PBM Therapy offers a new option to treat back pain
BrandInsight Contributor
About 31 million Americans experience low back pain at any given time, according to the American Chiropractic Association. Experts estimate that up to 80 percent of the population will experience back pain at some time in their lives.
If you’re one of them, you know that relief can be hard to come by.
Many suffering from back pain struggle to find lasting relief with physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture or pain management alone. Many patients also experience harmful side effects from medications or failed surgical procedures.
“But it’s not the patient’s fault,” said Dr. Gerald Flores, D.C., of Renuva Back Pain Centers in Oklahoma City. According to Flores, the health care system is not equipped to handle the growing number of people suffering from chronic pain.
“Only a handful of the medical schools in the U.S. offer courses or training on chronic pain conditions,” he said. “Plus, chronic pain cases are complex and require extra time with patients which is something the insurance companies discourage.”
But there is hope. According to Flores there is a new nonsurgical, drugfree way to treat chronic back pain.
“There is good news for people who have suffered for years and have not yet found a solution that works for them,” Flores said.
The good news comes in the form of targeted laser therapy called Photobiomodulation (PBM) Therapy, which offers back pain sufferers another alternative to drug-based treatments. To schedule your $59 exam with two CoreCare treatments, call 405-782-2316 by Dec. 18.
“PBM Therapy is a nonheat-producing light therapy using lasers to improve tissue repair and reduce pain and inflammation where the beam is applied,” Flores said. “It’s kind of like having thousands of little massage therapists in your body working to repair the damaged disc or tissue that is causing the pain.”
A study from "Lasers in Surgery and Medicine" found that 70 percent of back pain patients who received PBM Therapy maintained pain relief at their one-month follow-up compared to only 28 percent of back pain patients who received a Lidocaine injection.
This therapy is part of the comprehensive treatment plan offered by Renuva called CoreCare.
“CoreCare focuses on three keys to relieving back pain and correcting the underlying problem,” said Dr. Michael Riley, DC, founder of Renuva.
The three keys of CoreCare are:
• Treat the source of the pain to try to get relief as fast as possible. Treating the source of pain involves removing pressure on the nerves, reducing inflammation and optimizing the body’s natural healing processes, such as ATP production in the cells.
• Improve structure and strength to fight against and try to prevent degenerative related conditions that cause pain. This involves trying to slow or reverse degeneration by increasing range of motion, strengthening the muscles in your core and working to improve your posture to restore natural biomechanics.
• Restore function so the body can heal properly and fight against diseaserelated conditions that cause pain, which may involve improving nutrition, removing toxins and reducing interferences within the nervous system.
“CoreCare is no miracle cure,” Riley said. “It is a methodical and scientific approach to treating your back pain by addressing the fundamental biomechanical issues happening in your body.”
He described PBM Therapy as an important component of Renuva’s five-phase, nonsurgical and drug-free treatment that combines FDA cleared technology with sciencebased treatment methodologies.
“Before the FDA would approve Class IV Lasers for PBM Therapy they required evidence that it was safe for use on humans,” Riley said. “This led to studies on safety but also numerous studies on the effectiveness of PBM Therapy.”
Most back pain treatment plans start with medicine and injections, and eventually lead to surgery. Some patients find a little relief with traditional chiropractic therapy and physical therapy, but the lasting effect can be minimal.
A study by the American College of Physicians found that pain medication and steroids were limited in improving pain outcomes or treating low back pain. For patients with chronic low back pain, ACP recommends that physicians and patients initially select nondrug therapies like multidisciplinary rehabilitation, PBM Therapy and spinal manipulation — all of which are included in Renuva’s five-phase CoreCare treatment protocol.
“Pain is often a signal or symptom of a medical condition, not a diagnosis,” Riley said. “These symptoms are usually treated, but the biomechanical and physiological conditions causing the pain are not.”
The CoreCare protocol developed by Riley over the course of 15 years focuses on treating both the symptoms and the cause of the pain. Renuva’s examination process seeks to identify the exact cause of pain before giving a treatment recommendation.
“In fact, we often hear from our patients how much they appreciate that the doctor has taken the time and effort to truly explain the cause of their pain,” Riley said.
Renuva is currently offering a complete CoreCare evaluation for a reduced price of $59. The evaluation normally costs $257. The evaluation includes: An in-depth consultation about the patient’s pain and overall health.
A complete neuromuscular evaluation and X-rays if needed.
A full evaluation to determine if a spinal problem is contributing to the pain or symptoms.
A thorough analysis of findings so a treatment plan can be mapped out.
Two CoreCare treatments so the patient can experience them firsthand.
The $59 offer with two CoreCare treatments is good only until Dec. 18. The Renuva Back & Pain Center in the Oklahoma City area is at 5601 NW 72, Suite 312 in Warr Acres. Call 405-7822316 to schedule.
This article is sponsored by Renuva Back & Pain Centers.