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admin, Author at Anderson Podiatry Center - Page 14 of 21 Anderson Podiatry Center

admin, Author at Anderson Podiatry Center - Page 14 of 21 Anderson Podiatry Center

Author: admin

Elsie’s Story: Heel Pain & Knee Pain

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Walking On My Toes

Elsie didn’t have time for heel pain. She loved being active and going for runs, and suddenly heel pain had stopped her in her tracks.

“I was walking on my toes,” Elsie said. “The pain was so bad, I couldn’t put any pressure on my heels. So I had to stop running and I was looking for a solution.”

Heel Pain, Gone

Elsie came to see Dr. James Anderson, DPM, and tried conservative treatment first.

Dr. Anderson said, “Elsie had plantar fasciitis (heel pain). We tried orthotics first, but nothing was really helping her. Instead of doing surgery, we recommended stem cell treatment. Often, patients can avoid surgery, and experience pain relief with only one stem cell treatment.”

“I had the stem cell treatment,” Elsie said. “After only one week, the pain was totally gone!”

Two years later, she came to see Dr. Anderson for a follow up appointment, and she was back to running and her heel pain had not returned.

Then, Knee Pain

Elsie had started to have knee pain, and mentioned it to Dr. Anderson. “I wore my cartilage down on the top and bottom of my knee, and it was hurting when I ran.” she said.

Dr. Anderson had good news. “We have recently integrated our practice, and are now offering stem cell treatment for knee pain as well as shoulder and hip pain.”

Elsie was thrilled, “I’m a firm believer in stem cell,” she says. “Because I have not had any trouble with my foot since my injection.”

Dr. Anderson treated her with the newest regenerative product that contains umbilical cord stem cells. “Umbilical cord stem cell treatment has the highest concentration of stem cells, growth factors, and proteins, so it’s a highly-effective product and can help patients avoid surgery,” Dr. Anderson says.

The Power of Stem Cell Treatment

“Stem cell treatment is a really powerful tool,” Dr. Anderson explains. “Because it works by stimulating your body’s natural ability to heal.”

“As we age, our bodies begin to degenerate, and we start to have pain. But, stem cells have the ability to become any kind of cell. They can become bone, tissue, tendon, or cartilage. So, it’s an amazing treatment option for a variety of conditions.”

“We’ve treated plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and arthritis in the joints with stem cell therapies for years, and now we can treat knee pain, shoulder pain and hip bursitis as well.”

Back On Track

Elsie had the stem cell injection in her knee two weeks ago. “This week I was hurrying to do something, and I didn’t even mean to, but I started to run, and it didn’t hurt at all!”

“My knee just keeps feeling better and better every day,” Elsie says. “In another week or so, I’ll be back out there, running again.”

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Summer Special!

Now offering a FREE new patient exam and consultation! Expires 6/30/18. *X-Rays, testing and treatment not included.  

Call us today! Just mention this blog to receive the offer.

Learn more about regenerative medicine here.

Grace’s Story: Arthritis in Big Toe Joint

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On My Feet All Day

As a kindergarten teacher for many years, Grace was used to being on her feet all day. “I was busy,” Grace says, “And I just didn’t have time to address all my aches and pains.”

Grace had pain in her big toes, but she ignored it and kept up with her active life, and her daily one-mile walks. “I just sucked it up,” Grace says, “I think a lot of people do that when they are busy.”

Then The Pain Kicked In

When Grace retired from teaching, suddenly the pain kicked in. “I was having trouble walking because of the pain. Finally, I got tired of dealing with it and decided to find treatment.”

Grace went online, began researching, and soon found Dr. James Anderson, DPM. “I didn’t realize I had arthritis in my big toe joints,” she said. “You just know you have pain, but you don’t really know what’s going on until you go in and make an appointment.”

Regenerative Medicine + Surgery

Dr. Anderson says, “Because of the arthritis, there was a bone spur on her joint. I recommended surgery to remove it and clean up the bone. Then, we could follow up with a regenerative medicine injection.”

Grace decided to have the surgery, and then followed up with the regenerative injection, and laser therapy to help reduce inflammation and prevent scar tissue from forming.

