Managing Acute and Chronic Pain With Radial Shockwave Therapy

Pain can be described in several ways, including burning, stabbing, shooting, or aching sensations in a body part. As unpleasant as feeling these and other types of pain can be, they’re essential to recognizing the presence of damage to the body, internal harm due to disease, and learning to avoid things that can hurt us.

Pain in the musculoskeletal system can present with a number of the symptoms mentioned and, depending on the cause, be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic). We offer many solutions to manage this type of pain, and one of the most effective non-invasive methods is radial shockwave therapy.

Dr. Joseph Daniels and his dedicated staff at Southwest Orthopedic Associates help Fort Worth, Texas, residents find relief from musculoskeletal pain and other orthopedic issues using radial shockwave therapy and other techniques.

What causes musculoskeletal pain?

Musculoskeletal pain affects your bones, joints, tendons, skeletal muscles, and ligaments, and, in addition to pain, it can cause stiffness, fatigue, and, if the symptoms are severe enough, disrupt sleep. This pain often derives from injuries which can include:

• Bone bruises: also called contusions, can take longer to heal and lead to fractures

• Fractures: another term for breaks or cracks in bone

• Dislocations: when a bone is dislodged from the joint, sometimes visible under the skin

• Sprains and strains: pulling and tearing of ligaments and tendons

• Bruised muscles: a form of soft tissue damage that often comes from crushing or blunt impact

• Repetitive strain: when a joint is used repeatedly and leads to pulling or tearing damage

How does radial shockwave therapy help?

Also referred to as Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), this treatment delivers mild shockwaves through the skin using low-energy sound waves. With this process, we can initiate a healing response that increases metabolism and blood circulation. It can also reduce sensitivity and pain by breaking down calcium deposits.

This noninvasive process works effectively for many soft-tissue injuries, making it a great choice for managing muscle, joint, and bone injuries. It’s frequently used to treat tendinopathies, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, low back pain, nerve entrapments, fractures, delayed bone healing, and avascular necrosis.

What can I expect from treatment?

Once we’ve identified the area to be treated, we start by applying a coupling gel, then move the handheld device over areas with varying intensity as needed. The sensation often described during the process is that of deep pressure, tapping, or pounding, and while it can be unpleasant, it’s generally brief.

Radial shockwave therapy is usually done over several sessions about a week apart, with the actual number of them depending on the extent of the damage to the joint or tissue.

Helping your body heal is key to healthy rehabilitation, and radial shockwave therapy can be an important part of that journey. Make an appointment with Dr. Daniels and the Southwest Orthopedic Associates team today to find out if this form of therapy is right for you.