Cold Laser Therapy

Cold Laser Therapy: Here’s A Treatment That Gets Rid of Pain Without Surgery or Meds.

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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!

Happy Family Playing Together

Who Else Wants To Live Without Chronic Pain?

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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

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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!

Woman suffering from Migraine

Migraines Cancelling Your Schedule? Here Are 5 Ways To Get Back On Track

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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 Non-Surgical Remedies for Back Pain

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“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!

Home Remedies For Pain

5 Homemade Ways to Avoid and Manage Common Pain Issues

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Shutdowns during the COVID 19 pandemic have kept many people from going to gyms and health-related appointments.

Sadly, common pain issues like back pain and knee pain have not gone away. Though lockdowns are easing, in-home remedies that provide relief will always be helpful.

Here are a few ways to address common pain issues at home.

1. Try Some At-Home Exercise

If your back hurts, health experts say that resting and avoiding exercise can make it worse. Exercise stimulates and strengthens muscles, which relieves pain.

But whether it’s weightlifting, aerobics, isometrics, or something else, make sure to start slow and practice good technique.

Lifting too much weight, working out too hard, and running too far can cause injuries and more pain.

If a specific exercise or movement causes injury or pain, avoid it until the pain goes away and seek expert advice on performing it correctly.

2. Try Some Stretching

Stretching out and strengthening the body with Yoga is another excellent way to lessen back and knee pain.

Yoga dates back to ancient times. It’s a practice intended to increase peace of mind through concentration, stretching, and strengthening the entire body.

Though in-person yoga classes with instructors are ideal, you can access countless expert-led Yoga sessions on YouTube. You can jump right into a video series at any skill level.

And yoga is simple. The only equipment needed is a soft surface such as a yoga mat, rubber gym flooring, or even soft carpeting or towels.

3. Apply Heat and Cold

Cold packs or ice packs can provide immediate relief for muscle pain by decreasing inflammation and numbing irritated nerves.

When the inflammation subsides and discomfort continues, heat compresses, hot showers and baths can bring relief.

4. Be Careful How You Sit

Back pain is a common work-related disability.

For many people, sitting in front of computer screens for hours without an adjustable, high back office chair becomes painful. You can avoid this pain by taking a few minutes to create a healthier, more comfortable setup.

  • If you are using a kitchen, dining room, or folding chair, support your lower back with pillows.
  • Staying in an erect, 90-degree sitting position can strain the lower back, causing pain. To relieve the strain, switch to a more relaxed position. Try to maintain a minimum 110-degree lean and lean back further when you feel uncomfortable.

Place your feet flat on the floor and try to keep your feet level with the chair.

Place your computer monitor about an arm’s length away from your face. Adjust monitor height so that the top is just below eye level. You can easily adjust monitor height by placing books underneath.

5. Use Your Legs to Lift Heavy Things

Yes, life moves on. Even during lockdowns. Perhaps you are moving, buying new furniture, or building a new, lockdown-proof home gym.

Just make sure to save your back and use those big muscles in your legs when lifting heavy things.

Find Pain Relief at Texas Pain Physicians

Our expert pain management physicians know how to treat and manage your pain.

Whether it’s arthritis, cancer pain, back pain, migraines, knee pain, or something else, we can help.

Please give us a call at (972) 636-5727 or schedule an appointment online today!