“Regenerative medicine works by stimulating the body’s natural ability to heal, and the stem cell components help to regenerate the damaged cartilage,” says Dr. Anderson. “If we see the patient early enough, we can often use regenerative therapies to avoid surgery completely.”

“For Grace, this treatment approach helped us to save her joint and improve function! Many times, patients will have to have a joint fusion or replacement, and we were able to prevent that.”

Hitting the Trails Again

It wasn’t long before Grace was living the retired life she had hoped for. “I’m back to doing anything that I want,” Grace says.

“I can go hiking, and I can travel! I walk two miles every day, and I can wear any shoes I want to!”

Her advice for others is this. “Don’t wait any longer to address your pain. The longer you put it off, the more damage can occur. And then, that’s more time and money you will have to spend to resolve it.”

“Take the time to take care of yourself. It’s important.”

Call today to make an appointment, and we can discuss treatment options with you.

To learn more about regenerative medicine, click here. 

Jacque/tarsal tunnel, drop foot, neuropathy, mortons foot

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Jacque’s experience at Anderson Podiatry was wonderful; she felt welcomed and safe, especially during the time of her surgery. According to Jacque, everyone was incredibly kind and she felt well taken care of as all of her questions were answered.

Jacque was treated for tarsal tunnel, and along with that she developed drop foot, neuropathy, mortons foot. The Anderson Podiatry team performed the surgery to release some of the nerves, and Jacque is now healing up very nicely.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is described as ankle pain due to a compressed nerve. If you have muscle weakness, twitching, tingling, loss of balance, numbness, burning, prickling sensations, and/or nerve pain in your legs or feet, you might be experiencing neuropathy, or nerve damage. Neuropathy can have many causes, like diabetes, infections, injury,, and cancers, and can worsen over time.

The trained specialists at Anderson Podiatry Center know what it’s like to experience neuropathy: which is why we were the first doctors in the Rocky Mountain region to offer nerve decompression treatment that offers long-lasting relief. Our world-renowned podiatrists use the latest technology to reveal the exact stage of the neuropathy and determine the most appropriate actions to take. Our varied and affordable treatment options for neuropathy include, a non-invasive, conservative treatment package that includes diagnostic testing, MLS® Laser Therapy, Electrical Nerve Stimulation (ESTIM), and nutritional counseling, as well as revolutionary nerve decompression surgery

The best aspect of the surgery has been that the neuropathy is basically gone, she does not have the drop foot anymore. It is the best outcome she could imagine since she could feel that her leg and foot have not dropped since the surgery.

Jacque would absolutely recommend Anderson Podiatry to her friends and family, and in fact- she already has!

CJ’s Story: Chronic Tendon Pain (The Power of Regenerative Medicine)

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CJs testimonials chronic tendon pain

The new year is here, and for many of us that means it’s time to focus on our health, and address some of those lingering issues we’ve been putting off.

Today, I will share a success story of a patient who was dealing with chronic joint and tendon pain for several years. My goal is to help instill hope in many of you who have been experiencing similar pain, and have perhaps given up on finding a solution. So, here we go.

52, Healthy and Active

This patient is a 52 year-old female, who was healthy and active. We will call her CJ. She came into my office with a variety of foot complaints. The primary issue was chronic joint and tendon pain in her right foot and ankle, and this had been going on for several years.

Seven years prior, a horse stepped on her foot and she was diagnosed with a “hairline fracture” and wore a cast for three months. Once she was out of the cast, she could get back to activity with little pain. However, over the next five to six years, she started having more and more pain in the area that began to significantly limit her activity. This gradually led to weight gain, which only made the problem worse.

Plantar Fasciitis, Arthritis and Tendon Pain

When I first saw CJ, she was planning on having gastric bypass surgery, but was concerned that she would not be able to exercise properly after the surgery because of her foot and ankle pain. She had previously been treated for plantar fasciitis by another doctor.  She had steroid injections and wore a night splint, but neither treatment seemed to give her any relief.

During her initial exam, her X-rays showed that the old injury had been more than just a hairline fracture. She had evidence of post-fracture arthritis in two joints in the middle of her foot. The fracture had healed, but left joint damage behind. Her other main issue of ankle pain was diagnosed as a partial tendon tear. This had likely been aggravated by compensating for the joint pain.

