Pain Therapy Specialist

Ballantyne Medical Associates

Family Medicine & Laser Aesthetics located in Charlotte, NC

It’s estimated that 11% of all adults live with chronic pain -- that’s pain every day for at least three months -- and for many, the daily pain is severe. Standard medical treatments seldom provide reliable or long-term pain relief, which is why the doctors at Ballantyne Medical Associates in Charlotte, North Carolina, offer cutting-edge pain therapy. They use low-level lasers that effectively reduce inflammation and relieve pain caused by many different conditions.

Pain Therapy Q & A

Why is pain management so difficult?

Pain is a complex challenge because it can arise from underlying health conditions, surgery, metabolic problems, nerve damage, and trauma. In some cases, pain exists without any obvious cause.

When pain lasts for several months, it causes changes in the central nervous system that affect the way you perceive painful sensations. As a result, you can begin to experience severe pain even when there’s little to no obvious cause for the pain.

What is low-level laser therapy?

Low-level lasers produce light energy without heat. Cold lasers safely pass through skin, then they’re absorbed by tissues deep below the surface. This treatment, called low-level laser therapy (LLLT), triggers changes at the cellular level that relieve pain and provides other benefits:

  • Relief of acute and chronic pain
  • Reduced inflammation
  • Faster wound healing
  • Increased blood supply
  • Immune system stimulation
  • Increased nerve function
  • Boost in collagen production
  • Boost in muscle synthesis
  • Growth of new, healthy cells

What are the benefits of the Microlight Smart Laser?

The doctors at Ballantyne Medical Associates offer low-level laser therapy using the Microlight ML830® Cold Laser. Microlight was the first company with FDA clearance to market low-level laser therapy for the treatment of pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. Approval was later expanded to include relief of muscle and joint pain, including arthritis.

What types of pain are relieved by the Microlight ML830 Cold Laser?

Cold laser treatment with the Microlight ML830 reduces inflammation and relieves pain caused by many health conditions, including:

  • Arthritis and joint pain
  • Back, neck, shoulder, and knee pain
  • Trigger points
  • Muscle pain and spasms
  • Nerve pain
  • Migraines and other headaches
  • Tendonitis
  • Bursitis
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Plantar fasciitis

What should you expect during treatment with cold lasers?

Low-level lasers cause few sensations during treatment. Some patients say they feel a slight tingling sensation, and a few report a very slight feeling of warmth, but most people only feel the touch of the probe delivering the laser as it touches their skin.

Cold laser therapy lasts up to 20 minutes, depending on the type of condition being treated, and about 75-80% of patients notice an immediate improvement after one session. However, it may take three to four sessions to achieve a marked improvement. The length of time you’ve had your condition and the severity of your pain determine the number of treatments you’ll need for optimal healing.