New cutting-edge technology provides non-invasive, long-term chronic pain relief

At Hurley Chiropractic, we are passionate about curating detailed and customized care plans to each individual. We consider the whole person when making care plan recommendations. We offer many supplemental therapeutic services in order to complement the Chiropractic adjustments each person receives and get the most out of their care. This approach has been amazing for helping people feel better very quickly. We help people return back to work, improve their athletic performance, and achieve their goals of less pain and better daily function. We keep people moving and enable them to live their lives again. And… many of our patients still deal with low-level, chronic, nagging pain. It is a huge win that we can help them go from 10/10 pain to a 3/10… but what if we could do more to provide chronic pain relief?

This is where the Shockwave and Laser Therapy packages come in. These work best for our patients who are doing all the things: regular chiropractic adjustments, home exercise programs, taking care of themselves. Yet, they still deal with some level of ongoing pain. These tools came to me backed by extensive scientific research and statistics that spoke for themselves. When I reviewed the long-term improvements in chronic joint and muscle pain that the participants reported, I wanted our patients to experience that kind of healing and relief as well. Read on to learn more about the benefits of each of these therapies and how we can help you feel better too.

Radial Pressure Wave AKA Shockwave therapy

Shockwave therapy’s main role is to address chronic pain. Pain that has been ongoing or frequently recurring for at least 3 months. Maybe it started as an old injury that never fully recovered. Maybe there is scar tissue from surgery. Or has it been constantly nagging you for 10-20 years? Shockwave uses intense sound waves to put stress on the damaged tissue. It is actually designed to create inflammation. I know this sounds like the opposite of a good thing! However, inflammation is the first step of the healing process. Shockwave’s job is to bring that chronic issue back into the acute phase and trigger a new healing cycle. It’s like telling the body, “Hey! You never finished healing this. Let’s try again!” Due to this process, you may expect some soreness or notice increased inflammation for the first 48 hours. It should not cause severe pain but could be tender or feel a bit irritated. Try to refrain from interfering with this inflammatory process. After your shockwave session please avoid applying ice to the area, taking NSAIDs or anti-inflammatories medications, and heavy weightlifting or intense exercise. Gentle to moderate workouts are just fine, and you should be able to perform all other daily activities. Shockwave does not require extended downtime or lengthy recovery, which is why it is a favorite of athletes for addressing injuries during training!

During your session, you can expect the shockwave therapy to produce an uncomfortable sensation. There is no shocking or electric pain! To me, I describe it as a prickly-type sensation. The goal is to tolerate a little discomfort, but not to endure pain. You are always in control of the intensity and should aim to keep the discomfort under a 5/10 on the pain scale.

Deep Tissue Laser Therapy

The Laser can be used for nearly any type of musculoskeletal pain you can imagine! From headaches and TMJ pain to plantar fasciitis, arthritis, spinal degeneration, sciatica, and more. It pairs great with the Shockwave therapy to address chronic pain and old injuries. The Laser can also be used on its own immediately after an injury, an ankle sprain, muscle strain, or even right after surgery to speed healing.
Laser Therapy works by delivering specific wavelengths of light that penetrate deep into your tissues – up to 4 inches below the surface. This light energy is absorbed by tiny “power plants” in your cells called mitochondria. When they absorb this energy, they start producing ATP (cellular fuel) again – up to 200% more than normal. Laser Therapy gives your cells the energy they need to heal! 

During your Laser therapy session, you should feel a warm and relaxing sensation. There should never be any discomfort. If it feels hot, let us know right away. You may even feel pain relief by the end of your session! Laser therapy doesn’t typically produce soreness, and you can expect to go about your usual routine immediately after a Laser therapy session.

Care Plan Recommendations

Every person is unique and every body responds differently! The following are some general trends that can help provide expectations. Your chiropractor can tailor a care plan for you based on your history, your progress, and your goals.

Many people experience some immediate improvement in their pain level and range of motion after Shockwave and Laser therapy treatments. You may notice the muscles have loosened up or less stiffness in the joint. Both therapies also have an immediate effect on the nerves, which can provide relief for up to 18 hours after the session. 

The magic of these modalities (aka the statistical evidence shows best results) with consistent weekly treatments. The number of treatments required will depend on your unique needs. If your pain is mild and only started few months ago, then you may find 3-6 treatments to work well. If your pain is above a 5/10 and has been going on at least a year, expect to start with 8-10 treatments. In general, we see that the more chronic the pain: the more treatments the body needs for lasting results.

Not just pain relief! Healing damaged tissue = long-term benefits

The coolest part about both the Shockwave and the Laser is not just pain relief in the first few weeks of treatments. Each treatment stimulates cellular healing. The goal here is not just reducing pain or inflammation in the short-term. Over time, the tissue is getting healthier and stronger. In fact, my deciding factor in choosing to bring both of these technologies to Hurley Chiropractic and Wellness was in seeing the statistics on using both the Shockwave AND the Laser together. The study reported that many patients continued to improve weeks and months after the treatments ended. I wanted to offer hope for long-term healing to our patients with chronic pain.

We are so excited to share this with you! 

Dr. Emily Hurley