Do you or your patients suffer from diabetes? If so, then you are familiar with the possible complications associated with this disease, especially progressive and debilitating damage to nerves, which leads to chronic pain. “The painful symptoms associated with this nerve damage include numbness, tingling, as well as burning, shooting or stabbing sensations that most often affect the lower extremities.”[1] Diabetic nerve pain “… will affect approximately more than 5 million Americans in 2021 and is expected to double by 2030.”[2]
Diminished Quality of Life
“With more than half of patients with diabetes having some form of nerve damage, this progressive and debilitating complication significantly impacts the daily lives of millions of Americans.”[3] Diabetic nerve pain is symptomatic of the nerve damage caused by this disease, known medically as “diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).” DPN is one of diabetes’ most common chronic complications. “Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) affects around 28% of all patients diagnosed with diabetes and approximately half of those with DPN will experience the debilitating manifestations of painful DPN in their lifetime.”[4]
Conventional Medical Treatment
Most conventional medical treatment for diabetic nerve pain focuses on pain management involving OTC or prescription pain medications to block or reduce the numerous pain-related sensations. But according to a Johns Hopkins news release from June 16, 2011, “Current treatments for diabetic neuropathy focus on relieving symptoms, but don’t address the root cause by repairing nerve damage.”[5] Plus, “Pharmacological treatments for DPN are associated with both uncertain therapeutic effects and adverse effects, as well as with high costs.”[6]
Nationwide Diabetic Nerve Pain Survey
A March, 2021 nationwide survey of patients suffering from diabetic nerve pain found that:
- “58% of patients are not satisfied with the current treatment plan for their diabetic nerve foot pain.”[7]
- “70% of patients have taken at least two different medications to treat or manage their diabetic nerve foot pain and 1 in 10 have taken four or more.”[8]
- “58% of patients report the lack of effectiveness is the most common reason for switching medications, with increased severity (49%) and quality of life issues (46%) also driving the desire to try new options.”[9]
According to more than half of those surveyed, some pharmaceutical drugs were not regarded as effective for treating their diabetic nerve pain. But a safer and more effective option is available.
For More Effective Pain Relief – Laser Therapy!
While pain medications provide only temporary relief and come with a great amount of risk and harmful side effects, Laser Therapy can safely and effectively relieve nerve pain without negative side effects. Laser Therapy is non-invasive and has been described as, “…an emerging treatment modality for management of neuropathic pain. It works by triggering biochemical changes within cells.”[10] These biochemical changes are extremely beneficial, not only relieving pain, but also stimulating and aiding the body’s innate healing processes — reducing inflammation, accelerating cell growth, and initiating tissue repair.
Laser Therapy for Nerve Pain
Laser Therapy has been proven to block pain signals transmitted to the brain, and decrease nerve sensitivity and inflammation. Flooding damaged nerves and tissues with photons of light promotes the body’s own increased production of chemicals that reduce pain, such as endorphins and enkephalins, from the brain and adrenal glands.Laser Therapy, “…is effective for disorders requiring tissue regeneration, pain relief and reduction of inflammation, treating nociceptive, neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain.”[11] And this is what those suffering from diabetic nerve pain need — effective pain relief without toxic side effects!
Laser Therapy Stimulates Nerve Repair
Perhaps even more important than pain relief, Laser Therapy can successfully regenerate nerve cells and restore nerve function: “Some clinical studies have reported that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) relieves clinical symptoms and improves nerve function in patients with DPN.”[12] In fact, “Low-level laser therapy has been used to manage nerve injuries as it holds the potential to induce a biostimulatory effect with no side effects.”[13] The repair of damaged nerves can greatly enhance quality of life for those suffering from diabetic nerve pain and numbness, helping them to stand, to walk, and to sleep better.
Studies Prove Laser Therapy Helps
Numerous studies prove that Laser Therapy is a safe and effective treatment for diabetic nerve pain. Here are the results of three studies*:
[*Please note that “LLLT” stands for “low level laser therapy.” It is a common acronym used to describe the utilization of lasers for clinical therapy. It is not unique to any specific class of laser.]
