Tenex and Shockwave Therapy for Tendonitis: Modern Solutions for Chronic Pain

Tendonitis—also known as tendinopathy—is a common cause of pain and limited mobility in joints such as the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle. When tendons become irritated or inflamed due to overuse, repetitive motion, or injury, recovery can be slow and frustrating. Traditional treatments like rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications can help, but for chronic or resistant cases, newer minimally invasive treatments offer hope. Two such options are Tenex and Shockwave Therapy.

Understanding Tendonitis

Tendons connect muscles to bones and help transmit the force needed for movement. Repeated strain or small tears in these tissues can lead to pain, swelling, and stiffness. Common forms of tendonitis include:

• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
• Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)
• Rotator cuff tendonitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Patellar tendonitis (jumper’s knee)

When rest and conservative care fail, minimally invasive therapies can target the damaged tissue directly to stimulate healing and restore function.

Tenex: A Minimally Invasive Solution

Tenex—also known as percutaneous tenotomy or the Tenex procedure—is a minimally invasive treatment designed to remove diseased tendon tissue and promote healing.

How it works:

• Using ultrasound guidance, the physician inserts a small instrument through a tiny incision at the site of the damaged tendon.
• The device emits ultrasonic energy to precisely break down and remove the damaged tissue while leaving healthy tissue intact.
• The area is flushed clean, allowing the body’s natural healing process to begin.

Benefits of Tenex include:

• Minimally invasive with only a small incision
• Performed under local anesthesia
• Quick recovery—most patients resume normal activity within weeks
• Reduces chronic pain and improves mobility

Tenex is particularly effective for chronic tendonitis that hasn’t responded to physical therapy or injections.

Shockwave Therapy: Stimulating Natural Healing

Shockwave Therapy—also called Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)—uses high-energy sound waves to stimulate the body’s natural healing mechanisms in the affected tendon.

How it works:

• A handheld device delivers focused or radial shockwaves to the injured tendon area.
• These waves increase blood flow, stimulate cell regeneration, and help break up scar tissue or calcifications.

Benefits of Shockwave Therapy include:

• Non-surgical and drug-free
• Stimulates collagen production and tendon regeneration
• Can improve mobility and decrease pain over several sessions
• Often performed in a clinic setting with no downtime

Shockwave therapy is frequently used for conditions such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and tennis elbow.

Tenex vs. Shockwave Therapy: Which Is Right for You?

Both treatments are effective for tendon-related pain, but they work differently:

• Tenex physically removes damaged tissue for more advanced or chronic cases.
• Shockwave Therapy stimulates healing in tendons with micro-tears or mild to moderate degeneration.

Your provider may recommend one or the other based on the severity of the tendon damage, your activity level, and your response to prior treatments.

In some cases, Shockwave Therapy may be tried first. If the condition doesn’t improve, Tenex can be considered as a next step before more invasive options like surgery.

Recovery and Results

Patients who undergo Tenex typically experience soreness for a few days followed by steady improvement over several weeks. Shockwave Therapy, on the other hand, produces gradual improvement across multiple sessions, with long-lasting pain relief once healing takes hold.

Both procedures aim to help you return to normal function and daily activities without the need for major surgery or extended downtime.

Conclusion

Tenex and Shockwave Therapy represent cutting-edge, minimally invasive treatments that target the root cause of tendon pain—damaged tissue. By either removing or stimulating repair of this tissue, these therapies offer lasting relief and faster recovery for patients struggling with chronic tendonitis.

If you’ve been living with persistent tendon pain that hasn’t improved with traditional treatments, talk to your pain management or orthopedic specialist to see if Tenex or Shockwave Therapy could be the right solution for you.