Chronic foot and ankle pain can interfere with everything from exercise routines to everyday activities. Whether you’re struggling with plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, arthritis, or a stubborn soft tissue injury, healing can sometimes take longer than expected. At Lakeview Clinic, podiatrist Dr. David Arens now offers Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy, an innovative regenerative treatment designed to stimulate the body’s natural healing response.
What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy?
PRP therapy uses your body’s own healing components to target injured tissue. Your blood is drawn and processed to concentrate platelets and growth factors. These platelets are then injected directly into the injured area to stimulate repair and regeneration.
According to clinical literature in orthopedics and sports medicine, PRP has shown encouraging outcomes in treating two of the most common podiatric conditions, chronic tendon injuries and plantar fasciitis. Studies published in peer-reviewed journals such as The American Journal of Sports Medicine and Foot & Ankle International have demonstrated improved pain scores and functional outcomes in patients receiving PRP for chronic plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy compared to corticosteroid injections over longer-term follow-up. While results vary by patient and condition, PRP is widely recognized as a promising regenerative option in foot and ankle care.
How PRP Works
PRP therapy performed at Lakeview Clinic involves:
Blood Draw: Approximately 60–180 mL of blood is drawn from your arm.
Processing: The blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate platelets and beneficial growth factors.
Injection: The platelet-rich plasma is injected into the targeted soft tissue or joint area.
The full process takes approximately 30–45 minutes.
Because PRP uses your own cells and tissues, the risk of rejection or contamination is extremely low. The goal is to restart and enhance the body’s natural healing cascade which is particularly helpful in chronic conditions where healing has stalled.
Conditions Commonly Treated in Podiatry
PRP therapy may be considered for:
Chronic plantar fasciitis
Achilles tendinitis or tendinosis
Peroneal tendon injuries
Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction
Ankle ligament injuries
Mild to moderate foot and ankle arthritis
Other chronic soft tissue conditions of the foot and ankle
Dr. Arens carefully evaluates each patient to determine whether PRP is an appropriate treatment option.
What to Expect After Treatment
PRP stimulates an inflammatory healing response, so mild discomfort following the injection is expected. Possible short-term effects may include:
Mild pain or soreness at the injection site
Bruising
Temporary fatigue or low-grade fever
Body aches
Healing typically begins within the first 4–6 weeks. Many patients notice improvement in symptoms and mobility within 4–8 weeks, though complete healing may take up to 9–12 months depending on the condition.
Some patients may require 2–3 treatments to achieve optimal results. Progress is usually assessed at least six weeks after the first injection. As with any medical procedure, results cannot be guaranteed.
Is PRP Right for You?
PRP therapy may be a valuable option if:
Conservative treatments have failed
You wish to avoid or delay surgery
You are seeking a regenerative, non-surgical approach
You prefer treatment using your body’s own healing properties
The best way to determine candidacy is through a comprehensive evaluation with Dr. Arens.
Important Payment Information
PRP therapy at Lakeview Clinic is considered an elective regenerative procedure.
This service is not billed to insurance, and payment is required upfront at the time of treatment.
Patients are informed of the full cost prior to the procedure and will review and sign a detailed consent form outlining risks, expectations, and financial responsibility.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are experiencing chronic foot or ankle pain and are interested in learning more about Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy, contact Lakeview Clinic Podiatry to schedule an appointment with Dr. David Arens.
A personalized evaluation will help determine whether PRP is appropriate for your condition and healing goals. Regenerative medicine is changing the way we approach chronic musculoskeletal pain, and PRP therapy may be an option to help you get back on your feet.
His practice involves all aspects of podiatric medicine and surgery. He performs surgery of all foot and ankle conditions ranging from bunions and hammertoes to fractures and chronic ankle pain.
Hearing plays a vital role in how we connect with others and navigate everyday life, yet it’s often overlooked until challenges begin to surface. At Lakeview Clinic, hearing health is viewed as an essential part of overall wellness and deserves proactive attention, early detection, and personalized care.
Hearing loss is often gradual and easy to miss. Many people don’t recognize the early signs, such as frequently turning up the volume, asking others to repeat themselves, or struggling to follow conversations in group settings. These subtle changes can build over time, making early evaluation key to maintaining strong communication and quality of life.
Why Early Hearing Care Is So Important
When it comes to hearing issues or loss, Lakeview Clinic providers often emphasize the value of early action. This is why we have a hearing specialist onsite at our Waconia Clinic who offers free hearing screenings. Untreated hearing loss doesn’t just affect your ability to hear, it can impact many areas of life, including:
Communication with family and friends
Social engagement and confidence
Cognitive stimulation and mental sharpness
By identifying hearing concerns early, patients can take steps to stay engaged, active, and connected. Even a simple hearing screening can provide valuable insight and peace of mind.
Meet the Specialist: Nathan Whipple
Nathan Whipple, a certified hearing specialist who is experienced and passionate about helping patients.
Nathan specializes in comprehensive hearing evaluations, hearing aid fittings, and ongoing hearing care management. He works with adults of all ages, taking the time to understand their unique hearing challenges, daily environments, and communication goals. This individualized approach allows him to recommend solutions that truly fit each patient’s lifestyle.
