Painless Photobiomodulation Laser for Failed Back Surgery Pain
Are you or someone you love suffering persistent back pain after lumbar spine surgery? You’re not alone, Post Lumbar Surgery Syndrome (PLSS) affects a significant proportion of people and can be a source of seemingly unending distress. After going through invasive surgery to fix your back pain - you can still end up with back pain even after surgery. While medications like gabapentin are commonly prescribed, their benefits often wane with time, and side effects (including risk of abuse) can be concerning.
But there is good news from a brand-new study out of Beijing: High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) (1064 nm), combined with gabapentin, could represent a new era in the management of PLSS.
What Did the Study Show?
Researchers followed 96 patients with PLSS for a year. Some received standard gabapentin therapy, others received HILT alongside their medication.
“Amazingly, those who had just four outpatient HILT sessions in a week reported greater pain relief at 3 and 6 months, and they experienced better long-term improvement in daily function.”
Preserving Your Back Muscles
Here’s the exciting part: using advanced MRI muscle imaging, the study found that HILT actually protected the deep back muscles from degenerating (a process known as fat infiltration). Since muscle degeneration is a major reason for chronic pain and disability, this suggests HILT may provide long-term resilience against PLSS, a benefit rarely seen with medications alone.
Why Is This Important?
Non-invasive and virtually pain-free: HILT is performed in a clinic, without surgery or injections.
Fast Protocol: Just four sessions over a week, yet benefits can last at least a year.
Prevents Muscle Loss: Maintains the health of muscles that support your spine.
What’s Next?
The results are promising. The next steps include determining the optimal “dose” of HILT and understanding precisely how it preserves muscle health. But for now, if you’re coping with failed back surgery pain and want to minimize medication use, give us a call about adding HILT to your treatment plan.
HILT offers hope for those searching for a safer, effective alternative to traditional painkillers, with the unique potential to protect your back for years to come.
Tracy
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before changing your treatment plan.
