What Is MLS Laser Therapy and Can It Relieve Pain Without Surgery?
MLS laser therapy is an FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment that uses synchronized dual-wavelength light to reduce pain and inflammation and stimulate tissue repair at the cellular level. It works by delivering two specific wavelengths of infrared light simultaneously: one targets inflammation and swelling, the other stimulates cellular energy production, specifically ATP, which is the fuel cells need to repair and regenerate. There are no incisions, no medication, and no recovery time. Most sessions take between 8 and 15 minutes.
For people who have spent months cycling through anti-inflammatories, cortisone shots, and rest without lasting improvement, MLS laser therapy offers a different approach. Rather than blocking pain signals temporarily, it works to change the tissue environment itself, giving the body what it needs to move from chronic irritation toward genuine recovery. At Pain Doctors Medical, with locations in Brooklyn, NY; Clifton, NJ; Newark, NJ; and Perth Amboy, NJ, Dr. Ilana Etelzon typically offers MLS laser therapy as part of a comprehensive regenerative medicine program, most often paired with PRP injections, because the two treatments work together in ways that neither achieves as consistently on its own.
Why MLS Laser Therapy Is Not What Most People Expect
When people hear the word laser, they tend to think of heat. A surgical laser cuts. A cosmetic laser resurfaces. But MLS laser therapy belongs to a different category entirely.
MLS stands for Multiwave Locked System. The technology uses two synchronized wavelengths of light, each doing a distinct job. One wavelength targets inflammation, working to reduce swelling and calm the chemical signals that keep tissue in a reactive state. The other penetrates more deeply to stimulate cellular repair. Together, they create an effect that neither wavelength could produce alone.
The critical distinction is what this light does once it reaches the tissue. Rather than generating heat to stimulate surface circulation, the way a heating pad does, MLS laser energy is absorbed directly by cells. Specifically, it targets the mitochondria, the structures inside each cell responsible for producing ATP, which is the cellular fuel that drives repair, regeneration, and function. When mitochondria are given that light stimulus, they produce more ATP. More ATP means more energy available for healing. The cell is not being tricked into feeling better; it is being given what it needs to actually repair.
The Problem MLS Laser Therapy Is Actually Solving
Chronic pain is rarely just pain. It is almost always a sign that tissue is stuck in a dysfunctional state: inflamed, poorly perfused, structurally compromised, and unable to complete a normal healing cycle. Dr. Etelzon describes this as a tissue environment problem, and it is central to how she approaches treatment.
"Pain is often a signal that tissue is irritated, inflamed, overloaded, or not healing properly," Dr. Etelzon explains. "If we only numb the pain temporarily without improving the health of the tissue, the problem often keeps coming back."
In chronic tendon injuries, joint irritation, soft tissue inflammation, and overuse syndromes, damaged tissue can enter a cycle that is difficult to escape on its own. Persistent inflammation reduces local circulation. Poor circulation limits the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. Without those resources, the tissue cannot repair itself, which leads to ongoing microdamage, increased sensitivity, and eventually a failed healing response. The tissue is not healing; it is simply surviving.
MLS laser therapy is designed to intervene in that cycle. By improving microcirculation, increasing cellular energy production, reducing inflammatory mediators, and supporting lymphatic drainage, it attempts to shift the tissue out of chronic dysfunction and into an environment where recovery is possible.
Who Benefits Most from MLS Laser Therapy
Dr. Etelzon finds MLS laser therapy most valuable when the underlying problem involves irritated, overworked, or slowly healing tissue. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and nerves all respond to treatment, making it relevant across a wide range of pain presentations.
Patients who have been managing plantar fasciitis for months without real improvement often respond well. So do those dealing with chronic knee or shoulder irritation, tendinopathy that has not resolved with rest or physical therapy, and joint inflammation that keeps flaring despite anti-inflammatory medications. Nerve-related discomfort, including peripheral neuropathy, is another area where MLS therapy has shown benefit, in part because of its effect on improving circulation and reducing the inflammatory environment around nerve tissue.
The patients who tend to arrive at Pain Doctors Medical's Brooklyn, Clifton, Newark, and Perth Amboy locations having exhausted conventional options are often the ones who benefit most. Not because MLS laser therapy is a last resort, but because their conditions are precisely the kind of chronic, slow-to-heal tissue problems the treatment is built to address.
