DENVER -- Some patients with heel pain or tendon problems have to go through extensive surgery to fix it, although a new advanced treatment using radio frequency energy is becoming a popular alternative.

The patients often feel pain when they run, or in some cases, when they walk.

"It's like walking on glass," said patient Beverly Harris. "Very intense, very sharp pain. (It) would even wake me up in the middle of the night. Any shoe I wore, I was in pain."

It was a pain in Harris' heel that just wouldn't go away.

"Going grocery shopping -- the pain was so intense just to stand in line for 10 or 15 minutes," said Harris.

"I tried magnets, taking this product that product (and) stretching," said Harris.

Nothing seemed to work until Harris met with Dr. Bill Farrett.

Farrett used a less invasive procedure called Topaz. It involves a smaller incision and a wand that releases radio frequency energy to help heal the tissue.

"I delivers a controlled heat source to a small area," said Farrett. "Creates micro injury rather than macro injury like cutting a ligament would."

Farrett said since the advanced procedure doesn't involve cutting the ligament, the recovery time is minimized.

"They're out of the boot within 10 to 14 days," said Farrett. "Two little incisions, (you) can't even tell they're there."

Harris said Topaz has given her life back.

"I'm not hurting today. I don't feel any pain today," she said. "Just glad to be walking again."

The Topaz procedure using the wand will take less than 20 minutes. Farrett said some patients can see immediate improvement in just two days.

The Topaz procedure is covered by some insurance companies. The cost will vary from $2,000 to $4,000.

For more information about Topaz, visit www.topazinfo.com.