Regenerative Medicine + Surgery

Many times, when patients present with arthritis, tendon pain, or plantar fasciitis, we use regenerative medicine therapy to help stimulate healing and avoid surgery altogether. But, in CJ’s case, we needed to use several different treatments to help address all the issues that had been accumulating for all these years.

We performed surgery to repair the tendon tear and used regenerative injections to help heal the joint damage. To better support the damaged joints, we fitted her for custom orthotics. She then began physical therapy to improve her strength, balance, and flexibility.

Ten Weeks Later

CJ was on crutches for four weeks after the tendon repair. But, once we cleared her to start walking, she progressed quickly. She was highly motivated and committed to her therapy and post-operative rehab. Ten weeks after surgery and regenerative therapy, she was already back to walking and elliptical workouts daily. She still has the occasional sore muscles, but no longer has anywhere near the pain she did before. CJ is still considering gastric bypass surgery. But, she now feels she will be able to lose the weight without it since she can exercise without pain.

So, if you or someone you love is struggling with daily foot or ankle pain, please don’t wait any longer to address it. Call today to make an appointment, and we can discuss treatment options with you.

2018 can be your last year to deal with chronic pain. It’s time to get on the path to healing, together.

Winning the Jules Tinel Award: My Journey

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The Patient Who Started It All

14 years ago, I made a bold decision to do something conventional medicine wasn’t doing. Little did I know it would change my professional life forever. Back then, I never thought that one day I would work to reverse the symptoms of neuropathy (the burning, tingling, numbness and pain many diabetic and non-diabetics suffer with).

That all changed one day when I met this patient. He was diabetic, and hadn’t felt the bottom of his feet in 20 years. I was training under a John Hopkins plastic surgeon, Dr. Lee Dellon, and he had performed surgery on the patient four days earlier. Now here he was for his follow-up appointment. The surgeon stroked the bottom of the patient’s foot, and this man who came in so stoic began to laugh like a child and then the tears started flowing down his face. That moment started my journey. I knew right then and there that I wanted to prove to the medical world that the symptoms of neuropathy could be reversed, and that patients didn’t have to suffer and live on medication.

How the Research Started

It was a slow process to adopt Dr. Dellon’s ideas into my practice. Soon after my training, I helped form an organization with other colleagues called the Association of Extremity Surgeons. In this process, my passion grew for what I was doing and how it was transforming people’s lives. The drive to do research came to me out of frustration. I was frustrated because I wanted patients and doctors to know neuropathy can be reversible, and I had to prove it.

Gradually, research became a part of the practice. I was warned that research is very hard, and I soon discovered that it was. I had to form a team to support the vision. The process to do this started several years ago and the research continued to grow.

Research On Diabetic Neuropathy

Too many people are suffering from the symptoms of neuropathy, and too many diabetics have amputations and are at risk of dying because of the loss of their limbs. Because of this belief, we completed a study on intraoperative nerve monitoring in diabetics with severe neuropathy. No one had ever recorded and published a paper to prove that nerve function can rapidly be improved when tight nerve tunnels in diabetics are opened (decompressed).

The study objectively proves what I watched the patient I mentioned earlier experience. Our testing shows that the nerve function improves up to 300 percent within minutes during surgery. And this defies the conventional medicine approach. This study was ground breaking, and my hope is that along with other studies that have been and will be published, the thoughts of the medical world and the public will begin to shift.

Winning The Jules Tinel Award

Recently, I attended the annual meeting for the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons. This organization includes: podiatrists, plastic surgeons, neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons who all share a common goal of reversing nerve pain in the extremities. At the meeting, I was honored to receive the Jules Tinel award for the scientific advancement of knowledge regarding the human peripheral nervous system. Other doctors to have received this award are: Dr. Lee Dellon from John Hopkins who introduced the concept of nerve decompression for neuropathy, Dr. Maria Seminow from the Cleveland Clinic, the first American doctor to do a face transplant, and Dr. Ivan Ducic of Georgetown Medical School, the first doctor to surgically reverse severe headaches.

