Advantages and disadvantages of X-ray therapy for heel spurs
X-ray therapy of a heel spur is a method of treating a disease by exposing problem areas with X-rays.
X-rays are widely used in medicine not only for the diagnosis of various pathologies, but also for their therapy. The technology is short-wavelength, high-energy electromagnetic radiation. The rays have the ability to penetrate deeply into tissues and produce a healing effect.
Most often, X-ray therapy is used to get rid of a person from cancer. Doctors use this type of radiation to affect benign tumors, remove warts and other skin formations.
When undergoing X-ray therapy, it is always worth remembering that X-rays are radiation and, in a certain concentration, can harm a person. At the same time, such therapy should not be abandoned if a doctor recommends it. After all, X-rays are harmful to health only with a prolonged and intense effect on the body. X-ray therapy is suitable for the treatment of heel spurs, since the affected area is in an easily accessible place and can be targeted specifically.
Content:
- Method essence
- Benefits of X-ray Heel Spur Treatment
- Disadvantages and contraindications of X-ray therapy for heel spurs
Method essence
When X-rays are applied to the heel spur, the body is not exposed to harmful rays. This is why X-ray therapy is a very popular treatment for this disease, especially when the question of surgical intervention arises. It is recommended to use it only when conservative treatment did not give the desired effect.
For the procedure of X-ray therapy of the heel spur, special equipment is used, which is a source of X-ray radiation. The doctor directs him to the place where the bone growth is located.
As a result of the influence of X-rays, the nerve endings are blocked and the pain recedes. It is known that it is pain that is the leading symptom in the presence of a heel spur and it is they that reduce the quality of human life. Low doses of radiation can eliminate this pain. Naturally, the spur itself will remain in place, but it will no longer bother the person.
The X-ray session on the heel spur lasts about 10 minutes. In order to completely block the nerve endings, it is necessary to undergo 10 procedures. The full course of treatment is the guarantee that the pain will go away forever.
The procedure is performed after the patient has been examined by an orthopedic doctor and after all the necessary examinations (X-ray, MRI, UAC). During the session, the patient is placed on a couch, and the leg is raised. A special tube is placed on the heel zone, which is the source of X-rays. After the session, experts recommend unloading the sore leg. To do this, you must wear shoes with instep supports, get rid of excess and weight, use canes or crutches, and also perform other actions aimed at facilitating the functioning of the foot.
Therapeutic effects that are achieved through exposure to X-rays:
- Analgesic effect. It will be noticeable after the first procedure, achieved by blocking sensitive receptors;
- Anti-inflammatory effect. It is achieved by normalizing blood circulation in the affected area. As a result, metabolic processes are normalized, the synthesis of prostaglandins, which are responsible for the inflammatory response, decreases;
- Hypoallergenic effect. It is achieved due to the fact that tissues become less sensitive to the effects of potential allergens;
- Regenerative effect. It is achieved through the destruction of old cells and their accelerated recovery.
Benefits of X-ray Heel Spur Treatment
- The procedure is absolutely painless and comfortable for the patient.
- One session is short and takes no more than 10 minutes.
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To eliminate pain, it is enough to complete one course of 10 procedures.
- In addition to relieving pain, X-ray therapy can reduce inflammation and eliminate allergic reactions.
- The treatment does not require the patient to be in the hospital; immediately after the procedure, he can continue to do his business.
- X-rays are highly targeted.
- The procedure allows you to avoid surgery and possible complications from it.
X-ray therapy is often the last treatment before the patient is sent to the operating table. The effectiveness of the irradiation will be influenced by the severity of the pathology, the patient's age and the duration of the course.
It is possible to repeat the course if necessary, but this can be done not earlier than after 3 months. As a rule, this is enough to consolidate the result obtained and relieve the patient from pain for a long time.
Disadvantages and contraindications of X-ray therapy for heel spurs
X-ray therapy of the heel spur is contraindicated for use in pregnant women. The fact is that X-rays can negatively affect the condition of the fetus.
Despite the fact that most patients indicate a positive effect of X-ray therapy, there have been no studies on this score. Just as there was no purposeful long-term follow-up of patients who underwent such treatment. Therefore, it is not possible to speak unambiguously about the absolute safety of the method.
In this regard, any specialist begins therapy for heel spurs with simpler methods of treatment. In the event that they do not help, or there are contraindications to their conduct, they resort to X-ray therapy.
Author of the article: Kaplan Alexander Sergeevich | Orthopedist
Education: diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received in 2009 at the Medical Academy. I. M. Sechenov. In 2012 completed postgraduate studies in Traumatology and Orthopedics at the City Clinical Hospital named after Botkin at the Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Disaster Surgery.
