Shock wave therapy - ESWT

What are ESWT shock wave treatments?

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is an innovative treatment method for urological disorders that is gaining increasing popularity among patients and doctors. To many, shock wave therapy may be associated mainly with problems of the musculoskeletal system, but shock waves have been used to treat urological problems for some time now and with great success.

ESWT shock wave therapy is a treatment modality that uses sound wave energy to stimulate regenerative processes and tissue healing. The applications of ESWT shockwave are wide-ranging, as it can be used to treat a variety of urological conditions such as inability to achieve or maintain an erection, Peyronie's disease or non-bacterial prostatitis. It is also a very effective remedy for pain associated with the aforementioned urological conditions.

ESWT therapy is characterised by a number of advantages. Thanks to the use of waves, the therapy is performed without drugs or surgery. Another advantage of ESWT therapy is the short therapy sessions, which do not require anaesthesia and are performed on an outpatient basis. This means that the patient can return to normal functioning after the therapy.

What effect does the use of shockwave have on tissues and cells?

During ESWT therapy, the shock wave is de facto an acoustic wave of appropriately selected energy. Such a wave is directed at damaged tissues and stimulates metabolic processes, improving blood and lymph flow and stimulating the formation of new blood vessels and cells.

Shockwave treatment involves applying a special head to the patient's body, which generates acoustic waves of a specific frequency and intensity. The treatment is carried out directly on the skin and, depending on the size of the treatment area, can last from a dozen to several tens of minutes.

The effect on tissues and cells, although always stimulating repair processes, varies depending on the condition that is being treated with ESWT.

Treatment of erectile dysfunction

When treating erectile dysfunction, the ESWT method is used in accordance with the recommendation of the European Urological Association and is a common method of treating erectile dysfunction. At the Vedi Clinic, we have the latest generation STORZ MEDICAL Duolith SD1 T-TOP device, which generates low-energy and low-frequency acoustic waves. The effect of the treatment is the creation of new blood vessels in the penile area. This results in increased blood flow which enables and significantly improves a man's erection. How long does the wave treatment last? The treatment process consists of 6 treatment sessions, which should be performed over 3-4 weeks. One treatment lasts approximately 30 minutes and is performed in an outpatient setting by a urologist. The therapy is painless and non-invasive.

Peyronie's Disease Treatment

Peyronie's disease is characterised by a curvature of the penis resulting from the presence of a fibrous plaque under the penile skin. It is most often a problem affecting young and middle-aged men, which contributes to a deteriorating sex life and painful erections. At Vedi Clinic, we treat Peyronie's disease using focused ESWT shock wave. Using a transducer, the urologist directs the wave directly at the sclerosis, or plaque under the skin of the penis. The ESWT waves produce energy that breaks up the sclerosis and, as a result, the natural penile shape is restored. The penile curvature treatment cycle requires 4 to 6 sessions performed on average every week. Each session lasts approximately 30 minutes.

Treatment of non-bacterial chronic prostatitis

At Vedi Clinic, we offer treatment of chronic non-bacterial prostatitis with shockwave therapy. Chronic prostatitis means pain in the lower abdomen, pelvic floor and testicles. In addition, chronic prostatitis is characterised by urinary problems, such as frequent urination or frequent urination at night. Traditional treatment is lengthy and requires months and sometimes even years of minimising symptoms related to pain in the above-mentioned areas, as well as urination. At Vedi Clinic, we offer ESWT shockwave treatments that minimise the pain and other discomforts associated with non-bacterial chronic prostatitis.

Can shockwave treatment be harmful?

Although shockwave therapy is relatively safe and effective, like any treatment method, it can come with some risks. Among the most common side effects of ESWT are pain and swelling at the site of wave application and, less commonly, bleeding and infection. In some cases, tissue damage can occur, but this is a very rare event. At Vedi Clinic, before starting shockwave treatments, we have a consultation and qualification for the procedure performed by a specialist urologist.