Does anyone think that neurologist should know that there is an operation for foot drop? If mine would have told me years ago I could have gotten it fixed, but it it has been to long. I think that they should know about it?
I fixed my foot drop with exercise since its a nerve communication problem. Operations will cause more nerve damage. Think about each movement slowly on up/down stair placement. Watch self walking slowly in mirror holding onto parallel bars. Uphill treadmill helped strengthen muscles around knee for lifting. Standing stations for leg strength. Dropping ankles off back of leg press for ankle strength. I practiced slow heel to toe walking and watched in mirror. Used walker for smooth walk and progressed to Hugo cane. 4-Leg canes slow down smooth walking. Check online for handicapped or physically challenged gyms or centers in your area. Had more equipment than the hospital gym. Christopher Reeves Foundation discussed neuroplasticity which is the brain connection to your nerves. Your spine also has a memory that needs to be engaged thru repetition. I took me 6 months to walk again and a 4 months to move to cane. Then drop foot a few more months. Many center s allow PTs to be there to help.
Hello @ptbee, Welcome to Connect. I haven't tried laser therapy but did try a Zopec DT-1200 Electrotherapy unit for my feet but it didn't help the numbness so I quit after about 5 or 7 weeks. You will notice that we moved your post to an existing discussion on the same topic so that you could learn what others have shared on their experiences with laser therapy. If you click the link below it will take you to the beginning of the discussion.
A friend of mine from our church went there and was happy with the results. So I thought I’d try it out. The name is “Realief”. I have done three treatments so far. I will try a few more and see what the results are. Best of luck to you.
I have done the cold laser therapy, twice, it worked. The first time I was 95% better, I had issues/events and the neuropathy came backa and I had about 80% recovery with the laser. I am so much better than I was. I think that the effectiveness of the laser treatment correlates to the length of time you have had the neuropathy. I do many other things also, to keep the neuropathy at bay.
I have done the cold laser therapy, twice, it worked. The first time I was 95% better, I had issues/events and the neuropathy came backa and I had about 80% recovery with the laser. I am so much better than I was. I think that the effectiveness of the laser treatment correlates to the length of time you have had the neuropathy. I do many other things also, to keep the neuropathy at bay.
I went to a chiropractor, many PT places also have the cold laser. The cold or low-level laser treatment was used for Carpel tunnel, and then luckily someone thought of using it for neuropathy. The difficulty with insurance is that they want the studies to be published in Lancet or the New England journal of Medicine, and approved by the FDA.
The low level (red) light helps with the regeneration of cells. Along with diet and exercise. There are lasers available for home use.
I went to Pubmed to do research, I also used other search engines available within the medical field.
I my feet had 18 treatments on my feet and ankles and the first 17 did not seem to do any thing. At the beginning of the 18th I was told the diode in the machine was defective. The operator switched to another machine which seemed to help somewhat. I tried to find out how the therapist found out the machine was not working for how long it was that way. In spite of two letters to the company they would not tell me anything. During the treatments I never any light and never felt warmth. On the last one I felt a mild heat and saw light. Should one see light and feel any heat?
I have done the cold laser therapy, twice, it worked. The first time I was 95% better, I had issues/events and the neuropathy came backa and I had about 80% recovery with the laser. I am so much better than I was. I think that the effectiveness of the laser treatment correlates to the length of time you have had the neuropathy. I do many other things also, to keep the neuropathy at bay.
I think that there are many factors involved, and what you are doing to decrease the pain. Are you taking vitamins, exercising regularly, taking medications, and doing other treatments. I think the length of time you have had neuropathy is more important than the severity, with regards to the cold laser. Also,what is causing the neuropathy is important too. When I was first afflicted, my goal was to put my feet on the floor without howling in pain, as my puppies would make joyful noise with me, what a cacophony! I can do that put my feet on the floor and so much more because I worked hard to get there. I also give myself a foot massage every night after yoga, I sleep so much better now.
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I fixed my foot drop with exercise since its a nerve communication problem. Operations will cause more nerve damage. Think about each movement slowly on up/down stair placement. Watch self walking slowly in mirror holding onto parallel bars. Uphill treadmill helped strengthen muscles around knee for lifting. Standing stations for leg strength. Dropping ankles off back of leg press for ankle strength. I practiced slow heel to toe walking and watched in mirror. Used walker for smooth walk and progressed to Hugo cane. 4-Leg canes slow down smooth walking. Check online for handicapped or physically challenged gyms or centers in your area. Had more equipment than the hospital gym. Christopher Reeves Foundation discussed neuroplasticity which is the brain connection to your nerves. Your spine also has a memory that needs to be engaged thru repetition. I took me 6 months to walk again and a 4 months to move to cane. Then drop foot a few more months. Many center s allow PTs to be there to help.
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Hug
6 ReactionsHas anyone tried laser treatment therapy for neuropathy?
Hello @ptbee, Welcome to Connect. I haven't tried laser therapy but did try a Zopec DT-1200 Electrotherapy unit for my feet but it didn't help the numbness so I quit after about 5 or 7 weeks. You will notice that we moved your post to an existing discussion on the same topic so that you could learn what others have shared on their experiences with laser therapy. If you click the link below it will take you to the beginning of the discussion.
--- Laser Therapy for Neuropathy: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-1/.
Have you looked into any specific laser therapy treatments?
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5 ReactionsA friend of mine from our church went there and was happy with the results. So I thought I’d try it out. The name is “Realief”. I have done three treatments so far. I will try a few more and see what the results are. Best of luck to you.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsHi @ptbee ,
I have done the cold laser therapy, twice, it worked. The first time I was 95% better, I had issues/events and the neuropathy came backa and I had about 80% recovery with the laser. I am so much better than I was. I think that the effectiveness of the laser treatment correlates to the length of time you have had the neuropathy. I do many other things also, to keep the neuropathy at bay.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reactionwhere do you get cold laser therapy?
@williamdds .
I went to a chiropractor, many PT places also have the cold laser. The cold or low-level laser treatment was used for Carpel tunnel, and then luckily someone thought of using it for neuropathy. The difficulty with insurance is that they want the studies to be published in Lancet or the New England journal of Medicine, and approved by the FDA.
The low level (red) light helps with the regeneration of cells. Along with diet and exercise. There are lasers available for home use.
I went to Pubmed to do research, I also used other search engines available within the medical field.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI my feet had 18 treatments on my feet and ankles and the first 17 did not seem to do any thing. At the beginning of the 18th I was told the diode in the machine was defective. The operator switched to another machine which seemed to help somewhat. I tried to find out how the therapist found out the machine was not working for how long it was that way. In spite of two letters to the company they would not tell me anything. During the treatments I never any light and never felt warmth. On the last one I felt a mild heat and saw light. Should one see light and feel any heat?
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsDoes it work for horrible neuropathy?
Pamelaz
I think that there are many factors involved, and what you are doing to decrease the pain. Are you taking vitamins, exercising regularly, taking medications, and doing other treatments. I think the length of time you have had neuropathy is more important than the severity, with regards to the cold laser. Also,what is causing the neuropathy is important too. When I was first afflicted, my goal was to put my feet on the floor without howling in pain, as my puppies would make joyful noise with me, what a cacophony! I can do that put my feet on the floor and so much more because I worked hard to get there. I also give myself a foot massage every night after yoga, I sleep so much better now.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 Reactions