Overview & Report Card: Anodyne Therapy We began using Anodyne Infrared Therapy about 8 months ago. During this time we have been observing just what happens with this device. Many patients with peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes, circulation problems, and chemotherapy toxicity have been helped. Peripheral neuropathy is a numbness of the feet or hands. It can also be painful and affect balance due to loss of sensation in the feet. The Anodyne was advertised to help with diabetic neuropathy and it has for the most part. About 80% of the patients who receive it report a significant improvement in their symptoms. They report less numbness, less pain, and improvement in walking ability. Regaining the ability to walk can be helpful in controlling weight and controlling sugar levels. To help determine the extent of the problem, we also measure sensation with our painless sensory nerve testing. It also shows 80% of those treated have significant improvement of the sensation in their feet after 7-8 weeks of treatment. This was, for the most part, what we had hoped for and to some extent expected. Although, to be honest, it was actually better than I hoped! I thought it might help a little, but not such a large percentage. Some things we did not anticipate were that it would help improve patient’s ability to sleep, also reducing sugar levels and blood pressure as well. This really surprised me. However, we have come to expect surprises from the Anodyne Infrared Light Therapy. Another surprise was that people who had numbness and tingling in their feet and hands would regain sensation in six to eight weeks, even after having numbness for ten years! Very surprising. One cancer patient who was in remission could not stand to have the sheets touch his legs and could not sleep at night. He is now able to sleep at night and can tolerate sheets on his legs. Again, we were surprised, it worked on people who had chemotherapy toxicity for three years! Don Warnick of Oakland had numbness in his feet for 12 years and was forced to retire from truck driving in 1995. He had been on pain medication for his feet for 12 years and sleeping pills as well. The pain and numbness would not let him be. Now, he can walk as long as he wants. Sensation has returned to his feet. He no longer takes medications after 12 years! Next time you see Don, ask him how his feet feel! Then, there was the patient who was a heavy smoker for 30 years. His circulation in his feet was not very good and testing showed his sensation was poor as well. After eight weeks, he too got return of sensation in his feet and his pain was greatly reduced. I was not sure it would work for him, but it did. Next, we had three patients who had lupus and mixed connective tissue disease. This disease decreases circulation due to an over productive of collagen in the blood vessels. I did not expect they could be helped. Their legs were swollen, skin peeling, and lots of pain. But surprise, they too got rid of their pain and were able to increase their walking time from a few minutes to hours at the mall! They no longer had problems with balance and falling. One nice lady no longer needed her cane. If I were giving out a report card, I would give the Anodyne a B+. I would give it an A, but it does not work on everyone. Yet, it is a much more powerful tool than I could have imagined. The combination of Anodyne to increase circulation and stretching exercises has become an important tool in our arsenal to fight pain. If you have peripheral neuropathy or pain and numbness in the hands and feet, give us a call or ask your doctor for a referral. It is a painless evaluation and treatment. If you are suffering, don’t let the days pass you by when you could be doing things. We will answer any questions about billing or concerns you may have. Call us at 301-759-4263 at TriState Hand & Occupational Therapy. Try Therapy first with us. You will come in a patient and leave a friend. Call us today! Anodyne Fact Sheet *Monochromatic Infrared Radiation Energy (MIRE) is the acronym for Anodyne Infrared Therapy. * Anodyne has reduced or eliminated pain due to peripheral neuropathy plus restore sensation and balance in 80% of the patients we have treated. *Anodyne increases blood vessel diameter to 32 times current blood vessel size. *Anodyne also lowers blood sugar and lowers blood pressure. Nice side effect! |
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