Cold Laser treatment

[Guest guest]

Has anyone heard about or have experience with 'cold laser' treatment?

After my chiro treatment today, the doctor produced a small handheld device

he told me was a cold laser pen. He explained that the cold laser resonates

at 625 Hz which is the same frequency that our nervous system operates and

asked if he could put it on my spine for 2 minutes. I asked what for and he

replied that it 'should' promote faster healing and nerve root growth, so I

said ok. Totally painless, actually I did not feel a thing. He said he has

a patient he is treating for pain and this cold laser gives immediate

results. I did not ask for 'how long?', nor did I ask what it was going to

cost me.

I just did a Google search for 'cold laser', here is what I found:

http://www.aetna.com/cpb/data/CPBA0363.html

Clinical Policy Bulletins

Number: 0363

Subject: Cold Laser Therapy

Important Note

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Policy

Aetna considers cold laser therapy experimental and investigational because

there is inadequate evidence of the effectiveness of low-energy (cold)

lasers in wound healing, pain relief, or for other indications such as

musculoskeletal dysfunction, arthritis, and neurological dysfunctions.

Note: Also see CPB 604 - Infrared Therapy.

Background

Low-energy lasers (also known as cold lasers) have been promoted as an

effective way to produce analgesia and accelerate healing of a variety of

clinical conditions.

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Although the results from large, uncontrolled, open trials of low-energy

lasers in inducing wound healing have shown benefit, controlled trials have

shown little or no benefit. The analgesic effects of low-energy lasers have

been most intensely studied in rheumatoid arthritis. Recent well-designed,

controlled studies have found no benefit from low energy lasers in

relieving pain in rheumatoid arthritis or other musculoskeletal conditions.

Furthermore, although positive effects were found in some earlier studies,

it was not clear that the pain relief achieved was large enough to have

either clinical significance or to replace conventional therapies.

Published systematic reviews of the evidence have concluded that there is a

lack of adequate evidence of effectiveness of cold laser therapy for

treatment of chronic wounds (e.g., Schneider and Hailey, 1999; Cullum et

al, 2002; Flemming and Cullum, 2002), musculoskeletal disorders (de Bie et

al, 1998), arthritis (Brosseau et al, 2002a; Brosseau et al., 2002b; Marks

and de Palma, 1999; Puett and , 1994), tuberculosis (Vlassov, et

al., 2002), tinnitus (Waddell & Canter, 2002), and pain (Crawford et al,

2002; Gross et al, 2002; van der Heijden et al, 2002; Binder, 2002;

Crawford, 2002; Speed and Hazleman, 2002). Systematic evidence reviews have

also concluded that low-energy laser therapy (e.g., Microlight 830,

Microlight Corporation of America, Missouri City, TX) is ineffective in

treating carpal tunnel syndrome (Gerritsen et al, 2002; O'connor et al, 2003).

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http://www.healiohealth.com/tek9.asp?pg=products & specific=joksemp8

This one is an advertisement, the wand costs $990 US:

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Two success stories:

Since '98, after a back injury and a subsequent L5-S1 discectomy, back

therapy and epidurals every six months, I suffered from continuous

debilitating pain. I was told by a world renowned neurosurgeon that the

only option was to fuse my lower three vertebrae. Then I had a total of 3

treatments with the LTU 1000. I am now healthy, ride my bike, walk and

hike.No more crutches and most important, my 12-year old daughter has her

mom back. —K.S.

A ten year history of diagnosed Fibromyalgia, Depression and chronic

debilitating fatigue.

After 6 laser treatments with the LTU1000, most of the pain and symptoms

were reduced to a minimal level and my life returned to normal.. Now I only

come as necessary and have increased my activity to that of a normal lifestyle.

The treatments are cost effective and have no side effects associated with

them.

In chronic cases one may expect a return of pain or a sensation not

uncommon after a first workout session.

In our experience the pain should lessen after each treatment and with time

patients seem to experience a better quality of life with little or no

significant pain.

http://www.holisticjunction.com/categories/cold-laser-therapy.html

Cold Laser Therapy

COLD LASER THERAPY is a treatment whereby a cold laser is utilized to treat

chronic and acute pain. Cold laser therapy is used for persons suffering

from back and neck pain, musculoskeletal pain, joint pain associated with

arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendonitis, busiitis, neuropathy, achilles tendon

pain, migraine headaces, sprains and strains, carpal tunnel and other

associated pains. Cold laser therapy also treats conditions such as TMJ,

reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and other inflammatory and scarring

conditions.

Cold laser therapy is effective as it emits an electric pulse of 150

millivolts at a width of 80 MHz - which compliments the pulse at which an

individual's body perceives pain. This, in turn, increases serotonin levels

which allows the body to heal itself. Cold laser therapy is non-thermal and

noninvasive. A combination of cold laser and electrc stimulation, cold

laser therapy is one of the most effective healing therapies in the medical

community today. Completed in one to three sessions, cold laser therapy is

not only significant in reducing treatment times, it is cost effective as well.

To learn more about cold laser therapy or to find a practitioner who

utilizes cold laser therapy, please feel free to peruse our business member

directory for a cold laser therapy practitioner today at holisticjunction.com.

http://www.globaltechnoscan.com/15thAug-21stAug02/cold_laser.htm

FDA Approves Acculaser's 'Cold Laser' Technology; New Tool Provides

Non-Surgical Alternatives for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Acculaser Inc. announced that it has received approval from the Food and

Drug Administration to market the company's Acculaser Pro " Cold Laser " for

use in the non-surgical treatment and management of pain for carpal tunnel

syndrome.

" We are very excited to be able to offer this innovative non-surgical

approach to people suffering from carpal tunnel pain, " said

Streeter M.D., CEO of Acculaser. " The pain of carpal tunnel syndrome can be

so severe that people cannot work or live normally. We hope to improve

their lives without the pain, risk or worry associated with surgery. "

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a leading cause of lost workdays and workplace

disability. More than 1 million Americans develop carpal tunnel symptoms

each year, and more than 200,000 surgical procedures are performed at an

annual cost of over $2 billion. Carpal tunnel syndrome often begins as a

result of repetitive motion of the upper extremity, which results in

chronic swelling in the area of the tendons and nerves of the hand and wrist.

" We have a very robust technology, " said Dr. Streeter. " Cold laser is easy

to apply in the doctor's office by a trained therapist. Also, there is no

recovery period from cold laser treatment, no risk of infection or other

complications associated with surgery. "

Acculaser is also pursuing FDA clearance for treatment of tendonitis, and

is conducting animal research in the area of bone regeneration in

collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin.

" Cold Laser is truly a platform technology, " said Mr. De Taboada, Vice

President of Research and Development, " We look forward to becoming the

world leader in developing the science and future applications of photon

therapy, not only in the area of orthopedics, but also in other markets. "

CONTACT: Streeter of Acculaser Inc., +1-

Web site: http://www.acculaserinc.com/

http://www.connect.org/programs/springboard/slides2000/acculaser/

Click Here to Start (slide show)

http://www.detnews.com/2003/health/0303/28/h02-119050.htm

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

Treatment: Carpal tunnel syndrome

New cold-laser therapy eases inflammation, but medical experts say more

tests are needed

By Maureen Mc / Special to The Detroit News

When Sepparnen, a retired Ypsilanti factory worker, went to Sports &

Industrial Rehab in , she was in such pain from carpal tunnel

syndrome she had to switch hands to finish eating a meal.

Three months of laser therapy restored so much of Sepparnen's strength, she

eats meals with confidence and hopes to soon resume her glass-making hobby.

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Sorry this got to be so long.

Rick