Tendon Tears and Chronic Pain: How the Tenex Health TX1 Device Can Help

Chronic pain due to tendon issues can be a major problem. This kind of pain can keep you from your normal daily activities, reduce your mobility, and decrease your quality of life.

If the problem goes on for any length of time, it can wear on you, especially when you’re trying conservative treatments that aren’t working, such as rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications.

So, what can you do about it?

Dr. Austin Yeargan at Carolina Joint and Arthritis uses the cutting-edge Tenex Health TX1 device to relieve not just the symptoms, but also the cause of your tendon problems. Here’s how it’s done.

What is Tenex?

The Tenex Health TX1 device uses ultrasound energy to cut away damaged and diseased tendon tissue while also triggering your body’s natural healing response to repair the tendon. It’s a minimally invasive solution that lets you avoid open surgery while treating your problem at its root.

We often use Tenex to treat tendon pain caused by tendonitis (inflammation of the tendon) and tendinosis (injuries, including tears, that do long-term damage). Continuing damage like this leads to a buildup of scar tissue and irregular collagen fibers, turning your tendon thick and hard instead of elastic. This also makes your tendon weaker and more vulnerable.

Tenex is effective no matter where your damaged tendon is located, including your shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles, and elsewhere on your body.

How does the procedure work?

Dr. Yeargan first applies a local anesthetic to your skin over the tendon. (You won’t feel anything but a light pressure during the procedure.) Then he makes a tiny incision, inserts the needle-sized tip of the Tenex device and positions it at the tip of the tendon using ultrasound guidance so he can see exactly where to place it. 

When the Tenex is in place, he turns on the ultrasound energy, cutting away the damaged tissue and sucking the debris into the device. The entire process takes about 15 minutes. Because the incision is so small, you won’t even need stitches, just a small bandage. 

What should I expect?

Once the damaged tissue is cleared away and the source of the inflammation is gone, your body will be able to heal much more quickly, efficiently, and naturally. Traditional surgery for a tendon injury or tear could require six months or more for recovery; with the Tenex procedure, you can return to your usual activities within a few weeks.

One procedure is usually sufficient to get rid of your chronic pain from a tendon injury. When you’re ready to deal with the root cause of your tendon problems, our team at Carolina Joint and Arthritis is here to help. To schedule an appointment, call our Wilmington, North Carolina,  office or use our online booking tool to pick your own time.