By Leonard W. Rudnick, BA, BS, DC, DABDA

Pain is the number one reason that people seek medical care.  Interestingly, medical school education spends only a few clock hours (versus course hours) studying the causes and treatment of pain.

There are now specialties for the treatment of pain, but federal and state laws limiting the prescription of opioids have caused doctors to be afraid of legal repercussions if they continue to prescribe them.  This is one of the more significant reasons that caused the University of Arizona Medical Center to previously close its Pain Clinic.

To make matters worse, recent newspapers and television coverage about the deadly effects of Acetaminophen (also known as APAP) has further reduced pain-relieving options.  Unfortunately, its use with alcohol can be equally deadly.  High doses, over a long period of time will cause liver damage, especially when combined with cold and flu remedies, infant and children’s medicines and prescription drugs such as Percocet and Vicodin.

But wait, it actually gets WORSE!  According to articles in the “Archives of Internal Medicine”, (2000; 160: 777-784) and the “Annals of Internal Medicine”, (1997; 127: 429-438), the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) dramatically increases the likelihood of congestive heart failure in elderly patients.  In addition, every year in the United States, an estimated 7,600 people (mostly the elderly) die from the effects of NSAIDS.  Gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation account for one death for every 9,210 prescriptions; another 76,000 end up in the hospital, representing one hospitalization for every 921 prescriptions.

By definition, prescription strength is 800mg 3 or 4 times per day.  Long term use of prescription or over the counter (OTC) pain medications is either prohibited or has significant degrees of morbidity of mortality.

There are limitations to the number of epidural injections a patient can get.  The percentage of successful pain relief is not overly impressive.  Even more invasive is the implanting of a spinal cord stimulator.  Its success rate is even less than epidurals.

Is it any wonder almost 70% of Americans seek alternative health care?

Don’t despair.  There is REALLY GOOD NEWS for people in pain.  A procedure used all over the world for the past 40 years has finally made its way to the United States.  For about 10 years, the FDA has been regularly giving its approval to Low Intensity Laser devices.  They have proven to be safe and effective when used for the treatment of pain.

The FDA has classified them as Class 2 Medical Devices, which mean they present no significant risk.  In fact, in the past 40 years worldwide, there has never been even one report of a significant long-term side effect.

Perhaps of even greater importance is the fact that, on September 24, 2005, the American Academy of pain Management endorsed the use of Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT) as safe and effective for the treatment of pain.

You should not have to live with pain.  You do not have to risk organ damage or death in order to get rid of it.  The answer is as simple and safe as light.