The thought of using lasers to help reduce back pain seems like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. This isn’t fiction though, and many people have found pain relief through laser therapy. Every year an average of 65 million Americans suffer from back pain. Though back pain can sometimes be managed with proper rest, stretching and exercise, there are 16 million adults who’s chronic back pain causes limitations on basic everyday activities.
Luckily there are a few ways to manage back pain without resorting to invasive surgeries or pain pills that only hide the symptoms of pain and never get to the root cause of it. Chiropractic care, medical massages, spinal decompression therapy and acupuncture have shown to help many patients suffering from back pain get a handle on their condition.
Today we’re going to go over what causes back pain and how laser therapy can be beneficial for patients who have to endure back pain.
What Causes Back Pain?
As previously stated, there are millions of Americans affected by back pain making it a relatively common condition. This means there are many causes of both acute and chronic back pain, including:
- Herniated/Bulging Disc
- Fibromyalgia
- Muscle Strains/Sprain
- Injury
- Poor Posture
- Lifestyle Choices
- Aging
Many people ignore back pain assuming it was caused by sleeping awkwardly and don’t do anything about it. Oftentimes it’s not really a cause for concern, but why take the risk? If left ignored, even a minor pain can develop into debilitating chronic back pain.
What is Laser Therapy?
As futuristic sounding as it is, lasers are being used to help patients manage their back pain. This new therapy is now offered at SOHMA Integrative Medicine of Long Beach. We use Erchonia’s FX 635 laser which has resulted in a 72% success rate in their clinical trial. In May of 2018 the FDA cleared this medical device for use in helping patience reduce pain and accelerate the natural healing abilities of the body.
When treated with laser therapy, the skin is exposed to light particles. Which are absorbed by the cell’s mitochondria triggering the production of a natural occurring chemical called adenosine triphosphate. Adenosine triphosphate is in charge of fueling the body’s cellular processes. By increasing production of adenosine triphosphate the body’s blood circulation may improve and speed up our natural healing abilities. The cells exposed to the lasers remain unharmed throughout the therapy, and return to their normal processes afterwards.
While a new form of alternative pain relief, laser therapy is considered a viable treatment option for people who are looking to manage their back pain while avoiding drugs and surgeries.
Why Choose Laser Therapy?
The majority of health experts would agree that non-invasive treatments are often preferable to surgery whenever available. Other common forms of pain management includes over-the- counter NSAIDs like aspirin or ibuprofen which only reduce pain temporarily, and come with their own side effects. While prescribed painkillers can significantly reduce pain, many of them have a high addiction risk.
Laser therapy can provide effective pain relief at an affordable cost, without the risks involved with surgeries and pharmaceuticals. Typical side effects include soreness or swelling which lasts for only a few hours, and in rare cases some patients report some bruising which fades away after a few days. Compared to surgeries which can take months to recover from laser therapy effectively has no down time.
Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine
Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health.
Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.
We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.