People who undergo surgery have a high rate of developing chronic pain. In fact, up to one-third of patients will experience long-lasting chronic pain after surgery. It is important for orthopedic surgeons to be aware of this and provide appropriate treatment during the recovery process, preferably without the use of opioid pain killers.
Neuropathic pain, sciatica, and knee pain are three of the most common sources of postoperative discomfort that can be treated without opioids. For these patients, laser therapy is proving to be effective, non-opioid pain relief.
Low-Level Laser Therapy
This process is sometimes referred to as photobiomodulation, and it is rapidly becoming one of the most popular technologies used for treating a great many conditions. In this kind of therapy, a laser light source is placed near the skin, which permits photons to penetrate the tissue. This causes a number of physiological changes to take place, the most important of which is an increase in metabolism and a simultaneous reduction in pain or inflammation.
Deep Tissue Laser Therapy
Because laser therapy is non-invasive in nature, it’s an ideal alternative to surgery or medications, and it can be used to treat both chronic and acute conditions. Deep tissue laser therapy stimulates tissues so as to accelerate healing and regeneration, and it also reduces inflammation to help restore normal cellular function. This kind of laser therapy is often used to treat sciatica, knee pain, neuropathic discomfort, foot and ankle conditions, tendinitis, sports sprains and strains, disc problems, neck and shoulder pain, and low back pain.
Benefits of using laser therapy
One of the best things about using laser therapy for the treatment of pain and inflammation is that there are no accompanying side effects produced by the process. A number of studies have been conducted and found that there is virtually no risk associated with using laser therapy, and instead, patients can expect to enjoy long-lasting pain relief.
Being extremely versatile in nature, laser therapy can be customized to adapt to any kind of pain or discomfort that a patient might be experiencing. That means it can be adjusted in some way to accommodate the needs of virtually any patient who is bothered by inflammation or pain.
Treatment sessions involving laser therapy require only five to 10 minutes from beginning to end. In many cases, patients will experience immediate relief, while for others it may take two or three sessions for noticeable relief to occur. Almost everyone will enjoy long-lasting effects from laser therapy after having undergone at least three sessions of treatment. In addition to the fast-acting nature of laser therapy, it’s a very comfortable process for the subject. Many people report feeling a warm, gentle feeling when being treated with laser therapy, and this soothing aspect generally carries with it the additional prospect of immediate pain relief.
If you are someone who has been troubled with knee pain, sciatica, or neuropathic discomfort for quite a while, laser therapy can probably provide you with significant relief. Contact the professionals at OrthoLazer, where the most advanced laser systems in the world are currently being used to treat patients. The FDA has approved their approach for the treatment of pain and inflammation, so you can count on receiving effective treatment.
OrthoLazer Orthopedic Laser Centers offer patients and their doctors an innovative and effective alternative pain management option to treat acute and chronic orthopedic conditions. Founded by Dr. Scott Sigman – the original opioid-sparing surgeon – OrthoLazer Centers further his mission of providing his patients non-operative and non-opioid treatment options. If you’d like more information about OrthoLazer, please visit our website at ortholazer.com.
