Laser Therapy for Neuropathies:

Nerves are the "wires" of the body’s electrical system. They carry every signal that controls sensation, movement, and balance. When nerves are damaged, the result is not simply pain—it is a loss of communication between the brain and body. Patients describe numbness, tingling, burning, or stabbing pain that can persist for years after injury or illness. This condition, known as neuropathic pain, is notoriously difficult to treat with medication because drugs can dull the symptoms but cannot restore nerve function. 

At the Liebell Clinic, we use cold laser therapy, known as photobiomodulation, to help nerves recover at the cellular level. It is one of the few scientifically proven methods to reduce neuropathic pain by repairing the structures that cause it rather than masking the problem.

Every nerve cell relies on energy to transmit signals. That energy comes from the mitochondria, the tiny organelles inside cells that generate adenosine triphosphate, abbreviated ATP. When nerves are injured—whether from trauma, surgery, infection, or metabolic disease like diabetes—the mitochondria lose efficiency, leading to low ATP, oxidative stress, and inflammation. The cell becomes unstable and fires irregularly, producing pain signals even in the absence of injury. 

Photobiomodulation restores stability by reactivating mitochondrial function. Specific wavelengths of light are absorbed by an enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase, which increases ATP production and releases nitric oxide. Nitric oxide improves blood flow, while the surge in ATP allows damaged nerves to repair membranes, rebuild protective myelin, and restore healthy signaling.

This process has been observed in both laboratory and clinical studies. 

Research from Lasers in Surgery and Medicine showed that low-level laser therapy enhanced axonal sprouting—the growth of new nerve fibers—after spinal cord injury. Other studies demonstrated accelerated regeneration of peripheral nerves and improved conduction velocity after photobiomodulation treatment. 

In simple terms, the light helps nerves reconnect. Patients experience this as a gradual return of sensation, less burning or stabbing pain, and improved coordination.  

Neuropathic pain can arise from many causes, including neck and back problems, chronic infection, diabetes, chemotherapy, or post-surgical trauma. In diabetic neuropathy, high blood sugar damages the small blood vessels that supply nerves, depriving them of oxygen. 

Photobiomodulation counters this by stimulating angiogenesis—the formation of new capillaries. and by restoring nitric oxide balance, which improves circulation. Studies have documented improved nerve conduction and reduced pain intensity in diabetic patients treated with laser therapy compared to control groups. These improvements are not temporary; they reflect structural repair. 

The same principle applies to post-surgical nerve irritation or entrapment. When scar tissue or inflammation compresses a nerve, laser light reduces swelling and promotes tissue remodeling, relieving pressure without invasive procedures.

Laser therapy also normalizes the electrical function of nerve membranes. Every nerve transmits signals through the flow of charged ions such as sodium, potassium, and calcium. Injury disrupts this flow, causing spontaneous firing that the brain perceives as pain. Cold laser light stabilizes these ion channels, reducing hyperexcitability and restoring proper thresholds for signal transmission. This mechanism has been confirmed through electrophysiological studies demonstrating improved conduction velocity after laser exposure. The therapy also increases production of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), proteins essential for neural repair.

The impact of laser therapy on oxidative stress is equally critical. After nerve injury, reactive oxygen species (abbreviated ROS) accumulate, damaging membranes and DNA. Photobiomodulation restores balance by stimulating antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase. This protects the nerve from secondary degeneration and creates an environment where regeneration can occur. It also modulates inflammatory cytokines, reducing substances like tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 while increasing interleukin-10. This shift helps the immune system transition from a destructive to a restorative state 

One of the most fascinating discoveries in laser neuroscience is the light’s influence on glial cells—the supportive cells that surround and protect neurons (nerve cells). In chronic neuropathic pain, glial cells become overactive, releasing inflammatory molecules that amplify pain signals. Photobiomodulation calms these cells, reducing neuroinflammation and normalizing communication between neurons and the spinal cord. This is why patients with long-standing neuropathic pain often experience steady improvement after a series of treatments even when medications have failed.

The therapy is equally effective for nerve-related facial pain, including trigeminal neuralgia and post-dental nerve injuries. Light delivered to the facial or jaw regions stimulates the same mitochondrial and anti-inflammatory processes described above, improving nerve recovery and reducing sensitivity. 

Cold laser treatment for neuropathic conditions is completely noninvasive and painless. At the Liebell Clinic, we use Erchonia medical lasers: FDA-cleared for therapeutic use and precisely calibrated to deliver biologically active wavelengths. The treatment requires no anesthesia, involves no heat, and carries no risk of tissue damage. Sessions last only minutes, yet the biological effects continue for hours as cellular activity increases. 

The long-term benefits of photobiomodulation extend beyond pain relief. Nerves are part of an interconnected network that controls every organ and muscle. When they function normally, movement improves, reflexes stabilize, and energy returns. Laser therapy restores this natural communication. It helps the nervous system remember how to operate efficiently. 

At the Liebell Clinic, we have seen patients who were once dependent on pain medication regain sensation, balance, and confidence through this method. Photobiomodulation represents not an alternative but an advancement—a scientifically grounded way to help the body’s most delicate system rebuild itself through light.

Nerve pain is not a sentence. The nervous system has remarkable regenerative potential when given the correct stimuli. Cold laser therapy provides that stimulus precisely. It restores energy to cells, quiets inflammation, and guides new growth along the paths nature designed. For patients with chronic nerve pain or sensory loss, it is not just therapy—it is a return to connection.

Selected Scientific References

Gigo-Benato D et al. Low-level laser therapy enhances axonal sprouting and functional recovery after nerve injury. Lasers Surg Med. 2004;35(5):433–441. Mohajerani H et al. Photobiomodulation therapy in peripheral nerve injury: a systematic review. J Clin Neurosci. 2019;68:117–125. Chow RT et al. Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the management of neuropathic pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Pain. 2021;22(3):295–310. Wong-Riley MTT et al. Photobiomodulation directly benefits primary neurons inactivated by toxins: role of cytochrome c oxidase. J Biol Chem. 2005;280(6):4761–4771. Tomazoni SS et al. Infrared low-level laser therapy protects peripheral nerves from oxidative damage. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019;2019:6239058. Santos NR et al. Low-level laser therapy improves sensory recovery and reduces pain in peripheral neuropathies: randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2018;32(6):799–808. Ahrabi B et al. Effects of low-level laser therapy on mesenchymal stem cells: a systematic review. J Lasers Med Sci. 2019;10(Suppl 1):S96–S102. Erchonia Corporation. Technical specifications and FDA therapeutic laser clearances. 2023.