Laser Therapy Solutions

Laser Therapy for Pain Relief: How It Works and What to Expect

Laser therapy offers an alternative to traditional healthcare by kick starting the body's natural healing process with lasers.

How Does Laser Therapy Work?

Laser therapy is a type of alternative medicine that uses the amplification of light by stimulated radiation emission. The purpose of this therapy is to use the laser's energy to target inflammation.

It uses trillions of photons in specific wavelengths of light to penetrate tissue deeply and stimulate cellular activity. Light therapy may result in decreased inflammation, pain, and muscle spasms. It also promotes tissue healing by increasing blood flow and the production of new collagen.

Collagen is essential because it is the main structural protein in animal connective tissues. It is also the most abundant protein in the human body, making up about a quarter of the total protein content.

Collagen has many essential functions, including providing structural support for tissues, organs, and the entire body. It also plays a role in wound healing, and it is the most abundant protein in the human body.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given 510(k) clearance to FX 635 laser therapy (PDF link) for relief from nociceptive musculoskeletal pain. 510(k) clearance is required for medical devices to receive FDA approval.

Some types of laser light therapy include photon light therapy, cold laser therapy, and others. The treatment you will receive varies based on what your provider offers.

Call 208-991-2684 to learn more about our chiropractic laser therapy treatment options.

What Are the Benefits of Laser Therapy?

The benefits of laser treatments include treating:

Reduce the appearance of soft wrinkles, scars, burns, or blemishes
Acne
Destruction of polyps, some types of tumors, and precancerous growths
Improve your vision
Remove warts, birthmarks, sun spots, or moles
Treat hair loss from aging or alopecia
Treating back nerve pain
Seal blood vessels to prevent blood loss
Treat inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis
Can treat chronic headaches, migraines, and similar problems
Reduces inflammation deep in muscles and ligaments

If you are a patient that suffers from nasal polyps, you may have an alternative option to surgery. Instead of dealing with anesthesia, bleeding post-surgery, and other potential risks, laser therapy can help. It does this by shrinking or destroying tumors. You can sometimes treat conditions like basal cell skin cancer when used alongside other treatments. However, you will likely only see results during the early stages of cancer.

The laser therapy procedures you get will depict the symptoms you will find relief from.

Tissue repair is a process that occurs in the body when cells are damaged and need to be replaced. This can happen due to injury, disease, or aging. Laser light treatments can kick-start healing by reducing inflammation in your body's tissues. Research is currently testing whether low-level laser light therapy can treat cognitive disorders like Alzheimer's. Researchers are also testing whether this therapy can help with breast cancer.

What Are the Risks of Laser Therapy?

Side effects of laser therapy treatment can include temporary redness, swelling, and blistering of the treated skin. More severe side effects are rare but can consist of permanent changes in skin color, scarring, and burning. In some scenarios, you may have this procedure done under general anesthesia. This comes with its own risks, such as strokes and heart attacks.

Some laser therapy produces low levels of radiation. However, evidence suggests this level of emission may not cause skin cancer.

How Long Does Laser Therapy Take?

The time duration of laser treatment is determined by the condition being treated. For example, treating acne may only take a few minutes, while treating a more serious disease like cancer may take several hours.

How Many Laser Therapy Sessions Are Needed?

The severity of your condition determines the number of laser therapy sessions you will need. You may only need a few sessions if you need treatment for a mild ailment. You may require up to 20 sessions for more severe wounds and conditions. Thus, your specialist may recommend visiting on a regular basis.

What Can I Expect During Laser Therapy?

During a laser therapy session, the specialist will apply various wavelengths of light to your body's surface. From there, your body tissue will absorb this light. Damaged cells will absorb this light and promote your body's regeneration.

Your specialist will recommend a follow-up appointment if needed. And they will devise a treatment plan to speed up the recovery time of your therapy. Some tools they will tell you to use include using ice packs, ointments, and over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

What Should I Avoid After Laser Therapy?

After laser therapy, you should avoid sun exposure (or UV lights) for at least 24 hours. You will also want to apply any prescription creams as your doctor or specialist recommends.

Avoiding body scrubs, tanning lotions, and fragrances like perfume will also serve your best interest. The chemicals or textures of these products can irritate your skin and cause discomfort.

You may experience some redness, swelling, and tenderness at the treatment site, but this is usually temporary.

Laser therapy offers alternative solutions to eye, skin damage, muscle, and other injuries. The lasers' power reduces inflammation and improves your body's recovery.

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