We all appreciate recognition, but it’s very special when it’s coming from your peers. I’m grateful to have received this award, and grateful for all the support given to me by my colleagues and the team that helps me, and my wife who has always understood and supported me.

And I’m especially grateful to all the patients who have trusted in me and taught me to be grateful for the ability to offer hope where there once was none.

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To learn more about neuropathy, and how we treat it, click here.

To make an appointment, click here.

Raymond’s Story: Decades of Chronic Foot Pain

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24 Years in the Military

Raymond Evans was accustomed to toughing out pain. But after serving for 24 years in the military, he was experiencing chronic foot pain that had become debilitating. Now working in the mail business, Raymond’s job required him to be on his feet all day every day, and it was becoming harder and harder for him to get through the day.

Many Diagnoses, No Relief

Raymond went to doctor after doctor to try to find a solution. “I was diagnosed with a bone spur, and plantar fasciitis, and I was seeking treatment but I wasn’t getting any relief,” Raymond says. “It was getting to the point that sometimes I would have to crawl to get from point A to point B, and I was worried I was going to lose my job.”

Finally, A Referral That Brings Hope

Raymond was being treated at the VA Center nearby where he lives in Spearfish, South Dakota. He had tried many treatments, and even more holistic options like acupuncture and yoga, but nothing was working.

One day his doctor referred him to Dr. James Anderson, and the seed of hope was planted.

A Specialist Six Hours Away

“I didn’t know much about Dr. Anderson at the time,” Raymond said, “But I knew he was a specialist in his field, and that’s what I needed.” Although Fort Collins, CO is  6-hour drive from where Raymond lives in South Dakota, he was more than ready to make the trip. “I would have gone across the country to get help at this point,” Raymond said. “I was having trouble just walking, and I needed answers.”

A Treatment Plan That Worked 

“Raymond had seen multiple doctors for this chronic pain in his left foot. After a thorough physical exam and testing, I diagnosed him with arthritis,” Dr. Anderson says. Dr. Anderson recommended a nerve resection in Raymond’s foot to help with the pain.

“We performed surgery on one nerve above the ankle, and he got relief from that, so we did a second surgery to resect the other nerve,” Dr. Anderson explains. He also used a regenerative injection during surgery to stimulate the cells heal faster. “Sometimes we use regenerative treatment to help patients avoid surgery altogether, but in Raymond’s case, this was a great option to save him from needing a much more painful and intense surgery to fuse the joints together.”

Chronic Foot Pain, Gone

Today, Raymond is back on his feet. “I give Dr. Anderson 10 out of 10 stars,” Raymond says. “He takes the time to really figure out what’s going on. He has the passion, and he knows what he’s doing.”

Raymond is back to work on his feet every day, and he has resumed his normal activity level without pain. He also has custom orthotics made just for his feet, and he wears them every day to help provide continued support.

Raymond’s advice to other is this. “If you are in pain, don’t let it go on and on without addressing it. Eventually it can get to the point that you are struggling just to get through each day. I feel like this treatment saved my job, and in a lot of ways, really, it saved my life. I am truly grateful.”

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Learn about more treatment options for arthritis and chronic foot pain. 

To make an appointment, click here.

Zelda’s Story: RLS Non-Surgical Treatment

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No Solution for RLS?

Zelda had struggled with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) for years. The constant need to move her legs and creepy-crawly sensation was keeping her awake at night and affecting her daily activities. “I went to different doctors,” Zelda says, “But they told me there was nothing they could do.”

When You Can’t Sit Still

Zelda’s RLS symptoms didn’t just flare up at night, she was having a hard time getting through her daily activities as well.

“I couldn’t go to church anymore. I couldn’t go to a movie, or sit down to crotchet or even eat a meal.” Zelda says. She tried taking a medicine called Tramadol, but most of the time, it didn’t help. She eventually tried spraying Icy Hot on her legs just to dull the pain.

Finally, An Answer Online

The constant need to get up and pace was taking a toll on Zelda. “I couldn’t stay still, and I couldn’t get any relief,” she says.

Finally, one day, her daughter got online to look for answers, found Dr. James Anderson, DPM, and made an appointment.

