The last few years have seen alternative pain therapy become the standard as more and more patients turn to non-pharmacologic and non-surgical methods for easing their chronic pain. New therapies, though, of which cold laser therapy has proven particularly popular with patients because it can treat pain and inflammation without the use of medication or surgery. So what is cold laser therapy, exactly, and how does it compare to current pain management methods?

Understanding Cold Laser Therapy

Cold laser therapy or low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is the use of very specific wavelengths of light that are applied directly to damaged tissue and interact with it. Cold lasers are in contrast to high-power lasers used for burning and cutting tissue during surgery. Cold lasers are non-heat and are not high power. This harmless mode provokes cellular healing responses, which enhance tissue repair and anti-inflammatory reduction.

The therapy consists of the laser device being placed directly over the area of concern for several minutes. The light is placed inside cells in the skin, producing physiological effects. The effects are reported to enhance circulation, decrease swelling, and enhance the creation of ATP, the fuel of the cell. The treated area can be more at ease and recover more quickly.

Applications of Cold Laser Therapy

Cold laser therapy is utilized for healing diseases that are most frequently used for pain and inflammation relief. Frequent uses of cold laser therapy are:

Arthritis: Osteoarthritis patients and rheumatoid arthritis patients use cold laser therapy most frequently in order to get relief from pain and stiffness in the joints.

Tendonitis: It is used by frequent sports players and health consumers for relief from overuse injury.

Back and neck pain: Cold laser therapy has proven to reduce acute and chronic pain of the back.

Carpal tunnel syndrome: It has been able to reduce signs and symptoms such as numbness and tingling by reducing inflammation around the median nerve.

Soft tissue injury: Strains, sprains, and muscle strains all heal faster through the use of cold lasers.

Wound healing: It is also used in some clinics for ulcer healing and surgical wounds.

Because of its non-invasive application and low side effects, cold laser therapy has gained a solid place in the majority of pain clinic management as an additive to more conventional treatments.

Cold Laser Therapy in Pain Management

Effective pain relief is often a complex method, particularly in the case of chronic or recalcitrant problems. Cold laser treatment is not a magic pill, but it may perhaps be a significant component of effective pain relief therapy.

Cold laser therapy may be provided by pain clinics as an adjunct to physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, or medication management. Patients are generally more responsive to the combination of therapies than to a sole intervention. Cold laser therapy's capacity to promote tissue repair and modulate inflammation has rendered it a valuable adjunct to integrative pain management programs.

There is a second significant benefit in that cold laser treatment may be repeated numerous times with minimal risk. In contrast to medication, which continues to accumulate side effects, or surgery with recovery, including possible side effects, cold laser treatment is safe. That is extremely desirable to patients who wish to end being opioid- or other drug-dependent.

What to Expect During a Session

When you are thinking of cold laser treatment from a pain center, it is natural to wonder how it will feel. A typical session is nice and not too lengthy.

The condition is then analyzed by the therapist and the areas to be treated are ascertained. You recline on the bed or sit, and the laser device is moved over or hovered a few millimeters above your skin. The treatment lasts 5 to 20 minutes based on the area where the to-be-treated site is located and the severity of the case.

Most people feel nothing. Some feel heat or tingling but no pain whatsoever. You are usually fine to go on as usual immediately with no requirement for days off work recovering from it.

For the best results, a number of sessions are usually prescribed. Your therapist will be in a position to design a treatment course which is appropriate for you, and this can be a number of sessions a week to start, decreasing as your condition heals.

Is Cold Laser Therapy Right for You?

Cold laser therapy is an excellent option for most patients, but not all. Some diseases such as tumors of cancer, pregnancy, or thyroid disorders may rule out the patient for laser therapy. It would be reasonable to see an established medical doctor who will review your medical history and determine if cold laser therapy is for you.

It does make a difference to find a good ethical pain clinic. Select practitioners who will provide full-range pain management services and who can describe what cold laser treatment does and doesn't do.

Conclusion

Cold laser treatment is a fascinating new area of non-surgical pain management. With its ability to suppress pain, speed up the healing process, and provide pain relief without the need for drugs or surgery, it provides new hope for millions of people who suffer from chronic pain. If patients stick to the recommendations of an educated pain clinic and collaborate closely with them, they may be able to determine if this new therapy is the best addition to their pain management treatment.