Any risks with Cold Lazer?

Meggy

So, I'd have to drive far to get Cold Laser treatments...but is anyone ever made worse by Cold Laser?  

Is there any issue with it triggering cancer cell growth or any other problems?  

Have people been helped?

PLEASE NOTE:  I do NOT want responses from anyone who is associated in anyway with the selling or use of the laser equipment.  Please DON'T CLOG UP my thread.  I only want to hear from my sisters with Lymphedema. 

Thanks for your help sisters.

Hugs,

Meg

hugz4u

This is an interesting subject, let us know your experiences if you do it. Hopefully  people will weigh in on it also. I wonder what might come up if you type cold laser in the search box. There must be something on it.

As  for people clogging up the threads with sales etc. they are not allowed to advertise on these boards. As soon as people try and advertise we report them promptly and they are removed...yeah!:)

Binney4

Meggy, there are some issues with cold laser treatment after breast cancer. It's not recommended for use in the presence of cancer cells, and since we can't know that there are none, that's something to think about.

There was a time a few years back when laser LE treatment was all the rage, but we hardly hear about it anymore. Several women here used it, some of them fanatically. There were even some studies in Australia (and later in the US) that showed it was initially effective in reducing swelling, but they never studied the long-term efficacy OR safety of its use. The most often quoted theory of why it worked was that it reduced fibrosis that created blockages. You might PM LindaLou, as she did use it consistently in the past--don't know what her current status with it is. There are wild threads about it in the archives here--it got to be the one really reactive subject we've ever had here (thanks in part to a manufacturer joining the discussion, just as you point out). 

There was some false advertising in the past, but with awareness (and a certain amount of outrage) that was stopped. And there were serious questions about certain manufacturers selling directly to patients who had no training in its use, even though the studies showing initial limb reduction were conducted with a highly specialized protocol administered by trained professionals. So unfortunately the whole question of cold laser treatment for LE has been tainted, and has not been followed up with appropriate long-term safety studies. 

Too bad, since we certainly need all the legitimate options we can get for this stupid condition!

Do let us know what you discover!
Binney

hugz4u

Ah Binney I knew you would come through. You have an excellent resource center in that brain of yours. Enjoy the fireworks tonight. O........ Maybe you don't do them in your hot tinder box climate. Probably would light the whole state on fire. 

Oh another thought.. Maybe the cold lazer will be good to cool you folks out that way. I feel terrible for you all cooking in the sun.

I am going to look up the cold lazer thread as you have got me wondering what it is all about.

HappyTrisha

Meggy, I had cold laser treatments several years ago and they definitely worked.  That's all I can tell you.  Also, they recommended I continue treatment every six months but I didn't do that.  But when I was going, it definitely worked.  I am fine right now (cancer wise) as far as I can tell.  No idea whether there is a contraindication.  Feel free to PM me if you want any further information.

Trisha

Meggy

My super famous lymphedema doctor recommended it but I'd have to drive an hour and I can't do that now. I'll pm lindalou.

Meggy

Hi Binney, there are a bunch of versions of the name Lindalou but the one that is just Lindalou hasn't been active since 2008...I searched that name and got nothing under cold laser. Is her name slightly different?  

carol57

meggy, you'll find that lindalou53 has posted about cold laser in the past

cider8

I'm gearing up to start some cold laser soon. My LE therapist is hoping it will help the pitting on my chest, try to prevent/reduce any fibrosis. I've got a seroma there, too