Whatever your activity level, you may participate in activities that put you at risk of developing chronic tendon pain. Even something as small as repetitive clicking of a mouse can lead to a condition like tendinosis. But if you’re suffering from tendon pain, is it possible to get treatment without traditional open surgery? At the Center for Sports Medicine and Wellness, the answer is yes. With help from the Tenex procedure, Tenex Tenotomy, you may be able to overcome chronic tendon pain and get back your mobility back. Keep reading to learn more about chronic tendon pain and Tenex Tenotomy.
Chronic Tendon Pain (Tendinitis & Tendinosis)
Chronic tendon pain, whether it’s caused by tendinitis or tendinosis, is very common among people of all activity levels. However, this condition most commonly affects people who participate in repetitive activities, such as athletes.
We’ll briefly discuss the differences between these two conditions to understand how they contribute to tendon pain. Tendinitis occurs when the tendon becomes inflamed or irritated. This condition may either be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Tendinosis, although it has similar symptoms, is caused by a degeneration of the tendon’s collagen as a result of consistent overuse without a chance for the tendon to rest. If repeated enough, even the tiniest movements can lead to tendinosis over time.
In addition to athletes that participate in sports such as tennis, golf, skiing, and baseball, chronic tendon pain tends to develop in people who participate in repetitive activities. Some of these high-risk activities include landscaping, woodworking, painting, gardening, shoveling, and scrubbing. Poor posture at work or home can also place a person at risk of developing tendon pain.
Although tendon pain can develop in just about any area of the body where a tendon connects a bone to a muscle, it most commonly occurs in the elbow, shoulder, base of the thumb, knee, hip, and Achilles tendon.
What is Tenex Tenotomy?
When chronic tendon pain initially sets in, it’s common to treat it with rest, ice, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, but what can patients suffering from chronic tendon pain do when this doesn’t work, especially when they’re trying to avoid open surgery? Tenex Tenotomy can help.
The Tenex procedure uses minimally invasive technology to eliminate chronic tendon pain by specifically targeting and removing damaged tissue without traditional surgery. Tenex’s patented technology removes the patient’s source of pain and helps stimulate a renewed healing response. It’s most effective when used to treat tendons in the elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles, and it can be used to treat both tendinosis and tendinitis
Studies have shown that when the Tenex procedure is used to treat tendon pain, patients experience an overall increase in functionality and a significant decrease in pain.
This procedure can effectively treat tendon pain in many areas of the body, and can specifically be used to treat conditions such as:
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
- Patellar tendinitis (jumper’s knee)
- Achilles tendon injuries
- Plantar fasciitis
- Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD)
Tenex Procedure – How Tenex Tenotomy Can Help You
During the Tenex procedure, Dr. Shiple will use ultrasound imaging to view and identify the location of the damaged tendon. After this, he’ll numb this area with a local anesthetic and gently apply Tenex’s ultrasonic tool, which will break down and remove all damaged tissue.
The incision used for this procedure is very small, making it minimally invasive, and the ultrasonic energy treats only the damaged tissue so all healthy tissue will be left unchanged. This procedure also does not require stitches. Dr. Shiple will simply apply a small bandage after the procedure and patients can return home or to their hotel immediately after the procedure is completed. Following their procedure, some patients have been able to recover in as little as 3-6 weeks.
But what do studies show about how Tenex Tenotomy may be able to treat tendon pain?
In one study, 20 patients, varying in age between 33 to 65 and suffering from elbow tendinopathy underwent Tenex Tenotomy. These patients had all previously failed to gain relief from non-operative therapies and had experienced tendon pain for 12.5 months on average. Improvement in pain and quality of life (QOL) were observed in patients within 2 weeks of their procedure. These improvements were sustained at 12 months post-procedure. 19 of the 20 patients involved in the study expressed satisfaction with the procedure.
You can learn more about Tenex Tenotomy’s clinical efficacy in studies described on the Tenex Health website.
Tenex Procedure – Minimally Invasive Treatment for Chronic Tendon Pain in Glen Mills, PA
Our team at the Center for Sports Medicine and Wellness is proud our authority in minimally invasive treatment options like Tenex Tenotomy. We know that for our patients, it’s not just important to experience a full recovery from their pain or injuries but to get a treatment that doesn’t require a prolonged recovery process. Whether you’re an athlete trying to get back to your sport, trying to get back to work, or you just want your active lifestyle back, we have options that can help you.
This is why we’re happy to provide the most advanced and least invasive treatment options. If you’d like to learn more about our services or contact us to schedule a consultation, please call our office in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, at (610) 459-4200 or fill out our form. We welcome your inquiry and we look forward to helping you get back to the game of life!