Infrared laser therapy for chronic pain

By Patricia Delzell, M.D., Advanced Musculoskeletal Medicine Consultants, Inc.

There is increasing interest in using light therapy to treat many conditions, including skin ailments, chronic inflammation and pain, and for increased healing after surgery or injury.

Too many patients expect a quick fix and schedule their initial consultation in the spring, which is too late to see significant results by summer.

In the light spectrum, the type—or color—of the light determines its wavelength which dictates the depth it will penetrate the body. Therefore, blue light is optimal for superficial or skin lesions, as it does not penetrate the body deeply; infrared light for deep soft tissues; and red light for the tissues between the two.

Our in-office infrared laser helps in two ways. It works on the mitochondria (the cells’ power generators) which soak up the energy then generate more energy using it. It also activates the cascade that produces nitrous oxide, which opens blood vessels allowing more blood flow and healing mediators into the soft tissues. The combination of these two effects helps the cells repair themselves, promoting healing and healthier tissue.

However, laser light therapy is most effective only when applied at the actual source of the pain, which may not be where you are experiencing pain. For example, many of our patients complain of buttocks pain which is often caused by restricted muscles in the lower back. And with tarsal tunnel syndrome, a nerve entrapped in the ankle manifests itself as pain at the bottom of the foot.

Therefore, we combine infrared laser light therapy with ultrasound diagnosis to determine the precise location of the cause of your pain. In other words, unlike medical practices untrained in ultrasound diagnosis, we can reveal and treat the underlying problem as opposed to just where it hurts.

And because we are trained to know the optimal wavelength for your particular condition, you get a treatment specific to you and not a generic one.

Advanced Musculoskeletal Medicine Consultants is at 8398 Kinsman Road in Novelty, Ohio. To schedule a complimentary Chronic Pain Phone Consultation, call 440-557-5011. Visit AdvancedMMC.com for more information, including blogs and videos.