By Dr. Goodman, DC, and Dr. Bradberry, DC | ReliefNow Laser Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina
Women experience chronic pain at higher rates than men. They are also more likely to receive a psychological rather than a structural diagnosis when they present with musculoskeletal complaints, and they make up the demographic most affected by fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, migraine, and autoimmune-related pain conditions. Research published in the Journal of Pain has documented consistent gender disparities in how pain is assessed and treated across clinical settings.
For women in Charlotte, Pineville, Matthews, Ballantyne, and Myers Park who have lived with this gap, the disparity is not abstract. Many describe feeling dismissed or undertreated, left to manage persistent pain that affects daily function, work, and quality of life. ReliefNow Laser Charlotte takes a different starting point. Its multi-credentialed team builds each treatment plan around the physiology, hormonal influences, and biomechanical factors that affect women differently than men.
Why Is Women’s Pain So Often Undertreated?
Part of the problem is diagnostic. When women report musculoskeletal or chronic pain, their symptoms are more often attributed to stress or psychological causes before structural ones are fully explored. That pattern delays effective care and leaves real, physical sources of pain unaddressed.
A clinical approach that overlooks the distinct dimensions of women’s pain tends to fall short. Hormonal influences on pain sensitivity and a higher prevalence of central sensitization conditions both shape how women experience and report pain, and a plan that ignores them provides an incomplete picture.
How Does Female Physiology Shape the Pain Picture?
Estrogen influences pain sensitivity through several mechanisms. It affects opioid receptor density, inflammatory cytokine production, and central sensitization thresholds. Research published in the journal Pain confirms that estrogen fluctuation influences the onset and intensity of musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain. That helps explain why fibromyalgia, migraine, TMJ disorder, and inflammatory joint conditions appear at significantly higher rates in women.
These differences matter for treatment. A plan that accounts for hormonal and biomechanical factors starts from a more accurate understanding of what a woman is actually experiencing, rather than a one-size-fits-all model.
What Does the Charlotte Clinic’s Approach Involve?
ReliefNow Laser Charlotte uses Class IV laser therapy, an FDA-cleared modality used in pain management to target inflammation at the tissue level. The clinic offers it as a non-pharmaceutical option for women who have not found what they were looking for through medication-based care. A 2015 systematic review in the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine examined laser therapy across a range of chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions.
The team also brings complementary training to each plan. Dr. Goodman’s post-graduate education includes acupuncture, with coursework in women’s health applications, along with nutrition, both areas of practice relevant to the neuromodulatory and metabolic dimensions of pain. Dr. Bradberry has worked with female athletes, including ballet dancers and team-sport competitors, and brings experience with the biomechanical and injury patterns common in female athletic populations.
To learn more about the providers and services, visit ReliefNow Laser Charlotte, or watch the clinic’s patient education videos on laser therapy for pain. The office is located at 4601 Park Rd, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28209, and can be reached at 704-527-7246.
About the Authors
Dr. Eric Goodman, DC, studied at UNC-Charlotte and Palmer College, with post-graduate training in neurokinetic therapy, acupuncture, laser therapy, rehabilitation, and nutrition. He volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and the Rotary Club. Dr. Douglas Bradberry, DC, graduated from the University of Florida and completed his chiropractic degree with honors at Palmer College. He holds the CCSP certification and has a background in Olympic and ballet sports medicine. Both are providers in the national ReliefNow network, founded by Dr. Robert Hanopole, DC.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any treatment program.
