Do You Have Recurrent Plantar Fasciitis? Maybe It’s Time to Consider Tenex

If you’re in agony every morning when you swing your legs out of bed and put your feet on the floor because you haven’t been able to get your plantar fasciitis under control, it may be time to consider a new treatment.

At Carolina Joint and Arthritis, Dr. Austin Yeargan is an expert in using ultrasound energy through the Tenex procedure to treat your chronic tendon pain. In this blog, we’ll explain how Tenex works and how it can help you. 

What is plantar fasciitis? 

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue, similar to a ligament, that runs along the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel bone to your toes. It helps to form your foot’s arch.

If your plantar fascia is overused or stretched too far, it will become inflamed, causing a stabbing pain that makes it difficult to walk, especially after long periods of sitting or lying down. It usually occurs in people who are on their feet all day, often exercise on hard surfaces, and go barefoot a lot or wear shoes that don’t support their feet well enough.

Plantar fasciitis is a common problem, occurring in about 10% of the population and resulting in about a million patient visits to a doctor each year.

Typical treatments include over-the-counter pain medications, resting from activities, orthotics and/or more supportive shoes, icing your foot, stretching, and steroid injections.

In some cases, these treatments may work temporarily, but the pain keeps recurring. This usually means you need a stronger treatment to solve the problem.

How does Tenex work?

Dr. Yeargan has just the treatment you need to reduce your pain and restore your mobility. The Tenex procedure uses ultrasound energy to treat continuing pain caused by inflamed and swollen tendons and tissues.

If you have recurring pain from plantar fasciitis, you likely also have degenerative changes to the tissue, including scar tissue that has developed, making your fascia hard instead of elastic. These changes also weaken the tissue and make tears more likely.

In the Tenex procedure, Dr. Yeargan inserts the needle-like Tenex device into your foot, using ultrasound guidance to view its position in relation to your plantar fascia. He then turns on the ultrasound energy, which he uses to cut away the damaged and diseased tissue.

Removing the damage removes your pain. After a few days, your recovery should be complete, allowing you to return to your normal activities. The entire procedure only takes about 15 minutes.

If you’re suffering from recurrent plantar fasciitis with no relief in sight, the Tenex procedure may be exactly what you need to get your life back. Just call our Wilmington, North Carolina, office at 910-659-9597 or use our convenient online scheduler to book your appointment.