RLS Non-Surgical Treatment

Zelda met with the Dr. Anderson, and he recommended a combination of ESTIM and MLS laser treatment. Dr. Anderson says, “This was a great option for Zelda because she was able to avoid surgery, and get the relief that she was looking for.”

ESTIM is an electrical stimulation treatment. “We use this to send various pulse waves into the leg, and it can stimulate the nerves to want to repair themselves,” Dr. Anderson explains.

The MLS laser works more on the cellular level. Dr. Anderson says, “The mitochondria is the “energy-creating” part of your cells. The laser works by targeting the mitochondria specifically in the nerve cells to help repair the damaged nerve tissue.”

All the Difference

For Zelda, this treatment made all the difference. Before she even finished her treatment, she was reporting 90-95% improvement in her symptoms.

“Now, I can sit. I can eat, and I don’t have any pain. I’m sleeping through the night, and the jittery feeling is gone,” she says. Zelda is back to the activities she loves. She can crotchet, go to the movies, and go to church. Her advice for others experiencing RLS symptoms is this.

“Just make an appointment because there is no one else out there doing this. Even if it only helps 75%, it’s worth it. To be able to sleep, and live your daily life again, it makes all the difference in the world.”

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Learn about more treatment options for RLS. 

To make an appointment, click here.

Peripheral Neuropathy: Don’t Just “Live With It”

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Peripheral neuropathy is a very common issue that affects patient’s legs and feet. Yet for something so common, we have a long way to go to help manage this painful and potentially debilitating problem. For most people, the symptoms start slowly and gradually worsen over time.

This slow onset can delay the onset of diagnosis and treatment for months, or even years. The symptoms are often different from person to person making it difficult for a doctor to easily recognize the problem early. Furthermore, there are multiple potential causes for the chronic nerve damage and multiple potential treatments depending on the cause. Long story short…peripheral neuropathy can be a tough row to hoe. But, there is good news.

Only Two Choices?

Too often in my experience, patients with peripheral neuropathy hear that they have only two choices:

1) Take pain medications to mask the symptoms

2) Live with it until the nerves die off and no longer cause pain

For years, doctors have searched for other options that would relieve or cure the symptoms regardless of the cause or severity of the nerve damage. They have tried many treatments, medications, and therapies that have only lead to disappointment. But, there is good news.

The Good News: ESTIM Treatment

Now, here’s the good part. Recently, one treatment (often referred to as ESTIM therapy) has shown quite a lot of promise in relieving, and even eliminating the pain from peripheral neuropathy. A company called NEUROGENX developed this therapy.

ESTIM combines a commonly used local anesthetic with a new type of electrical signals generated by a computer. Together, they can gradually heal nerve tissue by addressing the primary underlying cause of most nerve damage, lack of blood flow and oxygen to the nerves. Over the last four years, we have been using the NEUROGENX ESTIM treatment at our clinics to help patients suffering with different types of neuropathy. And we have seen dramatic results, especially when compared to other available treatments.

How ESTIM Works

For patients with peripheral neuropathy, limited blood flow and oxygen delivery can cause slow nerve healing. Whatever is causing damage to the nerve also can damage the small blood vessels that feed the nerve.

The ESTIM treatment combines both electrical and chemical treatment to stimulate increased blood flow and increased nerve healing. The injections use a local anesthetic called “marcaine” which opens and dilates the blood vessels feeding the nerves. Once the blood vessels are open, the electrical impulse goes through the nerve to “jump start” it and stimulate healing. The computer generates an electric signal that changes constantly. This means that the nerve does not “get used to” the signal, which would reduce the effectiveness.

So with each ESTIM treatment, the nerve receives both the nutrients it needs and the electrical signals telling it what to do. With this, the nerve is able to repair and heal the damage. With each subsequent treatment, more and more damaged nerve tissue repairs itself.

The Patient Experience

The most important thing to us is that we see patients have a dramatic improvement in their quality of life. When they come back to see us and report 85, 95, and sometimes even 100% improvement, that is the most rewarding part of what we do as doctors. I would like to end this blog with a quote from a patient named Zelda.

