Does Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Pain Really Work?

Chronic pain, affecting approximately 20% of the global adult population, continues to be a significant health concern. As patients explore various treatment alternatives, they often encounter issues such as ineffectiveness, high costs, or the adverse side effects of prescription medication or surgery, leaving patients seeking alternatives for pain relief. Recent research has indicated that shockwave therapy may be a viable solution for managing chronic pain without the exorbitant costs or side effects of surgery and prescription drugs.

This blog post will explore:

Causes of Chronic Pain
Benefits of Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Pain
How Shockwave Therapy Works
Understanding Shockwaves
How do Shockwaves Treat Chronic Pain?
Types of Shockwave Therapy
Who Makes a Suitable Candidate for Shockwave Therapy?
The Shockwave Therapy Procedure
Potential Side Effects of Shockwave Therapy
The Best Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Pain

Causes of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain can stem from a variety of sources, ranging from long-term illnesses to injury recovery. Here are some of the most prevalent causes of chronic pain:

Muscle or tissue damage: Overuse, improper movements, or sudden accidents can result in muscle or tissue injury, leading to chronic pain.
Arthritis: This degenerative joint disease can cause persistent pain and stiffness in various body parts.
Neuropathic pain: This type of pain is caused by damage to the nervous system, including conditions like neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy.
Fibromyalgia: A condition that results in widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep issues.
Back issues: Problems like herniated or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, or lower back pain can result in chronic discomfort.

It’s important to note that these are just some of the most common causes of chronic pain. If you are experiencing knee pain, you can learn if your condition is suitable for treatment and try shockwave therapy with our New Patient Special.

Benefits of Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Pain

Shockwave therapy presents an encouraging non-invasive alternative for treating chronic pain, offering a range of benefits. This therapy employs high-energy shockwaves to promote healing in affected areas. Here are some of the benefits of using shockwave therapy for chronic pain:

Faster Healing

Shockwave therapy harnesses high-energy sound waves to stimulate the body’s natural healing mechanism, promoting the recovery of damaged tissues. This can be particularly beneficial for those experiencing persistent or recurring pain.

Diminished Dependence on Medication

Many conventional treatments for chronic pain involve medications that may have undesirable side effects. Shockwave therapy is a drug-free alternative that can reduce the reliance on painkillers or other treatments, making it an appealing choice for those preferring non-pharmacological interventions.

Improved Quality of Life

Chronic pain can drastically affect quality of life, impeding daily tasks or leisure activities. Shockwave therapy can help alleviate pain and enhance mobility, allowing patients to resume their usual activities and improve their life quality.

Non-Invasive and Safe

Unlike many chronic pain treatments, shockwave therapy is non-invasive and safe. It doesn’t require any incisions or anesthesia and carries a low risk of complications. This makes it a desirable choice for those seeking to avoid more invasive treatments.

Overall, shockwave therapy is a promising treatment option for those struggling with chronic pain.

How Shockwave Therapy Works

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-energy sound waves to stimulate the body’s healing process. Here’s how it works:

Understanding Shockwaves

Shockwaves are rapid sound wave pulses, characterized by a high-pressure surge followed by a relatively low-pressure trough. These waves are common in everyday life and can be produced by various events that lead to changes in air pressure, such as supersonic aircraft, lightning, or earthquakes.

How do Shockwaves Treat Chronic Pain?

A device is used to generate and safely deliver shockwaves to the affected area. These shockwaves can encourage healing at the cellular level, improve blood circulation, and initiate the body’s natural healing process.

Types of Shockwave Therapy

Numerous types of shockwave therapy are available, with the three most common being radial shockwave therapy (RSWT), focused shockwave therapy (FSWT), and acoustic wave therapy (AWT).

RSWT uses a handheld device that delivers pressure waves to the skin’s surface, making it a popular choice for conditions like tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. However, for deeper tissue injuries, it may be less effective, and multiple treatments may be needed.

