News: The Swiss Dolorclast is shocking patients in Scotland
Mrs Jean Dickie had suffered for three years with excruciating pain caused by Plantar Fasciitis (pain in the underside of the heel) and had almost given up hope of being able to find a cure.
However, Mrs Dickie was referred to Consultant Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeon Mr Senthil Kumar at the Nuffield Health Glasgow Hospital in Glasgow and was offered a course of revolutionary Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT).
ESWT is a relatively new treatment and is an alternative to invasive surgery. It has been found to be particularly effective when treating a range of soft tissue injuries that cause debilitating pain and are commonly found in the foot, heel, elbow and shoulder.
Having completed a course of three, 10-minute treatment sessions, Mrs Dickie was rendered totally pain free within a month and is enjoying her retirement again.
She said: “I endured three years of terrible pain with my heel – it was absolutely awful. The pain was so bad that I was often in tears. But this shockwave therapy treatment has taken away all of the pain and I feel years younger.
“It’s a wonderful result because your mobility is so important when you get older. If you have any pain and discomfort it can knock your confidence and general appetite for life. But this treatment has had a really positive impact on me and I’m so thankful.”
A select number of hospitals in Scotland have recognised the benefits of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy and have established their own treatment services. Patients can either be referred for treatment by their GP, can pay as an individual or can be treated under the terms of their private medical insurance.
The hospitals that are currently using ESWT to treat patients are Nuffield Health Glasgow Hospital, the Edinburgh Clinic, Spire Shawfair Park and Spire Murrayfield.
Mr Robert Clayton, a Consultant Foot and Ankle Surgeon at the Edinburgh Clinic, said: “The arrival of this device in Edinburgh is an important healthcare development because there is only a handful of these devices in the Scotland and the treatment is not widely available.
“There are some injuries that can be excruciating to live with because they are resistant to certain treatments. But this device is extremely effective and is certainly helping patients to avoid surgery and the lengthy rehabilitation that goes with it.”
During the Shockwave Therapy treatment process, low-energy shockwaves are passed through the skin to initiate an inflammation-like response in the injured tissue. This prompts the body to respond naturally by increasing blood circulation, the number of blood vessels and therefore metabolism in the injured tissue. This accelerates the body’s natural healing process by increasing cell generation and dissolving calcium deposits.