Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Can be Treated Here is an article taken from the Diabetes Wellness News, August 2004.—Linda Hicks, RN, MS, CDE*. I just got off the phone with a smile on my face. Another patient calling to ask if there really isn’t anything that can be done for the burning and stabbing pain she has in her legs and feet. Her doctor told her that she has Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN), and that there is nothing that can be done, and that it’s progressive. She couldn’t believe that, and she was in tears. I used to have to confirm this dismal sentence to a lifetime of either more mind-altering medication or escalating pain. Even when the pain started to subside into numbness, the risks didn’t decrease, the pain was traded in for lack of balance and sensation, which brought more falls and injuries that wouldn’t heal, and was the cause of 80% of all amputations in the United States. As a nurse for 35 years and a Certified Diabetes Educator, I too was taught that there is nothing that can be done for the symptoms of DPN, except increasing pain medication. When I first read about Anodyne—a new treatment that used infrared energy—I was skeptical and offended that someone was trying to take advantage of these poor sufferers of DPN. But a few weeks later I started seeing research studies using this apparatus that showed remarkable results. Our trial of six patients was overwhelmingly successful. Pain levels were reduced to the point where patients didn’t require medication. Patients were now sleeping through the night, walking during the day...even enjoying getting their feet tickled again by a loved one. Sometimes I still shake my head in disbelief, so entrenched is the lesson that there is nothing to be done for DPN. The reluctance of the medical community to open up to this innovative treatment is something I understand, but I certainly am hoping it is about to end...because this really works! How does it work? Knowing the science behind it helps to make it easier to believe. Anodyne therapy’s effectiveness is explained by the findings from the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine that established the important role of Nitric Oxide (NO) in many of our body’s healing systems. Nitric Oxide is a gas molecule...produced in the inner lining of the blood vessel and one of its most vital functions is dilation of the blood and lymph vessels. In those with diabetes, NO gets stuck to the sugary surface of the hemoglobin (which is what the hemoglobin A1C test measures), and can’t do its job of vasodilatation. Over time the capillaries close down and no longer provide the necessary oxygen and nutrients to the nerve cells, and the nerves start to suffer and either cause pain or become numb, or in a bizarre fashion—can do both at the same time. Anodyne rectifies this by using a Monochromatic Infrared Energy (MIRE) that is emitted from small pads placed lightly on the skin. These pads are left in place for about 45 minutes, where the infrared light can penetrate the tissue about 2 1/2 inches. If you have DPN, don’t hesitate to give this treatment a try...and spread the word. There are many sufferers out there who could really benefit from this! This article was written for the Diabetes Wellness Newsletter by Linda Hicks, RN. * Linda Hicks has been a Registered Nurse for 35 years. After receiving her Masters, she started focusing on patient education and has developed many different programs to help patients understand their disease and how to best cope. In the last few years, diabetes has been the major focus of her attention. She is a Certified Diabetes Educator and has created a program that received an ADA Certificate of Recognition for diabetes education. She feels that it is her role to be an advocate for her patients and to try to help differentiate between valid treatments and the many hoaxes that are available. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 301-759-4263. Also, check out our website at www.tristatehand.com. |
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