What is Fat Pad Atrophy and Leneva Treatment?

The plantar fat pads absorb shock under the ball and heel of the foot. Fat pad atrophy is the thinning of this protective layer due to aging or high-impact activity, leading to chronic pain. Leneva is an innovative injectable treatment used to replenish the volume of the fat pad, providing immediate cushioning.

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Causes and Symptoms of Fat Pad Atrophy

As the cushioning thins, the bones and nerves are left unprotected, leading to chronic pain seen at our Glen Burnie Office:

  • Causes: Aging, high-impact activities (running), ill-fitting footwear, and repetitive stress.
  • Symptoms:
    • “Walking on a Pebble”: A feeling of walking directly on the bones in the ball of the foot.
    • Burning Pain: Sharp, burning, or aching pain, especially when walking barefoot or on hard surfaces.
    • Recurrent Calluses: Thick, painful calluses that form quickly because of high, unprotected pressure points.

The Leneva Procedure and Benefits

The procedure is simple, minimally invasive, and requires no general anesthesia, available at Foot Centers of Maryland:

  • Injection: Leneva is injected into the thinned area of the fat pad (usually the heel or the metatarsal area).
  • Mechanism: The matrix provides immediate volume and cushioning while encouraging the body’s natural fat tissue to regenerate over time.
  • Benefits: Non-surgical, fast, minimal downtime, and provides a significant increase in cushioning and volume.

Ideal Candidates for Leneva

This treatment is highly beneficial for individuals with chronic pain that resists standard treatments, particularly those suffering from:

  • Severe Metatarsalgia (ball-of-foot pain).
  • Recalcitrant Heel Pain due to severe atrophy.
  • Foot pain related to Neuropathy where pressure protection is critical.