Tendonitis

What is tendinitis?

Tendons are cords of connective tissue that attach muscles to bones. When they become irritated, it can result in pain ranging from a dull burning ache to a sharp cutting pain. Tendonitis occurs at the site of the inflammation and can involve the surrounding area. You’ll likely lose some range of motion and function in the affected joints. The most common parts of the body affected by tendinitis are:

• Base of the thumb
• Elbow
• Shoulder
• Hip
• Knee
• Bottom of the foot
• Achilles tendon

Repetitive movement is a common cause of tendinitis. Sports such as tennis or softball (pitching) that have you moving in the same way over and over are often responsible. Habitual ways of sitting or doing daily chores, such as scrubbing or raking, put you at risk, too. You may also get tendinitis as the result of an injury.

What is the Tenex procedure?

The Tenex procedure is a superior, minimally invasive treatment option for tendon pain. Developed in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic, it uses ultrasonic energy to cut and remove diseased tendon tissue. It’s designed to cut through diseased tissue only, as it’s not strong enough to cut through or damage healthy tissue.  With the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound, Dr. Panero guides the Tenex MicroTip precisely to the injured area, providing optimal benefit.

The procedure is typically covered by most insurance companies, with prior authorization.

What conditions can the Tenex procedure treat?

The Tenex procedure can address an array of tendinitis conditions. These include:

• Calcific tendonitis
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy
• Tennis and golfer's elbow
• Patellar tendinopathy
• Achilles tendinopathy
• Plantar fasciitis

Why is the Tenex procedure better than surgery?

The Tenex procedure offers significant advantages over surgery. No sutures or stitches are needed, which means less time required for healing. Tenex is performed under local anesthesia, so you won’t be exposed to the physical trauma and health risks of general anesthesia. The Tenex procedure does very little damage to healthy tissue because it involves no heat or cauterizing. The whole procedure is less painful than any surgery and allows you to return to your normal activities quickly.