Cold Laser Therapy: Here’s A Treatment That Gets Rid of Pain Without Surgery or Meds.
Performing daily tasks like holding a computer mouse and bending down to tie your shoes have been painful lately.
As people age, their injuries and chronic pain tend to increase. The body’s natural healing processes start to slow down.
Aging bodies could use some help healing.
That’s what cold laser therapy, a non-invasive treatment, can provide.
1. What Is Cold Laser Therapy?
Cold laser therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy, is an FDA-approved treatment for many conditions.
A painless, non-surgical treatment, cold laser therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate and speed up the body’s natural healing process.
The laser is “cold” because the low-level light is not strong enough to heat tissue.
2. What Conditions Does it Treat?
Cold laser therapy can lessen or eliminate pain and inflammation and speed up healing in soft tissue.
Conditions it treats include:
- carpel tunnel syndrome
- bursitis
- tendonitis
- tennis elbow
- neck pain
- lower back pain
- ligament sprains
- muscle strains
- pain caused by muscle spasms
2. How does it work?
In any injury site, the body’s natural healing process involves making repairs and removing waste products.
It may help to imagine your body as a piece of property with buildings.
These buildings are destroyed in a storm, and construction workers are now removing the scrap material before rebuilding.
That’s what laser therapy does. It adds workers to the injury site to speed up the healing process.
It also helps increase blood flow, reduces scar tissue, decreases inflammation, and increases cellular growth.
3. What is a treatment session like?
Cold laser therapy is a painless and non-invasive outpatient treatment.
Patients feel the laser device touching their skin, and most patients report a slightly warm sensation. The treatment lasts around 5 to 10 minutes.
4. How long does it take to relieve pain?
Many patients report feeling some relief after the first session. Usually, 6 to 12 treatment sessions spread out over one month will solve most issues.
5. What Are the Overall Benefits?
Cold laser therapy can stimulate the healing process and improve the body’s response to pain. It’s a proven alternative to invasive treatments and pain medication.
Cold Laser Therapy in Dallas, Houston, and other Texas locations.
At Texas Pain Physicians, we can work with you to develop a non-invasive treatment plan that gets you feeling better without pain meds.
Cold laser therapy is one of our non-invasive, out-patient therapies for injuries and pain.
Give us a call at (972) 636-5727 or schedule an appointment online today!
Who Else Wants To Live Without Chronic Pain?
Life hurts.
Stepping out into the bright sunlight after a three-hour movie hurts. Stubbing your toe really hurts.
But living with chronic pain always hurts.
Why not give yourself some pain protection by taking a few simple steps to avoid chronic pain?
Exercise the Mind-Body Connection
Research suggests pain involves the body and the mind. These techniques can help you override the pain signals:
Activate the Relaxation Response.
- Sit in a comfortable position in a quiet space and close your eyes. Take deep “belly breaths” by inhaling deeply so that your belly sticks out as far as possible. Hold each breath for a few seconds, then exhale.
- Concentrate on your deep breathing. When thoughts interrupt, think of or whisper a word or phrase to regain focus (like ‘cool breeze,’ ‘calm,’ etc.). Do this for 10 to 20 minutes. Lastly, sit quietly for a minute or two, open your eyes and sit quietly for another minute.
Activate Mindfulness.
- Total focus on an everyday activity you enjoy, such as cooking, reading, playing an instrument, gardening, or writing. Focus on what you are doing and the ways your emotions and senses are reacting to it.
Do Mind-Body Exercises.
- Tai Chi and Yoga incorporate breath control, stretching, and muscle-building.
Stay Positive.
- When we are depressed or sick, it’s easy to focus on what we don’t have or how we want things. Focusing on what you do have can help you stay positive. Try keeping a daily journal where you record positive thoughts.
Eat to Reduce Inflammation
You eat every day. Why not make your diet help you fight pain? Try adding some of these antioxidant, inflammation-reducing superfoods into your diet:
- blueberries
- raw vegetables: spinach, broccoli, beets, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower
- green tea
- dark chocolate
- salmon
- ginger
- turmeric
Diets low in refined carbohydrates such as the Mediterranean or Vegan diets can help you lose weight and reduce inflammation and pain.
Get Treatment for Depression and Anxiety
Please see a qualified mental health professional as soon as possible if you think you have depression.
Your risks of developing chronic pain syndrome or worsening your chronic pain are higher when you are depressed and anxious.
Hire A Physical Therapist
Physical therapists are body-movement experts who can help you avoid chronic pain by exercising.
They help you achieve your body goals, whether you need to rehab an injury, get in shape, or learn to exercise more effectively.
Texas Pain Physicians: Expert Chronic Pain Treatment
Almost everyone experiences chronic pain at some point. Our board-certified pain management doctors are experts in treating and managing chronic pain.
Take a step toward being chronic pain-free by giving us a call at (972) 636-5727 or booking an appointment online today!
Still Active Over Age 40? 5 Tips to Prevent Injuries and Chronic Pain
As you age, you suffer more injuries, aches, and pains. Staying active helps keep your body strong and injury-free. But if you don’t take steps to do it safely, it can also be a source of injuries and pain.