What sets Nathan apart is his patient-centered philosophy. He understands that addressing hearing loss can feel overwhelming or even emotional. By creating a supportive, low-pressure environment, he helps patients feel comfortable asking questions and confident in their care decisions.
With experience in modern hearing technology, Nathan provides guidance on today’s advanced hearing aids, including features like Bluetooth connectivity, rechargeable options, and discreet designs. He also supports patients through every stage of the process, from initial testing and device selection to fitting, adjustments, and long-term follow-up care.
A Personalized, Whole-Person Approach
As part of a multi-specialty care model, Lakeview Clinic integrates hearing health into a broader commitment to patient-centered care. This means patients benefit from coordinated services, convenient access to care, and a team that looks at the full picture of their health.
Take the First Step Toward Better Hearing
Hearing health is easy to take for granted but addressing it early can make a lasting difference. If you’ve noticed even small changes in your hearing, scheduling an evaluation is a simple step that can lead to meaningful improvements in your daily life. Appointments can be made by calling (952) 442-4461 and requesting an appointment with Hearing Health.
View VIDEO to get to know Hearing Specialist, Nathan Whipple.
In today’s world, it’s easier than ever to fall into a sedentary lifestyle. Many of us spend hours sitting at desks, in cars, or in front of screens. According to the American Heart Association, this level of inactivity is common and is linked to serious health risks including heart disease, diabetes, and even early death.
The good news is you don’t need to become a marathon runner overnight to improve your health. The journey starts with simply moving more.
How Much Activity Do You Really Need?
The American Heart Association recommends:
At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week (like brisk walking)
75 minutes of vigorous activity (like running), or a combination of both
Plus, strength training at least 2 days per week
That might sound like a lot, but it breaks down to about 20–30 minutes a day, and it doesn’t have to happen all at once. Even short bursts of activity throughout the day add up.
Just as importantly, the guidance emphasizes: sit less, move more. Even light activity can help offset some of the risks of prolonged sitting. Make a point of getting up and stretching or moving during micro-breaks.
Sedentary Lifestyles Are Common
Only about 1 in 5 adults get enough exercise to meet these recommendations. That means most people are navigating similar challenges; busy schedules, fatigue, injuries, or uncertainty about where to start.
Lakeview Clinic medical providers frequently emphasize that movement is one of the most powerful “medicines” available, reducing risk of cardiovascular disease, improving mental health, and even lowering overall mortality risk.
Overcoming Barriers: You’re Not Alone
Unfortunately for many, getting started isn’t just about motivation, it’s about managing real physical limitations.
Chronic Illness or Injury
Conditions like arthritis, chronic pain, or past injuries can make exercise feel intimidating. But that doesn’t mean you should avoid movement altogether.
Physical therapy can help restore strength, mobility, and confidence through guided, individualized plans.
Treatments like cortisone injections (when appropriate and prescribed) may help reduce inflammation and make movement more tolerable.
Working with your medical provider ensures your activity is safe and tailored to your condition.
If you cannot meet standard activity goals due to chronic conditions, you should “be as physically active as your abilities allow” and gradually increase over time. The National Institute on Aging also offers helpful information on physical activity for older adults.
Time, Energy, or Motivation
Many people feel they simply don’t have time. The reality is:
Short sessions (even 10 minutes) still count
Activities can be built into daily life (walking, gardening, taking stairs)
Consistency matters more than intensity at the start
Lakeview providers also recommend identifying your personal barriers and building small, realistic goals to overcome them. Use helpful resources such as physical therapists or fitness instructors to help if needed.
Start Small, Build Gradually
One of the most important takeaways is you don’t have to be in perfect shape, just get started!
Consider this approach:
Begin with short walks or light activity
Focus on consistency over intensity
Gradually increase duration and effort
Pair movement with other healthy habits like improved nutrition
Nutrition plays a key role as well. Lakeview Clinic recommends focusing on nutrient-dense foods, appropriate portions, and balanced meals to support energy levels and overall health.
When combined, small changes in both diet and physical activity can lead to meaningful, sustainable improvements.
Talk to Your Primary Care Provider
If you’ve been living a mostly sedentary lifestyle, or have chronic conditions, injuries, or other concerns, it’s important to check in with your primary care provider before starting a new exercise routine.
They can help:
Identify safe types of activity
Address underlying conditions
Refer you to services like physical therapy or dietitians
Create a personalized, realistic plan
Lakeview Clinic providers emphasize that individualized guidance is key, especially when health conditions or barriers are present.
Endometriosis is a common chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by pelvic pain that affects many patients. According to ACOG, endometriosis affects approximately 6-10% of patients of reproductive age and is prevalent in 20-50% of infertile patients and approximately 70-80% of patients with chronic pelvic pain. In this condition tissue that is found inside the uterus, the endometrium, forms outside of the uterus and can be found throughout the pelvis. This disease is characterized by painful periods but may also impact fertility.
