Knee Pain Carrollton, TX
- Ligament & Joint Pain
- Shockwave Therapy Focus
- 8 to 12 Session Plans
Knee pain can linger for a few days. But if it bothers you for months, then it can be a different problem from your fresh injury. This difference shapes how your treatment will be at Dallas Spine Center in Carrollton, TX. For Dr. Hoa Nguyen, the body has the ability to heal new injuries. However, once pain has lingered for a long time, the healing process can stall.
Many of our patients who come to our chiropractic office complain of their knees hurting because of the ligaments around the joint. Other patients have knee pain because the joint has lost its cushioning and become one-on-one. Dr. Nguyen uses shockwave therapy not to mask the symptoms but to restart the healing response in the tissue that’s been causing the pain.
Causes of Knee Pain
Knee pain can be caused by a lot of factors. However, the patients who come to our chiropractor’s office in Carrollton, TX, fall into two categories. Some patients have pain from the ligaments around the knee. These are tough bands that hold your joint together. Other patients have lost their meniscus, or the cushion inside the knee. When this happens, the joint space closes. The bone starts to rub on bone.
These two problems may feel different. Our patients respond differently to care. This is the reason the exam matters a lot to your care. Pain can hang on long after the original reason is gone. Dr. Nguyen often evaluates these knee problems when patients first come in.
- Ligament pain around the knee
- Bone-on-bone pain from meniscus loss
- Chronic pain from an old injury
- Sports injuries to the joint
- Pain after years of wear
- Lost strength around the knee
Dr. Nguyen can only start categorizing you after a hands-on exam. He’ll test the muscles and ligaments around your knee. Then, he looks for tender attachment points and asks how long you’ve been feeling the pain. A knee that has been causing you pain for years will need a different treatment than a recent strain.
Why Chronic Knee Pain Stops Healing on Its Own
Your body can respond to a knee injury right away when it’s still fresh. It increases blood flow to the affected area so the repair activity starts immediately. This is the acute stage. However, most patients who see Dr. Nguyen have knee pain that is already in the chronic stage. This means that the body has stopped actively repairing that area in the same way when it was still in the early stage.
“We know that the body heals itself. The body only heals itself at an acute stage of injuries. When a patient comes to me, they are in a chronic stage of injuries.”
Dr. Hoa Nguyen, D.C.The gap between the acute and chronic stages can be closed by shockwave therapy. It doesn’t provide temporary pain relief. Rather, it turns a stalled problem back into one that the body can respond to. This fits Dr. Nguyen’s belief that the body can heal itself when it receives the appropriate help.
How Shockwave Therapy Works on Your Knee
Shockwave therapy at our Dallas Spine Center uses the Mark III Ultra. It’s a system made by Shockwave Center of America. It delivers sound waves through the problematic area. These waves create a controlled micro-injury. As a result, the body starts treating it like a new injury. Thus, it starts the healing process, including:
- Increased blood flow to the problematic area
- Increased production of collagen to rebuild tissue
- Recruitment of repair cells, like precursor and stem cells
- Breakdown of scar tissue and abnormal bone growth
We don’t use shockwave just for knee problems. Rather, we also use the same equipment for frozen shoulder and shoulder pain, back pain, sciatica, and herniated discs. Treatment focuses on the tendons and ligaments where your muscles are attached to bone. These attachment points are where the problem areas are located.
What a Knee Shockwave Therapy Session Looks Like in Carrollton, TX
Shockwave therapy for knee pain is interactive. Your feedback guides Dr. Nguyen on where the device goes. Here’s what to expect from the moment the applicator touches the problematic area until the end of your visit.
- 1Dr. Nguyen examines your muscles and ligaments around your knee. This will help him identify whether the problem is in the joint or in the tissue attached to it.
- 2He moves the applicator across the area. You won’t feel much when the applicator goes over the healthy tissue. But if it’s over an injured attachment, you’ll feel a bit of discomfort.
- 3Those tender spots are considered problematic areas. In a single session, Dr. Nguyen can locate two or three spots.
- 4Our chiropractor will adjust the intensity based on your pain tolerance. Thus, the discomfort from the therapy stays at a tolerable level.
Some patients experience a difference right away. Many of our patients report 10 to 50 percent less pain and better strength after their initial treatment. Typically, a full plan entails 8 to 12 treatments. But it totally depends on the severity of your knee problem and how long it’s been affecting you.
What Happens After a Shockwave SessionAfter shockwave treatment, patients should feel relief. This is when the healing process starts. The therapy works by restarting the body’s own repair process. Every session builds on the last one while the tissue around your knee continues to heal.
Pain Relief Between Shockwave Sessions
Shockwave therapy can help with knee pain. However, if it’s been hurting you for a long time, it may need extra help so you’ll feel comfortable while it’s healing. One of the tools we can use is Hako-Med. It’s an electrical therapy with different settings. The pain relief setting is the one we use most often for knee patients.
