Heel Heal...Heal Heel?

Went to the other doctor about my ankle today. Dr. Bettencourt had mentioned back at my first appointment with him about my chronic achilles' issues that if what he was going to try didn't work there was another procedure I could try next. Shock wave therapy.

I talked about how happy Dr. B was with the results, and honestly I am too. A bad day now is SO MUCH better than a good day was before the procedure. I'm back to jogging. I rarely have issues just during the day even after a challenging workout. But...I can still feel that there is an issue there. I still have some pain when I poke my heel. I still have a little pain when I'm rowing and when I'm at the end of my treadmill work. So I went ahead and went to the other doctor to see what he had to say.

And basically he said, "Slow your roll, sunshine. Before you start doing more we don't even know where this is going to end up!" Or that's how my brain translated it anyway.

The shock wave therapy is basically the same treatment as the needling I had done, just not invasive. Which maybe I should have started there? But it's also not covered by insurance so maybe not. Which, how ridiculous is that? The one that is more complicated and more likely to lead to problems is not covered, the one that isn't invasive and is easier to administer isn't. Brent had a heart test that way a few years ago. One way to do it was a scan, the other was a surgical procedure. Insurance would cover the surgery but not the scan. His doctor fought for the scan to be covered so we were able to get that one, but still...

So anyway...

The two treatments are the same idea. You cause a little trauma to the area where the chronic injury is to get blood flow back there and stimulate the body's natural healing response. I had it done by scraping with needles under the skin, the shock wave is (the doctor's description) like taking a little ball peen hammer and knocking on the area over and over again. Poked by needles or hit with a hammer, your choice! Or not really your choice because insurance says needles it is.

Dr. Chiotti (the doc I saw today) also said that I won't fully know how successful the procedure I did have done was until 6-8 months after it was done. Which I'm at about 5 right now so I'm not even at the end of the healing I could see from it. Which is great. I'm all for more heel healing.

I also got the standard, wear sturdy shoes, think about getting a custom orthotic, don't push too hard too fast on your workouts. Yadda yadda yadda the thing and the thing and thing... At least he didn't tell me to lose weight and so I count it as a successful trip to the doctor. Or maybe I should wonder if it doesn't count because of that? Hmm...

Anyway...it's all good. I don't need another procedure. I don't have to start over in a boot. I could still get even more healing out of what I already had done. I'm working out, I'm comfortable most of the time. Not terrible.

Good August news. Nice.