Friends have commented on how much better Elayne Goodman is moving these days.
She credits that change to the foot and ankle care she received at OrthoIndy.
A Chance Visit That Led to Answers
Like many people, Elayne had been putting off dealing with a nagging issue. For Elayne, it was chronic pain at the back of her heel.
She didn’t seek care for herself – at least not at first.
Instead, she visited an OrthoIndy urgent care clinic in support of her husband. He thought he had sprained his ankle, but when it didn’t get better, the couple decided to have it checked. They learned he had a fracture, and he was referred to dual-fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephen Greenfield for follow-up care.
“After seeing how well everything went for him, I mentioned to the staff that I had been wanting to check a spot on my heel,” says Elayne.
That conversation led to her own appointment and long-awaited diagnosis.
Diagnosing and Treating a Painful Heel Spur
Dr. Greenfield told Elayne that she had a heel spur, a bony bump that was contributing to her ongoing pain. Elayne says the diagnosis made perfect sense.
“I could feel the bump,” she says. “It would poke out the back of my heel.”
Dr. Greenfield explained her options: she could continue non-operative approaches, or she could choose surgery to correct the problem.
Elayne was interested in surgery, but at 69 years old and living with diabetes, she had concerns about the healing process and how well she could handle the post-op restriction. Fortunately, Dr. Greenfield’s patient-first approach quickly put her at ease with a surgical option that allowed early weight bearing.
“He answered all my questions,” says Elayne. “In the end, it didn’t take me long to decide.”
A Minimally Invasive Solution
In August 2025, Elayne underwent a Zadek osteotomy, a minimally invasive procedure designed to reduce tension on the Achilles tendon and relieve pain at the back of the heel.
During the procedure, a small wedge of bone is removed to slightly change the angle of the heel and reduce the pull and pressure on the irritated area.
The result? Relief from pain and a smoother recovery than Elayne expected.
“I didn’t need rehab or physical therapy,” she says. “I used a knee scooter for about four weeks to keep weight off my heel, and it healed very well.”
Back to Moving Comfortably
Before surgery, Elayne struggled to walk long distances, travel comfortably or even sleep without heel pain.
Today, those limitations are gone.
“There’s no pain,” says Elayne. “I just get a little sore if I’m very active.”
She’s grateful that her husband’s urgent care visit ultimately led her to the care she needed.
“Dr. Greenfield was so encouraging and helpful, both before and after surgery,” she says. “He made me feel comfortable the entire time.”
Now, she’s walking proof that it’s never too late to take care of the pain you’ve been living with.
If heel pain is limiting your mobility and quality of life, an OrthoIndy foot and ankle specialist can help you explore your options. Schedule an appointment today.
