BOSTON -- People from all walks of life get heel spurs -- nagging pain caused by inflammation in the foot. But now, a new shockwave therapy has just been approved, and studies show it can get rid of heel spur pain for good.

SHOCKWAVE THERAPY For more information on the procedure, go to Dornier.com or call 1-800-367-6437.

Debbie Johnson is one of two and a half million Americans who know firsthand about the pain of plantar fasciitis, commonly known as heel spurs.

"You couldn't walk comfortably. You couldn't get out of bed. You couldn't step out of the car," Johnson said.

Heel spurs are caused by a micro-tear in the plantar fascia, a rope-like substance that runs along the bottom of the foot.

Doctors now have a new tool: shockwave therapy -- the same technology used to zap kidney stones. The therapy can cause subtle changes in the nerves and tissues around the tear.

"It stimulates new blood flow in the area of chronic inflammation and helps to heal the area," Dr. George Theodore of Massachusetts General Hospital said.

Treatment takes about an hour. The foot is numbed, and then an ultrasound picture guides doctors to the exact location of the tear. Studies show the therapy is 60 percent effective.

"When you consider surgery can have a success rate of 50 percent, this safe, non-invasive treatment is very promising," Theodore said.

The treatment is not for everyone, including those with diabetes, nerve-related problems or rheumatoid arthritis. The risks are minor and include mild swelling and redness at the treatment site.

Johnson said the treatment was a bit uncomfortable but was well worth it. She was back on her feet immediately, and her pain was gone.

"I could put shoes on for the first time in three years. I always wear sneakers with orthotics," she said. "So I could dress up a little bit and go back to getting out of bed to just go the bathroom or get up and get breakfast without having any pain."

A growing number of insurance companies are paying for the procedure. Theodore said the same technology may someday be used to treat tennis elbow and some shoulder injuries.