“Now after treatment, I can walk again. I’m back to my normal activities, and I don’t have any pain. I’m sleeping through the night, and the jittery feeling in my legs is gone. Just make an appointment because there is no one else out there doing this. Even if it only helps 75%, it’s worth it. To be able to live your daily life again, it makes all the difference in the world.”

If you would like to learn more about ESTIM treatment, please call us and make an appointment. We would be happy to answer your questions or schedule an evaluation to see if this therapy is right for you.

Come see us, we can help. To learn more about how we treat neuropathy, click here.

To make an appointment, click here.

Shelly’s Story: Searching for an “RLS Cure” at 2:30am

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shellys story restless leg syndrome
Five days after surgery, Shelly hiked up Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins, CO

Shelly was no stranger to 2:30am. Like many people who struggle with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), she was used to being awake while the rest of the world was asleep. Finally one night, she had enough. She went online, typed in “RLS cure” and began searching for a solution. What she found would change her life.

When You Just Have to Move

Shelly had been suffering from RLS for years. As a teacher, she was struggling with being exhausted all the time. “It seemed like I never got a full night of sleep, or settled into that deep “REM” sleep. I was continuously being interrupted by my legs tingling, twitching, and jerking. It felt like I just had to get up and move around no matter what I tried,” Shelly says.

When Medication Isn’t Enough

“The symptoms would start around 7:00pm every night. And it just got worse from there. Eventually, I started experiencing the symptoms earlier and earlier in the day. I just couldn’t figure it out,” Shelly says. “If I walked too much, if I didn’t walk enough…I just couldn’t ever find a pattern of movement that would give me relief.”

Shelly went to her PCP, and began trying medication after medication. “Over the counter meds didn’t even touch it. One medication kept me up all night, another one totally changed my personality. I was just out of it all the time,” Shelly remembers. “I really, really wanted to get off the medication and was hoping to find a doctor that would support that.”

The Breaking Point

For most people, there comes a point when you realize just how bad it is. For Shelly, that came on a car ride.

“My son was playing football, and we had to travel about two hours away from home to watch his games,” Shelly remembers. “I could barely make it down there. We constantly had to stop the car so I could get out and move. And it just hit me. I couldn’t go to the movies. I couldn’t sit in the car. As soon as I sat down, I had to get up and move. I was constantly frustrated, and I just wasn’t enjoying the little things in life anymore.”

Searching for an “RLS Cure” at 2:30am

Finally, one night Shelly began searching online and she found a story that got her attention. She read about a woman named Bonnie who had nerve decompression surgery and finally was able to sleep after 20+ years of suffering from RLS. Shelly remembers reading through to the end of her story and being in tears. “I thought, ok, this is it. This is what I’m doing,” she says.

From Michigan to Colorado

Shelly lives in Michigan and was ready to make the trip to Colorado for treatment. She called and spoke with Dr. James Anderson, DPM, over the phone and felt confident in her decision.

“He answered all my questions, and supported my desire to get off medication,” Shelly says. “That was a big deal to me.”

Shelly traveled to Fort Collins, CO, and had nerve decompression surgery on one leg first to make sure she would get the results she was hoping for. And she did.

Dr. Anderson says, “Because Shelly traveled for treatment and she had a great immediate result on the first leg, we felt confident that this was going to be the right approach for her. Ultimately, the goal is to resolve her RLS symptoms. The surgery takes about an hour, and we go in to open up nerve tunnels that have become compressed in the leg and cause these symptoms.”

Within days, Shelly had surgery on the second leg. “I felt a huge difference immediately,” she says.

Shelly Restless Leg Syndrome Cure
“I can now go to my son’s football games and sit, and enjoy every minute of it.”

Life Today

Shelly traveled back home to Michigan, and she slept all night long. “My husband said my legs were so still, he wanted to poke me to make sure I was still alive,” Shelly says, laughing.

“Within a week, I felt like I was back to being myself. I’m finally getting that deep sleep I need. My memory is better. I’m alert. I’m rested. My family just couldn’t believe how immediate the change was.”

“I’m happy to report that I can now go to my son’s football games and sit, and enjoy every minute of it.”

