• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Treatment Using Light Eases Complication of Diabetes

Posted on: Tuesday, 21 February 2006, 21:00 CST

By KAREN MEYERS

What if you couldnt feel your feet? You would have difficulty walking and be more likely to fall. Your feet might burn or tingle, but you could step on a nail and not know it. This may seem unreal, but it is a reality for many people with diabetes. Thankfully, there is a new treatment option for people dealing with these effects.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy, or DPN, is a common complication of diabetes. It occurs in up to 50% of people diagnosed with diabetes. The symptoms of DPN are prickling, tingling or burning pain and numbness in the feet, legs and/or hands. The symptoms are often worse at night, interrupting sleep. It can make walking and exercising extremely difficult.

DPN causes a loss of protective sensation that brings on balance problems and falls, and can lead to injuries and more serious complications including chronic ulcers and amputations. Until recently, there were no effective treatments for DPN and the effects were considered irreversible. Now, we have a treatment option that has been clinically proven to enhance circulation, reduce pain and improve sensation.

The treatment is actually light. Technically, it is Monochromatic Infrared Photo Energy, or MIRE . The machine that provides the light is called Anodyne. A single wavelength of light is emitted from 60 diodes per electrode. The light energy penetrates the skin and causes increased circulation and reduced pain.

This treatment is offered as part of a comprehensive individualized rehabilitation program, to regain balance, mobility, and strength and control pain.

Treatment with Anodyne has been clinically proven to improve balance and gait and reduce the risk of falls by 96% in the elderly patient with neuropathy. An anodyne treatment is typically 30 minutes and is typically very comfortable.

The protocol for DPN calls for 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks, but the frequency and duration of treatment may vary depending on severity of the condition and the therapists discretion. Some patients report that they feel warmth, but often they feel nothing at all during treatment. The test is what they feel after the course of treatment. In a survey of 252 diabetic patients who received therapy that included Anodyne, 78 percent reported a reduction in falls, 80 percent reported a reduced fear of falling, and 72 percent reported they were able to increase their activities, which improved their quality of life.

Anodyne can be used for many painful conditions and injuries in addition to DPN. Any condition that would benefit from improved circulation may respond well to Anodyne. There are very few contraindications for its use, and the effect is localized. For people with DPN that respond well to Anodyne, there are home units available that can help maintain circulation and prevent a return of pain or loss of sensation.

Karen Meyers PT, OCS, is Outpatient Program Manager, Rehab Services, High Point Regional Health System. For more on this topic, tune in today to Regional Health Talk at 8 a.m. on WMFR (1230 AM). To suggest a column topic, call 878-6200 or write to info@hprhs.com

Source: Greensboro News Record

More News in this Category