Pain relief by extracorporeal shockwave therapy a

Authors: Christoph Schmitz Rocco DePace

Publish Date: 2009/05/15

Volume: 37, Issue: 4, Pages: 231-234

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Abstract

We have read with great interest the hypothesis article written by Dr O Wess concerning “A neural model for chronic pain and pain relief by extracorporeal shock wave treatment” ESWT published recently in Urological Research 1 We would like to express to the readers of Urological Research our concerns about the content and concept of this articleWe believe a clear warning should be expressed to your readership On page 328 of his article Dr Wess 1 states “This treatment regime or a similar one is used for chronic pelvic pain as well as shoulder pain heel spur and angina pectoris for example” This statement is made without any reference and might imply to readers that ESWT is an equally accepted treatment modality for these very different indications However this is not the caseESWT has become a wellestablished treatment opportunity for several diseases of the musculoskeletal system such as chronic plantar fasciitis 2 3 chronic Achilles tendinopathy 4 5 6 and chronic lateral epicondylitis “tennis ellbow” 7 8 9 On the other hand experience with ESWT as a treatment regime for chronic pelvic pain syndrome or angina pectoris can be regarded only experimentally to date 10 11 or for that matter anecdotally The casual use of ESWT in the treatment of angina pectoris could result in unwanted side effects such as arterial embolisms or even severe damage of the lung“The problem seems to be too complex for a simple answer since the location of the pathology is considered not in the painful organ itself anymore but is diffusely spread over extended areas as well as over several levels of the PNS/CNS” peripheral nervous system/central nervous system p 331 right column lines 7 ff

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