What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is pain persisting for more than three months compared to acute pain which is short term and self-resolving. It can continue long after the initial cause has resolved and reflects altered behaviour within the immune and nervous systems which are involved in the symptoms and presentations of pain.
Chronic pain is a broad term and can encompass various pain types such as chronic inflammation, neuralgia, neuropathic pain, hyperalgesia or pain sensitivity. In the worst cases, it can be associated with mood changes, disturbances with sleep and energy levels, and may affect movement and flexibility.
There are 1 in 5 individuals in the Australian population who experience chronic pain which can result from past surgeries, injuries, or underlying conditions or diseases. Various medical therapies exist to address chronic pain and it is common for multiple therapies to be used to address individual causes and contributing factors.
How can Medowie Medical Centre help with chronic pain?
Dr Sarin specialises in alternative approaches to addressing chronic pain issues alongside conventional medical approaches. Through low level laser therapy, the Medowie Medical Centre aim is to restore balance and regulate the function of key systems involved in the elicitation of pain.
What are some of the conditions we treat?
- Back pain : Back pain including post-operative pain
- Neck pain : Scientific evidence supports the long-term benefits of cold laser
- Arthritis pain : Rheumatoid & osteoarthritis (especially knee) can be treated with cold laser.
- Knee Pain : Avoid knee surgery with non-invasive cold laser.
- Nerve Pain : We treat neuropathic pain and orofacial pain.
- Sporting Injuries : We regularly treat joint & muscle pain from sports related activities.
- Fibromyalgia : Cold laser provides a gentle but proactive treatment option for sufferers.
- Sciatica : Cold laser disrupts pain signals along the nerves.
- Performance Recovery : Elite teams are adopting cold laser over cryo for recovery.
Benefits of cold laser therapy for pain, health and wellness
Drug-Free Pain Management
Nearly all medication comes with side-effects and opioid prescribing is an ever increasingly problem. Cold laser provides an analgesic effect which helps nerves desensitise over time leading to sustained reduction in pain levels.
Treats Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is increasingly being raised a major contributor in degenerative conditions. Laser is proven to be as or more effective than anti-inflammatory drugs without any side-effects.
Promotes Healing
In contrast to other therapies, cold laser is curative rather than simply modulating symptoms short-term. The cumulative effect of laser is improved health and increased DNA production, the protein building block of tissue.
No side-effects.
In over 40 years of evidence-based research no negative effects have been reported which makes cold laser safe for people of all ages. Very rarely fatigue or a mild flare in pain is experienced which normally indicates the body is responding.
Why Choose low level laser therapy/ Cold Laser Therapy for Treatment
It is a light therapy that makes use of lasers or LEDs for the improvement of tissue repair, reduction of pain and inflammation not only wherever the beam is applied but also to diffuse in the surrounding tissues. Usually applied by a doctor, the effect is photochemical, not thermal. The light triggers changes within the body and can be compared to the process of photosynthesis in plants, where the photons (energy of laser) are absorbed by muscles/nerve or joints and triggers chemical changes and remove inflammation.
Dr Sarin has a passion to help people who suffer from pain and he has special advanced training in Laser Pain Management and Medical Acupuncture.
