An Alternative Pain Treatment
When it comes to sustained, severe pain, most people will try almost anything for some much needed relief. Now there is a high tech alternative, performed in minutes that may be a game-changer.
"I had a lot of skepticism -- a lot of the new stuff that comes out it's difficult to believe in. But it kind of exceeded what I would expect it to do," says Dr. Mark Farmer, orthopedic surgeon on Lee Memorial Health System's medical staff.
Dr. Farmer is now onboard with using a medical laser to swipe away pain, stiffness and inflammation.
"We've used it for treating a lot of inflammatory conditions. So people come in with tendonitis or inflammation in their Achilles tendons or acute injuries to their back, we've had really good success rates with that; tennis elbow. There are some studies that seem to suggest we can decrease the pain of neuropathies, which is a remarkable thing," says Dr. Farmer.
Chronic arthritis in his knee and several failed surgeries left Steve Peters in a virtual standstill.
"I've gained 50 pounds for one thing because I can't walk," says Peters.
So he went the alternative route, hoping to avoid another operation. This class four, robotic laser is programmed to target pain. As it passes repeatedly across the area, it serves as an analgesic.
Dr. Farmer became a believer.
"I said I hate to admit this but I don't have any pain; it's wonderful," says Peters.
Each treatment takes under 10 minutes; some people require several rounds. The FDA approved laser use for therapy, allowing its use as an alternative to pain meds, injections and surgery.
"It's one of those things that gives us some additional ways to treat patients and certainly the results we're getting are extremely good," says Dr. Farmer.
For many it is worth a try. If it doesn't alleviate symptoms altogether patients generally report a significant decrease in pain, which may increase their quality of life.
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Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we've been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.
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