If you have been suffering from tendinitis for a long time, your doctor may be suggesting that you undergo surgery to repair any tears and damage to the tendon. Surgery does help a lot of patients, but it has its risks. Perhaps you are worried about the risks associated with undergoing anesthesia, or maybe the long recovery period associated with surgery has you feeling apprehensive. Thankfully, there are a few non-surgical alternatives to explore for tendinitis.
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to develop into any type of cell in the body. Stem cell therapy is a treatment that involves injecting these stem cells into an injured site and waiting for them to replicate and develop into new cells that heal the area. In the case of tendinitis, the stem cells would be injected into your injured tendon, and they would develop into new tendon cells, thereby healing any small tears in the tendon.
Stem cell therapy is quite safe. The initial injections may be a bit painful, but they do not take long. You should notice a gradual improvement in your symptoms in the weeks that follow the injections—they don't cause instant relief.
Blue Light Therapy
The idea of shining a light on a body part and expecting it to heal may sound a little strange, but here's how blue light therapy works. The light travels at a certain wavelength that triggers your body to send more blood and healing factors to the injured area. You won't feel a thing when a therapist holds a blue light against your injured tendon, but you should slowly notice an improvement in your symptoms with repeated treatments. Most patients need weekly or biweekly treatments for a couple of months to see results, but this is definitely safer than surgery—there is virtually zero risk of side effects.
Friction Massage
A massage therapist who specializes in friction therapy may also be able to help you heal. This type of massage involves exerting pressure and friction across the fibers of your muscles and tendons. The friction slightly damages the tissue, which triggers the healing response. Many people do find friction massage uncomfortable and even painful, but it is much safer than surgery. You can use this treatment in conjunction with blue light therapy if you desire.
Talk to your doctor about these and other alternatives to surgery for your tendinitis.