Ultrasound Therapy For Nerve Pain Near Me
Ultrasound therapy for nerve pain near me is a treatment modality used by physical therapists or occupational therapists to treat pain conditions and to promote tissue healing. While ultrasound therapy is not effective for all chronic pain conditions, it may help reduce your pain if you have any of the following:
> Osteoarthritis
> Myofascial pain
> Bursitis
> Carpal tunnel syndrome
> Pain caused by scar tissue
> Phantom limb pain
> Sprains and strains
Ultrasound Therapy For Nerve Pain Near Me
Types of Ultrasound Therapy
There are two main types of ultrasound therapy: thermal and mechanical. Both use sound waves generated by a transducer head (which looks a bit like a microphone) to penetrate soft tissues. The difference between the two types of ultrasound therapy is the rate at which the sound waves penetrate the tissues.
1. Thermal ultrasound therapy. Therapeutic ultrasound therapy uses a more continuous transmission of sound waves. The sound waves cause microscopic vibrations in the deep tissue molecules, increasing heat and friction. The warming effect encourages healing in the soft tissues by increasing the metabolism at the level of the tissue cells.
2. Mechanical ultrasound therapy. Mechanical ultrasound therapy uses pulses of sound waves to penetrate tissues. While this still has a minor warming effect on the tissues, it also causes expansion and contraction in the tiny gas bubbles of the soft tissues. This helps to decrease the inflammatory response, reducing tissue swelling and thus decreasing pain.
The type of ultrasound therapy you receive depends on your condition. If you have myofascial pain, or had a muscle strain or sprain that has not healed, your therapist will likely use thermal ultrasound therapy. If your pain is caused by scar tissue or swelling, such as with carpal tunnel syndrome, you may benefit more from mechanical ultrasound therapy.
Is Ultrasound Therapy Safe?
Ultrasound therapy is deemed safe by the FDA provided it is performed by a licensed person and provided the therapist keeps the transducer head moving at all times. If the transducer head remains in one place for too long, there is potential to burn the tissues underneath, which you may or may not feel.
Does Ultrasound Therapy Really Work?
The literature is mixed on the benefits of ultrasound therapy. Some studies show that it can effectively control certain types of chronic pain, while others say there is little difference between ultrasound therapy and other traditional therapy treatments (such as heat, stretching and electrical stimulation) for pain control.
Uses of Ultrasound Therapy
The dosage of intensity and frequency for ultrasound therapy varies depending on each case, but it’s mainly used as part of a physical therapy program especially in the following cases:
. Contracture of muscle, tendon and fascia; which is the abnormal shortening and loss of elasticity, such as with plantar fasciitis
. In cases of chronic lower back pain, when there is no apparent physical cause
. Coccydynia, which is pain in the tailbone area of unknown origin
. In cases of sports injuries and muscle strains, sprain or spasm
. Inflammatory diseases of the joints, tendons and bone, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis tendonitis or bursitis; as it
. Increases the blood flow and collagen formation (the main protein component of soft tissue)
. Increasing the extensibility of mature collagen, as that of the already formed fibrous tissue in scars and previously injured tissue
Ultrasound therapy for nerve pain near me is an inexpensive, simple and non-invasive procedure. It does not require an operation and it will not leave a scar or expose a patient to radiation. It is easy to apply in a clinic setting or at home. Ultrasound therapy can be performed by a trained professional or by the patient, with appropriate instruction and training. Ultrasound therapy has been shown to be very effective in resolving inflammation and reducing pain, while promoting more rapid healing.
Ultrasound therapy works by two mechanisms: thermal and mechanical. The thermal mechanism of ultrasound therapy uses a more continuous pattern of sound waves to penetrate deep into the tissue, causing microscopic vibrations. This raises the temperature of the treated area, making the tissue warmer, and increasing the blood flow and metabolic rate of that tissue.
Mechanical ultrasound therapy uses sound wave pulses that penetrate more deeply, causing the small bubbles in the soft tissue to expand and contract; which reduces the swelling and inflammation of the tissue, thus reducing the pain.
Recovery with ultrasound therapy depends greatly on the professional providing the treatment, because application of the correct intensity and frequency is crucial. Ultrasound therapy is typically part of a more comprehensive treatment plan of physical therapy that also includes proper massage and exercise.