Below are some tips for avoiding common injuries and chronic pain in five vulnerable areas of the body.
1. Lower Back
Potential Injury: Running, jumping, falling, lifting, crouching, and other physical demands of sports can easily overextend the spine and injure the lower back. Exercises that strengthen the core can prevent lower back pain.
Sitting too much can decondition the abdominal and gluteal muscles, putting added pressure on the spinal column.
Prevention: Carefully performed yoga and abdominal exercises can build up the abs and strengthen the lower back.
Before playing sports, do stretches such as the child’s pose, knee-to-chest, and piriformis to loosen the lower back. Stretching the lower back helps prevent strain.
2. Kneecap (meniscus)
Potential injury: As people age, injured and achy knees resulting from wear and tear on the meniscus, the main ligament in the knee located under the kneecap, is more common.
Age-related tissue degeneration, such as cartilage breakdown resulting from fluid loss, increases the risk of meniscus strains and tears.
Prevention: Weight-bearing exercises using technically-sound exercise form strengthens the knee area and decrease the risk of injury.
3. Rotator Cuff
Potential injury: The most injury-prone area in the shoulder is the group of muscles and tendons known as the rotator cuff.
Rotator cuff tendonitis is common. It occurs when the muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff become inflamed from overuse.
Though not as common, rotator cuff tears are more severe injuries than tendonitis and may require surgery to repair.
Prevention: Stretching exercises with and without resistance bands help to add flexibility and strength. Weight-bearing exercises build muscle but also come with injury risk.
Practicing correct form and having sufficient recovery time between training sessions lowers injury risk.
4. Hamstring
Potential injury: The dreaded pulled and torn hamstring. Aging weekend and seasonal athletes know all about it.
Preventing it: Taking time to warm up and stretch the legs and hamstrings before participating in sports will reduce the risk of hamstring pulls and tears.
Strength training exercises like squats and lunges performed with correct form and plenty of rest in-between training sessions will also help prevent injury.
5. Elbow
Potential injury: Tennis elbow, or elbow tendinitis, is characterized by burning pain in the elbow joint and weakened grip strength. It’s a common condition that affects non-tennis players, too.
Performing any repetitive motion long enough, such as throwing a football, propelling forward with ski polls, or using a computer mouse, can cause it.
Prevention: Avoid making repetitive hand and arm movements, if possible. To relieve strain on the shoulder muscles, use the elbow and forearm tendons whenever possible.
Texas Pain Physicians Treatment
Are you an injured, 40+ weekend or seasonal athlete?
Whether it’s sore knees, achy tennis elbow, or a torn meniscus, our board-certified pain management doctors will work out a treatment plan tailored to you.
Give us a call at (972) 636-5727 or book an appointment online today!
Migraines Cancelling Your Schedule? Here Are 5 Ways To Get Back On Track
You reach out for the wall to steady yourself. Stars chase each other across your field of vision.
It’s another migraine attack.
Migraine Facts
Throbbing pain from migraines can be debilitating. About 12% of Americans suffer from migraine headaches.
Migraine triggers include:
- emotional stress
- missed meals
- caffeine reaction to chemicals and preservatives in food
- frequent use of pain-relieving medication
- light
- hormonal changes in women.
Though they can strike at any time, migraines most often occur at a rate of 2-4 per month.
Steps you can take to manage your migraines:
1. See a specialist.
See a doctor as soon as possible when you first experience migraine symptoms. Your primary care physician can diagnose migraines and start treatment.
Sometimes primary care physicians will recommend a neurologist or “headache doctor.”
The primary care physician or neurologist will help you develop a treatment plan and prescribe abortive and preventative medications.
2. Practice sleep hygiene.
Most people need at least eight hours of sleep. Try to get enough sleep, go to bed at the same time every night, and wake up at the same time every day. Turn off the TV and electronic devices with screens an hour before bed.
3. Change your diet.
Work with a nutritionist or doctor to identify foods that contribute to or trigger your migraines. Keeping a record of what you eat and drink can help identify the problematic foods.
Though one size does not fit all, keeping regular mealtimes, and maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, can decrease the chance of a migraine attack.
4. Keep a migraine journal.
Keep track of the details of your migraine attacks, such as:
- date and time migraine started
- all the migraine phases and their duration
- detailed symptoms
- quality of sleep the night before the migraine attack
- diet details (any missed meals or foods that may have triggered it)
- pain description and rating from 1 to 10
- pain location (jaw, side of the head, eye)
- list of medications (daily and non-routine)
- describe treatment (of migraine), including dosage, frequency, and whether it worked
5. Exercise regularly.
Regular exercise is one of the keys to keeping a healthy diet and sleep schedule. Exercising outside is more effective in regulating sleep and eating rhythms.
Migraine Treatment at Texas Pain Physicians
Are you dealing with the pain of a migraine attack? Are you worried about your next migraine attack? Do you have undiagnosed migraine symptoms?
