Is your pain interfering with your work, your play or simply living your life?
Are you silently suffering because you were previously told there is no other option for you but a major or invasive surgery with a long recovery? Or perhaps you know that all the ice and stretching is not going to make your pain disappear?
If you have tried physical therapy, cortisone injections, medication, or just taking time to ice, stretch and rest and are still in pain, talk to us! We now have a solution that does not involve general or open surgery, may give you quick pain reduction and should have you back to enjoying the things you love in a few weeks to a few months.
We CAN help!
Stadia Sports Medicine practice offers Tenex Health TX™, a safe, quick procedure specially designed for those who are suffering from painful conditions associated with tendon damage, commonly referred to as pain in the rotator cuff, Tennis or Golfer’s elbow, Runner’s or Jumper’s knee, Achilles tendonitis or Plantar fasciitis.The Tenex Health TX System is based on advanced technology developed in collaboration with the world renowned Mayo Clinic. It combines ultrasound imaging (which is also used to see a baby in the womb) to identify damaged tissue with the advanced TX MicroTip™ which precisely breaks down and removes only the damaged tissue that causes pain. Removing the damaged tissue allows the tendon to heal and provides pain relief. The Tenex Health TX procedure is not open surgery and can be performed in an office or procedure room in an outpatient surgery center.
Tenex Health TX benefits:
- Quick pain relief
- Rapid return to normal activities
- Local anesthetic used instead of general anesthesia
- No sutures, no stitches (requires only a small, adhesive bandage)
- Minimally invasive, not open surgery
- Covered by most insurances
We are here for you…
You don’t have to live with pain! We are happy to discuss Tenex Health TX or any other option that may work for you. Please call our office at 515-221-1102 to schedule a consultation. You can also find more information on the procedure at http://www.tenexhealth.com/.
Questions and Answers:
Q: What is a tendon?
A: A tendon is a strong, yet flexible band of tissue that connects muscle to the bones around your joints. Tendons and muscles work together to create a pulling force that enables you to move your joints. This allows you to bend, walk, jump and move in many different ways. When tendons aredamaged, movement in a joint can be very painful and limit your range of motion.
Q: What causes tendon pain?
A: Tendons are injured by either outright trauma or by repetitive injury (damage to the tendon from overuse in work,
exercise or activity). When tendon is traumatized, it tries to heal itself, but often eventually forms a scar. This scarred tendon causes pain. Eventually, scar tissue in the tendon will limit your ability to move the joint and do the activities that you need or like to do. If you don’t treat the damaged tendon, the pain in your joint will likely become worse over time.
exercise or activity). When tendon is traumatized, it tries to heal itself, but often eventually forms a scar. This scarred tendon causes pain. Eventually, scar tissue in the tendon will limit your ability to move the joint and do the activities that you need or like to do. If you don’t treat the damaged tendon, the pain in your joint will likely become worse over time.
Q: What are the most common types of tendon injury?
A: The most commonly injured tendons include:
- Achilles tendonitis
- Patellar tendonitis (“Jumpers knee”)
- Plantar fasciitis
- Rotator cuff tendonitis
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
Q: What are the options for treatment of chronic tendon problems?
A: At Stadia Sports Medicine, the following options are offered:
- Cutting-edge Physical Therapy
- Stadia Sports Medicine was the first clinic in Des Moines to utilize the ASTYM technique with our patients, having used it since our opening in 2006. ASTYM was developed by Dr. Carlson’s fellowship director at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, Tom Sevier, M.D., who went on to found Performance Dynamics
–the company that trains clinicians in the ASTYM technique. Thus, practitioners at Stadia have experience
with ASTYM going back to the 1990’s, and our therapy staff has a broader depth of experience with this technique than any other physical therapy group in Des Moines. - Stadia Sports Medicine’s physical therapists also utilize the latest in therapy techniques designed to speed tendon healing and promote more rapid recovery from injury. We do not rely on techniques such as electrical stimulation or therapeutic ultrasound which are commonly used in therapy settings but which
have not been shown to be effective for these problems. Our approaches to patients are grounded in
the medical literature.
- Stadia Sports Medicine was the first clinic in Des Moines to utilize the ASTYM technique with our patients, having used it since our opening in 2006. ASTYM was developed by Dr. Carlson’s fellowship director at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, Tom Sevier, M.D., who went on to found Performance Dynamics
- Injection therapies – Injection treatment can take one of several different approaches, including:
- Steroid injections – Steroid injections reduce pain and swelling associated with chronic tendon injury. Although steroid cannot be directly injected into tendons, it can be injected around the tendons themselves in order to provide pain relief. This is best done under guidance, both to ensure a good response and to minimize procedural pain. Steroid injections can assist the rehabilitation process. They are covered by almost all insurance plans.
- Prolotherapy – Prolotherapy involves the injection of an irritant substance into an injured tendon with the goal of stimulating a healing response. Although different substances can be used, at Stadia, we utilize Dextrose – a form of sugar – because of it’s safety profile and use in studies that have shown clinical
benefit to patients. In the case of prolotherapy, dextrose is injected directly into the tendon in the area of
injury, with guidance utilized to promote precision of placement. Although prolotherapy is not a covered
benefit for most insurance plans, it’s low expense makes it a feasible option for most patients. - PRP (Platelet-rich plasma) injections – PRP involves the injection of a patient’s own blood into an area of tendon (or joint) injury. Specifically, the blood is prepared prior to injection by being spun in a centrifuge so that the platelets can be isolated for injection. Platelets contain many factors in them that promote wound and tissue healing. PRP shows promise as a useful therapy when more conservative measures have failed. At Stadia we utilize the Harvest PRP system, which provides an optimal concentration of platelets for injection to the injured area – something that has been shown to be important for optimal response. We also utilize guidance for all PRP injections, to increase the likelihood of a good response to treatment. PRP is not a covered benefit for most insurance plans and is usually considered a cash service, payable at the time of the procedure.
