Topaz Treatment for Chronic Pain

Who Is a Good Candidate for This Procedure?

Topaz is designed for treating chronic soft tissue injuries, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, and other forms of tendinitis (posterior tibial, peroneal, etc.).

Although it is minimally invasive and highly successful on average, its intended use is for patients who have already thoroughly attempted non-surgical treatment options and not found the desired success. In addition to traditional treatments (such as rest, icing, and physical therapy) this may also include more advanced non-invasive therapies like shockwave therapy or orthotics.

Before we had Topaz, recalcitrant cases of plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis would have required a traditional open surgery to repair if all other conservative options had failed. But now, Topaz is able to treat the vast majority (around 90%) of these incredibly stubborn and severe cases successfully, providing our patients with a much more convenient and comfortable option.

What Can I Expect from Treatment and Recovery?

The actual procedure is very brief, and can be completed in a matter of minutes. Typically, a local anesthetic or “twilight sedation” is used.

We’ll draw a small grid pattern on the skin above the damaged tissue, indicating the locations (spaced about a quarter inch apart) where the Topaz wand will be inserted. Due to the anesthetic, there should be no discomfort whatsoever, and only a few seconds of radiofrequency exposure is required for each location.

The foot is bandaged following the procedure, and after a short recovery you’ll be allowed to go home. Some patients are able to bear weight and wear normal shoes immediately, although others may require a walking boot or short cast for 2-3 weeks.

In the first few days after surgery, you may not feel much benefit. In fact, your pain might even be slightly worse than it was before. However, this is expected and actually a good sign, as it means that your body is finally responding properly to the trauma and working through the healing process as intended. 

Over the coming days and weeks, your body should continue to heal, gradually reducing your pain and restoring your mobility.

Advantages Over Traditional Surgery

Topaz offers many significant benefits over traditional open surgeries for chronic tendon and ligament pain, including:

• Less post-surgical pain
• Minimal damage to the skin and other healthy tissues (we’re just poking small holes, not cutting large openings in tissue)
• Lower risk of infection or other complications
• Faster recovery time (weeks instead of months)
• Ability to bear weight immediately after the procedure in most cases

You Deserve Relief From Your Chronic Pain

At Foot & Ankle Center of Oklahoma, our objective is always to treat our patients’ foot and ankle problems as simply and conservatively as possible—or in other words, choose treatments that cause the least amount of discomfort and disruption to daily lives while still getting the job done.

But when completely non-invasive approaches fail, that no longer means your only choice is an open surgery and months of recovery. With Topaz, even the most severely chronic sufferers of heel, tendon, and ligament pain can get the relief they need effectively and conveniently.

Give our office a call today if you’re ready to finally say goodbye to your chronic foot and ankle pain.