If you’re one of the 31 million Americans experience back pain, you’re not alone. According to a recent market research report, more than 1.5 billion people across the globe suffer from chronic pain, and this pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. Thankfully, new treatments are available for the truly persistent pains that plague. One of the most fascinating procedures involves medical lasers.
Yes, a “medical laser” sounds like something out of a science fiction show about doctors in space. But you don’t have to go to a galaxy far, far away for this procedure; medical lasers are real and tangible right here and now. Here’s what you need to know about this modern marvel:
First things first, what is a laser? Laser actually stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.” Think about it as a highly focused beam of radiation, used to encourage specific cell growth. Many of the medical laser processes use a class IV laser, which has an output power of more than 500 mW. Without the proper protection, these lasers have the potential to be very dangerous. But in the right hands, they can achieve things that normal surgery and external procedures could not.
These high power laser therapy devices can be used to target specific parts of the body and stimulate the growth of healing cells. When using laser therapy for pain management, the laser therapy device is non-invasive, but does take a certain number of routine procedures to achieve results. Depending on the severity and persistence of your pain, laser therapy can take anywhere from eight to 30 treatments.
The best way to find out if laser therapy is right for you is to do your research. Consult with any local specialists who use medical lasers, and find out if it could be the extra zap your pain needs.