I do it for 10-15minutes once a day. Yesterday I did it twice a day.

I hold it about 12 in from the skin. I move it around several places. I don't think it is strong enough to damage anything...except your eyes if you look into it directly.

I've even done my fungus big toe nail, and it is now 50% better.
Not gone yet, but maybe by the fall?

My ankle which was swollen and throbbing all year, is gone. But if I don't do the pointer for a few days, the swelling returns.
It is obviously doing something...either to the circulation or the inflammatory process. I haven't figured it out yet. But magnets work on me too for various other things...but they were not helping this ankle foot thing.

My scar especially seems better. It is a huge long S-shaped scar on the top of my foot. There is a small bit of the hemangioma left on the spot where one would tie a shoelace. But it no longer bleeds like it did. It looks rather like a stigmata in fact! It is right over a major tendon. The plastic surgeon couldn't get it all back then, it had roots going in between the tendons, and there was no laser back then. I do recall both doctors I saw then tell me very sternly... DO NOT OPERATE ON THIS FOOT AGAIN---there is too much scar tissue under the skin and it won't heal back up.
So I am terrified to do anything with it. The laser pointer really helps this. But I don't know "how" it is working.

I showed it to my doctor last time I was there 3 months ago...and she was totally clueless-- like my podiatrist. It is very aggravating now, with shoes. Hard to find anything that won't irritate it etc. But since the pointer, it is better. I have a very vague ache in it, if I think about it at night, but not like the stabbing pain I had before the pointer.

How is it working? Have you started yet. Seems to me it took about 3 days to get rolling. For deeper tissues it might take a bit longer. The areas on the feet are closer to the skin where I use it.

I am leaving for vacation next weekend (not sure which day yet).
So I'd like to know how you are doing before then.

I've tried it a couple of times on my big toes. As I'm using it, the stabbing pain seems to be worse. I really can't tell if it's helping or not. I remember when I had the Rebuilder it made the same stabbing pains in my big toes worse so I had to return it. Maybe it's just me and my kind of PN that can't take the electrical (if that's what it is) type of zaps.

I don't think it's helping any if as I'm using it, the pain is worse.....I gave it a good try anyway!
Have a great vacation.

Try working also the top of the foot. You may have a compression there or at the ankle.

I do my ankle and scar first, and then the ball of the foot, and finally the toes. (If my cat doesn't discover me doing it...which then I discontinue, play with her a bit, and then go back to it).

I just put a link up to Tinel's sign... on the PN board.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsal_tunnel_syndrome

If you tap your top of the foot with a spoon or hard object gently, do you get zings in your toes? This is a sign of compression at the tarsal ligament.

I did that with a large wooden spoon, and there were no zings in my toes. It only made the top of my foot hurt somewhat.

I also checked out that link, and it seems the only symptom I have in common with TTS is the burning. I am able to walk a good distance with no pain as long as I have my Birkies on. My feet feel so much better when I'm standing or walking. They seem to bother me more at night once I blob out on the couch with my feet up. I use my lotion that I add some pure peppermint oil to, and that seems to quiet them down for me to able to sleep. I have accepted this way of life. The only thing that worries me is that it will probably get worse.

how long on your toe? and twice daily or once?
thanks, happy vaca

For a while I did once a day only. Then I started with twice a day briefly just recently.

I packed the laser, getting ready for vacation...since it is easy to leave things behind--5wks without would be painful. So I haven't used it in 2 days, and my pain is coming back already! I don't know how it is working, but it does. And the effect wears off too. So it is pallative only.

I think the batteries are running down too...so I will put new ones in.

lol, since i have multiple toes involved......5 minutes per toe? 10?
and where did you get it? staples maybe?

I got my laser at Ebay.... but Amazon has it too for very low prices.

http://www.amazon.com/Laser-Pointer-...1504941&sr=8-4

I've reading this blog and there's a new post re vitamin D and autoimmune diseases if anyone is interested

*edit*

I make sure my partner and I both take vitamin D daily.