Shelly’s advice for others is this.”If you are struggling with RLS and it is affecting your quality of sleep and day-to-day activities, please consider giving Dr. Anderson and his staff a call. They will be very helpful in answering any questions that you might have. I am truly amazed by how this surgery has helped me. My symptoms are virtually gone. I wish I would have done this years ago!”

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Summer Special!

Now offering a FREE new patient exam and consultation! Expires 6/30/18. *X-Rays, testing and treatment not included.  

Call us today! Just mention this blog to receive the offer.

To watch Shelly share her story, click here.

Neuropathy 101: Part 3 (Real Patients, Real Stories)

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Welcome to Part 3 of our blog, Neuropathy 101. We’ve discussed the signs and symptoms in Part 1, and advanced treatment options in Part 2.

And, of course, we saved the best part for last. If you or someone you love is suffering from neuropathy, the most important thing for you to know is that there is hope. You don’t have to suffer and let neuropathy take over your life.

Today, I want to share with you the stories of three patients who came to see us with different symptoms, frustrations and needs. And after treatment, they are all experiencing the improved quality of life they were hoping for. After practicing for more than 35 years, there is still nothing more rewarding to me than hearing patients come in and tell me how their life has changed for the better since treatment. Here are their stories.

Evelyn’s Story

Symptoms:

“When I came to see Dr. Anderson, I had so much numbness in my feet and it was so painful. My feet hurt so bad by the end of the day, I wasn’t able to wear shoes. I was ready to go stark raving mad. I could only wear sandals and I live in Wyoming. And in the winter, I will tell you I definitely did not want to be wearing sandals,” Evelyn says.

Treatment:

Evelyn had nerve decompression surgery on both legs. This is a 1-hour procedure where we go in surgically to open up the nerves that become compressed in the legs, and cause severe neuropathy symptoms.

Life Today:

Today, Evelyn says, “I have new shoes that I got a year ago and I can finally wear them all day. It was so funny because my husband thought I had gone shopping and bought all new shoes. But, I was just finally able to wear all my own shoes again! At night when I got to bed, I can actually feel the covers with my toes, which I haven’t been able to do in years. I have no pain. I can be so much more active now. I’m ready to go dancing! If you are having problems with your feet, come see him and get the help you need!”

John’s Story

Symptoms:

“Most of my symptoms were occurring on the bottom of my feet. I was having a hard time being active because it took me so long to recover. If I walked about a mile, the balls of my feet would be so sore, it would take a full day just for me to start feeling better,” John says.

Treatment:

John had the ESTIM & MLS Laser treatment we discussed in Part 2 of this blog. Because John’s symptoms were not as severe, our non-surgical treatment options were a good fit for him. The ESTIM treatment is an electrical stimulation therapy, and the laser treatment works on the cellular level. Both treatments work in harmony together to help repair and restore the damaged nerves.

Life Today:

Before he was finished with treatment, John was already reporting significant symptom improvement. “I would say I’m 70-80% better already, and that’s being conservative. I can now walk 2 miles a day, and my feet recover in about an hour. I’m very happy with my results,” John says.

Kelly’s Story

Symptoms:

“I was experiencing a lot of numbness in my feet and struggling with loss of balance. By the end of the day, I was just in excruciating pain. I am on my feet all day at work, and I tried every type of shoe and insole out there, and nothing worked. I don’t really like to take pills, so I didn’t want to get on medication for it, but I really was searching for relief,” Kelly says.

Treatment:

Kelly had nerve decompression surgery on both legs, just like our first patient Evelyn did. This is a great option for many people with severe neuropathy and pain because it’s a minimally-invasive procedure and there is very little down time. Most patients can be up and walking around the day after surgery.

Life Today:

“I don’t dread getting up in the morning anymore. Now I can get through work every day. My heel pain has resolved as well, and my balance is so much better. I feel confident in where I’m stepping and I have that “front to back” feeling of motion that I didn’t have before. I would do the surgery again, in a heartbeat,” Kelly says.

Don’t Give Up

Every day I see patients who come in and they are experiencing incredible results like these. They are back to work, to play and to the activities they love. My desire for you who are reading this is that you would be encouraged to not give up.

Come see us, we can help. To learn more about how we treat neuropathy, click here.

To make an appointment, click here.