Shockwave therapy San Diego is a common treatment done to manage pain for those people who reside in California. It is a convenient, non – surgical procedure that makes use of energy pulses (commonly called shockwaves) done to treat for injuries of the soft tissues. It triggers a reaction with the soft tissues that are damaged and causes chronic pain.
The first shockwave medical treatment was with Lithotripsy. This permitted targeted shockwaves to dissolve the kidney stones effectively without the need for any surgical intervention.
Currently, this technology is being used to cure over 98 percent of all kidney stone problems. Dating from the early 1990s, the use of shockwaves therapy to treat tendon related pain began to emerge.
Shockwave therapy, nowadays, is another popular method of treatment for intractable, chronic musculoskeletal pain. Several connective tissue disorders do not seem to respond positively to conventional methods of treatment, and getting the treatment option with shockwave therapy offers another effective way of treating pain without undergoing surgery. Shockwave therapy is most ideal for people who are suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain (more than six weeks) and who have not responded to any other treatment.
Shockwave Therapy San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does it work?
Shockwave therapy is a procedure that is becoming more ubiquitous in pain management. Applying far less energy than those in clinical uses, shockwave therapy, or ESWT (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy) is used to manage numerous musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those which involve connective tissues like the ligaments and tendons.
Shockwaves are channeled through a particular treatment device that travels through a cable with an applicator wand and applied directly to the injury site. High-energy sound waves will be directed to the injured area during a Shockwave therapy to break down specific scar tissue as well as calcifications that somehow the body may not have been able to repair on its own. As the shock waves break down the tissue, the body begins to build up a new tissue to mimic the body’s self-healing process. It also facilitated the increase of metabolism, boosts collagen production, releases pain chemicals, and other internal processes that can reduce the inflammation and can further accelerate the regeneration of tissue.
Because of all this, shockwave therapy is regarded as an innovative, effective treatment for a lot of varied forms of chronic inflammatory pain, which to most patients, is an excellent alternative to surgery. Most people who underwent a Shockwave therapy testifies that their pain has significantly reduced, and their mobility has improved even after just after the first treatment.
2. How long would it take per session?
Generally, a Shockwave therapy session will last up to 45 minutes. Although the actual shockwave therapy is really quick – around 4-10 minutes to deliver, there are other procedures done before and after and this will include the following:
• Educating the patient first about the pain and what causes it
• Manual therapy
• Performing a specified exercise program
• Shockwave treatment
• Post-Shockwave treatment pieces of advice
3. How many sessions are needed to complete the therapy?
It would largely depend on the nature of the injury, the part of the body where the injury is located, and the length of time since the injury was sustained. Usually, the whole process of Shockwave therapy will require 4 to 6 treatment sessions with 5-10 days interval between each treatment.
4. When will it fully effect?
Just like with any other treatment, it would not always be the same with everyone. Some people claim that they can feel immediate results even with only one treatment, while others may take several treatment sessions before they can feel the shockwave therapy effect.
5. Does Shockwave therapy hurt?
The treatment can be uncomfortable; however, it is not something that is not tolerable. One should not be overly concerned if they experience some discomfort days or weeks ( 2-3 weeks) after the session – this means that the body is undergoing the repair process.
There is also no need to drink painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs for 48 hours after each session, as this may slow down the result of the therapy.
6. What are the side effects?
Generally, there are no side effects with Shockwave therapy. There may be some potential side effects: bruising, swelling, redness, and localized numbness or discomfort on the area treated – this is the body’s natural inflammatory reaction due to the shockwave’s stimulation. The said side effects mostly last only for a few hours or days.
7. Who cannot undergo Shockwave therapy?
Shockwave therapy is not for everyone, and below is the list of people who cannot undergo such treatment:
• Those under 18 years old
• Has hemophilia
• Taking anticoagulant medications
• Has active blood clots
• Pregnant women
• Has active cancer disease
• Had a corticosteroid injection within six weeks prior
• Has a bone tumor or any metabolic bone condition
• Has any open wound
• Has any tumors
8. What is the proper attire during treatment?
It is recommended to wear loose and comfortable clothing that will allow easy and convenient access to the injured area.
9. What are some examples of conditions that a Shockwave Therapy can treat?
• Heel pain/ Plantar fasciitis
• Shin pain/Shin splints
• Knee pain (patellar tendonitis)
• Shoulder pain
• High Hamstring pain
• Tennis elbow
• Achilles tendon pain
• Golfers elbow
• Hip pain (tendinopathy)
10. What are the benefits?
• It is non-invasive.
Shockwave therapy will not require any incisions. The shockwaves are just course through direct skin contact. This is the reason why it is called Extracorporeal, which means outside of the body.
• There is no down-time.
Unlike surgery, getting a Shockwave therapy will not cause any downtime. You can have the procedure done in 20-45 minutes, and after that, you can go on with your daily activities (make sure not to strain your muscles too much).
• It is safe.
Shockwave therapy is super safe. Although there might be some side effects such as swelling, aches, or bruising, it is rare to experience significant side effects.
Indeed, Shockwave therapy has become the first choice for people who are experiencing chronic pain. There are now numerous Shockwave Therapy San Diego facilities in California alone that you can choose from to avail of the much-needed treatment sessions.
