I attended a Peripheral Neuropathy Seminar given by a local Physical Therapy Office. The speakers included PTs, a Podiatrist an a representative from Anodyne.

It was geared to diabetics, but much of it applied to others. The PTs claimed they have about 80% success rate in using Anodyne for 30 minutes 3 times a week along with 30 minutes of exercise (mostly balance). They are very selective in who they accept as patients which explains their high rate of success. The diabetic are never really cured as long as they stil have diabetis, but they do reach a plateau which gives them substantial relief, but they will have to continue using Anodyne. They could not quote any success rate for non-diabetic. Most of their patients are diabetics who have problems with the lower extremities.

The Anodyne representative said that PN is often caused by insufficient blood flow in the capillaries feeding the nerve. Anodyne releases Nitric Oxide which is already in the body and this dialates the capillaries to increase the blood flow. The representantitive could not quote any success rate for non-diabetics because the cause if PN is usually unknown for them.

The insurance companies will cover some of the costs of the PT if a prescription is written by a physician and the PTs can demonstrate improvement in the patient. Medicare will not pay for the purchase of anodyne equipment but they will cover the cost of PT if their is a prescription