You have pain in your elbow, knee or shoulder, but part of the problem is in your brain, too.
Chronic tendon issues include rotator cuff problems, patellar tendinitis, lateral epicondylitis (popularly known as tennis elbow), Achilles tendinitis, and more. If you’re physically active, sooner or later you’re likely to encounter one or more of these problems. And if you’re sedentary, you may be at even greater risk.
If your healing process runs smoothly, a tendon injury should resolve within a couple of weeks, and the affected muscle should regain its strength in a matter of 6 weeks or so.
Yet frequently, the body doesn’t follow these textbook guidelines, but instead gets locked into a parallel universe where pain recurs and your recovery takes a prolonged, twisted path.
Why?
If you test the muscles of those with chronic tendon injuries, they often are as strong, or even stronger, than the muscles of uninjured athletes. That’s why researchers on tendon injuries are looking beyond the tendon itself to shine a spotlight on the brain pathways that control movement and their participation in pain feedback loops. It’s becoming clear that the brains of those with chronic injuries can’t integrate the firing of the affected muscles into an overall pattern of movement with the same subtlety and responsiveness.
Advanced Treatment of Tendon Injuries
My practice uses two advanced methods to help with the resolution of tendon problems.
One is NeuroTactile® Therapy, a gentle, hands-on method to aid in tissue healing while also altering the brain pathways that modulate pain and inflammation.
The second method is the use of sophisticated therapeutic exercise protocols that challenge the brain to choreograph complex, integrated patterns of use, ultimately allowing the affected tendon to re-integrate itself into your overall pattern of body mechanics.
Taking NSAID’s on a long term basis is not the answer to chronic pain problems. Call my office to arrange a convenient appointment to have your condition evaluated. You can reach me at 212-400-9663, or in New Jersey at 609-497-1944.
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