Cold Laser To The Rescue

It has been a while since my last post...so much happening in life! The holidays, a new year, new office staff members (and sadly, one departing too), kids, wife, cat, etc, etc, etc. And also, marathon training...yes, I said marathon training. In my last post, you will recall that I was bemoaning the fact that I messed up...I ignored the check engine light. I let a nagging injury to my right ankle get out of hand when I ignored the escalating pain that it was providing as feed back. Eventually it got the best of me...and it looked as if my training for the Fort Worth Cowtown Marathon was shot just as it was getting started. I was very disappointed...this was to be my first marathon...the first big endurance event of several that I had planned for 2010. Not a good start for sure!

Well, after whining about it for a little while, I put my doctor hat on and went to work trying to fix the issue and salvage my quest to get to the Cowtown Marathon. First step, as I said before, RICE: rest, ice compression and elevation. Next step: Cold Laser Therapy! Although I've been using this therapy for years in my office...with great success I might add...I had failed to consider using it on ME! And, my ankle tendinitis (over stretching to the point of micro-tearing a tendon; the structure that attaches muscles to bones) is a PERFECT condition to be treated by the laser. DUH!

Cold laser treatment is an amazing therapy and has been used in the healing arts since 1965. It works by supplying energy to the body in the form of non-thermal photons of light (not high enough frequency as to cause significant heating). The body is able to absorb this external energy on a cellular level and transform light energy into chemical energy, which the body uses to accelerate the normal healing rate of tissue for a wide range of ailments. Most people cannot even feel the laser as it is being applied. It has application for treatment of a wide variety of conditions including tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fascitis and other issues, myofascial adhesions, bursitis, neck and back pain...and a whole lot more.

Anyway, I began applying the laser to my ankle tendinitis twice per day. Additionally, I stopped running completely for about 2 weeks. Additionally, I wore kinesiotape bracing literally 24 hours a day for those 2 weeks (another great treatment that I will save for a different discussion). Finally, I went to my local running store and got a professional shoe fitting that addresses my particular running traits...I came home with a great shoe made by Newton (also a great topic for another discussion). With each application of the laser, my ankle condition improved and, at the end of that 2 weeks I was back out on the road doing (slow, careful) test runs. This, despite the fact that my podiatrist friend warned me that this type of tendinitis usually heals over months...not days.

Now, I have put nearly 2 months of hard training on the ankle without a problem. Granted, I kinesiotape for every run and am very deliberate in maintaining my proper running gait too. I still get a laser treatment on my ankle after every hard training run but I have essentially been able to return back to my regular routine after only 2 weeks off! And to that, I say AMAZING...even though I see it happen regularly with my own patients!!

At this point, my goal of completing my first Marathon is in-sight as I begin to wind my training down. I will complete the last of my long training runs today (21 miles...have done that 2x already) and will then begin to taper down from here to prevent injury and be fresh for the Cowtown. But, without the Cold Laser Therapy, there is no way I would have been able to say that! In fact, without the cold laser therapy, I would probably just now be feeling better and trying to get back into running again!

Cold Laser has rescued my plans! Now bring on the Marathon (and the triathlons and the ultra marathon later this year...yep, I guess I am a bit twisted)