Heart Attack of Tendon Revisited Heart Attack of the elbow? Shoulder? Hands and Feet? Yes, that is the term Dr. Robert P. Nirschl, a true pioneer in the diagnosis and treatment of tendonitis, used in his book, “Arm Care.” Have you ever had tennis elbow that just would not go away? It aches, it won’t go away and can be disabling. The same goes for the shoulder, wrist, hands and feet. What is going on here? Well, for one thing, it’s not tendonitis. It is tendonosis. This means degeneration of the tendon, not inflammation. Scientists have taken tissue samples from these various overuse disorders to reveal a breakdown of the collagen in the tendon. Basically, you have a failure of the body to repair the problems at the injury site. Some people are more prone to this than others. Pregnancy, obesity, thyroid disorders, diabetes, kidney failure, poor circulation and overuse at the workplace or home can be contributing factors. Pain from these problems is controlled in four phases: 1) Control pain, 2) Reduce scar formation, 3) Restore full range of motion and 4) Strengthening and prevention of further injury. This is fine to say but from my experience it is easier said than done. Until now! The problem has always been a lack of circulation to the damaged area. However, how to get circulation to re-establish itself in a dying tissue area that is painful? We have discovered that the Anodyne Light Therapy is the answer. The infrared light it emits is invisible, yet it causes the release of nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator. This causes the smooth muscle in the arteries to relax, increasing circulation to the damaged tissue. It can turn grey, lifeless tissue into red and healthy tissue that has a good blood supply. Patients tell us they have relief of pain fairly quickly within the first two weeks. Then, after an average of six weeks of the treatment, the patients are able to restore strength and function as well. A patient with no sensation in her feet told us she can feel her cold bathroom floor for the first time in two years. The nerve tests for sensation are improved dramatically after one month of treatment. I have been doing this for twenty years and can honestly say these are the most dramatic improvements in pain and nerve testing I have ever seen. It’s remarkable. And it’s right here in Cumberland. If you have pain due to tendonitis of the hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder, give us a call. If you have numbness, tingling or pain in your feet or hands, call us. Many patients are also able to reduce their pain medicine and have better balance with less falling. Start living again instead of living with pain. Try therapy first at Tri-State Hand and Occupational Therapy. Call 301-759-4263 and let us help you with your problem today! |
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