The BIOS Orthopedic Institute
Alberto J. Panero, D.O.
Regenerative Orthopedics Specialist & Sports Medicine Specialist located in Sacramento, CA
The pain of an inflamed tendon, known as tendinitis, can be debilitating. Come see Dr. Alberto J. Panero at The BIOS Orthopedic Institute in Sacramento, California, to get relief. He uses the Tenex procedure as a minimally invasive way to treat tendon pain. You’ll have a quick recovery so you can get back to your game, sport, or daily activities sooner.
The Tendon Injury Spectrum:
Tendonitis – Tendinopathy – Partial vs Full Tendon Tear
Tendons are cords of connective tissue that attach muscles to bones. When they become irritated, it can result in pain ranging from a dull burning ache to a sharp cutting pain. Tendonitis occurs at the site of the inflammation and can involve the surrounding area. You’ll likely lose some range of motion and function in the affected joints. The most common parts of the body affected by tendinitis are:
- Base of the thumb
- Elbow
- Shoulder
- Hip
- Knee
- Bottom of the foot
- Achilles tendon
Repetitive movement is a common cause of tendinitis or tendinopathy. Sports such as tennis or softball (pitching) that have you moving in the same way over and over are often responsible. Habitual ways of sitting or doing daily chores, such as scrubbing or raking, put you at risk, too. An injury can also lead to tendinopathy or tearing of the tendon. Tendons have a difficult time healing on their own as they have poor blood supplies and are constantly at high load.
Tendonitis is typically inflammation and swelling of the tendon without much structural injury.
Tendinopathy has very little inflammation and instead has diffuse thickening of the tendon with loss of collagen quality and mechanical properties.
Partial Tear: Some of the fibers can be torn, but the tendon remains attached to and to a certain degree in continuity between the muscle and bony insertion. Partial tears of 50% or less the size of the tendon may be healed with interventional orthopedic treatments.
Full Tear: no fibers remain in continuity. These typically need surgery in order to fix them.
It is important to be able to recognize the specific type of pathology as the treatments will vary depending on the type of tendon problem.
What Tendon conditions can we treat at B.I.O.S?
Our state of the art orthobiologic and interventional orthopedic treatments like PRP, Bone marrow concentrate can address an array of tendon conditions. These include:
- Calcific tendonitis
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy
- Tennis and golfer’s elbow
- Patellar tendinopathy
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Plantar fasciitis
What is the Tenex procedure?
The Tenex procedure is a superior, minimally invasive treatment option for tendon pain. Developed in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic, it uses ultrasonic energy to cut and remove diseased tendon tissue. It’s designed to cut through diseased tissue only, as it’s not strong enough to cut through or damage healthy tissue. With the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound, Dr. Panero guides the Tenex MicroTip precisely to the injured area, providing optimal benefit.
The procedure is typically covered by most insurance companies, with prior authorization.
Why is the Tenex procedure better than surgery?
The Tenex procedure offers significant advantages over surgery. No sutures or stitches are needed, which means less time required for healing. Tenex is performed under local anesthesia, so you won’t be exposed to the physical trauma and health risks of general anesthesia. The Tenex procedure does very little damage to healthy tissue because it involves no heat or cauterizing. The whole procedure is less painful than any surgery and allows you to return to your normal activities quickly.
