By: Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | Hollywood, Florida
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 costs an estimated $635 billion annually in direct medical costs and lost productivity. Yet the majority of chronic back pain patients are managed, not treated. The Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol is a non-surgical, non-pharmacological approach to chronic back pain care.
Chronic back pain with a structural component often does not improve through medication management alone. Patients with persistent symptoms may benefit from a comprehensive clinical evaluation that examines the underlying mechanical and tissue-level factors.
At Hollywood Laser Pain Center in Hollywood, Florida, I have treated chronic back pain patients from across Broward County for more than 27 years, including the construction workers of Dania Beach, the healthcare workers of Pembroke Pines, and the service industry professionals of Fort Lauderdale whose livelihoods depend on physical function.
Why Is Chronic Back Pain So Resistant to Standard Treatment?
Back pain becomes chronic, persisting beyond 12 weeks, in approximately 20 percent of initial episodes, according to research published in The Lancet. Once chronic, the condition involves a compounding cascade. Disc degeneration reduces disc height and increases facet joint stress. Facet arthritis develops. Paraspinal muscles tighten protectively. Nerve root irritation from disc bulging or stenosis adds a neurological dimension.
A 2016 landmark series in The Lancet on low back pain concluded that opioids are no more effective than non-opioid analgesics for chronic low back pain, with substantially higher risk. The research direction is clear. Treatments that address movement and structural factors are increasingly examined as alternatives to pharmaceutical suppression for chronic low back pain. Treatment protocols at Hollywood Laser Pain Center reflect this research direction.
What Does the Regenerative Medical Laser™ Protocol Do for Chronic Back Pain?
The Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol uses FDA-cleared, Class IV near-infrared laser energy directed at lumbar tissue, including the disc, the nerve root, the facet joints, and the paraspinal musculature. A 2015 systematic review published in the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine examined photobiomodulation in chronic low back pain patients and reported improvements in pain and disability measures.
At the cellular level, laser energy is associated with mitochondrial activity, modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and tissue repair pathways. For the 20 percent of back pain patients whose condition becomes chronic, tissue-level intervention represents a non-pharmacological pathway worth exploring alongside medication-based management.
What Does Graston Technique Add for Back Pain Patients?
The paraspinal muscles, thoracolumbar fascia, and gluteal tissue of chronic back pain patients can accumulate adhesions and scar tissue over time. Contributing factors include prior injuries that healed incompletely, chronic low-grade strain, and protective guarding patterns associated with pain. These soft tissue restrictions can reduce lumbar mobility, alter movement mechanics, and create concentrated stress points associated with the pain cycle.
Graston Technique applied to the lumbar paraspinals, thoracolumbar fascia, and gluteal musculature works mechanically on these restrictions, with the goal of restoring tissue mobility and reducing loading asymmetries. Combining laser therapy and Graston Technique allows treatment to target both cellular and mechanical aspects of chronic back pain.
What Is the Role of Acupuncture in Back Pain Management?
My acupuncture certification adds a neuromodulatory dimension to complex chronic back pain cases, particularly for patients with significant central sensitization, where the nervous system’s pain amplification persists beyond tissue healing. Clinical practice guidelines from the American College of Physicians include acupuncture among first-line recommendations for chronic low back pain. At Broward Medical and Rehab, the integration of laser therapy, Graston Technique, and acupuncture provides a multi-modal approach for patients whose chronic back pain involves multiple pain mechanisms.
What Should Broward County Back Pain Patients Know Before Considering Surgery?
Lumbar fusion surgery averages $60,000 to over $150,000 in direct costs and requires 3 to 6 months of full recovery. Failed back surgery syndrome affects 10 to 40 percent of lumbar surgery patients. Non-surgical care at Hollywood Laser Pain Center represents a different category of intervention from spinal surgery and does not permanently alter spinal anatomy.
Visit Hollywood Laser Pain Center to learn more. Watch patient education on the ReliefNow Nation YouTube channel. Contact Hollywood Laser Pain Center at 2607 Polk Street, Hollywood FL 33020 | 954-925-7333.
About the Author
Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | 2607 Polk Street, Hollywood FL 33020 | 954-925-7333
Dr. Mark earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from Logan College of Chiropractic with honors and has practiced for more than 27 years in Hollywood, Florida. He holds certifications in Graston Technique and acupuncture, is a former collegiate football player at Wake Forest University, and practices at Broward Medical and Rehab. He is a provider in the national ReliefNow® network.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Effectiveness of treatments may vary depending on individual circumstances. Consult a qualified healthcare professional to discuss your specific medical needs and treatment options.