Endometriosis Symptoms
Symptoms of endometriosis include chronic pelvic pain (both during and outside of a menstrual period), painful intercourse, but may also affect how heavy periods may be as well as pain with urinating and bowel movements. Some patients are asymptomatic and may find endometriosis incidentally when having surgery for another reason or during a fertility evaluation. The definitive diagnosis of endometriosis is made through a biopsy during surgery, but evaluation always starts with a history and physical exam and often an ultrasound is performed.
Endometriosis Treatment
Treatment for endometriosis is individualized dependent on symptoms and pregnancy planning. Medications are often used first and may help with pain, reducing symptoms, and slow and prevent further disease progression. These medications include NSAIDs, hormonal medications such as birth control pill and hormonal IUDs, and newer hormonal modulators that all can help treat a patient. Surgery may help remove endometriosis that can help with pain and improve fertility, but it may return. In some cases, a hysterectomy may be recommended but medications may be used in addition to the surgery.
Endometriosis & Mental Health
Endometriosis is also associated with increased risk of anxiety and depression as well as may be associated with other causes of pelvic pain. It is important to work with a healthcare team that is devoted to patient-centered care and aligns with a patient’s priorities. The diagnosis of endometriosis can be challenging and it is a severe chronic pain disorder that can impact many aspects of a patient’s life.
Establishing care with a gynecologist is a first step in developing an individualized treatment plan. Lakeview Clinic’s OBGYN team provides comprehensive patient centered care for endometriosis, and our physicians truly aim for pain-free lives for their patients.
Dr. Ferrell is a third generation physician and second generation OBGYN who is passionate about providing excellent and comprehensive evidence based medicine. He is board certified and enjoys all of the varied aspects of OBGYN medicine. His special interests include minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, menopausal medicine, pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence, routine and high-risk obstetrics, infertility evaluation and treatments, and PCOS management.
Most of these injections can be safely and effectively performed in a primary care setting, apart from certain areas like the spine, which requires specialist care.
Ultrasound guided steroid injections
At Lakeview Clinic not only do we provide services for steroid injections, but we also have an option for ultrasound-guided steroid injections too. Using real-time ultrasound imaging allows us to deliver medication precisely where it’s needed, increasing both safety and effectiveness.
Ultrasound guidance is especially useful when:
The target area is difficult or risky to access (e.g., due to bone spurs, severe arthritis, higher BMI, or there are nearby critical structures that need to be avoided).
A previous non-guided injection didn’t provide relief.
The pain source is unclear (e.g., differentiating between pain from the hip, SI joint, or lower back). In these cases, a guided injection can provide both pain relief and diagnostic insight.
Note: While ultrasound guidance improves accuracy, insurance may not always cover it unless these specific conditions are met. Please speak with your provider about this beforehand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s in a steroid injection?
Most injections include:
A short-acting anesthetic (e.g., lidocaine) for immediate, temporary relief. This wears off after a few hours.
A long-acting corticosteroid (e.g., Kenalog, Depo-Medrol) to reduce inflammation. Steroid benefits typically begin within a few days to 2 weeks and may last for several months.
When should I consider a steroid injection?
To delay or avoid surgery.
To improve pain and mobility to better participate in physical therapy.
To reduce reliance or side effects of NSAIDs, Tylenol or other pain medications.
To prevent other injuries due to compensating for the current pain.
If pain is disrupting sleep or interfering with certain activities.
What are the potential risks?
While generally safe, possible side effects include:
Systemic effects (e.g. transient elevated blood sugar, elevated blood pressure, facial flushing): typically temporary and rare, but can be more likely in individuals with certain predispositions like diabetes
Bleeding: <1%
Infection: <1%
Temporary discomfort during the injection
“Steroid flare” (increased discomfort/swelling in the first 48 hours post-injection): ~5%
Allergic reaction: rare
Skin thinning or discoloration at the injection site: <1%
Tendon rupture: <0.1%
Ineffectiveness of the injection
When can’t we do the injection?
We generally avoid steroid injections in the following situations:
Acute fracture in the target area
Active systemic infection or infection at or near the injection site
Uncontrolled diabetes (typically fasting glucoses >200 or A1C >8.5%)
High bleeding risk (e.g., INR >3.5 or certain blood disorders)
Known allergy to the anesthetic or steroid (though alternatives may be available)
Note: We do not inject prosthetic joints. Additionally, if there is desire for a spinal injection this must be done with X-ray or CT guidance by a specialist.
Is there a limit to how many injections I can receive?
There’s no strict lifetime limit, but to minimize systemic effects, we typically do not recommend more than one injection every three months per joint, or 3–4 injections per year.
Which steroid injections are offered at Lakeview Clinic?
Head: occipital blocks
Shoulder: rotator cuff, shoulder joint, biceps tendon, AC joint
If you’re considering getting a steroid injection or have additional questions, speak with your Lakeview provider. We’re here to help you make an informed decision based on your unique needs and health goals!
Leah M. Clark, MD – Family Medicine (Care Team 4)
Dr. Clark loves taking care of the whole family and has special interests in office-based procedures (particularly ultrasound-guided and non-guided musculoskeletal injections), Sports Medicine, Pediatric and Women’s Health.
