FDA-Cleared, Non-Invasive, Drug-Free therapy

High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) is an FDA-cleared treatment option that is unique in its ability to penetrate through bone, soft tissue, and muscle to deliver healing light energy to the cells of the body. HILT can reduce pain, minimize swelling, soften scar tissue, and rest the chronic pain cycle - all while healing damaged tissues at the cellular level.


A Different Treatment Approach

There are a variety of options for treating acute and chronic pain. Pain medications and spinal injections may provide temporary comfort, but they do nothing to address the root cause of the pain - once the medication wears off, the pain returns. They can also be accompanied by serious side effects including other health problems, depression, and addiction. Surgery is expensive, carries its own set of major risks, recovery can last for weeks or months, and the success rates are not as high as you might expect.
It is a non-invasive, drug-free approach that treats the underlying cause of pain by actually repairing damaged cells.


Laser Therapy is Different

The laser used at our clinic is a Class IV, therapeutic laser that was co-developed by Dr. Curt Draeger, DC, DACBOH, COST. Using his experiences treating professional athletes and chronic pain sufferers. Dr. Draeger worked with physicists to develop this latest generation of high intensity lasers. These lasers are multiple times stronger than other lasers, reach deeper into cellular tissue, and treat surrounding tissues to provide longer-lasting results for our patients.


What to Expect

• The penetrating light from the laser feels warm on the body, and many patients find the soothing, warming sensation to be very relaxing.
• The therapeutic effects of HILT continue to work within your body even after your treatment session is complete!
• HILT has been shown to have a cumulative effect - meaning that it requires a series of treatments for the laser to be able to do its job, with each session building upon the one before.
• While some patients patients feel immediate relief after just a few treatments, for most the response is more subtle and gradual.

• Arthritis
  
• Bursitis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Headaches
• Hip pain
• Knee pain
• Low back pain
• Neck pain
• Neuralgia
• Neuropathy
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Sciatica
• Shoulder pain
• Tendonitis
• Tennis Elbow



Is It Safe?

Laser Therapy has been cleared by the FDA for treating pain. It has been used in Europe since the 1970's and has been trusted by elite athletes around the world to accelerate recovery. Laser therapy has no known side effects when used by a properly trained professional.

Some patients find it easier to understand laser therapy by comparing it to photosynthesis. In school, we learned that during photosynthesis plants convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy to fuel growth. In a similar manner, the body converts laser light energy into chemical energy to fuel cell growth and healing.



How Does High Intensity Laser Treatment Work?


Speeds Tissue Repair and Cell Growth: Accelerates cellular reproduction and growth by starting DNA and RNA repairs inside of the cells. Cells of cartilage, bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and muscles are repaired faster as a result of exposure to laser light.

Improves Blood Flow:
Improves vascular activity and increases the formation of new capillaries (angiogenesis) in damaged tissues. This enables the body to deliver more oxygen and other vita nutrients to the treated area to speed healing.

Resets Chronic Pain Cycle:
Chronic pain signals are actually memorized in the nerve switching stations in the body called interneurons. For example, pain that is felt in the knee is memorized in the interneurons near the spinal cord. The laser light reaches into the interneurons to reset that pain memory. It doesn't erase it completely, but it acts as an analgesic to suppress the nerve signals that transmit the sensation of pain to the brain.

Softens Scar Tissue:
Softens existing scar tissue and reduces the formation of new scar tissue following tissue damage. This is important because after an injury, the body heals with a tight, fibrous network of scar tissue. Scar tissue is less elastic, has poor circulation, is sensitive to pain, is weaker, and is much more prone to re-injury. HILT can soften scar tissue so that the doctor can work with the tissue to lengthen the fibers enabling more movement and mobility.

Relieves Pain:
Reduces pain by increasing the production of pain-killing chemicals, such as endorphins and enkephalins, from the brain and adrenal gland.

Reduces Swelling:
Provides an anti-inflammatory effect, as it causes vasodilation (expansion of blood vessels) and activation of the lymphatic drainage system. As a result, there is a reduction in swelling caused by stress, trauma, overuse, or systemic conditions.

Improves Nerve Function:
Accelerates the process of nerve cell regeneration and improves the communication between the nerves and the brain.

There are no side effects with this nonsurgical treatment and it is available at a reasonable cost. Pressure wave treatments are noninvasive and promote accelerated recovery of injured soft tissue, bone, heel and joint pain.


Definition:

A pressure wave is an intense, but very short energy wave traveling faster than the speed of sound. The basic technology involved with extracorporeal pressure wave technology has been used for decades on millions of people.

Therapy sessions are short, usually 4 - 5 minutes in length, and provide successful relief of chronic pain and restore mobility painlessly. Permanent relief typically begins about 72 hours following treatment. 1,240 times more powerful than ultrasound therapy. Biological response is cumulative with treatment and persists for 8-12 weeks with treatment application.

I am always on the lookout for the latest in technology when it comes to helping our patients heal and getting rid of pain, and I have some great news for you! Our newest piece of equipment to arrive at our office is revolutionary when it comes to treatment of both acute and chronic pain.

I found out that the company that makes that machine in Switzerland developed an even better and more advanced machine called the Duolith® T-Top Ultra. It's the Rolls Royce of Pressure Wave Therapy from the company that developed Pressure Wave Treatment. 

This new one is what is called a "Focused" Pressure Wave machine (working with water pressure) vs. our first machine which is a "Radial" Pressure Wave machine. This means the new model is not as noisy as my old one and penetrates deeper into the tissue (as much as 5 inches), it is more focused like the name says and gets much better results when it comes to tendons and ligaments.

This new machine which arrived directly from Switzerland is the most advanced pain therapy device available today. And let me tell you, it cost me a bunch, (more than what you pay for an average new car). But you know what, I don't mind, because I want to be able to help my patients with the most advanced technology available and I am the only doctor who has one like this in this area.

This new therapy will help break down chronic scar tissue and things like plantar fasciitis (foot pain), tennis elbow and chronic scar tissue which I find on post-surgical patients and old rotator cuff injuries. It has also been shown to produce a tremendous stem cell response in the tissue directly, which is a precursor for new cell formation.

Have heard of stem cell therapy? Well now you won't have to get those expensive and potentially dangerous stem cell injections. As you can imagine, this new Machine is in high demand, in fact they are backordered at the factory but I was able to get one delivered directly. The new machine is working great with even our toughest cases we are seeing tremendous results.

Please call the office at (425) 844-6428 and let our front desk know that you would like to meet with Dr. Metcalf and discuss receiving a free trial!