Initial caution… then Good News.
The medical community has been cautious about treating erectile dysfunction caused by radical prostatectomy for understandable reasons. The nerve that runs through the prostate gland is delicate and easily damaged by the surgery and further disturbance by low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LI-ESWT) – SONICWAVE as we term it – could potentially cause further damage. Therefore we began by recommending that we delay SONICWAVE treatment for at least a year after the surgery.
Three clinical trials (see links below) run over the last few years have shown there is no reason to delay treatment. Early treatment gives better results. SONICWAVE therapy promotes nerve regeneration along with improved sexual function.
Prostate treatments that don’t involve surgery respond more quickly to SONICWAVE and improvements are experienced in 6 – 8 weeks. After a radical prostatectomy, as long as the nerve has been largely preserved, the improvements can take longer.
What is the Best Timing for SONICWAVE Treatment?
There is no harm in starting treatment right after the prostate surgery. We suggest waiting until you have recovered from discomfort and are able to exercise normally.
The best results are obtained when SONICWAVE treatments are started within one year of the surgery. Erectile tissues degrade without periodic tumescence (half erection). In other words it is beneficial to regain at least some erectile function within months of prostate surgery.
What About Clinical Studies?
Our first hand experiences with patients provide the confidence for us to recommend SONICWAVE to treat erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy. Additionally, here are clinical studies that explore efficacy:
If You Have Had Prostate Surgery and suffering from Erectile Dysfunction Book an Appointment with One of our Physicians
