Queensland Lithotripsy Services

In order to arrange your appointment for treatment, you will need a diagnostic ultrasound or x-ray as required, showing the problem area. Your general practitioner will need to refer you to a diagnostic centre for this test.
Once you have your x-ray or ultrasound, you can be referred to Queensland Lithotripsy Services by your family doctor, podiatrist, physiotherapist or specialist. You should contact the Unit to arrange an appointment.

To discover more about ESWT Treatments, please refer to the following links:

What Conditions Can be Treated with ESWT?

How do Shock Waves work?

Treatment Course

Costs

The main conditions treated with ESWT are conditions relating to damage to tendons near where they insert into the bones. This can involve chronic inflammation of the tendons or calcium deposits within the tendons.

Tendon problems often relate to degeneration & ageing within the underlying tendons but ESWT can provide effective symptom relief. In many cases there is long term or permanent symptom relief. In some situations such as calcific tendonitis, ESWT may actually cure the problem.

Specific conditions treated with ESWT are listed below:

Shoulder

Rotator cuff tendonitis and calcification of the shoulder tendons.

Elbow

So called tennis elbow and golfer's elbow (lateral and medial epicondylitis).

Heel and Ankle

Plantar fasciitis, with or without heel spurs. Achilles tendonitis.

Knee

Patella and quadriceps tendon problems.

Hip

Trochanteric bursitis, Gluteal tendon tendonitis and adductor tendon injuries (groin strain).

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In cases of tendonitis, the shock waves are thought to over stimulate the local nerves, therefore causing the body to set up a "nerve block" to that area.

This contributes to a decrease of sensitivity in the nerves transmitting pain messages, resulting in a decrease in pain.

Simultaneously, the shock waves can cause reactions in the tendon fibres which trigger local messengers to activate the body's healing and repairing response in the area.

In the treatment of calcium deposits, the shock wave energy can help cause the calcium to fragment, as well as initiaiting the body's own repair response in the area. In this particular situation, pain may be increased as this resorption occurs over a period of a few weeks after the ESWT.

Click here for results information and to view a table indicating the effectiveness
of ESWT, comparing it to other options currently available.

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Prior to treatment, an assessment is required by your referring Doctor or Practitioner. If you are being referred by either a Physiotherapist or Podiatrist, you may be asked to see your Doctor to arrange an x-ray and ultrasound prior to review in the Clinic. If necessary the therapist may seek a further opinion from an Orthopaedic Surgeon or Musculo Skeletal Physician, prior to commencing treatment.

Treatment is non invasive and therefore can be undertaken as an outpatient. This means that you do not require either surgical admission or a hospital stay. You can leave immediately after treatment is completed.

The treatment is normally administered over three separate visits, one week apart, and usually takes around 45 minutes, although the initial treatment will take longer because an assessment by the treating therapist will be required. The therapist will position the machine over the area to be treated. The site for treatment is localised using ultrasound and the shock wave treatment begins which is commenced at low level & gradually increased in strength.

During treatment you will either be seated or lying on a bed depending upon the area of your body requiring treatment. Occasionally, a fourth or fifth treatment is required. You will be contacted for an assessment of the success of the treatment by the therapist at six and twelve weeks after the commencement of treatment.

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There is no medicare item number for ESWT therefore you will be unable to claim a rebate from medicare. However, some Private health funds and third party providers have approved payment on a case by case basis.

In some cases the condition being treated may be available for treatment through a workcover avenue or insurance or legal claim. In this case, prior approval from the relevant payer will need to be sought before commencement of treatment.

Click here to view Results of ESWT

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