When chronic foot or ankle pain makes your favorite activities feel impossible, you need effective solutions that provide prompt results—not treatments that mask symptoms instead of promoting actual healing.
At the Foot, Ankle & Leg Center, we understand your concerns. That’s why our Scottsdale podiatrist, Dr. L. David Richer, takes a different approach, offering advanced regenerative therapies that harness your body’s natural healing abilities to encourage swift pain relief and faster overall recovery.
Having experienced foot and ankle pain himself, Dr. Richer knows firsthand how foot pain can cause you to miss out on the activities you enjoy. His personal experiences shape his commitment to providing patients with long-term solutions rather than temporary fixes. Through treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, we help Phoenix-area patients achieve lasting relief and return to their lifestyles.
Understanding PRP Therapy and How It Works
PRP therapy utilizes your body’s own growth factors found in your blood platelets to relieve foot pain and accelerate recovery. Though this regenerative treatment sounds complicated, the process itself is as easy as counting to three.
- Blood collection. PRP therapy uses your own blood to stimulate healing. We take a small blood sample that’s similar to a routine blood draw.
- Processing. We place the blood sample in a centrifuge that separates the platelet-rich plasma from other components.
- Targeted injection. Dr. Richer injects the concentrated PRP at the site of your foot and ankle pain or discomfort, delivering healing factors exactly where they’re needed.
Exploring the Foot & Ankle Conditions We Treat With Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
Our Scottsdale podiatrist uses PRP injections to address a variety of foot and ankle conditions, including:
- Tendon injuries. Platelet-rich plasma treatment can help heal painful chronic tendon issues like Achilles tendonitis/tendinopathy, posterior tibial tendonitis/tendinopathy, and peroneal tendonitis/tendinopathy. It is highly useful for partial tendon tears.
- Plantar fasciitis/fasciosis. PRP can accelerate the healing of this important band of connective tissue that supports the arch and connects the heel bone to the base of the toes.
- Foot and ankle arthritis. This revolutionary regenerative therapy has been shown to reduce inflammation and pain in arthritic joints.
- Ligament tears. The growth factors provided with PRP therapy significantly increase the rate of healing of the 60+ ligaments in the foot or ankle that may be injured.
- Sports injuries. Athletes can benefit from PRP’s ability to speed up recovery from sprains, strains, and other athletic injuries.
- Chronic wounds. The concentrated growth factors in platelet-rich plasma can accelerate healing and encourage healthy tissue growth in stubborn foot wounds.
Choosing Regenerative Medicine Offers Numerous Benefits
Compared to traditional treatments, PRP therapy provides several advantages, such as:
- Natural healing. Because platelet-rich plasma treatment uses your own blood components, there’s minimal risk of experiencing adverse reactions.
- Minimal downtime. Most patients return to normal activities within a day of treatment.
- Long-lasting results. By addressing the root cause of pain, PRP therapy often provides more sustained relief than cortisone injections.
- Reduced need for surgery. Many patients find relief with platelet-rich plasma injections, allowing them to avoid more invasive interventions.
Completing Your First Treatment
Understanding what to expect can help you prepare for your first PRP therapy session. Our Phoenix-area podiatry practice ensures your comfort at every stage of the process. Here’s what to expect:
- Thorough evaluation. Dr. Richer performs a detailed physical assessment to determine if PRP therapy is the right treatment for your condition.
- Treatment planning. We explain the procedure, answer your questions, and address your concerns so you can feel confident in your care plan.
- Comfortable care. The use of a local anesthetic ensures minimal discomfort during the injection.
- Recovery guidance. We provide patients with specific aftercare instructions to optimize healing.
Choose Our Skilled Scottsdale Podiatrist for Your Regenerative Medicine Needs
At the Foot, Ankle & Leg Center, we combine advanced technology with personalized care to get you back to your favorite activities without pain. Dr. Richer's experience as both a patient and provider gives him unique insight into finding the most effective solutions for your foot and ankle pain.
Don't let foot pain keep you from enjoying Arizona's active lifestyle. Contact our Scottsdale podiatry office today to learn if PRP therapy or other regenerative medicine treatments could help you return to the activities you love. Conveniently schedule and appointment online, complete the contact form, or call (480) 629-5903 to schedule an appointment today.