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CLEVELAND, Aug. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The awful reality is that drugs and prescription opioids have reached epidemic status in the United States, killing more Americans than car accidents. Nearly 250 billion opioid prescriptions for pain relief were written in 2013. A CDC study indicates that 1 in 6 working Americans have pain every day.
It's a vicious cycle; with long-term use, the body develops an opioid tolerance and people start taking stronger doses just to get the same pain relief effect. Taking stronger doses leads to the potential risk of addiction and overdose.
Even over-the-counter pain medications and NSAIDs like aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen can have potentially dangerous side effects like increased risk of heart attack or gastrointestinal issues. Moreover, over-the-counter pain medications aren't meant to treat chronic (long-lasting) pain. In the case of chronic pain from arthritis, people assume the pain medication will treat arthritis, making it better, but in reality it only helps temporarily relieve pain and discomfort.
More and more, Americans are becoming aware of the need for more effective, less harmful alternatives to opioids and over-the-counter pain medications.
Enter the laser.
The theoretical foundations of the laser were proposed by Albert Einstein in the early 1900s, but it wasn't until 1967 when Dr. Endre Mester first used low level laser for therapeutic purposes. Early on, it was noted that low powers of laser were beneficial in managing pain and accelerated the body's ability to recover. These low doses of light provided non-invasive, non-drug pain relief while reducing inflammation and promoting injury repair.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared low level laser therapy (LLLT) for a number of conditions, making it a validated alternative for people seeking pain relief without having surgery or taking drugs.
Over 400 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have been published, with over 4,000 laboratory studies of LLLT available on Pubmed.gov. Low level laser therapy has been proven to treat a wide range of medical conditions such as:
After five treatment sessions, his lower back pain subsided and he could move freely again. Since successfully relieving his back pain, he also received laser therapy treatment for knee pain which had prevented him from walking up the front steps to his house. With another five laser therapy sessions, he was completely pain-free.
"I've recommended it to many of my friends and I swear by it because it works," Lupia said. "I would be lost without laser therapy."
Treatment is easy. Just apply the laser over the painful area for 30 seconds to several minutes, depending on the condition being treated. The device can be held directly on the skin. Since the laser is low-powered, there is no risk of burns or overheating. A manual provides treatment directions, while a timer ensures the optimal treatment time.
Laser therapy has short-term and long-term effects. With even the first use, laser therapy can provide analgesic pain relief. The energy from the laser light fuels cellular activities that have become inefficient due to the injury. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or cell energy production is restored by removing nitric oxide (NO) from inside the mitochondria within our cells. This NO release improves blood flow, improving circulation and delivering oxygen to damaged tissues. Now, more energy and oxygen is available by the body to repair the damaged tissues.
More and more physicians are using laser therapy in their practices. Sol Cogan, DC, first saw the benefits of laser therapy as the team chiropractor for the Detroit Lions more than 15 years ago, and has been using laser in his practice ever since.
"Laser therapy is a great natural way to relieve pain and promote recovery," Dr. Cogan explained. "It's a great adjunct to our practice and we've seen great results in treating back pain, neck pain, and peripheral neuropathy with laser."
While many lasers are sold in the USA, only a select few like Multi Radiance Medical have received the FDA's NHN product classification, which designates Multi Radiance laser devices as non-thermal. This product classification is rare among laser manufacturers due to the very rigorous and expensive application process, which includes conducting and submitting clinical data to support the laser's claims of safety and effectiveness.
All lasers aren't alike – here's what to look for when shopping for your laser.
About Multi Radiance Medical Multi Radiance Medical is a leading developer and manufacturer of FDA-cleared super pulsed laser therapy technology used for the temporary relief of acute/chronic pain, muscle stiffness, arthritis, muscle spasms, neck and shoulder pain, and other conditions. This medical technology has been the equipment of choice for 90 professional and collegiate sports teams along with U.S. and Canadian National teams. Multi Radiance technology is supported by nearly 30 scientific studies for superior clinical efficacy and safety.