- A 2019 systematic review focusing on finding evidence of the effectiveness of LLLT on the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy concluded that “The evidence obtained shows LLLT has a positive effect in controlling diabetic neuropathic pain.”[14]
- A 2019 pre-post test analysis on 40 patients diagnosed with DPN found that, “In this study, we found that LLLT improved the QL and hence may be a useful therapeutic option in treating peripheral neuropathic pain in type 2 diabetic patients.”[15] [“QL” = “Quality of Life”]
- A 2018 animal study evaluating the efficacy of LLLT in managing neuropathy in rats with diabetes stated, “It could be concluded that LLLT is more safe and effective than gabapentin in the management of neuropathy in diabetic rats.”[16]
In Conclusion – Try Laser Therapy
If you are looking for a safe and effective way to relieve diabetic nerve pain and numbness and repair nerve damage, why not try Laser Therapy? Pain medications only mask pain. But Laser Therapy helps relieve pain effectively without negative side effects, plus accelerates nerve regeneration for permanent relief and the restoration of function. If you are a medical doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, acupuncturist, or podiatrist, consider adding Laser Therapy to your treatment menu. Laser Therapy also regulates the immune system, increases metabolic function, improves vascular activity, and relaxes muscles. One laser can make a big difference in your clinic for better patient outcomes! For more information on therapeutic lasers, contact Rob Berman at Berman Partners at 860-707-4220, or fill out the contact us form.
[1] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210514005049/en/Nationwide-Survey-by-Averitas-Reveals Painful-Realities-of-Living-with-Diabetic-Nerve-Pain, p. 2.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid., p.1.
[4] Ibid., p. 2.
[5]https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/to_fix_diabetic_nerve_damage_blood_vessels_and_support_cells_may_be_the_real_targets_of_treatment_hopkins_study_suggests, p.1.
[6] Lin L, Li J, Lin J, Tang S, Li Y. Effectiveness and safety of low-level laser therapy in diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev. 2021 Apr 2;10(1):96. doi: 10.1186/s13643-021-01656-y. PMID: 33810813; PMCID: PMC8017787, Abstract.
[7] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210514005049/en/Nationwide-Survey-by-Averitas-Reveals Painful-Realities-of-Living-with-Diabetic-Nerve-Pain, p. 2.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] M A, Ummer V S, Maiya AG, Hande M. Low level laser therapy for the patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy – A systematic review. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2019 Jul-Aug;13(4):2667-2670. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2019.07.035. Epub 2019 Jul 13. PMID: 31405692, Abstract.
[11] Loeb LM, Amorim RP, Mazzacoratti MDGN, Scorza FA, Peres MFP. Botulinum toxin A (BT-A) versus low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in chronic migraine treatment: a comparison. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2018 Oct;76(10):663-667. doi: 10.1590/0004-282X20180109. PMID: 30427505, p. 664.
[12] Lin L, Li J, Lin J, Tang S, Li Y. Effectiveness and safety of low-level laser therapy in diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev. 2021 Apr 2;10(1):96. doi: 10.1186/s13643-021-01656-y. PMID: 33810813; PMCID: PMC8017787, Abstract.
[13] Anju M, Chacko L, Chettupalli Y, Maiya AG, Saleena Ummer V. Effect of Low Level Laser Therapy on serum vitamin D and magnesium levels in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy – A pilot study. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2019 Mar-Apr;13(2):1087-1091. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2019.01.022. Epub 2019 Jan 18. PMID: 31336449, Abstract.
[14] M A, Ummer V S, Maiya AG, Hande M. Low level laser therapy for the patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy – A systematic review. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2019 Jul-Aug;13(4):2667-2670. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2019.07.035. Epub 2019 Jul 13. PMID: 31405692, Abstract.
[15] Anju M, Chacko L, Chettupalli Y, Maiya AG, Saleena Ummer V. Effect of Low Level Laser Therapy on serum vitamin D and magnesium levels in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy – A pilot study. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2019 Mar-Apr;13(2):1087-1091. doi: 10.1016/j.dsx.2019.01.022. Epub 2019 Jan 18. PMID: 31336449, Abstract.
[16] Abdel-Wahhab KG, Daoud EM, El Gendy A, Mourad HH, Mannaa FA, Saber MM. Efficiencies of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and Gabapentin in the Management of Peripheral Neuropathy: Diabetic Neuropathy. Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2018 Sep;186(1):161-173. doi: 10.1007/s12010-018-2729-z. Epub 2018 Mar 12. PMID: 29527628, Abstract.
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