Chronic Pain: An Introduction to Shockwave Therapy

Introduction — From my practice to your recovery

Hello — I’m Dr. Stanley Lang, one of the founders of Mercy Family Health and Pain Management. In the video that inspired this post I walked through how we’re approaching chronic pain differently at our clinic and why we chose to add shockwave therapy as a core option. I want to share that same information here in a clear, practical way so you can decide whether this approach might be right for you.

Why separate pain management from family practice?

At Mercy Family Health and Pain Management we deliberately keep our family practice panel small so we can provide focused, sustainable care. Pain management, however, is a different issue: many patients need concentrated help for a relatively short series of visits to get “over the hump.” By offering a dedicated pain service, we can deliver targeted interventions (like shockwave) without assuming all other long‑term medical responsibilities.

What is shockwave therapy?

Shockwave therapy is a non‑invasive, regenerative treatment that uses brief bursts of high‑energy impulses delivered to painful tissue. It has been in clinical use for nearly two decades for various musculoskeletal conditions, but remains relatively underused in many medical circles—partly because it’s not widely reimbursed by insurance.

Although many devices claim to be “shockwave,” true shockwave machines are a specific technology. In the United States there are only a couple of companies with established records as true shockwave manufacturers; other machines produce impulses that are not equivalent.

How shockwave therapy works (in plain language)

Here’s what this treatment does when applied to chronically painful tissue (joints, ligaments, fascia, muscle):

• Delivers controlled bursts of energy (typically 1–4 bursts per second).
• These impulses stimulate cells in the treated area to release signaling molecules and trigger RNA pathways that recruit healing factors.
• Importantly, shockwave therapy attracts the body’s own stem cells to the site—like a stem cell injection without any injection or harvesting.
• The result is anti‑inflammatory activity plus genuine tissue repair and restoration of function, not just temporary pain masking.

"It's a little bit like having a stem cell injection of your own stem cells, but no shot involved."

My personal experience and clinical impressions

After studying the literature and the technology, I treated my own chronic neck injury (more than 15 years old) with shockwave. I received five treatments: within one month I experienced a dramatic improvement and within two months the pain was virtually gone. For me, after decades treating chronic pain, that level of recovery felt close to miraculous.

From my clinical experience and the evidence available, many patients respond quickly and sustain improvement for months or longer. While it’s not a guaranteed cure for everyone, the initial session often indicates whether a patient will benefit from a full protocol.

Who may benefit?

Shockwave therapy can help many chronic pain presentations, including:

• Arthritic joint pain, even severe “bone‑on‑bone” cases in some patients
• Chronic tendinopathies and ligament pain
• Myofascial and fascial pain that has failed to respond to PT or massage
• Pain after joint replacement when surrounding soft tissues remain inflamed

Roughly speaking, a large majority of patients experience substantial improvement; about 80% achieve very meaningful relief (your exact result will vary by condition and individual factors).

How it compares to other treatments

• Steroid injections: Helpful for short‑term pain relief, but they don’t repair tissue — they “put water on the fire.”
• Hyaluronic (gel) injections: Can reduce symptoms for some patients, often at substantial cost and with variable durability.
• TENS units: Deliver electrical impulses that can relieve pain and were a useful tool in my practice for years, but they do not induce tissue regeneration the way shockwave can.
• Joint replacement: Effective when the joint itself is the problem, but soft tissue around an artificial joint can still be a source of pain.

What to expect from treatment

Typical approach:

1. An introductory treatment (lower cost) so you can see whether you respond.
2. If you respond, a prescribed protocol of additional sessions that enhances and prolongs the benefit. In many cases a series of 4–6 treatments produces significant and lasting improvement.

The first treatment is often the best indicator of whether the therapy will be helpful for you. Side effects are generally minimal; most people tolerate the treatments well.

Practical considerations: cost and access

Shockwave therapy is not typically covered by insurance, so treatment is out‑of‑pocket. It is not cheap, but when compared to repeated injections, ongoing medication, lost activity, or expensive devices, many patients find it a cost‑effective, restorative option. We offer an introductory session price so you can evaluate benefit before committing to a full protocol.

Complementary strategies we use

Shockwave therapy is powerful, but it’s not the only thing we do. To maximize healing and reduce inflammation, we also emphasize:

• Dietary guidance aimed at lowering systemic inflammation
• Targeted nutritional supplements where appropriate
• Physical therapy and soft‑tissue therapies when needed

Is shockwave right for you?

If you’ve been living with chronic pain that hasn’t improved with PT, massage, steroid injections, or other conservative care, shockwave therapy may be worth considering—especially if you want a restorative approach rather than only temporary relief. The introductory session helps you determine whether to proceed.

Conclusion

After decades of treating chronic pain, I’m excited about the potential of shockwave therapy because it actually stimulates healing: attracting stem cells, reducing inflammation, and helping restore tissue function. At Mercy Family Health and Pain Management, we’ve made this a core part of our chronic pain program so we can help more people get back to the activities they love.

If you’re interested in learning more or scheduling an introductory treatment, contact our clinic at 814 583 7792 and we’ll help you explore whether this option fits your situation. God bless and take care.