Having ESWT procedure

Preparation for ESWT

You will need to make sure that you are available for the full course of 3 treatments. If you miss 2 consecutive treatments, you will need to start the course again.

2 weeks before your first procedure, throughout your treatment and for 6 weeks after treatment you should not take NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines). This includes ibuprofen, aspirin, or medicine that contains aspirin (for example, flu or cold remedies).

However, if you have been prescribed daily aspirin 75mg by a doctor for a specific medical condition you should continue take this.

You can eat and drink normally before and after your treatment.

Having ESWT

The treatment will be given in the orthopaedic outpatient department. The ESWT will be done by a trained clinician.

You will be asked to lie on your opposite side to the hip that is painful.

The clinician will put some gel on the painful area and then place the hand piece of the machine on the gel.

The ESWT is given using the hand piece. It delivers compressed air impulses through the gel.

Each treatment takes about 5 minutes but you should allow about 15 to 20 minutes for your appointment.

Pain

You will be asked how much pain you are in during the treatment, and we will adjust the treatment to help manage this. Any pain will stop at the end of your procedure.

After ESWT

You will be able to get up and walk away immediately after the treatment.

If you do have discomfort after the shockwave treatment you can take painkillers (such as paracetamol).

For 6 weeks after treatment you should not take NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines). This includes ibuprofen, aspirin, (excluding prescribed aspirin 75mg), or medicine that contains aspirin (for example, flu or cold remedies). You should also avoid ice therapy, as all of these can interfere with the body’s healing process.

Returning to usual activities

You can return to work and your usual activities immediately.

We advise you not to do any strenuous, pain-provoking activity or high impact exercise for 48 hours after the procedure.

Follow-up appointment

You will have a telephone appointment about 2 months after your final treatment. You will also receive a questionnaire at 3 and 12 months after your treatment, to assess the effectiveness of ESWT.

Further information

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced recommendations for patients on ESWT for greater trochanteric pain syndrome.