Advanced Pain Relief Treatments

MyMichigan Health’s WellSport Program is specifically designed to assess and provide non-surgical treatment to patients suffering from pain originating from the tendons, nerves and joints. Our experienced team offers innovative, advanced treatments for pain originating from the knee, elbow, wrist, shoulder, ankle, and hip. If surgery is required, we can help expedite the referral to an orthopedic surgeon.

Advanced Procedures Available

• Tenex - Tenex is a minimally-invasive procedure used to treat chronic pain associated with tendon inflammation. This technique involves a minimally-invasive procedure that breaks down and removes damaged tissues using high-frequency ultrasonic energy. The Tenex procedure is commonly used to treat tendinitis of the elbow, patellar tendon, Achilles tendon, shoulder, and ankle, as well as plantar fasciitis foot pain. It is performed under local anesthesia and may enhance recovery time post-surgery.
• Iovera^® - Iovera treatment utilizes cold therapy by using liquid nitrous oxide to freeze the nerves of the knee, thus decreasing pain related to arthritis. Treated nerves are temporarily stunned from sending pain signals for three months, followed by a restoration of normal function. It only targets pain and does not impact knee strength or function. Treatment takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and pain relief typically lasts three months. This innovative treatment technique is used to treat osteoarthritis in the knees; decrease post-operative pain after total or partial knee replacements; and treat chronic knee pain in patients who cannot have surgery.
• Ultrasound-guided Carpal Tunnel Injections (Hydrodissection) - Hydrodissection is a minimally-invasive treatment option to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Ultrasound is used to locate the spot where the nerve is compressed and a steroid injection is placed between the ligament and nerve, thus freeing up the nerve compression to relieve pain, numbness and tingling.
• Frozen Shoulder Hydrodilatation - Hydrodilatation is a procedure used to treat frozen shoulder, a painful condition which causes reduced movement of the shoulder joint. This treatment involves stretching the capsule of the joint by injecting a mixture of sterile saline, local anesthetic and steroid. Many people feel immediate relief and have improvement in range of motion immediately after the procedure. It may also prevent the need for shoulder surgery due to frozen shoulder and is paired with physical therapy post procedure.
• Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy - PRP treatment has been successful in not only relieving pain, but also jump starting the body’s natural healing process. During the treatment, a small amount of blood is extracted from the patient by a lab phlebotomist and placed in a centrifuge. It is then spun down to separate and concentrate the platelets. These platelets, which have enhanced growth factors, are then drawn into a syringe and injected into the treatment area, under ultrasound guidance, to promote and accelerate healing of the damaged tissue. The entire procedure takes around 30 minutes. The healing process takes place over six to eight weeks and may be paired with physical therapy for optimal healing. It may prevent the need for rotator cuff, labrum, or partial tendon tear surgeries.

 ^{Iovera® is a registered trademark of Pacira BioSciences, Inc.}