Chronic foot pain can affect every aspect of daily life, transforming routine activities into challenging obstacles. When conservative treatments haven't provided the relief you need, you may find yourself wondering if surgery is your only option, or if there are other advanced treatments that may provide relief.
Fortunately, surgery isn’t always the only option. At St. Cloud Foot & Ankle Center, we offer Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT) shockwave therapy, which can often be a viable non-surgical foot treatment alternative to surgery. Below, our St. Cloud foot doctors discuss key EPAT versus surgery considerations to help you understand how these treatment options compare.
Traditional Surgical Approaches to Treat Chronic Foot Pain
Surgical intervention can be an option for treating chronic foot pain when conservative treatments haven't provided adequate relief, though it’s important to discuss all possible treatment options with your podiatrists before deciding to move forward with surgery.
Foot surgery for persistent foot pain typically takes place in an outpatient setting under local or general anesthesia. Depending on the complexity of the foot condition causing your chronic pain, the procedure itself may last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. Surgical approaches commonly used to treat chronic foot pain include operations focused on releasing tight tissue, removing damaged tissue, or repairing torn structures.
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Recovery from foot surgery usually requires several weeks of limited weight-bearing activity.
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After surgery, you may need to use an offloading device, such as a pair of crutches or a walking boot, for a while.
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Foot surgery patients often need physical therapy after surgery to help restore their strength and mobility.
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While surgery can provide long-lasting relief, it comes with risks such as infection, scarring, and prolonged recovery time.
It's important to carefully consider these factors when making your treatment decision.
EPAT Shockwave Therapy: A Non-Invasive Alternative
EPAT therapy is a non-invasive treatment that offers a number of advantages to surgery for patients who are candidates for this treatment option. EPAT therapy uses pressure waves to stimulate healing in damaged soft tissue. This type of treatment involves delivering acoustic pressure waves via a hand-held device to penetrate the affected area deeply.
These acoustic pressure waves trigger increased blood flow and metabolism in the treated area, resulting in enhanced circulation that helps reduce inflammation and accelerate the body’s natural healing process. Additionally, EPAT therapy stimulates collagen production, an important substance that plays an important role in tissue repair and wound healing.
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Unlike surgery, EPAT therapy carries minimal risks and requires no downtime or need to add offloading devices to your routine.
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Most patients require three to five EPAT sessions, scheduled about a week apart, though the number of treatments needed can vary.
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Each session typically takes 10-15 minutes, and you can return to most normal activities immediately afterward.
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Patients often report feeling improvement after the first or second treatment, and improvement can be long-lasting.
For some patients, combining the advanced technology of EPAT therapy with other conservative treatments may help avoid surgery altogether.
Making an Informed Treatment Decision
Are you interested in finding out if you are a candidate for EPAT shockwave therapy? Our team is here to help. If you’re in the Central Minnesota area, we encourage you to make an appointment with St. Cloud Foot & Ankle Center today. You’ll meet with a member of our podiatry team, who will thoroughly evaluate your condition and discuss these factors with you to develop an appropriate treatment plan, based on relevant factors such as:
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Your overall health status
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Your specific condition and its severity
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Previous treatments you've tried and the results
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Your activity level and lifestyle needs
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Recovery time you can accommodate
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Budget and insurance coverage
EPAT Versus Surgery: Comparing Costs Coverage
EPAT therapy typically costs less than surgery, but insurance coverage varies greatly. Many insurance plans consider EPAT an alternative therapy and may not cover the treatment. Even so, the total out-of-pocket cost often remains lower than surgical deductibles and copays.
Surgical procedures generally have better insurance coverage than alternative therapies but can be much more expensive. The cost of surgery includes much more than the operation itself. Surgical costs often include additional expenses for facility fees, anesthesia, and post-operative care.
If you choose St. Cloud Foot & Ankle Center to treat your chronic foot pain, our staff will help you understand your insurance coverage and treatment costs so that you can make a fully informed decision before making a decision on EPAT versus surgical treatment options – if you are a candidate for these options – and any other aspects of your recommended treatment plan.