One of the realities about heel pain that can sometimes make it tricky to treat is that there are many potential causes for this one symptom. To best treat your heel pain, we need to ensure the methods we use are a good match for the underlying sources of the pain.
That means a wide variety of potential treatments exist for heel pain, and it often takes expert consideration to determine the most effective course of action. This can often take the course of traditional treatments such as rest, icing, and stretching.
But we know you’re not here to discuss those. You’re here for laser therapy.
Our multi-wave locked system (MLS) laser therapy is an advanced form of treatment we are proud to offer our patients in Medford. It has many benefits that can make it an ideal choice for cases of heel pain, and we’re happy to talk about them!
Is it the hammer that can pound down every heel pain nail, though? Unfortunately, no – and we’ll talk about that, too.
One thing that is important before we start, though, is to stress how important it is not to wait to seek out proper heel pain care. Whatever treatment methods may be best for you, benefiting from them sooner rather than later can not only help you find relief all that much sooner, but reduce your risks of developing further or longer-lasting problems.
If you’ve had persistent heel pain – no matter for how long – give us a call. We’ll be happy to help!
So How Does MLS Laser Therapy Work?
MLS laser therapy uses specifically attuned wavelengths of light energy to cause positive reactions at the site of an injury or inflammation.
The reactions are purely natural, meaning that no outside drugs or influences are administered. Positive biological effects include:
- Cells at the site of damage accelerating their repair processes.
- Blood flow to the area increasing, providing more of the “tools” (oxygen, nutrients) cells need to work.
- A reduction in pain and inflammation.
- An increased immune response to the area.
All together, these reactions can lessen recovery time from an injury and provide for greater overall comfort.
Laser therapy is conducted over a number of sessions (usually about 15 minutes in length each) spread out over the course of weeks or a few months. The overall number of sessions depends on the type and severity of the condition being treated, but results tend to stack with each successive session.
What Types of Heel Pain Might Laser Therapy Be Effective For?
MLS laser therapy can be applied to conditions other than heel pain. It is primarily used to address soft tissue injuries, including wounds.
If your heel pain, then, has a soft tissue injury at its source (most do), you may be a good candidate for laser therapy.
A few examples of heel pain causes that MLS laser therapy may treat include:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinitis
- Bursitis
Sports injuries and other traumas based in bone, such as stress fractures, will likely not see as significant results from laser therapy.
What If I Have Had My Heel Pain for a Long Time?
One of the great potential benefits of laser therapy is that it doesn’t just stimulate cells to conduct repairs faster, but in some cases also restart the repair process as well.
Sometimes, an injury and its associated pain can persist because cells have essentially stopped trying to repair the damage. This may be because stress and strain have continuously undone their efforts, or another condition has made recovery challenging.
In some situations, laser therapy can provide the natural “boost” needed to begin healing effectively again. We can discuss whether laser therapy is worth considering for your chronic heel pain condition.
However, while laser therapy can have outstanding effects on many patients’ heel pain problems, it is important to keep some caveats in mind.
Laser Therapy May Not Always Be the Best Option
As we have noted, there are multiple sources of heel pain. Laser therapy is not necessarily the top choice to address them all.
While an “advanced” treatment can bring us new methods and often new benefits when treating foot and ankle conditions, that does not always mean that particular treatment will be better than more traditional methods every time.
The best course of treatment always depends on the specifics of the condition at hand, as well as the individual needs, goals, and circumstances of each patient. We will always be happy to discuss your options with you, including why we may or may not recommend particular treatments.
Laser Therapy Might Not Be the Only Part of Your Treatment
Laser therapy can be a valuable method when it comes to recovering from an injury. But if the underlying factors that caused the injury still exist, it can be like patching a tire before sending it back over a road full of nails.
For the most effective treatment of heel pain, addressing both the symptoms and their sources are key. That could mean recommending laser therapy in addition to other treatments such as physical therapy or custom orthotics. We want to ensure that you can find relief now and prevent additional problems in the future.
Let’s Find the Solution to Your Heel Pain
For some people, laser therapy might be just what they’ve needed to find relief from persistent discomfort. For others, a different route is required. Whatever you may need, we are dedicated to helping you reach it as quickly and effectively as possible.
Schedule an appointment at our Medford office by calling (541) 776-3338. If you prefer to reach us electronically instead, please fill out our online contact form and a member of our staff will respond to you during our standard office hours.