What Treatment Looks Like and When Results Begin
A session is straightforward. The patient is positioned comfortably while a handheld device moves over the treatment area, delivering laser energy through the skin without cutting, without needles, and without any meaningful discomfort. Most people describe feeling mild warmth or a gentle tingling sensation. Sessions are brief, typically lasting between eight and thirty minutes depending on the area being treated, and there is no recovery period afterward.
How quickly a patient notices a difference depends on the nature and duration of the condition.
"Some patients feel relief after one to three treatments, while others notice more gradual improvement over several weeks because the effects are cumulative," Dr. Etelzon notes.
Acute flare-ups or recent injuries often respond after four to six sessions. Chronic tendon or joint conditions commonly require six to twelve. Longstanding degenerative problems may need a longer initial course and periodic maintenance treatments to sustain the improvement.
Why Cortisone Shots and Medications Leave the Underlying Problem Untouched
Patients who have been cycling through cortisone injections and anti-inflammatory medications for months or years without lasting relief are often understandably skeptical that anything short of surgery could help. Dr. Etelzon takes that skepticism seriously, because the treatments they have tried were not ineffective by accident. They are simply designed to do something different.
Cortisone can reduce inflammation quickly, but repeated use does not improve the structural quality of the tissue. Anti-inflammatory medications may blunt symptoms temporarily, but they do not stimulate healing. Rest alone can calm reactive tissue in the short term, but chronically injured tissue that is not actively recovering often becomes weaker and stiffer over time. The underlying cycle of inflammation, poor circulation, and failed repair continues.
"Instead of only asking how we block the pain, the approach becomes: why is the tissue remaining irritated or failing to recover?" Dr. Etelzon explains.
MLS laser therapy is positioned as an answer to that second question. It is not masking a signal; it is attempting to address the reason the signal keeps firing.
MLS Laser Therapy as Part of a Comprehensive Regenerative Program
At Pain Doctors Medical, MLS laser therapy is rarely prescribed in isolation. Dr. Etelzon’s approach is to offer it as part of a comprehensive regenerative program, most commonly paired with PRP injections and, where appropriate, bone marrow concentrate. This is a deliberate clinical decision, not simply a matter of layering treatments. Each component plays a defined role, and they are sequenced with that in mind.
PRP injections deliver concentrated growth factors and biologic signals directly to damaged tissue, prompting the body to initiate a repair response. But the environment surrounding that tissue still matters. Many chronic injuries present with poor circulation, accumulated inflammation, cellular dysfunction, and scar tissue that has built up over time. That environment can limit how well the tissue responds to a regenerative injection, regardless of what the injection delivers.
MLS laser therapy addresses that surrounding environment. Used before or after an injection, it helps improve microcirculation, calm reactive tissue, increase cellular energy production, and support the lymphatic drainage that clears inflammatory debris.
“The injection provides the biologic material and healing signals, while the MLS laser helps create a healthier environment for the tissue to respond and recover,” Dr. Etelzon explains.
When shockwave therapy is also part of the program, it serves a mechanical stimulation role, prompting the tissue to respond to physical stress. MLS laser therapy then supports the recovery phase between shockwave sessions, helping tissue calm down and process the stimulus more efficiently. The result is a program in which each treatment reinforces the others rather than working in parallel.
For patients who want to address the root cause of their pain rather than manage it indefinitely, this structured program approach is where the most meaningful and durable results are typically found.
A Different Starting Point for Chronic Pain
MLS laser therapy is not a cure for every condition, and Dr. Etelzon does not present it as one. But for patients whose tissue is stuck in a state of chronic dysfunction, it offers something that medications and cortisone injections typically cannot: an attempt to change the underlying tissue environment rather than simply respond to the symptom it is producing.
At Pain Doctors Medical's locations in Brooklyn, NY; Clifton, NJ; Newark, NJ; and Perth Amboy, NJ, it is part of a regenerative medicine practice built on the belief that the body has more capacity to heal than conventional pain management typically gives it credit for. For patients who have run out of conventional options without running out of hope, that starting point makes a meaningful difference.