Our board-certified pain management specialists can get you on a treatment plan tailored to your condition and lifestyle.
Give us a call at (972) 636-5727 or book an appointment online today!
6 Ways to Lessen the Pain and Recovery Time after Knee Surgery
Facing normal post-op pain from major knee surgeries such as ACL repair, meniscus repair, and knee replacement can be intimidating.
But you can cut back on the knee pain and recovery time.
Here are some tips to help you put your best foot (or knee) forward.
1. Take care of the wound.
When in bed or sitting, elevate your leg to improve blood circulation.
Also, follow the doctor’s instructions on keeping the wound clean and dry and apply ice packs or cold or heated compresses as directed.
2. Stick to the rehab program.
Keeping up with the rehab plan laid out by your physical therapist or doctor is vital.
The initial days following your knee surgery will involve a lot of rest. However, your therapist will likely emphasize that a little physical activity is much better than none.
Shift positions in bed every hour or two. If needed, use a cane or crutches to walk around some. Moving will circulate blood through the wounded area, speed recovery, and reduce the time you are in pain.
Your doctor will clear you to exercise after the initial recovery phase. But that doesn’t mean you won’t have pain. But low impact activities like walking, swimming, and stationary biking will strengthen your legs and promote faster healing.
3. Avoid setbacks.
Your doctor and physical therapist will probably warn you about exerting yourself too hard soon after knee surgery.
Lifting and moving heavy objects, heavy weightlifting, and too much exercise can reinjure your tender knee.
4. Build a healthier lifestyle.
Rehabbing after surgery is a golden opportunity to form and reinforce good habits.
- Eat better. Try to cut back on or eliminate poor eating habits. Extra body weight puts extra pressure on your knees.
- Stop drinking. Alcohol adds calories to your diet and can be dangerous when consumed with pain medications such as opioids and NSAIDs.
- Stop smoking. In addition to its well-known health hazards, smoking slows the healing process by shrinking blood vessels.
Taking better care of yourself will promote faster healing.
5. Take medication.
Immediately after surgery, the anesthesiologist may inject a peripheral nerve block at the surgery site, which will numb the area for 24 hours.
When this wears off, you have options for pain relief, including OTC medications like acetaminophen and NSAIDs (Tylenol and aspirin) and prescription opioids (oxycodone). As opioids are addictive, make sure to take them for as short a duration as possible.
6. Consult a pain management specialist.
Depending on your condition, health history, and preferences, a certified pain management specialist can help you choose treatments and medications.
We Specialize in Pain Management
Are you suffering from post-surgery pain? At Texas Pain Physicians, our pain doctors are board-certified in pain management.
Please give us a call at (972) 636-5727 to set up an appointment today!
6 Non-Surgical Remedies for Back Pain
“Oh!” you gasp as your feet touch the floor and you reach for the chirping alarm. You wonder whether your back pain is here to stay.
According to the American Chiropractic Association, back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide.
Good news! There are lots of effective home treatments for back pain.
1. Use topical treatments.
If you have severe back pain accompanied by inflammation, apply an ice pack or cold compress to help reduce inflammation.
A warm or hot compress can also relieve pain by loosening up muscles.
2. Use OTC medications.
Here are some common over-the-counter medications that can provide temporary pain relief:
- Muscle relaxants
- Tylenol (acetaminophen) and aspirin
- Ibuprofen and naproxen (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
- Topical pain relief products (ointments, sprays, gels, creams)
3. Do some stretching and exercise.
To recover from back pain, you need to move and do some exercise.
Try to do low-impact physical activities such as walking, biking, and swimming.
For severe back pain, light exercise and gentle stretching such as light yoga or chair yoga can help gradually restore normal movement and extension without causing too much discomfort.
For chronic (non-severe) back pain, exercises that strengthen the core can reduce pain over time.
4. Try therapeutics.
Therapeutic methods can lessen and eliminate back pain. Patients report positive results from massages, chiropractic alignment, bioelectric therapy, and acupuncture.
5. Eat a healthier diet.
Inflammation is a common cause of chronic pain. A diet high in processed foods, simple carbohydrates, and refined sugar can cause and worsen inflammation.
Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole foods can decrease inflammation. Whole foods are foods that have been processed as little as possible and contain no additives or substances.
6. Try sleep hygiene and sleep aids.
Getting enough sleep lowers stress, allows the body to heal faster, and increases pain tolerance.
Practice good sleep hygiene by going to bed at the same time every night and avoiding exposure to screens that emit blue light.
Try to stop watching TV and using cell phones and computers at least an hour before bedtime.
Sleep aid supplements like melatonin and magnesium may help induce sleep.
7. Try some stress relief methods.
Stress can contribute to chronic back pain. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and meditation may help relieve stress.
Back Pain Treatment at Texas Pain Physicians
You don’t need to settle for a back pain-filled life a day longer. Texas Pain Physicians has board-certified doctors specialized in pain management who can help you discover the right treatments for you.
Give us a call at (972) 636-5727 or schedule an appointment online today!