Laser decreases nerve sensitivity by decreasing a pain eliciting chemical called bradykinin. It normalizes ion channels and releases endorphins [body's natural pain reliever] and enkephalins [similar to endorphins] that produce an analgesic effect. It also has a pain-blocking effect on certain nerve fibers.
The answer is surprisingly YES! Laser therapy is relatively new, and an alternative treatment to some types of pain. Laser Therapy has been effective for treating several pain conditions like arthritis, carpal tunnel, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, herniated discs, sprains/strains and fibromyalgia and all other inflammatory conditions.
It can be used on patients who suffer from a variety of acute and chronic conditions in order to help eliminate pain, swelling, reduce spasms and increase functionality. Laser therapy can stimulate all cell types including muscle, ligament, cartilage, nerves, etc., so a number of conditions can be treated by laser therapy.
Some of conditions that may typically be treated by laser therapy include :
Arthritis pain
Back pain
Carpel tunner syndrome
Knee & Neck pain
Tendonitis
Fibromyalgia pain
Laser therapy is low-intensity laser therapy that stimulates healing while using low levels of light. These lasers come under Class IIIb medical devices. The technique is “cold” laser therapy because the low levels of light aren’t enough to heat the body’s tissue. Laser Therapy is used by the clinician and doctors to heal wounds and pain. The level of light is quite low as compared to other forms of laser therapy, such as those used to destroy tumors and coagulate tissue.
During this procedure, the non-thermal photons of light that are emitted from the laser pass through the skin layers (the dermis, epidermis, and the subcutaneous tissue or tissue fat under the skin). Different wavelengths and outputs of low-level light are applied directly to a targeted area. Once the light energy passes through the layers of skin and reaches the target area, The body tissue then absorbs the light. It initiates a series of events in the cell that result in healing damaged or injured tissue, promotes regeneration, reduction in pain & inflammation and an overall reduction in healing time by increasing intra-cellular metabolism.
The patient benefits and results of laser therapy have been significant. The greatest benefit of LLLT to the patient is that they experience immediate relief. Patients that undergo laser therapy are likely to heal 50%-60% faster and with recovery in their range of motion, strength and overall better functional movement. Although you’ll feel the laser device touching your skin, the procedure is painless and non-invasive. You will feel no vibration or heat. Each treatment takes only a few minutes
Faster Wound Healing
Aches & Pains
Anti-inflammatory
Reduced Fibrous Tissue Formation
Laser therapy, in general, is safe, effective and non-invasive to use. Laser therapy can be of value in the mitigation and elimination of many painful conditions. Unlike surgical lasers, cold lasers do not heat up the body’s tissues. It can be easily applied to patients and has relatively short treatment time, depending on the power output of the device, the wavelengths used and the size of the area to be treated. It may harm your eyes if you look directly into the laser, so you are asked to use protective eyewear. But there are no known, permanent or serious side effects from laser therapy treatment.