Hip Pain in Menopause: Why It Gets Worse and What Actually Helps
A lot of women in their 50s and 60s reach a point where joint pain that felt manageable suddenly does not. They have been active, they have kept up with treatment, and then something shifts. The hips start hurting more. Things that helped before stop working. And the explanations they get often feel incomplete.
Dr. Ilana Etelzon, MD, of Pain Doctors Medical, sees this pattern regularly across her offices in Brooklyn, Clifton, Newark, and Perth Amboy. She treats women dealing with hip pain in menopause using regenerative approaches, and she has a lot to say about why this happens and what can actually be done about it.
There Is a Clinical Reason the Pain Gets Worse
The timing is not a coincidence. Estrogen plays a significant role in protecting joints, muscles, and tendons, and when levels drop at menopause, the effects on the body are wide-ranging.
"This is not just getting older," Dr. Etelzon says. "There is actually a medical reason why this happens around menopause. Cartilage breaks down faster, tendons weaken, the muscles around the hips lose strength, and the body becomes more sensitive to pain. The symptoms women feel are a combination of real structural change plus increased pain sensitivity."
That combination is part of why it catches so many women off guard. The pain feels different because, physiologically, it is.
Why the Usual Treatments Stop Helping
Most women who come to Dr. Etelzon have already been through physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and rounds of steroid injections. Some of it worked for a while. Then it stopped.
The reason, she explains, is that the underlying problem has changed. Conventional treatments are largely built around managing inflammation. When the issue is tissue quality, hormonal shifts, and structural breakdown, reducing inflammation addresses part of the picture.
"After menopause, the tissues do not heal the same way. Tendons weaken. Muscle support declines. Degeneration can accelerate. Treatments designed to calm inflammation are not actually fixing the problem anymore," Dr. Etelzon says. "By the time women come to me, they have usually already done everything they were told to do."
Staying Active Without Going Straight to Surgery
When conventional treatment runs out of answers, surgery often gets framed as the logical next step. Dr. Etelzon pushes back on that framing, at least for patients who have not yet reached end-stage joint damage.
"Hip replacement can absolutely be the right option for some people, especially when the joint is severely worn down," she says. "But the real question is whether you need it right now, or whether there are effective options to delay it and stay active."
A significant portion of hip pain in menopause comes from inflammation, weakened surrounding tendons and muscles, and changes in how the joint loads during movement. These are problems that can respond to treatment. Dr. Etelzon sees women who want to keep hiking, biking, and staying active with their families, and her goal is identifying how much of that is still achievable without surgery.
"There is a window, sometimes several years, where we can reduce pain, improve function, and safely hold off on a replacement," she says. "That window is worth pursuing."
How Regenerative Treatment Works for This Type of Pain
PRP uses growth factors drawn from a patient's own blood to stimulate repair and reduce inflammation in the joint. Dr. Etelzon is careful about how she explains it to patients dealing with menopause-related degeneration, because the mechanism is meaningfully different from how it works in a sports injury context.
"In a sports injury, there is usually a specific tear in otherwise healthy tissue, and the body is still in a strong healing state. PRP speeds up a process that is already trying to happen," she explains. "With menopause-related joint pain, ongoing degeneration has changed the tissue quality. Hormonal shifts have reduced collagen production and slowed the repair response. PRP here is helping reawaken and support a system that has slowed down. It improves the joint environment, supports tendon health, and addresses chronic inflammation."
The goal, as she frames it, is restoring function over time rather than repairing one specific injury.
What Recovery Actually Looks Like
For women who are working, caregiving, or simply unwilling to put their lives on hold for weeks, recovery from regenerative treatment is a very different conversation than surgical recovery.
"This is not a surgery, so you are not looking at weeks of downtime. Most women are able to continue their normal daily routine with some temporary modifications," Dr. Etelzon says.
Soreness and occasional temporary flare-ups are common in the days following treatment, but light activity and daily tasks are generally fine throughout.
The modifications are about how the joint is loaded while tissue responds, not about stopping regular activity altogether. And the improvement timeline is gradual.
"This is not an overnight fix. It is a gradual improvement over several weeks as the tissue responds," she says. "For women who have been managing pain for a long time, that trajectory tends to feel very encouraging."
Interested in Learning More?
Pain Doctors Medical has offices in Brooklyn, NY; Clifton, NJ; Newark, NJ; and Perth Amboy, NJ. If you are dealing with hip pain in menopause and want to understand your options, contact Dr. Etelzon's team to schedule a consultation.