FSWT employs a device that directs high-intensity shockwaves directly to the affected area, making it commonly used for treating chronic conditions like plantar fasciitis and slow-healing bone fractures. However, the treatment intensity may need adjustment based on individual tolerance as it can be uncomfortable for some patients.

AWT uses a device that delivers low-intensity shockwaves to the affected area, commonly used to improve blood flow, reduce pain and inflammation, and promote tissue healing. It is frequently used to treat conditions like erectile dysfunction and cellulite, but the low-intensity shockwaves may not be effective for some conditions.

broad-focused Shockwave Therapy delivers high-intensity shockwaves that penetrate a wider and deeper area of tissue than focused or radial waves. SoftWave is the only widely available broad-focused shockwave treatment in the US. It can treat the same conditions as traditional focused shockwave therapy, offering superior relief for significant joint and muscle issues, including chronic pain. broad-focused shockwaves may also require fewer sessions compared to radial or focused shockwave treatments.

Who Makes a Suitable Candidate for Shockwave Therapy?

Certain factors that make a patient a good candidate for shockwave therapy include:

Patients with chronic pain
Patients with limited success from other therapies
Patients who prefer non-invasive treatment options

Patients suffering from chronic pain may find shockwave therapy to be a promising treatment option. This includes those with conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, and neuropathic pain. When traditional treatments like medication and physical therapy fail to provide substantial relief, shockwave therapy can offer a hopeful alternative.

Moreover, patients who have tried other therapies with limited success may also benefit from shockwave therapy for their chronic pain. These may include individuals who have tried multiple conservative treatment options without achieving adequate pain relief.

For patients who prefer non-invasive treatments, shockwave therapy offers a non-surgical approach that does not require incisions or anesthesia. This can make it a desirable treatment option for those wishing to avoid more invasive procedures like surgery.

The Shockwave Therapy Procedure

For those considering shockwave therapy for managing their chronic pain, gaining a clear understanding of what the procedure entails is essential. We’ve simplified the process into these steps:

Initial Setup: The procedure begins with the application of ultrasound gel to the designated treatment area. Following this, the shockwave device is carefully positioned onto the patient’s skin.
During the Treatment: The transmission of shockwaves may create a sensation of mild tapping or pulsing in the area being treated. Some individuals might perceive this as a slight discomfort or pain, though it typically doesn’t necessitate any anesthesia or numbing agents. The ongoing dialogue between the patient and the healthcare provider can help pinpoint the optimal areas for treatment and track progress.
Post-Treatment: The procedure, which typically spans 10 to 15 minutes, doesn’t require any significant recovery time, enabling patients to quickly return to their routine activities. However, doctors usually advise patients to steer clear of strenuous movements or workouts for the following 24 to 48 hours.

Potential Side Effects of Shockwave Therapy

Generally, shockwave therapy is seen as safe and well-tolerated, offering minimal side effects. Still, like any healthcare procedure, it does carry a slight risk of side effects. The most frequently reported side effects of shockwave therapy for chronic pain include:

Experiencing pain or discomfort during or post-treatment
The occurrence of swelling or bruising
Skin redness or irritation
Feeling numbness or a tingling sensation

These side effects are typically mild and tend to subside quickly. The majority of patients can return to their everyday activities right after the procedure.

SoftWave, which is FDA-approved, is a safe and effective form of shockwave therapy for treating chronic pain. The potential side effects of SoftWave are minor and not restrictive. It doesn’t lead to bruising or swelling, and any minor redness or soreness usually dissipates in one to two days.

The Best Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Pain

Are you looking for safe, reliable, and effective relief from chronic pain?

SoftWave therapy is FDA-cleared, patented, and nationally recognized for its leading tissue regeneration technology. Unlike other types of high-energy shockwave treatments, SoftWave is the only shockwave therapy on the market that uses true broad-focused shock waves that treat larger and deeper areas of tissue.

Thousands of patient’s have experienced the benefits of SoftWave for chronic pain, including: