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My Experience with Neuropathic Therapy Center at Loma Linda University
In 2010 I was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in my fallopian tube. The treatment was surgery and five months of intense chemotherapy. With much gratitude to the professionals at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale AZ I can now, nearly eleven years later, proudly say that I am still cancer free. However, one of the side effects from the chemotherapy has been neuropathy in my feet which has become more pronounced in recent years. I also have been managing hypothyroid disease for the past forty or so years and stand for hours a day as part of my work as a soft tissue therapist. All contributory factors for peripheral neuropathy.
The neuropathy for me presented as random shooting pains/lightning bolt type sensations which had become very debilitating and limiting my ability to walk any distance. After researching and finding only drug related options, I had become discouraged. During one of what had become many a sleepless night looking online for related information I just happened across the Neuropathic Therapy Center at Loma Linda University in southern California. As a manual therapist myself, and one who has many clients also struggling with neuropathy’s, I found this approach very intriguing.
When I called the Neuropathic Therapy Center to learn more, I was encouraged to set up an online conference call with Mark Bussell, PT, the primary developer of the work, to discuss my situation and determine if I would be a good candidate for this type of therapy. On that call we determined that I would be a good candidate for this therapy. As I live out of state, we also decided a good therapy option would be to schedule for a two-week intensive therapy regime which would screen for food sensitivities and during the same time frame receive physical therapy to facilitate improvement in neurovascular function.
I was found to be severely sensitive to dairy, sugar, chicken, almonds and moderately sensitive to gluten, mild to corn. These sensitivities are not to be confused with allergy, but foods that I am sensitive enough to that they cause a reaction to normal neurovascular circulation. Now knowing this and having had time for these things to clear my system I can definitely tell you that when I eat too much of any of these foods, I can feel a reaction or a triggering of symptoms.
It has been five weeks now since completing the two-week protocol. I have been very diligent with my diet and doing my daily exercises as part of the continuation of the physical therapy protocol. There have been ups and downs, diet modification is not easy. The neuropathy symptoms I am still aware of, but I can honestly say that overall, I feel that I have achieved nearly a fifty percent reduction in symptoms and with due diligence to the diet and exercise I feel that I am still continuing to make improvements.
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@leslierh
I'm familiar with Loma Linda although I've never been a patient there.
By any chance do you know if the treatment would help numbness only or other conditions Neuropathy can cause?
Take care,
Jake
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3 ReactionsHello @leslierh, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with Jake @jakedduck1 and others. Did you have the Intraneural Facilitation (INF) therapy? -- https://lluh.org/services/neuropathic-therapy-center/blog/what-you-need-know-about-intraneural-facilitation-inf
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2 ReactionsGood news ! Can you describe the physical therapy protocol and exercises?
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1 ReactionThanks John, probably one of the most positive signs from treatment I've reviewed.
I have idiopathic PN and that was not mentioned but would not rule this treatment out.
At present, I'm taking 1000mg of Qunol Turmric and getting some relief. A good friend with diabetic Pn long term, tried it and was pain free in 6 weeks.
I believe INF would be helpful since it facilitates redistribution of blood to areas that are deficient. Makes one wonder if we suffer from long term circulatory problems from desk jobs, driving, and watching TV. Seems pretty simple but difficult to cure.
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6 ReactionsI talked to them and they quoted $3000.00 total. If it isn’t helping you can quit anytime but no insurance.
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1 ReactionHi Jake!
I have less numbness and no stabbing pain in my feet. The stabbing pain is totally gone. I do stay strict with not eating foods that I'm sensitive to and I practice the exercises every day. Really impressed with no stabbing in my feet.
Leslie
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1 ReactionHello John!
Yes I had Intraneural Facilatation therapy.
Leslie
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1 ReactionHello Coloradobigmama!
Initially at the Neuropathic Therapy Center they test you for gluten, diary, and sugar sensitivities, and later they may also include other food sensitivity testing. I personally had several severe food sensitivities contributing to my neuropathy.
The physical therapy and exercises are not like any physical therapy or exercises I have ever experienced. For the therapy they have you lay on your back, fully clothed, on specially placed wedges and bolsters in a manner that optimizes arterial flow. They then use specific therapy techniques that facilitate increased circulation into targeted neurovascular structures including central and peripheral nervous systems. Both patient and therapist are active in this process. The home exercises are similar to the clinical therapy but designed to be performed by yourself.
I feel keeping on track with eliminating foods that I'm sensitive to and doing my exercises everyday has really helped relieve my neuropathy. Keeping on task with this regime is initially a significant change of lifestyle, but the benefits such as being able to walk without pain make it more than worth the effort.
It's been six weeks now since completing my trearment and still feel that I am making steady progress.
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1 ReactionHi blearyeyes,
Granted this may seem expensive, but if you can afford it you do get a lot for that $3000, and as you say if you feel it is not working you can withdraw from the program any time.
The protocol for me was usually about an hour of evaluation including food sensitiity testing and two hours of hands on intraneural facilitation per day. Very intensive but for me effective.
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1 ReactionThank you for your comment. I am going to look into Loma Linda. I don't live there but I'm wondering if they could help me anyway. I don't have any hesth issues at all other than this PN in my feet. Having spent my life teaching exercise and running its very frustrating and painful.