Laser Therapy for Neuropathy

@farmhealth25 I have had cold laser therapy twice, the first worked. I had to do it again because of other health issues being unreasonable. I would be happy to answer your questions. I had the therapy for both hands and feet.

my daughter, who falls due to Ataxia, has had numerous surgeries of hip & leg & has incredible neuropathic pain in her legs. Neurologist has not responded to her inquiries. We don't know what else we can do here in Canada.

I was suggested this way early on before doctors even knew what was going on with me . I was sent for Laser Light Therapy at orthopedic foot office highly regarded its not there fault that there half million dollar machine didn’t work for me . Insurance wouldn’t cover it at the time as it was new and I wasn’t on Medicaid or Medicare had to pay out of pocket each time even with discount was $70 each visit . Back to why it didn’t work for me … I tore my Achilles in half this is crazy part I didn’t know know I did I felt very little pain after seeing the foot Specialist MRI and such on the foot and ankle confirmed tore Achilles repaired and Cast After this the laser therapy began for 3 months that next week I tore it again sand leg this time worse and again didn’t know I did as slight pain fixed again cast so on so forth when I came in for the cast to be taken off more laser treatment. I just kept getting worse final verdict after a lot research MRI’s, brain MRI’s I had Spinal Arachnoiditis

Hi @sunnythe1st, I'm sorry to hear your daughter has not been able to see a neurologist for help with the neuropathic pain in her legs. There are some complementary and integrative treatments that might be helpful for the pain symptoms. The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy (https://www.foundationforpn.org/) has a list here — https://www.foundationforpn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Complementary-and-Alternative-Treatments-Revised-2020-final.-1.pdf. Another good site for learning about neuropathy is Neuropathy Commons - https://neuropathycommons.org/.

There is a discussion on Ataxia that you might find helpful for your daughter:
-- Ataxia: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ataxia-1/

Have the doctors suggested or provided any treatments for the Ataxia?

I happened to be in this area relating to foot drop and I have foot drop left and right, got braces in Feb 2020 and what a difference! I also have axonal sensorimotor PN and the braces allow me to walk without use of a cane and improve my balance tremendously. Wear them every day and all day.

Hello,
thank you for your reply - I think I may not be using the correct words/term for what I am interested in - The therapy I am talking about is infra red or a special light treatment that they have in gloves and boot type things, to use on your hands and feet for short periods of time each day -
I have heard mixed reviews and I know everyone is different and so it may or may not work on everyone - Just wondered who might have tried it and their results

Thank you, and wish you the best in your getting help/better

@famhealth25, I shared a video about infrared therapy earlier in this discussion here but it's more about "near" infrared therapy - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/153235/.

I'm not positive but I think what you are referring to is cold laser therapy. I've seen ads for products but not really convinced it would provide any help for me and I haven't heard anyone else that too positive on it. There are a couple of other discussions on it but not in neuropathy.
-- Have you used cold laser therapy for soft tissue or other injuries: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/have-you-used-cold-laser-therapy-for-soft-tissue-or-other-injuries/
-- Cold Laser Therapy for Scar Tissue After Knee Replacement?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cold-laser-therapy-for-scar-tissue-after-knee-replacement/

Here's some information on topic that explains it a little better than I can.
-- Laser Treatment for Neuropathy – Is It Effective?: https://www.healthpages.org/health-a-z/laser-treatment-for-neuropathy-is-it-effective/

has anyone tried LLLT low level light therapy for peripheral neuropathy? I chiropractor i know offers a home LLLT device plus other light/laser therapies. The cost is very expensive 3-7K and not refundable nor covered by insurance. However, the entire process is FDA aproved. I can barely walk due to post cancer neuropathy of both feet.

Im interested in starting the treatment. My chiropractor sells a take home pair of LLLT boots but they cost 3.5K. You wear the boots 20 min. 2-3 times per day for 90 days. You own the boots but insurance does not cover them. Doc states he has treated thousands and has 90% success rate. not sure if hes exaggerating or not but is backed by a major city radio station. let me know how things go for u.

Hi @farmhealth25,
Many of the light and sound therapies are used with the same intent, I think, and that is to enhance blood flow; to enhance cell growth, to help the nerves. Whether the nerves stop deteriorating or actually regrow is the subject of many studies (not enough studies though for those of us in pain.) I also think that the regrowth, or holding steady is also the goal of taking supplements. As our bodies react to treatments differently, it comes down to what works best or feels best for you. Nerves grow slowly, so for the most part this is not an instant gratification. There was a video from a researcher that also remarked about the importance of exercise. I do everything I can, and yes in a year I have improved, my neuropathy is not gone, but it has improved. My neuropathy is from chemotherapy.