How does Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy work?
The device that is used for this therapy will produce shock waves (strong sound energy pulses).The device’s spherical head is focused on the target area to quickly relieve the pain and cure your orthopaedic problem. A trained medical professional will focus the shock waves directly to the pain site by moving the shock wave head and by adjusting shock waves to go deep enough to give you the best treatment.
What preparations are necessary prior to treatment?
Prior to your appointment, Coumadin (warfarin) or other anti-coagulants should be discontinued under the direction of your physician. Aspirin or other NSAIDS (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) should also be discontinued one week prior to treatment. You can resume these medications immediately after the last treatment. All other medications can be taken during your series of treatments.
What happens during treatment?
A medical professional will feel the painful area in order to locate the exact point of tenderness. You will be treated lying down. Prior to the treatment, a coupling gel will be applied to the treatment area. This gel makes it possible for the shock waves to enter the tissue at the precise “trigger” point of the pain. Next, the shock wave head is applied. The treatment will be started at the lowest energy level. You may experience some irritation in the area of the pain every time you hear the “clapping sound” produced by the system’s “loud speaker”. If this is not the case, you should move with the operator’s help until you feel the treatment in the pain area.
After about 100 pulses you may experience some kind of local numbness and the operator will increase the energy to the treatment level. This may cause more pain that should eventually wear off after a couple of hundred pulses. If the pain is too uncomfortable, you should tell the operator so that the shock wave head may be moved. A total of 2000 pulses will be applied during a single treatment session! One treatment session will take about 20 minutes and is performed as an outpatient procedure.
How many treatments are necessary?
It is probable that most will receive three treatment sessions. As the effect of therapy is cumulative, you should feel progressive relief after each treatment.
What adverse effects could happen with ESWT?
The following effects may be experienced from the treatment:
• Pain or discomfort at the treatment site during and immediately after treatment. This pain usually resolves immediately upon completion of the treatment session.
• Nausea, sweating, dizziness, tremor, and paleness, or temporary widening of the blood vessels. These events, when they occur, are generally mild in severity and resolve quickly without any treatment.
• Reddening of the skin or bruising at the treatment site that usually clears within a few days.
• Muscle pain (myalgia) or muscle tension (hypertonia) at the treated site. This can include soreness, cramps, or spasms. When these effects occur, most are mild in severity and resolvewithin 48 hours without treatment.
• Joint stiffness. If this occurs, it usually resolves within 48 hours without any other treatment.
Will my Insurance cover this procedure?
We will gladly bill your insurance, but most carriers have not yet added this treatment to their approved list of
procedures. It is expected that carriers will approve this procedure for payment in the future. If your insurance carrier is one that does not yet cover this treatment, you will be required to pay in advance of each treatment. We will continue to work with the local carriers to speed up the approval process.
Are you a candidate for ESWT?
ESWT is appropriate for patients who have suffered from chronic pain for at least 6 months and have not successfully responded to conservative treatments such as rest, immobilization, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication or local corticosteroid injections.
ESWT is not appropriate for individuals who:
- -Are younger than 18 years of age
- -Have a history of bleeding disorders
- -Are currently taking medications that may prolong blood clotting
- -Are pregnant
- -Have an infection at the site of treatment
- -Show malignancy in recent imaging study
- -How does Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy work?
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