Tendinosis is a common condition that weakens a person’s tendons, causing pain, stiffness, tenderness and loss of range of motion, which worsens over time.
Joseph Chen, MD, CAQ-SM, an AdventHealth sports medicine physician in Palm Coast, is sharing how TenJet, a new treatment available at AdventHealth Palm Coast, will help make it easier to treat chronic tendon pain.
What Is TenJet?
“TenJet is a minimally invasive treatment for tendinopathy or tendinosis,” Dr. Chen explains. “Under ultrasound guidance, a small pressurized, high-velocity jet of water is used to selectively remove unhealthy tendon tissue while keeping healthy tissues intact.”
This simple process gets to the source of your tendon pain and repairs it, helping your body heal quicker and more efficiently.
How TenJet Will Help Patients
TenJet can be used on many parts of the body, including a person’s shoulder, hip, knee, ankle and foot, and is a simple treatment for people experiencing pain from conditions including plantar fasciitis, tennis or golfer’s elbow, jumper’s knee and calcific tendinosis of the rotator cuff. Whether your chronic joint pain is due to a sports injury, poor posture, aging, medical conditions or overuse, TenJet can help you find relief.
Additionally, unlike traditional open surgeries to repair tendons where a full recovery can take six months or longer, recovery from a TenJet procedure typically takes six weeks or less. “The TenJet procedure is known for its rapid recovery time. Immediately post-procedure, you might experience mild to moderate pain and swelling, like a sore muscle, but this is normal,” shares Dr. Chen. “Over-the-counter pain medicines, such as acetaminophen, can be used to minimize your discomfort. Most patients experience significant pain relief and return to normal activities within four to six weeks.”
What to Know Before a TenJet Procedure
“TenJet is a simple procedure, covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare and private insurance,” says Dr. Chen.
Other benefits include:
- A quick recovery time
- A minimally invasive outpatient procedure
- No general anesthesia is required
- Rapid return to activity and function
- High procedure success rate
- Less pain and scarring than traditional surgical procedures
“TenJet is primarily for patients with chronic tendon pain rather than acute tendinitis. It’s designed to relieve chronic tendon pain but is not a cure-all,” says Dr. Chen. “Six weeks of formal physical therapy post-procedure is required to ensure your tendon heals properly.”
And while the TenJet procedure is generally safe for most individuals, Dr. Chen adds that it may not be suitable for certain people, including individuals with:
- Active infections
- A severely compromised immune system
- Bleeding disorders
- Severe or complete tendon tears
Additionally, patients unable or unwilling to complete post-procedure physical therapy should not consider a TenJet procedure, as it’s an essential part of a successful recovery.
We’re Here to Help You Feel Whole
If you’re experiencing chronic tendon pain, our experts at AdventHealth Palm Coast can help you find relief. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Chen today to see if a TenJet procedure may be right for you.
