Question
I have what I belive is scar tissue from a slip and fall, which jammed something into L2-L3 area.  Laser seems to be helping. I am fine for 4 hours after having it. How many times should a person get laser per week, to insure it will work? The scar tissue seems to be affecting my pundendal nerve, which really smarts. The scar tissue has spread into the sacrum area.

Answer
Dear Barrie,

Slips and falls result in sprains and strains, which means tearing of tissue, either muscular or ligament or disc.  These can be mild, moderate, or severe.

Laser therapy helps to control symptoms. It will not cure damaged tissue. It will not cause a disc or ligament or cartilage to regenerate.  If it feels good, and it helps to control your symptoms, then it is valuable for as long as it is beneficial.  It will not make you grow a new back.  I hope that I am making myself perfectly clear.  Laser therapy will help you to feel better until it wears off.  What are you doing to help to build up your spinal strength and flexibility? (stretching, strengthening, manipulation, balance/coordination or proprioceptive training).  These would help you to become stronger so that you can support your damaged back a little better.  Laser therapy will buy you some time through reducing your symptoms temporarily so that you can do those other exercises and truly become more functional.

How have you come to the diagnosis of scar tissue that has spread into the sacrum area, affecting the pudendal nerve?  Have you had MRIs or CTs of the spine that show degenerative changes in the spine and discs, and compression of the nerve roots that form the pudendal nerve?  The pudendal nerve is formed from the root nerves of L4/L5, and the sacral nerves 1-4.  I have never heard of the pudendal nerve, in and of itself, being compressed. It is usually a spinal condition that causes nerve root compression at the spine... resulting in neurological dysfunction distally to the nerve.

You need a new diagnosis.  Jammed L2-L3 just doesn't fly... and "scar tissue" is vague and non-descriptive.  Find a neurologist or neurosurgeon, or pain medicine specialist MD to help you to figure out what is going on, and what should be done about it.

If you are having a loss of bladder control or of bowel control, this is an emergency condition and you should be seen immediately.

I hope that this helps you to better understand your condition.

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com
http://www.arrowheadhealth.com