Pain…
It is one of the most common things I get called about. Everyone deals with pain at one time or another (or several…or even all the time!)
Pain is more than just a sensation or a feeling. It leads to a whole host of downstream effects throughout our body. Your heart rate and blood pressure increase. Breathing becomes more shallow and the rate increases. Digestion slows, and nausea and constipation may be present. Muscles get tense, there is an increase in cortisol, and concentration and focus become difficult if not impossible.
In short…pain leads to a massive stress response in the body! And for those who live with chronic pain, that means that their body is also living with chronic stress. Chronic stress leads to several negative health effects like heart disease, diabetes, and mental/emotional distress in the forms of anxiety and/or depression.
So what do you do? You call your doctor – “Doctor…I’m having this kind of pain in this location. What should I do?”
Now, depending on your doctor, and the nature of your pain, most of the time the answer is “take some Tylenol (or Ibuprofen…or other standard pain killer medication) and get some rest.”
Are you tired of that answer?
Do you want something that will actually work to solve the root cause of the pain?
Photobiomodulation – this is a REALLY big word for light therapy!
Light therapy is a simple, cost efficient, and highly effective way to address both acute (in the moment) and chronic pain. It was approved by the FDA for the treatment of pain since around 2002, however it has been in use FAR longer! Studies show that light therapy is beneficial in tissue regrowth, stimulating healing, and decreasing pain and inflammation.
How does it work?
Let’s break down the word –
Photo = light
Bio = life
Modulation = regulation
So in its most basic form, the term is describing that light is used to regulate our life force.
The application of light, whether through direct contact with the skin, through the eyes, or even in our quantum field, can either stimulate or inhibit (block) certain body processes. In the case of pain, the light is absorbed by our mitochondria within our cells (the powerhouse of the cell) and the mitochondria then send signals that start a cascade of effects leading to decreased inflammation in the body, and ultimately decreased pain. It also helps support the healing of the injured or damaged tissues at the same time!
In short, light therapy is an incredibly safe and effective option to try for addressing pain management. If pain is something you are dealing with, and if this sounds like something you would like to try, give our office a call! We’d be happy to get you on our schedule for a light therapy session!