SOURCE Multi Radiance Medical
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It's a vicious cycle; with long-term use, the body develops an opioid tolerance and people start taking stronger doses just to get the same pain relief effect. Taking stronger doses leads to the potential risk of addiction and overdose.
Even over-the-counter pain medications and NSAIDs like aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen can have potentially dangerous side effects like increased risk of heart attack or gastrointestinal issues. Moreover, over-the-counter pain medications aren't meant to treat chronic (long-lasting) pain. In the case of chronic pain from arthritis, people assume the pain medication will treat arthritis, making it better, but in reality it only helps temporarily relieve pain and discomfort.
More and more, Americans are becoming aware of the need for more effective, less harmful alternatives to opioids and over-the-counter pain medications.
Enter the laser.
The theoretical foundations of the laser were proposed by Albert Einstein in the early 1900s, but it wasn't until 1967 when Dr. Endre Mester first used low level laser for therapeutic purposes. Early on, it was noted that low powers of laser were beneficial in managing pain and accelerated the body's ability to recover. These low doses of light provided non-invasive, non-drug pain relief while reducing inflammation and promoting injury repair.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared low level laser therapy (LLLT) for a number of conditions, making it a validated alternative for people seeking pain relief without having surgery or taking drugs.
Over 400 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have been published, with over 4,000 laboratory studies of LLLT available on Pubmed.gov. Low level laser therapy has been proven to treat a wide range of medical conditions such as:
- Muscle & joint pain
- Stiffness associated with arthritis
- Pain associated with muscle spasms
- Hand/Wrist pain
- Neck Pain
- Lower Back Pain
After five treatment sessions, his lower back pain subsided and he could move freely again. Since successfully relieving his back pain, he also received laser therapy treatment for knee pain which had prevented him from walking up the front steps to his house. With another five laser therapy sessions, he was completely pain-free.
"I've recommended it to many of my friends and I swear by it because it works," Lupia said. "I would be lost without laser therapy."
Treatment is easy. Just apply the laser over the painful area for 30 seconds to several minutes, depending on the condition being treated. The device can be held directly on the skin. Since the laser is low-powered, there is no risk of burns or overheating. A manual provides treatment directions, while a timer ensures the optimal treatment time.
Laser therapy has short-term and long-term effects. With even the first use, laser therapy can provide analgesic pain relief. The energy from the laser light fuels cellular activities that have become inefficient due to the injury. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or cell energy production is restored by removing nitric oxide (NO) from inside the mitochondria within our cells. This NO release improves blood flow, improving circulation and delivering oxygen to damaged tissues. Now, more energy and oxygen is available by the body to repair the damaged tissues.
More and more physicians are using laser therapy in their practices. Sol Cogan, DC, first saw the benefits of laser therapy as the team chiropractor for the Detroit Lions more than 15 years ago, and has been using laser in his practice ever since.
"Laser therapy is a great natural way to relieve pain and promote recovery," Dr. Cogan explained. "It's a great adjunct to our practice and we've seen great results in treating back pain, neck pain, and peripheral neuropathy with laser."
While many lasers are sold in the USA, only a select few like Multi Radiance Medical have received the FDA's NHN product classification, which designates Multi Radiance laser devices as non-thermal. This product classification is rare among laser manufacturers due to the very rigorous and expensive application process, which includes conducting and submitting clinical data to support the laser's claims of safety and effectiveness.
All lasers aren't alike – here's what to look for when shopping for your laser.
About Multi Radiance Medical Multi Radiance Medical is a leading developer and manufacturer of FDA-cleared super pulsed laser therapy technology used for the temporary relief of acute/chronic pain, muscle stiffness, arthritis, muscle spasms, neck and shoulder pain, and other conditions. This medical technology has been the equipment of choice for 90 professional and collegiate sports teams along with U.S. and Canadian National teams. Multi Radiance technology is supported by nearly 30 scientific studies for superior clinical efficacy and safety.
SOURCE Multi Radiance Medical
