Has your mobility been robbed from you due to chronic pain? Even with prescription painkillers, you may find it hard to do what you love. We’re here to help.
Shockwave therapy is proven to relieve pain caused by conditions that affect the joints, bones, tendons, and muscles. It is a long-term solution to long-term pain.
In this article, we will discuss what it is and what you can expect from your treatment. Your pain problems could be solved by this non-invasive, relatively painless procedure.
Keep reading to learn more about shockwave therapy and the process you might go through to relieve your pain.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy, though the name might sound frightening, is a non-surgical procedure that helps manage pain and treat several conditions.
The therapy is also called Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy and Radial Shockwave Therapy. This treatment has been around since the end of the 1990s, and it was originally used to treat kidney stones.
Since then, doctors and scientists have realized its potential to treat an array of other conditions. They include conditions that cause heel pain such as Achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciitis.
Shockwave therapy treatment benefits patients because it effectively treats their condition without surgery. The shockwave therapy machine takes away the costs and risks associated with invasive pain management.
What Conditions Is It Used For?
Shockwave therapy can treat many musculoskeletal conditions. It is often beneficial for people who suffer from soft tissue pain, joint/bone conditions, sports injuries, or overuse injuries.
The knees, heels, shoulders, hips, back, and wrists are common areas for treatment. Beyond joint and muscle pain. It also can be useful for the following ailments:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Lymphatic drainage
- Peyronie’s disease
- Cellulite
- Stress fractures
- Scar tissue
If you have any of these conditions, discuss your symptoms with your doctor before starting treatment.
Does the Procedure Hurt?
Shockwave therapy involves no invasive operation or surgery. Yet, you may feel some discomfort or pain during the treatment. If your pain is significant, let your specialist know so they may adjust the device.
One session of shockwave therapy should last no more than 18 minutes. Most patients find that any discomfort they feel is tolerable during the duration of the treatment.
During your appointment, you should wear non-restricting, breathable clothing. Tight clothes can cause unnecessary discomfort especially when you are asked to lay on your stomach for a period.
What to Expect During Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy requires a four-step process. For the best results, the shockwave therapy machine should be used by a specialist with the proper training.
The first step one will need to make when using shockwave therapy is to make the patient comfortable. They should lay on their back or front for comfort and easy access to the area that needs treatment.
Next, the technician locates the damage. They may use an ultrasound machine or gently palpate the area where the patient is feeling pain.
In the third step, they will apply a gel to the skin, so the acoustic waves from the shockwave device can travel through the tissues more easily.
Finally, the specialist will initiate the shockwave treatment device. The patient will hear repetitive clicks as they go to work. Depending on how much area needs treatment, the procedure can last five minutes or more.
How to Recover From Shockwave Therapy
After your shockwave therapy appointment, you should be able to go back to your daily activities as normal. Yet, you should avoid any high-impact sports and exercise such as running for the first 48 hours.
If you begin to feel some discomfort or pain, you can take acetaminophen as recommended. Do not take any anti-inflammatory non-steroidal pain killers such as ibuprofen. They can counteract shockwave therapy treatment.
Try not to worry if you begin to notice swelling or redness in the treated area. This is normal after receiving this kind of therapy. Most often, it subsides after 24 to 48 hours.
As you receive more treatments and allow more healing time, you will notice a difference in your pain levels. Many people experience significant improvement after just thirteen weeks.
Yet, if you don’t see dramatic healing right away don’t fret. It can take up to a year to feel total healing in the damaged area.
How Do I Know if I’m a Candidate?
Before you start shockwave therapy a specialist or your doctor should take your complete medical history. While shockwave therapy is safe and FDA-approved, not everyone is a candidate for its treatment.
A person may not be a candidate for shockwave therapy if they have the following conditions:
- You’re pregnant
- You have a blood clotting disorder
- You have a nerve disorder
- You have or have had bone cancer
- You have a metal plate or pins in the area to be treated
- You have an infection that still needs treatment
More conditions may cause someone to lose candidacy for this treatment which is why they should talk to a doctor before starting.
Start Shockwave Therapy Today
If a patient has a condition that causes them daily pain, shockwave therapy could help. They no longer have to rely on medications to relieve their chronic pain. They can get their life back by giving this treatment a try.
When you are looking to purchase a shockwave therapy machine Oceanus can help. We specialize in designing and developing the latest devices for shockwave therapy. Each of our products is expertly crafted and protected under warranty. See for yourself today on our product page.