Nearly every decision in life has pros or cons. Do I prefer to go to bed or watch one more episode? Should I finish the last piece of cake or not?
This is true for all medical treatments and procedures, even shockwave therapy.
However, it’s not to suggest that it isn’t one of our most effective, safe and effective treatments available. Most people will find the pros outweigh any cons.
Every person we treat has their own circumstances and goals. While shockwave therapy may be the best treatment for you, it may not be for someone else.
How can you tell if shockwave therapy works for you? Let’s start by giving a brief overview and then discussing the main benefits and drawbacks of shockwave therapy.
What is Shockwave Therapy Near Me?
Shockwave therapy is a noninvasive treatment that uses pulses (or “shockwaves”) of energy to trigger a healing response within soft tissues that are chronically in pain.
The shockwaves, which are produced by a small device, travel through a cable with an applicator wand into the injured tissue. These shockwaves promote increased metabolism, increased collagen production, and release of signaling chemicals.
This is why shockwave therapy has been deemed an advanced treatment for chronic inflammatory pain. It may also be an alternative to surgery.
It is notinvasive.
Shockwave therapy is not invasive. The pulses are delivered via skin contact. In fact, that’s why the procedure is often more fully known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy–extracorporeal means “outside the body.”
It’s a great alternative to having surgery.
It is almost entirely drug-free.
We may apply local anesthetics to reduce the intensity of the shockwave. Patients rarely feel any pain, and you can adjust the intensity to make it more comfortable.
In addition, the procedure is free from any prescriptions or medications. There are no steroid shots, prescriptions or anything. Shockwave therapy’s healing effects are natural and can be handled by your body on its own. Only shockwave therapy is needed to “kickstart”, the healing process.
There is no downtime.
There is no downtime with shockwave therapy, unlike surgery. The treatment takes about 15-20 minutes and is done in our office. You can then walk out. It won’t interfere with any daily activities that you are already able to do before the appointment.
It is secure.
Shockwave therapy has a very low risk of injury. While minor side effects like bruising or swelling can be felt for a few hours after the procedure is completed, more serious side effects are very rare.
It can be a great help in the healing process.
It is common to talk about shockwave therapy as an alternative for surgery. Shockwave therapy is often recommended for situations in which other conservative treatments (such as rest, orthotics, stretching, etc.) are unsuccessful. In situations where the “usual” conservative treatments (e.g. stretching, orthotics and rest) fail to deliver satisfactory results, shockwave therapy may be recommended. Shockwave therapy may be able to help you get “over the hill” and eliminate chronic pain, so that you don’t have to go under the knife.
Shockwave therapy can be added to the treatment earlier, along with more conventional conservative treatments, to significantly reduce the time it takes for healing. This is a good option for those who need to return to full activity as soon as possible, such athletes or people in physically demanding occupations.
Cons of Shockwave Therapy
It might not be covered by your insurance.
Although shockwave therapy is approved by FDA and proven safe and efficient through numerous research studies and trials, insurance companies have been slow to cover it.
This doesn’t mean it isn’t affordable. We do everything we can to make this an affordable option for patients who wish it. This is usually a more affordable option than surgery.
However, we know that money is an important consideration in many families. Therefore, you might want to wait until all conservative options and coverage are exhausted before proceeding with the procedure.
There may be several appointments.
The typical course of shockwave therapy will require 2 to 3 sessions. If the injury is more severe, it may take up to 4 sessions. Although these appointments last only 15-20 minutes, they are short and easy. It is less convenient than single-appointment treatments that can take up to a full day.
Shockwave can actually cause tissue healing. While steroid injections may offer pain relief for months, the effects are only temporary and do not treat the underlying cause. In the long-term, shockwave is a better option than steroid injections and may take less time.
It is not for everyone.
Shockwave therapy is very safe for the majority of patients. However, there are certain situations when we cannot recommend it. Here are the most common contraindications to shockwave therapy:
Pregnancy
Certain heart conditions or pacemakers
Do not take medication that affects blood clotting
You may also need shockwave therapy if you have neuropathy, hypersensitivity, or both. This depends on the severity of your symptoms.
