How Does Infrared Therapy Work For Neuropathy
Comparing Infrared Laser Therapy is one of the most difficult conditions to treat effectively. It is caused by damage or disease in the nerves that carry messages from the brain and spinal cord to your hands, feet, legs, and arms. This condition can cause odd sensations and intense pain in the limbs that can be debilitating. Infrared therapy can prune the damaged nerves and reduce the pain associated with this condition.
How Does Infrared Therapy Work for Neuropathy?
Infrared therapy is a noninvasive treatment for neuropathic pain that can be used in the comfort of your own home. It penetrates deep into the skin to reach muscles, bones, and nerves where it is absorbed by your body’s cells and used as energy for cellular repair. Infrared therapy can stimulate the body’s natural healing process, improve blood flow, promote a healthy nervous system, reduce inflammation, and trigger a release of endorphins to control pain.
Many patients experience significant relief from neuropathic pain with infrared therapy, and it is a treatment that does not need to be prescribed by your doctor. The cellular benefits of infrared light are what make this a powerful treatment for neuropathic pain.
Red light therapy is an effective treatment for neuropathic pain because it targets the root causes of this condition. Inflammation and oxidative stress are common culprits of neuropathic pain, but they can be controlled with a combination of treatments. The first mechanism involves reducing chronic inflammation. Several studies, including a 2017 paper Hamblin co-authored, have shown that near infrared (NIR) light therapy reduces inflammation and improves nerve function.
The second mechanism has to do with restoring normal nerve function. This is where neuropathic pain is most severe, and it can be difficult to treat with medications. A lot of research has found that the best way to treat neuropathic pain is to improve nerve function and decrease the symptoms of inflammation. Infrared therapy can support both of these goals, and a recent study demonstrated that it can help patients with diabetic neuropathy recover lost sensation.
Infrared light therapy helps with the underlying causes of neuropathic pain by stimulating mitochondrial function and enhancing ATP production. ATP is the energy currency of the cell and can be thought of as a “charge” for your cells. Increased cellular energy will boost nerve function and help speed the recovery of injured nerves.
Infrared light also enhances the body’s circulation by dilating blood vessels and improving blood flow to the area. This boosts oxygen delivery to the nerves and tissues, helping to prevent oxidative stress. It will also trigger a release of nitric oxide, which improves blood vessel health by relaxing the arteries and promoting blood flow. This will bring more nutrient-rich blood to the area, and will reduce the swelling that is common in neuropathic pain. The cellular and circulatory benefits of infrared light therapy are what make it an excellent treatment for neuropathic pain.