- Percutaneous tenotomy – Click to find out more about this treatment.
- Surgical tenotomy – Used to remove the scar tissue, surgery has been found to be beneficial. However, it is accompanied with potential side effects of general surgery, unintended damage to surrounding muscle and
tissue and a lengthy recovery period with restricted activity.
Q: What is percutaneous tenotomy?
A: Percutaneous tenotomy is a procedure that can be used to help heal chronic tendon pain that is not getting better with
traditional non-operative measures. It involves the removal of scarred tissue from an injured tendon, and can be thought of as a bridge between traditional surgical tenotomy and these non-operative treatments. This short video outlines the procedure:
traditional non-operative measures. It involves the removal of scarred tissue from an injured tendon, and can be thought of as a bridge between traditional surgical tenotomy and these non-operative treatments. This short video outlines the procedure:
Q: Does percutaneous tenotomy work?
A: Yes.
Outcomes seem to mimic that of surgical treatment, with less post-procedure pain and more rapid recovery, as well as lower overall costs. There is a reported 80-90% success rate among patients not responding to conservative therapies.
Outcomes seem to mimic that of surgical treatment, with less post-procedure pain and more rapid recovery, as well as lower overall costs. There is a reported 80-90% success rate among patients not responding to conservative therapies.
Q: What happens during a percutaneous tenotomy procedure?
A: Percutaneous tenotomy is done entirely under local anesthesia. Ultrasound guidance technology (the same equipment used to look at a baby in the womb) is first used to identify the area of tendon injury, and then appropriate skin markings are made. Following this, using a small needle and ultrasound guidance, local anesthetic is injected into and around the area of tendon injury. Once the area is anesthetized, a special tool is inserted into the scarred tissue. This tool delivers ultrasonic energy that is specifically designed to break up and remove damaged tissue safely and quickly, without disturbing the surrounding healthy tendon tissue. Total treatment time for this procedure averages 15-20 minutes. After the scar tissue is removed, the tiny opening is closed with a steri-strip.
Q: What is the recovery like from percutaneous tenotomy?
A: Following the procedure, patients are discharged to home with over-the-counter pain relievers usually adequate to
control post-procedure pain. Restrictions following this procedure are going to be individualized, but general guidelines are as follows:
control post-procedure pain. Restrictions following this procedure are going to be individualized, but general guidelines are as follows:
- Tennis/golfer’s elbow
- Light activity for the first week
- Begin gentle strengthening at two weeks
- Begin more aggressive strengthening and lifting around four weeks post-procedure
- Patellar tendonitis/Quadriceps tendonitis
- Crutch protection for the first week
- Normal weightbearing between weeks 2-4
- Progress into monitored exercise starting at four weeks post-procedure
- Achilles tendonitis
- Walking boot for first two weeks
- Normal daily walking between weeks 2-4
- Progress into monitored exercise starting at four weeks post-procedure
- Plantar fasciitis
- Walking boot for first 1-2 weeks
- Normal daily walking between weeks 2-4
- Progress into monitored exercise starting at four weeks post-procedure.
- Calcific rotator cuff tendonitis
- Sling for comfort for first week
- Modified lifting/use for weeks 2-4
- Progress into monitored exercise starting at four weeks post-procedure
Q: Is percutaneous tenotomy safe?
A: Yes.
With thousands of procedures performed in the United States, there have been no reports of significant complications to date.
With thousands of procedures performed in the United States, there have been no reports of significant complications to date.
Q: Is percutaneous tenotomy covered by insurance?
A: Yes.
Percutaneous tenotomy is a covered benefit on most insurance plans.
Percutaneous tenotomy is a covered benefit on most insurance plans.
Q: What studies have looked at this treatment?
A: Summarized below are several studies looking at the effectiveness of percutaneous tenotomy for certain medical
conditions:
conditions:
- Author: Koh, Joyce.
- Condition: Tennis Elbow
- 20 patients with chronic tennis elbow who had failed non-surgical treatment
- Post-treatment guidelines: Two weeks of activity modifications
- Follow-up at 2, 4, 12, 24 and 52 weeks post-procedure
- 19/20 patients were pain-free
- No complications
- Normalized appearance on ultrasound
- Author: Patel
- Condition: Plantar fasciitis
- 12 patients with symptoms of heel pain for >
four months- 11/12 were pain-free by six weeks and remained
pain-free at 3 and 6 months
- 11/12 were pain-free by six weeks and remained
- Author: Elattrache
- Condition: Patellar tendonitis
- 16 patients with symptoms for at least four
months, all having failed conservative treatment - 10 collegiate-level athletes
- 15/16 were pain-free by six weeks and remained
pain-free at 3 and 6 months. - All ten athletes returned to their prior level
of competition within three months.
- 15/16 were pain-free by six weeks and remained
Q: What is the cash price for percutaneous tenotomy?
A: The cash price varies slightly by location, but averages between $1500 and $1700, which includes post-procedure
visits during the first 90 days.
visits during the first 90 days.
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