High Power Laser Therapy for Chronic Pain
Patients often arrive skeptical about laser therapy — and honestly, I understand why. The name sounds like science fiction, the mechanism isn't intuitive, and there's a lot of noise online. What I tell them is this: we have solid mechanistic science explaining why it works, clinical data supporting its use for specific conditions, and most patients notice something within the first few sessions. It is not right for every condition, and I will tell you honestly at the consultation if I don't think it will help you.
Dr. Rubin is one of the few pain management physicians on Long Island performing HPLT using the Avicenna High Power Laser — a device that delivers significantly more energy to target tissue than the standard low-level lasers used in most physical therapy offices. He has also conducted ongoing clinical research into laser therapy's effectiveness for chronic pain, including post-thoracotomy pain.
How Laser Therapy Works
HPLT uses specific wavelengths of laser light that penetrate deep into tissue. At the cellular level, this energy:
- Stimulates the mitochondria to produce more ATP — essentially accelerating the cell's repair cycle
- Promotes new tissue growth and reduces scar formation
- Reduces inflammation by modulating prostaglandin synthesis
- Improves local circulation
- Decreases nerve sensitivity, reducing the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain
Across multiple sessions, this produces cumulative healing and a meaningful reduction in both pain and inflammation — without adding another medication to your regimen.
Conditions Treated with Laser Therapy
- Arthritis (knee, hip, shoulder, spine)
- Neck and back injuries
- Shoulder pain and rotator cuff injuries
- Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow
- Muscle and ligament tears
- Sciatica
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Plantar fasciitis
- Nerve pain (neuropathy)
- Non-healing wounds
- Post-surgical recovery
Laser therapy is not appropriate for everyone. It should not be applied over areas with active malignancy, in patients who are pregnant, or in those with certain photosensitive conditions. Dr. Rubin will evaluate these factors at your initial visit.
The Treatment Experience
Sessions are painless — most patients feel a gentle warmth at the treatment site. Each session takes 10–20 minutes. Depending on your condition, Dr. Rubin may recommend a series of 6–12 treatments over 3–6 weeks, often in combination with other interventions. There is no downtime; you return to normal activities immediately.
Clinical Research
Dr. Rubin has been involved in active research on laser therapy for post-thoracotomy pain and related chronic pain syndromes. That research background informs patient selection, treatment dosing, and — just as importantly — knowing when to tell a patient that laser therapy probably isn't the right fit for their situation.
FAQs
Is laser therapy covered by insurance? Coverage varies significantly by plan and by the condition being treated. Our office verifies benefits before treatment so there are no surprises.
How many treatments will I need? Most conditions require 6–12 sessions. Some patients see meaningful improvement after three or four; others need the full course. Dr. Rubin evaluates your response along the way and won't continue treatment indefinitely if it's not moving the needle.
Can laser therapy be combined with injections? Yes — and for many patients this is the better approach. Laser therapy works on the tissue and inflammatory environment; injections target the immediate pain signal. Combining them often produces more durable results than either alone, and some patients use laser therapy between injection cycles to reduce how frequently they need injections.
Is HPLT safe? FDA-cleared, excellent safety record when performed by a trained physician. The primary risk is thermal — which is why device parameters are calibrated carefully and applied by Dr. Rubin or under his direct supervision. Side effects are rare.
Call 516-492-3100 to find out whether laser therapy is the right fit for your situation.