Tenex

If you’re frustrated by pain and limited mobility caused by tendon problems, it’s time to learn about the minimally invasive Tenex Health TX procedure (Tenex). At Carolina Joint and Arthritis in Wilmington, North Carolina, Austin Yeargan III, MD, has extensive experience treating tendonitis and tendinosis, problems that can cause significant pain and disability. A 15-minute treatment with Tenex can turn your life around in weeks, as the treatment removes damaged tissues and stimulates healing. To learn more about Tenex, call the office or book an appointment online today.

What is Tenex?

Tenex uses ultrasound energy to treat chronic tendon pain. Ultrasound safely cuts away damaged and diseased tendon tissues without harming the surrounding healthy tissues. The energy also stimulates your body’s healing response. Tenex is a remarkably successful tendon treatment, allowing most patients to avoid surgery.

What conditions are treated with Tenex?

The Tenex TX procedure treats ongoing tendon pain caused by tendonitis and tendinosis. Tendonitis means you have an inflamed and swollen tendon. Tendinosis occurs when overuse injuries cause long-lasting tendon damage. 

Ongoing tendon damage leads to degenerative changes. Scar tissue and irregular collagen strands develop, and the tendon becomes thick and hard instead of elastic. In addition to causing pain, these changes weaken the tendon and make it vulnerable to tearing.

Dr. Yeargan often recommends Tenex for treating tendon conditions, such as:

• Chronic tendonitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Golfer’s elbow
• Tennis elbow
• Jumper’s knee
• Achilles tendonitis
• Rotator cuff tendinosis
• Chronic tendonitis
• Patellar tendinosis

Dr. Yeargan uses Tenex to treat virtually every tendon in your body, helping you regain mobility and return to your favorite activities.

What happens during a Tenex procedure?

The medical name for a Tenex procedure is a percutaneous tenotomy or fasciotomy. The slim device goes through your skin (percutaneous) and removes tendon tissues (tenotomy) or the connective tissues surrounding the tendon (fasciotomy).

Dr. Yeargan cleans the area over the tendon and applies a local anesthetic. Then he makes a small pin-hole in your skin and inserts the needle-like Tenex device. Using ultrasound guidance to view the tendon and the device, he positions the tip at the tendon and turns on ultrasound energy.

The hollow needle sends ultrasonic waves, cutting away the diseased tissue. At the same time, it draws the debris into the hollow core, eliminating waste.

The entire procedure takes 15 minutes or less. After withdrawing the Tenex device, Dr. Yeargan places a bandage over the tiny cut, and you go home.

Your recovery after a Tenex treatment only takes days or weeks, and then you can return to all your usual activities. By comparison, it takes six months or longer to recover from a surgical tenotomy or fasciotomy.

You can overcome the pain and regain an active life with the Tenex Health TX procedure. Call Carolina Joint and Arthritis or request an appointment online today.