A TENS unit and infrared therapy can also be used. The TENS unit sends a light electrical tingle through the muscles. This is to ease your discomfort. The red light pad delivers gentle heat to increase blood circulation to the affected area. Although these therapies are helpful, they don’t replace shockwave. However, if they’re used with shockwave, they can make your treatment a lot easier to handle.
Your Knee Pain Plan from Your First Visit to the Last
Your first visit to treat your knee pain starts by completing an online form before arriving at our office. During your initial consultation with Dr. Nguyen, you must tell him where the knee hurts, when it began, how long it’s been going on, and what therapies you’ve already tried. Dr. Nguyen will tell you what he found after the exam. He’ll also confirm whether or not shockwave therapy is an ideal treatment for your case.
Your plan will have a clear length and reassessments along the way. You’ll be sent out for an MRI if your knee isn’t improving as expected. The MRI can show something an X-ray can’t. Dr. Nguyen may refer you out for a second opinion or suggest another plan. Our office won’t continue treating you if your current treatment is not working.
You don’t have to come forever if your plan is complete and you feel better. Some of our patients choose maintenance visits every couple of months or once a year. Others simply finish their plan and don’t come back. The decision is yours.
If your knee pain is from a car accident, a different process is followed. Crashes can injure your knees along with your neck and back. These cases go through our auto accident care process, which includes documenting your injuries before your treatment starts. If you’re active but have joint problems, you can benefit from our sports chiropractic. This therapy isn’t reserved for athletes.
Who Should Not Undergo Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy may be effective for knee pain, but it’s not for everyone. This is the reason Dr. Nguyen examines you completely before your treatment starts. He might find something that would make you unfit for this treatment. If you have any of the following, you should tell our office before you book an appointment:
- Cortisone injection within the past month
- You’re pregnant
- Brain aneurysm
- Cardiac pacemaker
- Cancer or a tumor
- Skin infection on the painful area
- Bleeding or clotting disorders
- Thyroid cancer or thyroid problems
- Electrical implant near the knee
- A serious ongoing disease
If you have one or some of these conditions, it doesn’t mean that we can’t help your knee pain. There are other pain management options available at our Dallas Spine Center, including Hako-Med therapy, a TENS unit, and infrared. Dr. Nguyen will walk you through all of them to determine which alternatives are ideal for your situation and your goals.
Knee Pain and Shockwave FAQs
Can a chiropractor help with knee pain?
Yes, a chiropractor can help with knee pain with the right equipment. At Dallas Spine Center, we treat knee pain from ligament problems or bone-on-bone wear with shockwave therapy. Then, we may add Hako-Med, a TENS unit, and infrared to the mix for pain relief. Our chiropractor will also check whether your pain is from your lower back. If it does, your plan will change entirely.
What helps bone-on-bone knee pain without surgery?
Shockwave therapy is the main option that doesn’t involve surgery. Dr. Nguyen uses it to help manage and relieve your bone-on-bone knee pain. It’s effective because it targets the painful attachments around your joint. It also encourages healing activity in the affected area. To add more pain relief, we can include Hako-Med, a TENS unit, and infrared. However, shockwave can’t replace your lost meniscus. But it does manage your pain.
Is shockwave therapy painful?
Shockwave therapy isn’t painful, but it may cause discomfort. But the discomfort is focused. It changes during the session. Your treatment may start with the most intense sensation over the affected area. The pain decreases as treatment progresses. After that, you feel relief. The level is kept at a tolerable level. It will never be discomfort that you can’t handle.
What can cause knee pain without an injury?
Knee pain doesn’t always begin with a fall or a twist. Bone-on-bone pain, for instance, develops as the meniscus wears away and the space inside the joint closes. Ligament problems around the knee can also build gradually. When the pain lingers long enough, the body stops actively healing it. This is the reason the pain doesn’t go away.
Can back problems cause knee pain?
Yes, back problems can cause knee pain. The reason for this is that a bulging or herniated disc in the lower back can pinch a nerve. When it does, it sends pain down the leg to your knee and below it. This is called sciatica. This is the kind of pain that requires care aimed at the spine, instead of your knee. Dr. Nguyen checks for it during your initial exam, so your plan targets the real source.
Is shockwave therapy safe?
Yes, shockwave therapy is safe for ideal candidates. It’s non-invasive. The intensity is also controlled throughout the session. To ensure the safety of this therapy, Dr. Nguyen reviews your health history so that you don’t have conditions that would make you unfit for this treatment.
Get a Clear Answer About Your Knee Pain
The $47 new patient special includes a consultation with Dr. Nguyen, a full exam, and in-house digital x-rays when your case calls for them. You will leave knowing whether shockwave therapy is the right fit for your knee.
Dallas Spine Center, 3730 N Josey Ln #122, Carrollton, TX 75007. Serving Lewisville, Plano, Frisco, North Dallas, Addison, Farmers Branch, Coppell, Highland Village, The Colony, and Little Elm.