Low Level Laser Therapy for Pain

Musculoskeletal Pain/Low Back Pain

Patients will often experience pain in a joint, ligament, tendon, or muscle somewhere in their body and it can restrict their range of motion, flexibility, and ability to sleep. The restriction and pain are often due to inflammation that causes heat, swelling, neurologic pain, and pain referral patterns. Injury can be acute or chronic, and can happen traumatically (such as falling) or repetitively (such as sitting long hours for work and not moving much throughout). Regardless of the mechanism, injury to the tissue occurs.

In the first stages of our body’s awareness of pain, there is inflammation and swelling, and our immune system greatly increases circulation to the affected area. The swelling is used to stimulate collagen regeneration and to heal the extracellular matrix (the attachment of cells to each other, allowing them to communicate). At the second stage of healing (the proliferative stage; a growth phase where collagen rapidly repairs, neovascularization occurs, and tissue cells reproduce and knit together), LLLT not only stimulates the collagen regeneration, but has also shown to improve the quality of the collagen that is produced at that time.

The photobiomodulation mode of action, is the wavelengths of light the low level laser produces, and will directly affect the amount of energy the mitochondria of the cell makes. More energy produced by the laser means the cell zooms around faster, like giving sugar to a toddler!

The Erchonia laser received an FDA Clearance for Nociceptive Musculoskeletal Pain (K190572) in June 2019, making it a great part of recovery for both athletes and daily warriors, seeking to live healthier lives. Low back pain (K180197) was one of the other clearances for Erchonia, in 2018. We know today that 8 out of 10 Americans will suffer from low back pain in their lifetime, making it crucial for cutting edge technology and continued research.

Foot and Ankle Pain

Patients with pain in the ankle or foot can experience trouble walking, limping, swelling in the foot or lower leg, numbness, and even tingling. Walking is one of our most essential tasks that we do in our daily life, and it can make maintaining your lifestyle difficult (not to mention, limit the ability to exercise).

By using our Erchonia FX405 laser, we are using photobiomodulation, a term used to describe what happens to the living tissue when it is hit with a low level laser (red or near infrared wavelengths to affect living tissues or modulate it). This causes healing of the cells and tissues, and reduces the inflammation found there. One of the first FDA clearances for the Erchonia laser was their plantar fasciitis research. It was done on individuals who had sharp pain under the heel that was worse in the morning, within their first few steps out of bed. We are excited by the wonderful results of the laser for plantar fasciitis, since it plagues about 10% of Americans every year.

Tissue healing is difficult in the foot, especially as it is farther away from the heart and takes more time for blood flow to reach it. By working with podiatrists as part of the treatment plan, (and even necessary surgical procedures, performed on bunions, heel spurs, hammer toes, and plantar fasciitis) we can get better results by including Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) as part of the treatment, both before and after the surgery. This can reduce the inflammation and the possibility of infection, with the 405 nm of light wavelength (which is antimicrobial and antibacterial).

Lung Protocol for Post Viral Healing (ex. Covid)/Reactive Airway Disease (RADs)

Patients may find that after getting over a viral cold or flu, they cannot get rid of the lingering cough, shortness of breath, and sometimes the achy and lethargic feelings. Because of the inflammatory nature of cytokines that some cold and flus will trigger in the body, it may struggle for a while to rid itself of the virus, and knock back the storm of inflammation.

COVID-19 provided an opportunity to study many different treatments related to patient care and symptoms that linger after the virus is no longer contagious. Clinical trials using Low Level Laser Therapy on patients post viral syndrome (brain fog and reactive airway disease) are showing really promising results.

By using our Erchonia FX405 laser, we are using photobiomodulation, a term used to describe what happens to the living tissue when it is hit with a low level laser (red or near infrared wavelengths to affect living tissues or modulate it); this causes healing of the cells and tissues, and reduces the inflammation found there. The FX405 laser was selected by our clinic for its 635 nm of light wavelength and 405 nm of light wavelength, as these were in research the best wavelengths for depth of penetration and maximum effect on the body tissue, in clinical trials. Both wavelengths of light have slightly different benefits and they will be selected by a doctor based on the condition.

The laser is able to trigger the body’s natural cells to respond to the cytokine storm, modulating a calming effect and reducing inflammation. We do recommend a supplement protocol and if necessary, a pharmaceutical approach to accompany the laser treatment.

Brain Injury and Neurodegeneration/Post Concussive Syndrome

Patients will often experience brain fog, trouble focusing, mood changes, difficulty sleeping, head and neck pain, as well as eye strain while using devices or watching TV. When there is injury to the brain, a type of cell death occurs in that area and while cells are recycled all the time, it is important that they get replaced by neurogenesis. Both injury and neurodegeneration will slow this process down, affecting brain functioning.

By using our Erchonia FX405 laser, we are using photobiomodulation, a term used to describe what happens to the living tissue when it is hit with a low level laser (red or near infrared wavelengths to affect living tissues or modulate it); this causes healing of the cells and tissues, and reduces the inflammation found there. The photobiomodulation mode of action, is the wavelengths of light the low level laser produces, and will directly affect the amount of energy the mitochondria of the cell makes. More energy produced by the laser means the cell zooms around faster, it’s like giving sugar to a toddler!

The FX405 laser was selected by our clinic for its 635 nm of light wavelength and 405 nm of light wavelength, as these were in research the best wavelengths for depth of penetration and maximum effect on the brain, in clinical trials. Both wavelengths of light have slightly different benefits and they will be selected by a doctor based on the condition.

We recommend for all of our laser treatments a supplement protocol, to aid in reduction of inflammation, whether it is traumatic brain injury like a concussion, mild cognitive decline with age, or chronic headaches.

Erchonia Fx 405 has FDA clearances for multiple areas of the body, by doing Tier 1 studies.

List of areas which have shown significant improvement with treatment:

• Chronic Neck and Shoulder Pain ( K012580) 2002
• Pain associated with Surgery Post Surgical Care (K072206) 2008
• Tendon and Ligament Injuries
• Musculoskeletal Pain (K190572) 2019
• Plantar Fasciitis (K132940)
• Low Back Pain (K190572) 2019

Laser Treatment Options

• Individual Laser Treatments: $100
• The Acute/Long Term Pain Plan: $800 (2 treatments a week for 4-5 weeks)
  ** Includes 8 treatments, plus 2 bonus treatments
• The “Try and See” Plan:  $360 (4 treatments, 2x per week)