Are you suffering from chronic pain with little relief? Do you have an injury from which you have never fully recovered? Have you tried several methods to manage your pain without success? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Low Level Laser Therapy may be the solution for your pain. Low Level Laser Therapy is an alternative method to treat a wide range of painful conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, repetitive stress injuries, back pain, sports injuries and more. Low Level Laser Therapy is FDA approved, non-invasive, non-toxic, easily applied and highly effective for the restoration of injured tissue to normal function, thereby relieving painful symptoms.
Many adults have suffered injuries requiring surgery, only to be left with residual pain after the damage has been “repaired.” The usual treatments for pain are over-the-counter painkillers (i.e. ibuprofen, Tylenol), NSAIDS (i.e. anti-inflammatory), prescription narcotics and corticosteroids. These medications treat only symptoms and not the cause, often producing unwanted side effects. Long term use of prescription painkillers can be quite costly, both physically and financially. I use alternative ways of addressing pain, such as Low Level Laser Therapy, homeopathic injections and oral supplements. These methods may be used in place of prescription pain medication or invasive procedures, such as surgery.
Low Level Laser Therapy heals at the cellular level without harmful side effects. It uses red and infrared light from low intensity laser diodes. The tissue of the affected area absorbs the light and allows the injured cells to begin their healing process. The light source is placed in direct contact with the skin allowing the photon energy or “healing light” to penetrate tissue, where it interacts with molecules inside the cell. This results in decreased inflammation, normal cell function, and enhancement of the body’s healing process. Other effects of Low Level Laser Therapy include the release of endorphins (your body’s own painkillers), increase in the immune response, and improved lymphatic drainage. Together these processes allow the cells to heal. This type of therapy has been very effective in eliminating or reducing acute and chronic pain issues. It can be used alone or in conjunction with other traditional treatments (physical therapy, mas sage therapy, surgery, etc.). I also use enzyme based anti-inflammatory and cellular repair supplements to aid the healing process.
The number of treatments vary with each person depending on the individual’s healing process. Some patients require only a few treatments while others may need up to 30 or more. The elimination of pain is a good indicator that the injury is healing and treatment can be discontinued. The long term benefits of this therapy will continue after treatment has stopped.
Low Level Laser Therapy operates at intensities too low to damage living tissue, unlike high intensity medical lasers used to thermally cut and coagulate tissue. Low Level Laser Therapy does produce radiation, as photon energy, in the visible and near infra-red regions of the electromagnetic light spectrum. Worldwide research, conducted over the past thirty years, indicates that normally cells are not adversely affected by this type of radiation (“healing light”). Forms of ionizing radiation, such as x-ray, ultra violet light, etc., can harm your body. However, Low Level Laser Therapy uses light to heal, similar to how plants use light to live and grow. No adverse side effects or negative impacts have been reported by practitioners or researchers.
No one should have to live with pain. If you have been suffering from pain that has not been relieved by other treatments, please contact my staff at Preventive Medicine.
Dr. Varsha Rathod is a Board Certified Rheumatologist and Internist at Preventive Medicine in the Westport Plaza area of St. louis, MO. The Practice has focused on a combination of traditional and holistic medicine since 1967.
For more articles and information about alternative solutions, please visit www.preventivemedicinestl.com