How Much Do PRP Injections Cost? A Doctor Explains | Pain Doctors Medical
How Much Do PRP Injections Cost? A Doctor Explains What You’re Actually Paying For
For patients researching PRP therapy, the process often raises more questions than it answers. Pricing varies widely, clinics describe the treatment differently, and it can be difficult to understand what those differences actually mean.
The reality is that not all PRP is the same. The concentration of the treatment, the technology used to deliver it, and the credentials of the provider performing it all vary significantly, and those differences have a direct impact on outcomes.
At Pain Doctors Medical, Dr. Ilana Etelzon, MD, double board-certified interventional pain physician and Regenexx core provider, breaks it down clearly: what goes into the cost of PRP, what patients should actually be evaluating, and when it represents a sound alternative to surgery or long-term medication management.
Our offices serve patients across Brooklyn, NY, and throughout northern and central New Jersey, including Clifton, Newark, and Perth Amboy.
First, What Is PRP?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. It is a regenerative treatment made entirely from your own blood. Dr. Etelzon explains:
“Instead of just masking pain like a steroid or medication, PRP is designed to stimulate healing at the source: tendons, nerves, ligaments, bones, and joints. We use your own cells, which helps avoid repeated steroid injections and, for many patients, avoids surgery altogether.”
Unlike cortisone shots, which temporarily suppress inflammation, PRP works at a biological level to support actual tissue repair.
“Cortisone is turning off a fire alarm. It quiets things quickly. PRP is more like sending in a repair crew to actually fix what’s damaged.”
What Does PRP Actually Cost?
At Pain Doctors Medical, PRP treatment ranges from $4,500 to $15,000 depending on the complexity of the case, the number of areas being treated, and the condition being addressed.
Patients come to our Brooklyn, Clifton, Newark, and Perth Amboy offices with a wide range of conditions, including:
- Spine pain (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacroiliac joints)
- Neuropathy and nerve injuries
- Tendon injuries and post-surgical pain
- Small and large joint injuries — knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, ankle, wrist
The range in pricing reflects the range in complexity. PRP is not a one-size-fits-all treatment, and what’s right for a knee tendon injury looks very different from a multi-level spinal case.
What Factors Affect the Price of PRP?
Several variables determine what a patient pays. Here is how Dr. Etelzon approaches it:
Number of Areas Being Treated
Our practice treats the body as a unit. Rather than isolating one painful area and ignoring contributing factors elsewhere, Dr. Etelzon evaluates the full picture. Treating multiple regions in a single session often produces better outcomes. This affects the overall cost.
PRP Concentration and Blood Volume
“Our product is highly concentrated. We always draw at least 60ml of blood to ensure we’re working with a sufficient volume of healing cells. The quality and concentration of PRP matters enormously — and that’s often where cheaper options cut corners.”
Combination Therapy
At our offices in Brooklyn, Clifton, Newark, and Perth Amboy, Dr. Etelzon frequently pairs PRP with focused shockwave therapy and robotic laser treatment to accelerate the healing response. This combination approach is designed to improve outcomes and reduce recovery time — and it factors into the total cost.
Imaging Guidance
“We use both X-ray guidance (fluoroscopy) and ultrasound to make sure the PRP is delivered exactly where it needs to go. That precision matters just as much as the quality of the PRP itself.”
Image guidance is not standard across all PRP providers. At our practice, it is. Because placement accuracy directly affects results.
Provider Credentials and Protocol
Dr. Etelzon is double board-certified in pain management and a core provider with Regenexx, a network that holds physicians to strict standards for PRP processing, concentration, and delivery. That means every patient receives a protocol built on clinical evidence, not improvisation.
Why Doesn’t Insurance Cover PRP?
“Insurance tends to cover what’s established, not necessarily what’s most advanced. PRP falls into that newer, regenerative category where the science is strong but coverage hasn’t caught up yet. Patients who choose PRP are making a deliberate investment in a treatment aimed at long-term improvement, not just short-term relief.”
For patients managing out-of-pocket costs, our practice offers financing through CareCredit, allowing patients at all four of our locations to spread the investment into manageable monthly payments without delaying care.
How Does PRP Cost Compare to Surgery or Long-Term Medications?
