On an average day, most of us don’t really think about our feet and ankles. That is, of course, until they start showing signs something may be wrong. Indeed, pain and discomfort can serve as a good reminder of feet and ankles we usually never notice.
But it gets worse:
Even when our feet start showing signs that something may be amiss, many of us choose to ignore the problem, or at least hope it will eventually go away given time. Maybe you are hesitant of what treatment will entail (is it going to be painful?) or maybe you are trying to avoid any potential recovery period that may keep you from participating in your favorite activities.
No matter what’s on your mind, delaying treatment is never the best option. Ignoring pain and discomfort will most likely lead to the need of more intensive and invasive treatment when you finally do seek appropriate help from a podiatrist. And yes, this can sometimes include surgery.
On the other hand, when you address your symptoms at their early stages, chances are good that easy, conservative treatment methods will be enough to correct whatever foot or ankle issue you may be experiencing. Regenerative medicine has continuously evolved to provide patients with less invasive treatments that are virtually painless and require little to no downtime for recovery.
In fact, regenerative medicine is proven to be safer and more effective than traditional surgery options!
So, although many foot and ankle conditions can lead to severe pain and discomfort, you can easily find the relief you need and get back to doing the things you love without the need of surgery.
.png)
But What is Regenerative Medicine?
Although we recognize all the great results surgery can provide to some of our patients, we also understand that it’s risky and can lead to a long recovery. Not to mention that some of us are just not all that comfortable with “going under the knife.”
That’s where regenerative medicine comes in – it can do the trick with less risk and a faster recovery.
Regenerative medicine uses tissue engineering and molecular biology as a way of replacing, engineering and regenerating human cells, tissues or organs. There are a variety of regenerative medicine treatments, and we are proud to offer some of them right here at our North Austin Foot & Ankle Institute.
A few examples include:
- PRP Injection. Also known as Platelet Rich Plasma injection, PRP is a very effective treatment that promotes natural healing of the tissue. The process uses human blood that is spun down and separated, providing a concentration of platelets that is above normal values. The extremely rich platelets are then injected back into the injured tissue.
- MLS Laser Therapy. This is a pain-free treatment that utilizes light energy to increase tissue healing. Once laser energy reaches the damaged tissue, it immediately stimulates, and then accelerates, the body’s natural anti-inflammatory and healing responses at the cellular level. MLS laser therapy enables this response to begin more quickly and promotes faster tissue healing.
- Topaz Radiofrequency Ablation. A minimally-invasive surgical technique that uses radiofrequency waves to generate a gentle microscopic trauma to damaged tendon or fascia tissue. This gentle injury of the tissue stimulates an influx of blood flow and growth factors, which allows the body to go through the healing process as nature intended.
You may have noticed a common thread amongst these regenerative treatments – all these methods promote natural healing. In a sense, one can think of these methods as natural procedures, which makes regenerative medicine even more appealing!
What Conditions Can Be Treated with Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine is most commonly used to re-stimulate a chronic condition back into the healing process, but it can also be used after athletic injuries or surgery to decrease inflammation and speed up recovery.
Some of the most common conditions treated with regenerative medicine techniques include:
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Achilles Tendinitis
- Lateral Ankle Instability
- Posterior Tibial Tendinitis
- Peroneal Tendinitis
- Cartilage Injuries (OCD)
Are you suffering from a serious and painful foot or ankle issue?
Find Expert Care at North Austin Foot & Ankle Institute
The bottom line is that foot pain is never normal, and you shouldn’t avoid getting the relief you need because treatment may sound painful or inconvenient.
If you really want to steer clear from needing surgery in the future (and having to deal with pain and inconvenience anyway), come visit our office right away. We can get you back on your feet with easy, pain-free regenerative medicine treatment options today!
Call North Austin Foot & Ankle Institute at (512) 593-2949 to schedule an appointment at our offices in Cedar Park or Round Rock. You can also take advantage of our handy request form online to have one of our helpful staff members reach out to you.