Chronic Pain Management Using StemWave Shockwave Therapy in Family Practice

Chronic pain is one of the most common and challenging conditions faced by family doctors, especially in older patients. Traditional treatment options often fall short in providing lasting relief or healing. However, emerging technologies are changing the landscape of pain management. One such breakthrough is StemWave Shockwave Therapy—a noninvasive treatment that not only alleviates pain but also promotes tissue healing. As a family doctor with decades of experience, I am excited to share insights about this innovative therapy and how it is transforming chronic pain management in family practice.

Why Separate Pain Management from Family Practice?

At Mercy Family Health and Pain Management, we have chosen to distinguish pain management from our general family practice. The reason is simple: chronic pain requires focused, specialized care that NOW often involves only a limited number of visits—typically six to eight—to help patients overcome their pain hurdles. In contrast, family practice requires ongoing care for a broader range of medical issues and a capped patient load to maintain quality care and manageable workload.

By carving out pain management as a dedicated service, we can better serve patients dealing with chronic pain without the distractions of broader family medical responsibilities. This approach allows us to provide more targeted, effective treatments that get to the root cause of pain for a larger number of chronic pain patients. 

Traditional Pain Management Approaches and Their Limitations

Over the years, I have performed thousands of joint and soft tissue injections, including steroid injections, which have been a mainstay for managing chronic arthritic and soft tissue pain. While these injections can reduce inflammation and provide temporary relief, they do not promote actual healing of the damaged tissue. Steroid shots are akin to "putting water on the fire"—they dampen the pain but don’t address the underlying problem.

Other approaches such as physical therapy and massage therapy often help, but many patients continue to struggle with persistent pain despite these treatments. More invasive options like gel injections or joint replacements come with high costs and variable outcomes, and some patients still experience pain even after surgery due to inflammation of the

surrounding soft tissues.

The Breakthrough: StemWave Shockwave Therapy

StemWave Shockwave Therapy represents a paradigm shift in how we approach chronic pain. Unlike steroid injections or other traditional modalities, this therapy uses focused bursts of energy—true shockwaves—that stimulate the body’s natural healing mechanisms. This technology has been around for nearly two decades but remains relatively unknown in many medical circles, partly because it is not covered by insurance.

Here’s how it works:

• The shockwaves generate bursts of energy, typically between one and four per second, directed at the painful tissue.
• This energy prompts the release of healing chemicals from the cell walls and triggers RNA signaling inside the cells.
• These signals attract the body’s own stem cells to the area, promoting tissue regeneration without the need for injections or stem cell harvesting.
• The therapy reduces inflammation and fosters repair of joints, ligaments, fascia, and muscles affected by chronic pain.

This noninvasive approach is like a natural stem cell injection, but without needles or surgery. It’s a restorative treatment that addresses the root cause of pain rather than just masking symptoms.

Personal Experience and Clinical Impact

Having suffered from a disabling neck injury for over 15 years, I decided to try  Shockwave Therapy myself after extensive research. Despite numerous other treatments including physical therapy, deep massage, and injection therapy, my pain persisted. After just five sessions of shockwave therapy, I experienced a significant reduction in pain within one month and near-complete relief by two months. This personal success story is a testament to the therapy’s potential.

In my 40+ years of clinical practice, I have rarely seen a treatment that induces such profound healing in worn-out tissues. While it doesn’t replace joint surgery when needed, it offers a powerful alternative or complement for many patients with chronic joint and soft tissue pain,

including those with advanced "bone on bone" arthritis.

How StemWave Shockwave Therapy Fits into Comprehensive Pain ManagementAt our practice, StemWave therapy is a core component of chronic pain management, but it’s not the only tool we use. We also emphasize lifestyle and nutritional strategies that reduce systemic inflammation and support healing. These include:

• Dietary guidance tailored to decrease inflammation
• Targeted nutritional supplements to support tissue repair
• Instruction on a walking technique that markedly decreases the stress on the body in movement. 

Our goal is to provide a wholistic approach that not only relieves pain but also restores function and improves quality of life.

What to Expect from Treatment

StemWave Shockwave Therapy is typically administered over a series of sessions. After an introductory treatment—which allows you to gauge your response—you can choose to pursue a full treatment protocol designed to maximize healing. While it is an out-of-pocket expense and not covered by most insurance plans, the cost is competitive with other pain relief options and offers lasting benefits.

It is important to note that while the majority of patients—around 85%—experience substantial improvement, the therapy is not effective for everyone. The initial session often helps determine whether this treatment is right for you.

Distinguishing True Shockwave Therapy

There are many devices on the market claiming to offer shockwave therapy, but only a couple of companies in the U.S. provide true shockwave technology with established clinical records. We chose to partner with the company that offers the best support for patients and clinics alike. Other devices may produce impulses of energy but do not replicate the healing effects of true shockwaves.

Having used TENS units extensively in my career—another form of energy-based therapy—I can confidently say that StemWave Shockwave Therapy is light years ahead in terms of stimulating actual tissue repair.

Final Thoughts

Chronic pain can be debilitating, limiting your ability to enjoy life and the activities you love. StemWave Shockwave Therapy offers hope where traditional treatments have fallen short. By harnessing the body’s natural healing power and attracting stem cells to damaged tissues, this therapy not only reduces pain but also restores function.

If you suffer from chronic pain and are seeking an effective, noninvasive treatment option, I encourage you to explore StemWave Shockwave Therapy. While it requires an out-of-pocket investment, the potential to regain a pain-free life is priceless.

For those interested, we offer an introductory session to help you decide if this innovative therapy is right for you. Chronic pain doesn’t have to control your life—there is hope and healing available.

God bless and take care.

Stanley Lang, M.D.