It is tempting to compare PRP to a $30 prescription copay. But that is not the right comparison. The more honest comparison is the cumulative cost of a path that never actually resolves the problem.
Dr. Etelzon walks patients through what that often looks like:
- Repeated cortisone injections over months or years
- Ongoing prescription medications with side effects and refill costs
- Missed work and lost productivity during extended treatment
- Surgery, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket
- Months of post-surgical rehabilitation and downtime
“If your goal is to avoid surgery and not rely on medications long-term, PRP is a reasonable path to consider. For the right patient, it can interrupt that cycle entirely.”
Many patients who come to us in Brooklyn, Clifton, Newark, and Perth Amboy have already been through that cycle. PRP is often the first treatment that actually addresses the source.
How Many PRP Sessions Will I Need?
Most patients at our practice start with a single session — and that is by design.
“Since the product we use is highly concentrated, we always recommend starting with one session. Because we’re precise about both the quality of the PRP and exactly where it’s delivered, a single treatment often accomplishes what multiple lower-quality injections cannot.”
Whether additional sessions are recommended depends on the condition and how the patient responds. That conversation happens at follow-up, not before treatment begins.
Why Is PRP So Much More Expensive Than a Cortisone Shot?
This is the question Dr. Etelzon hears most often at our offices — from patients in Brooklyn, Clifton, Newark, and Perth Amboy alike.
“Cortisone is a manufactured medication that insurance covers and is designed to reduce inflammation temporarily. PRP is a customized biologic treatment made from your own blood, processed and concentrated specifically for your condition, and delivered with precision using imaging guidance. You’re not paying for a fancier cortisone shot. You’re paying for something that works through an entirely different mechanism.”
The cost of PRP reflects the personalization of the treatment, the technology used to process and deliver it, the imaging required for precise placement, and the expertise of a double board-certified specialist following evidence-based protocols.
Who Performs PRP at Pain Doctors Medical?
All PRP procedures at our practice are performed by Dr. Ilana Etelzon, MD. Dr. Etelzon has been performing regenerative medicine procedures, including PRP, for more than seven years. She is double board-certified in pain management and a core provider with Regenexx — a distinction earned by meeting strict, ongoing standards for PRP processing, concentration, and clinical protocol.
She sees patients at four locations across the New York and New Jersey metro area:
- Brooklyn, NY — serving patients from across Brooklyn and the surrounding boroughs
- Clifton, NJ — convenient for patients throughout Passaic County
- Newark, NJ — centrally located for Essex County and surrounding communities
- Perth Amboy, NJ — serving patients across Middlesex County and the surrounding area
Pricing may vary slightly by location and case complexity. Contact the office nearest to you to schedule a consultation and get a clear picture of what treatment would look like for your specific condition.
Ready to find out if PRP is right for you? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Etelzon at our Brooklyn, Clifton, Newark, or Perth Amboy office. Call 1 (844) 959-7246 or visit paindoctorsmedical.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PRP covered by insurance?
PRP is not covered by most insurance plans. It is classified as a regenerative, elective procedure. Our practice offers financing through CareCredit to help patients manage the out-of-pocket costs.
How long does PRP take to work?
Results vary based on the condition and the individual. Some patients notice improvement within a few weeks. Others see gradual progress over two to three months as tissue heals and regenerates.
Is one PRP session enough?
At Pain Doctors Medical, most patients start with a single highly concentrated session. Because of the precision of both the PRP formulation and its delivery, one session is often sufficient. Additional sessions are discussed at follow-up based on the patient’s response.
What conditions does PRP treat?
Dr. Etelzon uses PRP to treat spine conditions, joint injuries, tendon damage, nerve pain, neuropathy, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and post-surgical pain — across patients in Brooklyn, Clifton, Newark, and Perth Amboy.
Where can I get PRP injections near me?
Pain Doctors Medical offers PRP injections at four offices: Brooklyn, NY; Clifton, NJ; Newark, NJ; and Perth Amboy, NJ. Call 1 (844) 959-7246 to schedule a consultation at the location closest to you.
How do I know if I’m a good candidate for PRP?
The best way to find out is through a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Etelzon. She reviews your history, imaging, and prior treatments to determine whether PRP is an appropriate and likely effective option for your specific condition.