By: Dr. Goodman, DC, and Dr. Bradberry, DC | ReliefNow Laser Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina
Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and the single largest contributor to years lived with disability globally, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study. In the United States, back pain accounts for an estimated $635 billion each year in direct medical costs and lost productivity. For the workforce of Charlotte, Pineville, Matthews, Ballantyne, and the rest of Mecklenburg County, the burden is real. Banking professionals in Uptown and logistics workers in South Charlotte alike know how much a bad back can cost, both personally and professionally. ReliefNow Laser Charlotte offers a non-surgical, drug-free approach to chronic back pain care built around Class IV laser therapy.
Chronic back pain that involves a disc or nerve often continues when it is managed with medication alone. For many patients, a thorough clinical evaluation is a useful step toward understanding the structural factors at play before deciding on a course of care.
At ReliefNow Laser Charlotte, both Dr. Goodman and Dr. Bradberry are athletes who understand the physical demands that active adults and working professionals place on their spines. Dr. Goodman, a North Carolina native and CrossFit competitor, brings post-graduate training in neurokinetic therapy, laser, rehabilitation, and nutrition to his back pain evaluations. Dr. Bradberry, a CCSP who has worked alongside Olympic-bound athletes, brings a performance-recovery framework to Charlotte’s working adults and recreational athletes.
Why Does Back Pain Become Chronic in So Many Charlotte Patients?
Back pain becomes chronic, meaning it persists beyond 12 weeks, in roughly 20 percent of initial episodes, according to research published in The Lancet. Once it reaches that stage, several problems tend to compound one another. Disc degeneration places added stress on the facet joints. Facet arthritis can develop. Paraspinal muscles tighten to protect the area, nerve roots become irritated by disc bulging, and the nervous system grows more sensitive to pain over time.
A 2016 series in The Lancet on low back pain concluded that opioids are no more effective than non-opioid pain relievers for chronic low back pain and carry substantially higher risk. The broader research points in a consistent direction. Approaches that address structural and movement factors tend to outperform medication that only masks symptoms.
What Is the Regenerative Medical Laser™ Protocol for Chronic Back Pain?
The Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol uses FDA-cleared, Class IV near-infrared laser therapy applied to the lower back, including the region around the disc, nerve root, facet joints, and surrounding muscle. Class IV laser therapy has also been examined in the wider research literature. A 2015 systematic review in the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine reported that photobiomodulation was associated with improvements in pain and disability among the chronic low back pain patients in the studies reviewed, with effect sizes the authors compared to NSAIDs and without the systemic side effects of those drugs.
At the cellular level, researchers describe laser energy as stimulating mitochondrial activity, reducing certain pro-inflammatory signals, and supporting the body’s natural tissue-repair processes.
What Does Dr. Goodman’s Neurokinetic Therapy Training Add?
Neurokinetic therapy is one of Dr. Goodman’s post-graduate specializations. It focuses on identifying the dysfunctional motor-control patterns that many people with chronic back pain develop. When the body compensates for pain, it often recruits alternative muscle patterns. Those compensations can create secondary problems and keep the original dysfunction going, even after the initial pain source is addressed. Spotting and correcting these patterns is a part of care that standard back pain treatment can overlook.
What Should Mecklenburg County Back Pain Patients Know Before Surgery?
Lumbar fusion surgery is a significant undertaking. According to the North American Spine Society, it averages between $60,000 and $150,000 in direct costs, requires three to six months for full recovery, and carries a failed back surgery syndrome rate reported between 10 and 40 percent. Non-surgical options, including the laser-based care offered at ReliefNow Laser Charlotte, involve a different set of considerations around cost, recovery time, and risk. Patients weighing their choices can talk through which path fits their situation with a qualified provider.
More information about the practice is available through ReliefNow Laser Charlotte. Patient education videos are posted on the ReliefNow Nation video channel. The clinic is located at 4601 Park Road, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28209, and can be reached at 704-527-7246.
About the Authors
Dr. Eric Goodman, DC, is a North Carolina native and UNC-Charlotte biology graduate who earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College. He holds post-graduate training in neurokinetic therapy, acupuncture, laser, rehabilitation, and nutrition, and he is active in Charlotte’s community through Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and Rotary Club. Dr. Douglas Bradberry, DC earned his BS in Human Nutrition from the University of Florida and his Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College with honors. He holds the CCSP designation and has worked with Olympic-bound athletes from four nations. Both practice at ReliefNow Laser Charlotte and are providers in the national ReliefNow® network, founded by Dr. Robert Hanopole, DC.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any treatment program.
