I was wondering if anyone has had experience with cold laser therapy. My 15 year old daughter has had a myriad of other unsuccessful treatments over the past 3 years. We are going to try this next. Any ideas?

Is it like a light therapy? Do you have any research on it? Please pass on any info...

Thanks
Debbie

I haven't heard if anyone here has tried LLLT {aka -cold, soft, low level laser therapy}for the RSD pain.
but here are a few links about Laser/ Infared/ far infrared-

http://laser.nu/
http://www.purehealthsystems.com/infrared.html
http://www.purehealthsystems.com/mus...in-relief.html
http://www.toolsforwellness.com/far-infrared.html

some basic searched info-
http://www.freewebs.com/kgangel0810/...atmentnews.htm

from http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=3&gl=us

[NEW.. LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY ..LLLT..... We have been using LLLT for a year and a half. Actually, we were using cold laser back in the 1980's with the Neuroprobe HeNe laser on acu-points. We are using LLLT extensively on a variety of patients, about 8-12 people daily. results so far... very encouraging !! Here is how we are usning LLLT so far...

We have a MedX and a MicroLight LLLT and SLD. LLLT does not replace neuro-musculo-skeletal rehabilitation procedures such as mobilization-manipulation and corrective exercises. We use LLLT to improve tissue response and patient tolerance to treatment procedures. We seek to increase patient successful outcomes rates and reduce the number of treatment visits needed to reach outcomes. Improved outcomes success with reduced number of treatment visits should generate increased referrals for our practice as we demonstrate quality and cost advantages over our competitors

Assumed effects:
1. Increased micro-circulation
2. Decongestion of neurovascular entrapments
3. Reduced inflammation
4. Reduced nociception
5. Enhanced cellular metabolism to speed healing processes

WHICH LASER IS BEST?? Several are on the martket. There are critical differences! Many are not true lasers. Some are actually SLD's, superluminious diodes or LED's ...not true lasers. They market these as "light therapy", not as cold lasers, if they are being honest in their advertising. LEDs do not penerate as deeply (about 1 cm for LED-SLD versus 5 cm for cold laser) and do not have the same energy qualities as true lasers. They do have benefits, but they are not the same as laser. ASK if the unit being sold to you is a true laser? It should have the laser insignia and should list power and wavelength right on the unit. We have both LLLT and SLD. Each has advantages.

WAVELENGTH is also critical! Some are 760nm, some are 830nm, some are 960nm. Some penetrate only about 1cm into the tissues. Optimum wavelength appears to be 750-850 nm. The MedX is 785nm. The research seems to support that this is well within the therapeutic window of effectiveness and depth. Our observation is LLLT works... and works very well.

Our MicroLight and our MedX are the two best choices on the market today. They appear to be equally effective. The MedX seems to have wider usefulness, with both a true LLLT and SLD in one unit and excellent protocol manuals. The MedX is much more attractively priced and has exceptionally skilled expert technical support. We obtained both of our units from Kessler Therapy Equipment in Boston, a very reliable and honest equipment dealer.

Our Laser Protocols:

We describe here our methods of applying LLLT to specific structures. LLLT is applied as an adjunct to joint and soft tissue mobilization, stretching and strengthening exercises, traction, splinting, and various electric stimulation protocols.

TMJ (using a single-diode exposure method)... Position unit so that one diode is precisely placed over the TMJ, pointed medially, with patient holding mouth open to displace condyle from fossa. Expose posterior, middle, then anterior portions of the joint to expose posterior elastic bundle, lateral and medial joint capsule, and disc. Move the single diode progressively from posterior to anterior aspect of this lateral-to-medial exposure sequence. Then apply the laser cluster to the masseter. Avoid treating temporalis to avoid retina exposures.

Cervical region... Expose targeted facet joint located at 45 degrees postero-laterally with mild sidebending-rotation-flexion, as comfortably tolerated, to expose joint surfaces and joint margins. Then expose laterally with slight superior angle to target nerve root, accompanying vascular structures, any joints of von Lusca that may be present and impinging neurovascular structures.Expose trigger sites in scaleni and SCM muscles. Treating Erb's Point within the scaleni may address thoracic outlet compression and brachial plexus neuralgia issues. Treating trigger points in the levator scapulae and upper trapezius may be beneficial.We also consider treating some of these structures when addressing distal over-use disorders, especially carpal tunnel syndrome, as many distal upper extremity dysfunctions are caused by or potentiated by proximal dysfunctions at the thoracic outlet and cervical spine.

Rotator cuff and other shoulder impingements... Placing hand behind back draws much of the supraspinatus tendon from beneath the acromion where it is more accessible to laser exposure. We may also target long head of biceps, coracoid process, and subacromial bursa.

Epicondylitis... We often use single diode to target specific portions of the lateral epicondyle, such as the fossa on the anterior surface of the condyle where palpation reveals most tender sites, placing sequences of single-diode exposures along the common tendon arising from this bony surface. We may then exposure the annular ligament and radial tunnel. When treating the medial epicondyle, we expose the proximal pronator structures. We also apply a treatment to the C7-T1-2 paraspinal region, since many people with medial epicondylitis have trigger points here as well.

DeQuervain's... We use a single-diode method to place exposures along the affected tendons and radial syloid.

Carpal tunnel syndrome... Equipment instructions call for placing a sequence of triple-diode exposures along the anterior wrist plus one set in the palm. We make sure diodes expose the proximal edge of the carpal ligament and distal (palmar) edge of the carpal ligament. We also apply an exposure set to Erb's Point at the scaleni to address any accompanying thoracic outlet double-crush.

Thoracic Spine MFPS trigger sites... We treat paraspinally along C7-T1-2-3-4-etc. There may also be palpable trigger sites along the lateral ribs and intercostals, as well as in the teres or latissimus dorsi. Costovertebral mobilization is commonly indicated.

Lumbo-sacral region... We treat palpable trigger sites in paraspinals, quadratus lumborum, upper gluteus maximus. Smaller individuals may respond to LLLT targeting facet joints if they are not too deep. Sacro-iliac ligaments, just caudal and medial to PSIS are often responsive to LLLT. Manual techniques at SI should be considered.

Trochanteric bursa symptoms are often responsive to LLLT. We treat directly over the trochanter as well as slightly posterior, perhaps very slightly inferior, to the trochanter to expose attachments to the hip lateral rotator group. The motor point of the piriformis is likely too deep for the LLLT, as much as we would like to treat that site. But one should always consider treating for SI dysfunction whenever trochanteric bursitis is presented, as well as stretching and counterstrain at the piriformis.

Knee... Common tender-trigger-inflammatory sites we have treated include adductor tubercle, collateral ligaments, pes anserine, and various portions of the patellar tendon.

Ankle-Foot... Acute sprains have been very responsive to LLLT. Plantar fasciitis site on the inferior-medial-distal portion of calcaneus, accompanied by exposure to tarsal tunnel, in case ther may be some TTS contributing to or PF symptoms (common). We haved had successful cases of Morton's neuroma treatment. ]

more on this search link-
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

My chiro has used LLLT at times and I can tell that my muscular/soft tissue pain is much relieved in that one session.
But I have TOS/CMP not RSD-
I would be very interested to hear if any have tried LLLT for RSD pain.

i had cold laser therapy on my right ankle........i had four sessions with the doctor, and felt no different..........it was a procedure that lasted all of five minutes.........it did not hurt, was not invasive but did not make any difference one way or the other.................