{"id":5340,"date":"2023-12-09T21:20:15","date_gmt":"2023-12-09T21:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.therapeuticbeams.com\/?p=5340"},"modified":"2023-12-09T21:31:15","modified_gmt":"2023-12-09T21:31:15","slug":"neuropathy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.therapeuticbeams.com\/red-light-therapy\/neuropathy","title":{"rendered":"Red Light Therapy For Neuropathy: Putting An End To Neuropathic Pain?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Can red light therapy offer you pain relief for neuropathy? The answer is a resounding yes<\/strong>. This easy approach to pain management shows a lot of promise in relieving the symptoms that can make living with neuropathy extremely challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although it’s important to note that red light therapy isn’t a cure, it has the potential to manage everyday aches, pains, and tingling in an easy and convenient way. As someone who has suffered from chronic pain, I was prompted to look further into this therapy, and I’ve decided to share what I found with you<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this article, we’ll:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Neuropathy occurs when there is damage or dysfunction to the peripheral nerves<\/strong>, which are responsible for transmitting signals between the central nervous system<\/strong> (CNS) and the rest of your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The intricate network of blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen to the nerves plays a pivotal role in this process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Red light therapy, also called low-level laser therapy<\/strong> (LLLT) or photobiomodulation<\/strong> (PBM), can relieve neuropathic pain by using certain wavelengths of red and near-infrared (NIR) light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An analysis published in 2017 on the biological effects and applications of red light reviewed several studies showing that nerve cells respond incredibly well to infrared light therapy [1<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n Red light and near-infrared light therapy help to achieve pain relief by releasing nitric oxide<\/strong> (NO), which is a molecule that widens your blood vessels (vasodilation) for better blood flow and can help reduce chronic inflammation [2<\/a>]. In turn, this helps to boost your overall blood circulation to deliver essential nutrients and oxygen needed for pain relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, let’s talk about nerve cells. Red light therapy stimulates the peripheral nervous system<\/strong> (PNS) in your body to produce more Schwann cells<\/strong> and fibroblasts<\/strong> [3<\/a>, 4<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schwann cells are mainly found in the <\/strong>PNS and wrap around individual nerve fibers. They create a protective layer known as the myelin sheath<\/strong>. This sheath acts as an electric insulator and allows nerve signals to travel through your body more effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peripheral neuropathy<\/strong> is caused by, as the name suggests, peripheral nerve damage, i.e. any nerve that isn’t the brain or spinal cord. However, Schwann cells can help to support the regeneration of damaged nerve fibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, fibroblasts contribute to the structural support of tissues in the PNS. When it comes to the healing process, fibroblasts can form a tissue \u201cbridge\u201d between two ends of a damaged nerve, speeding up nerve regeneration. These peripheral nerve fibroblasts also secrete neurotrophic factors that promote the growth of healthy nerve cells [5<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Does Red Light Therapy Work For Neuropathy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n