” she shares.

While results vary, Dr. Paschold emphasizes most people experience meaningful improvement over time, with studies suggesting the therapy's full effects might take several months to develop.

Although Shockwave therapy is generally paid for out of pocket because it is often not covered by insurance, the attorney believes the benefits have made it worthwhile for her. The treatment at OSF typically costs $175 for each of the four weekly treatments.

For the busy, athletic lawyer, the greatest benefit has been the ability to return to normal daily activities without constant pain.

Dr. Paschold calls Shockwave therapy one of the most reliable tools available for treating chronic inflammatory and tendon-related conditions without surgery. Over the past decade, he believes he’s saved several dozens of people from having to undergo surgery.

Dr. Paschold is a foot and ankle surgeon for OSF Orthopedics in Bloomington, Illinois.

Video clips with Shockwave patient

Video clips with Dr. Bryce Paschold

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Summer is in full swing, which means it’s time to slip on those flip-flops and other comfortable shoes. But this seasonal wear can cause injuries and foot pain during this time of year, including plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis (fashee-EYE-tiss) is one of the most common causes of pain on the bottom of the heel, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. It occurs when the plantar fascia, a strong band of tissue that supports the arch of your foot, becomes irritated.

“Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation from the bottom of your foot," says Ashley Gunlock, a physical therapist with OSF HealthCare. "If you're having sharp pain, especially in the morning, when you're not weight bearing and when you go to stand up for the first time and you have a sharp pain, that's a good indication that you probably have plantar fasciitis.”

Plantar fasciitis is common, affecting one in 10 people at some point in their life. About two million people seek treatment for the pain and discomfort. 

The most common symptom is a sharp pain in the bottom of the foot near the heel. Besides morning pain, it can occur after long periods of rest as well as after exercise or other activity.

“Plantar fasciitis may have several contributors," says Gunlock. "It can occur when somebody has mechanical inefficiencies, such as prior injury, poor body mechanics, or changes in their lifestyle, or from changes in their footwear. The tissues on the back of their legs and foot are getting excessive stress, so they're going to get inflamed. The other way is a common overuse injury. It can happen often with too much running or walking.”

Plantar fasciitis is common among athletes. but it can happen to anyone. Gunlock treats many factory workers, for example, who stand or walk for several hours at a time.

“That prolonged pressure on your foot can inflame the fascia on the bottom of your foot or if they were off of work – if it's a seasonal job, so if they're off over the wintertime – and then they come back to that job in the beginning of the year we're going to get people coming in with that heel-bottom of the foot pain," Gunlock adds. 

If you’re experiencing foot pain, don’t walk barefoot. Examine your shoes for signs of wear and tear and make sure your sandals or flip-flops have arch support. Gunlock says the reason shoes are helpful for people is because they unload the compression to the heel. Shoes with thick soles and extra cushioning can reduce pain with standing and walking.

Things you can try at home to relieve the pain include massaging the bottom of your foot, rolling your foot over a cold-water bottle or stretching the foot. If none of that provides any relief, it’s probably time to seek a referral to a physical therapist. Surgery might also be necessary for some people if other factors are at play such as bone spurs.

“The first thing that I do is look at how their feet are on the ground barefoot, look at their foot posture to see the way the inflammation occurs which has a lot to do with the angle of the calcaneus, which is the heel bone," says Gunlock. "We look at the knees, look at the hips, see how the mechanics look with how you walk, how you move. That gives us a better idea which tissues are the issue. Sometimes the plantar fasciitis is caused by another muscle or overuse of another body part.”

But by taking preventative ‘steps,’ Gunlock says patients can get back on their feet sooner rather than later.

For more information, visit OSF HealthCare.

Interview Clips 

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