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LightForce™ Class IV Laser Therapy is a non-invasive technique to help reduce pain and inflammation and enables patients to have an alternative to drugs and surgery. The therapy allows us to potentially avoid surgery in some of the more chronic pain conditions. This laser therapy is used to treat conditions such as spinal disc injuries and patients have been able to avoid surgery.
Please tell us about the new technique that you are using in your office to help reduce pain.
Dr. Peter Ferraro: We’re using the LightForce™ Class IV Laser Therapy, which is a non-invasive technique to help reduce pain and inflammation. The pain relief treatment is FDA cleared and enables patients to have an alternative to drugs and surgery.
What are the different types of conditions that this laser therapy helps to treat?
Dr. Peter Ferraro: Laser therapy has a long list but some of the most common ones that we see are arthritis, tendinitis, post-surgical healing, sciatica, especially pain associated with disc herniations, plantar fasciitis, TMJ, and the list goes on and on and on. Pretty much anything that causes inflammation in the body, we can manage with laser.
Could laser therapy actually be an alternative to surgery in some cases?
Dr. Peter Ferraro: It can be an alternative to surgery in some cases and it is individual and one by one, it’s evaluated. By causing an actual change in the tissue on a cellular level, the injured area is able to heal better than it would on its own. The therapy allows us to potentially avoid surgery in some of the more chronic pain conditions. We’ve used laser to treat conditions which typically result in surgery such as spinal disc injuries and we’ve been able to do that for our patients and avoid surgery.
How quickly does someone with pain and inflammation see results after treatment?
Dr. Peter Ferraro: The heat produced during the treatment will typically cause an immediate blood flow increase to the injured tissue of which the effects can be felt almost immediately. The increase in cellular activity caused by the laser typically lasts for up to 24 hours so like the treatment times, the rapidity of the effects differ based on the body part and condition being treated. That same arthritic finger may have significant improvement after 1 treatment, whereas something like a chronic lower back may take upwards of 5 but typically most patients feel significant change in 3 to 5 sessions.
Are there any side effects to laser therapy like there are with pharmaceutical drugs people take to relieve pain?
Dr. Peter Ferraro: There are currently no known side effects from any of the laser-based treatments unlike there are obviously with pharmaceutical medications – and especially with all appropriate precautions being made to avoid any injury to the patient at the time of treatment.
For more information, visit ferraro1.wpengine.com or call 973-478-2212 to schedule an appointment.
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