StemWave: Using Sound to Manage Pain
No athlete wants to deal with an orthopedic injury, especially when it’s causing severe pain. Not only do you have to skip training, but day-to-day chores are much more challenging, too! Unfortunately, rehabilitation can take time, and the pain from that single injury might start to feel completely debilitating.
That’s why the team at Sievers Sports Medicine is excited to announce that we’ve recently added a new pain management tool to expand your pain management options. The Stem Wave machine is a medical device that uses extracorporeal shockwaves to reduce pain and facilitate your body’s healing process as you recover.
Sound alarming? Don’t worry–the Stem Wave machine is a non-invasive device that offers plenty of great benefits. We want to share more about the Stem Wave machine and shockwave therapy with you today so you can know what to expect the next time you visit our clinic.
How Does the Stem Wave Machine Work?
We realize that “extracorporeal shockwaves” sound intimidating, but that phrase is actually just a medical term for acoustic waves–better known as sound waves.
The Stem Wave delivers these acoustic waves through a specialized wand, which our technician will run over the skin of the affected area (hence, “extracorporeal,” or outside the body). The acoustic waves interact with your damaged tissue in a couple of different ways:
- They decrease the transmission of pain signals in your nerves, offering immediate pain relief (often within minutes).
- They reduce inflammation in the tissue, further helping with pain relief.
- They increase blood circulation to the area, helping to recruit stem cells and other growth factors that facilitate your body’s healing processes.
- The increased blood flow also stimulates collagen production, helping to strengthen and restore the function of tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues.
The Stem Wave offers benefits similar to other treatment options at Sievers Sports Medicine, such as PRP injections, which also reduce inflammation and amplify growth factors in damaged tissue. The difference is that shockwave therapy is entirely noninvasive and doesn’t require blood samples or complex lab processing.
Pay for Stem Wave with CareCredit!
The CareCredit health, wellness, and personal care credit card gives you a convenient, flexible way to pay for care for the whole family—including pets! With everyday promotional financing for purchases of $200 or more, you can pay over time with convenient monthly payments.
What Conditions Can Benefit from the Stem Wave?
Research supports the use of shockwave therapy for several musculoskeletal conditions, including the following:
Tendoninopathies
- Your tendons connect your muscles to your bones. Overuse and awkward positioning can irritate them, leading to pain and restricted mobility. Examples include tennis elbow, Achilles tendinitis, or patellar tendinitis (which affects the knee).
Sprains and Strains
- Sprains occur when the ligaments in a joint tear, leading to pain and feelings of instability. Strains are similar but affect the muscles or tendons.
Shin Splints and Stress Fractures
- Shin splints develop when the shin bone and surrounding soft tissue become inflamed due to overuse, leading to pain and inflammation. Stress fractures are tiny cracks in your bone that cause similar symptoms. Stem Wave can also help with non-displaced fractures, which occur when a broken bone doesn’t move out of alignment.
Plantar Fasciitis
- Your plantar fascia is a tissue band stretching along the bottom of your foot. If it becomes inflamed, you’ll experience sharp, stabbing pain in your heel.
Osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in your joints deteriorates, causing pain and inflammation when the bones rub together.
And Many More!
- Stem Wave can also help address several other conditions, including frozen shoulder, nerve impingements, neuropathies, issues with the spinal discs, and more.
What To Expect from Treatment with the Stem Wave
At your first appointment, we’ll conduct a thorough evaluation to determine if the Stem Wave will work for your needs. If so, we’ll develop a care plan, which will typically last between 8 and 12 sessions, although most patients start experiencing benefits after 3-4 sessions.
One benefit of using the Stem Wave is that it’s quick; each session typically lasts 10-15 minutes. We’ll help you get comfortable, then apply a gel to the affected area, which helps improve the transmission of the acoustic waves. We’ll then deliver these waves via a handheld wand, allowing us to target the specific site of injury. Some people experience a tingling sensation or other mild discomfort, but the treatment typically is not painful. Similarly, you may experience some soreness in your tissue afterward, but this should fade in a few days. Our team will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions to help you get the most out of your treatment.
Thai Pumpkin Soup
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small white or yellow onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or use 2 cloves garlic, minced)
- 1 tablespoon ginger paste (or freshly grated ginger)
- 1 tablespoon lemongrass paste (optional)
- 3-4 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 15 ounces pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
- Kosher salt
- 14 ounces canned unsweetened coconut milk, well shaken
- lime or lemon juice
Suggested toppings:
- fresh cilantro, chopped
- thinly sliced serrano or jalapeno chile
- roasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
- crushed red pepper flakes
- swirls of coconut cream
Directions:
-
Heat one tablespoon of the olive oil in a 4-5 quart Dutch oven or stock pot over medium until shimmering.
-
Add the onion and saute until soft and translucent (about 6 minutes).
-
Scoot the onions to one side and add the remaining one tablespoon of olive oil to the cleared side. Spoon the curry paste, ginger paste, lemongrass paste (if using), and garlic powder over the oil, and stir until fragrant. Mix into the onions.
-
Add the broth and the pumpkin puree, and mix thoroughly.
-
Raise the heat to bring the soup to an active simmer for 10 minutes.
-
Turn heat to low. Taste the soup and add salt by the big pinch until flavorful.
-
When the soup has completely stopped bubbling, whisk in the coconut milk.
-
Add a splash (or squeeze) of lemon or lime juice and taste. Adjust with additional salt, if necessary.
-
Serve with optional toppings.
-
Leftovers keep well for several days in the fridge.
This Month’s Winner
Here is our August custom Yeti Cup winner! All patients are automatically entered to win when they share their experience at Sievers Sports Medicine in a Google review.
Our Patients Are Seeing Great Results
Staff Spotlight: Trinity Benfiel
We count on Trinity Benfiel to ensure that your journey toward health is seamless and well-coordinated. From handling insurance queries to providing prompt imaging services, Trinity is dedicated to optimizing your care experience. Schedule your appointment today to benefit from our comprehensive and efficient healthcare services.
Flexible Financing with CareCredit
The CareCredit health, wellness, and personal care credit card gives you a convenient, flexible way to pay for care for the whole family—including pets! With everyday promotional financing for purchases of $200 or more, you can pay over time with convenient monthly payments.
Self-Pay Options
- Payment Plans: Understanding that healthcare costs can be significant, we offer payment plans to spread the cost of treatment over time. These plans are flexible and can be tailored to suit your financial situation.
- Competitive Self-Pay Rates: We offer competitive self-pay rates for patients without insurance or those receiving treatments not covered by insurance. Please get in touch with our office for more information on our fees for various services.
Other Payment Methods
- Credit and Debit Cards: We accept all major credit and debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
- Checks and Cash: Personal checks and cash payments are also accepted.
- Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Payments can be made using funds from your HSA or FSA accounts.
Clinic News
Here are some great shots from Friday Night Lights with Clovis High Football and Saturday with the ENMU Greyhounds! Dr. Sievers is proud to support our local athletes and be part of such an exciting weekend. Go Wildcats and Greyhounds!
Is Stem Wave Right For You?
The team at Sievers Sports Medicine works hard to find the best treatment interventions for your needs, including affordable and cost-effective options. Stem Wave provides an excellent alternative to surgery or pain medication, with minimal side effects and no downtime. Schedule an appointment with us today to learn whether the Stem wave is a good choice for your needs!
