Low-Level Laser Therapy: The Importance of An Individualized Treatment Approach for Pain Management |Biomedgrid

Pain, especially in its chronic form, is a complex process which can deeply affect an individual's life. The definition of pain, according to the International Association for the Study of Pain, is “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage…” [1]. There are two major types of pain, nociceptive and neuropathic. Nociceptive pain is caused by the activation of specific pain receptors in response to noxious stimuli, while neuropathic pain reflects nervous system damage and/or dysfunction [2]. Traditional medical treatment of pain has typically included acetaminophen, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and/or opioids. NSAIDs exert their effects by reducing the sensitivity of nociceptors in the peripheral nervous system, but they can have significant or even life-threatening side effects [3]. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), on the other hand, can treat both nociceptive and neuropathic pain by interfering with action potential propagation in axons of the A-delta and C- nerve fibers [4]. It is a superior alternative to NSAIDs, without the known side effects.