Light Therapy Helps Restore Patient’s Life A few weeks ago we had a lovely patient whom I shall never forget. Do you remember last month when I wrote how I used to be afraid of patients with peripheral neuropathy? Well this is Barbara Algieri’s letter to us upon completion of her program here at Tri-State Hand & Occupational Therapy. Obviously, it is one I’m very happy to share with all of you. Here it is: Six years ago, I was diagnosed with “Mixed Connective Tissue Disease”, (a form of Lupus), as the years progressed so did the damage from the disease, It wreaked havoc on my circulatory system. Many of my blood vessels were beginning to narrow and caused severe poor circulation. My feet and ankles were swollen and marked with ulcers. I felt like I was walking on “two stumps”, I had no feeling in my feet; this caused me to be very unsteady. Consequently, a few months ago I fell and hurt my back and injured the sciatica. In October’s newspaper Health Magazine, a headline caught my attention: “Anodyne Light Therapy for Pain.” I called and set up a consultation and began treatments that day. With my goal being to be pain free, or at least a little less, I began the therapy, hoping I would also be able to walk normal without my cane. I wanted to be able to go shopping, go to church again on a regular basis, and most of all just walk around in my home. I have had several weeks of treatments; now I can go grocery shopping, I’m back and involved in my church again, and I can even move freely around my house, and I can put shoes and socks on for the first time in over six months. The whole group was wonderful; I call them the miracle workers. Bryan was so empathetic, Donnell and Pam (the office staff) were so caring and polite to me. And I cannot say enough great things about ALL the therapists. In the beginning I was in so much pain, that I became a pain, I know that. But Kenton, God bless him, he picked me up one time when I couldn’t get up off the table, and Laura actually got up on the table and helped me do the leg exercises. I want to thank Fran, Michelle and all of the therapists (I can’t remember all of their names) for their patience with me; the worked together as a team. I love them all. I’m more than improved, I feel like a human being again. I strongly suggest that anyone having leg or foot pain or circulation problems call Tri-State Hand & Occupational Therapy. Go see for yourself what they can do for you. They will make it all better. Thanks to the whole organization and I wish you all the success in the world! Sincerely, Barbara J. Algieri The day she was here to bring in this letter I could not be happier for her. When she first came in she had a cane and was having severe difficulty walking. I wondered what we could do for her. Could we really do what she wanted? She was obviously in a lot of pain, very frustrated and feeling her quality of life was slipping away from her. After two weeks she began to tell us “hey this Anodyne stuff seems to be working.” I looked at her ankles. The swelling was way down. The skin was no longer peeling off her ankles and calves. The sores on her skin were healing. “Wow”, I said. “They look great!” You know this device is so new, I’m not sure exactly what good it can do sometimes. Barbara’s diagnosis of vasculitis with Lupus was one it was supposed to help but she was the first one we treated with these problems. Needless to say, it is a story with a very happy ending. If you or someone you know has pain, numbness and tingling in their feet or hands, or is diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy or circulation problems, please give us a call. Stop living with pain and start living again. Just ask Barbara Algieri. |
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