By Dr. Steven Warfield
When it comes to relieving back aches, muscle aches,
or discomfort of most kinds, most people reach for a pill. While pain relievers, either over-the-counter
or prescription are one way to ameli
orate pain, they aren’t the only or even
the best solution.
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| Pain Research & Management (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Laser therapy sounds
scary, but it is anything but. Unlike
industrial lasers that use laser light to cut, therapeutic lasers work by
delivering deep penetrating light energy that is absolutely painless. In fact most patients report that laser light
actually feels good, as it imparts a pleasant feeling of warmth. The way that therapeutic lasers work is by
using light to stimulate change at the cellular level. Cells soak up laser
light energy and convert it to cellular energy, which leads to regeneration,
tissue repair, and reduced scar formation. Laser treatment can be used to accelerate recovery and
potentially enhance the benefits of other treatments.
The number of
therapeutic laser sessions depends upon several factors, including whether it
is being used as a stand-alone treatment, or whether it is being used in
combination with other therapies. As far
as effectiveness, many patients notice a reduction in pain within a couple of
treatments, while others may take up to 6 treatments before they begin to feel
immediate relief. And unlike
pharmaceuticals, there are no adverse side effects from laser therapy.
Laser therapy can be used to treat the following
conditions:
- Neck and Back pain
- Shoulder/Rotator cuff injuries
- Elbow tendonitis
- Wrist and hand conditions
- Arthritis or overuse
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Knee pain
- Shin Splints
- Sprains, strains and muscle tears
- Achilles Tendon injuries
- Plantar fasciitis/heel pain
(Below is a video
that shows a therapeutic laser in action.)
Electrotherapy and Ultrasound
Electrotherapy is the application of
micro-electrical current to the
body for therapeutic purposes. This also
sounds a bit intimidating at first glance, but electrotherapy is simply the use
of several electronic devices that can prevent muscle atrophy and spasms,
increase or maintain range of motion, and alleviate pain.
EMS
gently and safely contracts and relaxes muscles to soothe and help them recover
from injury, fatigue and/or soreness.
EMS units work by sending weak electrical impulses that stimulate
targeted muscle groups.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound
uses high-energy sound waves that are designed to treat soft tissue. Ultrasound is
applied using a transducer or applicator that is in direct contact with the
patient's skin. Gel is used on all surfaces of the head to reduce friction and
assist transmission of the ultrasonic waves. The three
primary benefits to ultrasound are:
- A speeding up of the healing process from the increase in blood flow in the treated area.
- The second is the decrease in pain from the reduction of swelling and edema.
- The third is the gentle massage of muscles tendons and/ or ligaments in the treated area because no strain is added and any scar tissue is softened.
Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractors routinely treat chronic
pain by using a variety of non-surgical treatments, such as spinal
manipulation, to address chronic pain symptoms, such as inflammation and muscle
tension. This is accomplished by hand or
by instrument to improve the range of motion in the areas used. Chiropractors
are dedicated to the non-surgical treatment of disorders of the nervous system
and/or musculoskeletal system. When it
comes to pain management, they typically
focus on, but are not limited to, care of:
- Mid and lower back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Joint pain in the arms and legs
- Foot, ankle and knee pain
- Carpal tunnel
- Bulging or Herniated discs
- Disc degeneration
- Headaches
In Conclusion
Before you reach for that bottle of pills, remember
that masking the pain and truly alleviating pain are two different things. If you or someone you know are experiencing
chronic discomfort, contact a health professional that specializes in helping
patients achieve long term, pill-free pain relief.
Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments
for back pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also
treat auto accident victims with state-of-the-art technologies. If
you or anyone you know suffers from herniated discs, degenerative discs or
spinal stenosis, visit http://endyourpain.org
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Any method that helps relieve pain without pills is always a plus for me. My line of work requires me to squeeze into tight spaces on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteWho knew that chiropractic had gone hi-tech? I especially liked the therapeutic laser video.
ReplyDelete