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Tag: sprains

Sports Or Other Injuries? Mls Laser Therapy Can Help Manage Pain, Reduce Inflammation, And Speed Recovery

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Have you ever been injured? If you have, you know that anyone who has had a physical condition, sports or any injury that affects mobility or quality of life has the same goal: A rapid return to everyday activities. From practicing cryotherapy to speed up muscle healing, to spending thousands of dollars on therapy… people will do just about anything to recover faster.

At Anderson Podiatry Center, our foot doctors and medical doctors have an innovative technology that promotes cellular reproduction and growth to allow your cells to repair themselves, faster! Anderson Center for Laser Therapy is proud to be on the medical technological forefront by offering MLS Laser Therapy. You will benefit from our investment in the very best technology as a key component of our continuing quest to offer you the finest in health care.

MLS Laser therapy has been cleared by the FDA and proven safe and effective as evidenced by extensive and credible studies conducted in our country’s finest institutions including Harvard University.

MLS Laser Therapy Treats

  • Back Pain
  • Shoulder & Elbow Pain
  • Arthritis/Degenerative Joint Conditions
  • Bursitis
  • Sports Injuries
  • Muscle Sprains, Strains, Tears and Soreness
  • Tendon and Ligament Injuries
  • Occupational Injuries
  • Repetitive Motion Injuries
  • Pre-Surgical Treatment and Post-Surgical Swelling
  • Wounds
  • Bruising
  • Neuropathy and other Neurological Conditions
  • Headaches
  • Neck Pain

MLS Laser Therapy uses specific wavelengths of light that have a strong anti-inflammatory, anti-edema effect on tissues that are exposed to the laser. Cellular reproduction and growth are accelerated, so the cells of tendons, ligaments and muscles repair themselves faster.

As inflammation is reduced, pain subsides very quickly. In simple terms, laser energy kick-starts the healing process, thereby speeding recovery. Unlike some pharmacological solutions, there are no known negative side effects.

MLS Laser Therapy is pain-less. Most patients report no sensation at all while receiving laser therapy. Treatments average 8 minutes. MLS Laser Therapy is fast-acting; many patients in high levels of acute pain experience relief after the first or second treatment. Over 90% of patients experience positive results after the 3rd treatment, with the average course of treatment being 7 to 10 sessions. In many cases, by the 3rd or 4th treatment, swelling is greatly reduced and there is a rapid relief of pain. The effects of MLS Laser Therapy are cumulative; therefore, expect to see improvement as you proceed through your treatment plan. Chronic conditions can be controlled with regular treatments. Acute conditions usually subside quickly, typically within one phase of treatments. It is critical that once you start, you complete the course of treatments recommended by your doctor or symptoms are likely to re-occur.

Benefits of MLS Laser Therapy

  • Rapid relief of pain
  • Strong anti-inflammatory effect

Timely healing of sprains and strains

  • Rapid recovery of the structural integrity of injured region
  • Rapid resolution of painful swollen areas
  • Immediate improvement of local blood circulation
  • Rapid repair of superficial injuries, such as wounds and ulcers
  • Affordable cost

Call us to see if MLS Laser Therapy is right for you!

Call us today at our Fort Collins location (970) 484-4620, Broomfield location (720) 259-5053 or use our online scheduling system to book your appointment.

Ankle Problems: Why It’s Important You Don’t Ignore Them

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With all the wear and tear we put our bodies through it’s no wonder we go to bed sore at night. We often get so accustomed to these persistent aches and pains that we just live with them. It’s normal to have foot pain and ankle pain after a long day of work, right? Sometimes, yes.

Minor aches and pains at the end of the day, especially if you live an active lifestyle, are typically nothing more than a tired body that needs rest, but don’t let these minor aches and pains you are used to feeling make you ignore more serious issues that require treatment.

Some of the most common foot problems that are ignored are in the ankle. People frequently excuse genuine ankle issues to simple daily wear and tear, so they don’t seek treatments that can help. Three common problems that shouldn’t be ignored include:

  1. Ankle Instability– If you sprain your ankle regularly, have stiff or swollen ankles, or have trouble walking across uneven ground, (especially in high heels) then you may actual suffer from ankle instability.
  2. Ankle Pain– If your ankle seems to always be in pain, tender to touch, swollen, or unstable, this could be a signal to a larger problem, such as arthritis, a fracture, or an inflamed tendon.
  3. Ankle Sprain– Spraining an ankle is a very common injury that often heals on its own with proper rest and care, but when it won’t heal is when there is concern. If your ankle sprain is not healing, is swollen, bruised, painful, and difficult to walk on, then you need to get it looked at. Serious ankle sprains when untreated can develop into long-term problems.

Ankle instability, pain, and sprains can put a huge damper on your active lifestyle. If you experience any or all of the above, the below treatment options may be what you need:

  • AmnioFix Therapy– this new, regenerative medical product enhances healing, reduces scar tissue formation, reduces inflammation, and may be just what your ankle needs to heal.
  • Custom orthotics– doctor-fitted orthotics made from the mold of your actual foot offer huge benefits to your feet and ankles.
  • Casting– casting a mold of your foot is typically done when making custom orthotics, and allows a podiatrist to see the exact condition of your ankle, so they can treat it correctly.
  • Physical therapy- some ankle injuries require physical therapy, especially if they go ignored and cause more permanent damage.
  • Braces or supports– these may not sound ideal, but if they ease your pain, prevent further injury, or fix current problems they are worth it.
  • Arthroscopic surgery– this minimally invasive joint surgery can help fix many common ankle injuries.
  • MLS Laser Therapy– this laser therapy is an exciting new treatment for a wide range of injuries and conditions that cause pain, including ankle problems.

If you have chronic ankle problems don’t ignore them! We are here to help you keep active! Call us today!

Don't Ignore Ankle Problems

How to Avoid an Ankle Fusion or Ankle Replacement

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One of the most debilitating problems is arthritis in the ankle joint. This can be caused from overuse or just getting older (wear and tear). It can also be caused by previous injuries including an old ankle fracture or repetitive ankle sprains. In both situations the cartilage that lines the joint may become damaged to the point of almost having bone rubbing bone in your joint. Ouch!

“But doctors don’t understand!”

I hear that a lot from my patients. They come in frustrated as they have been told to exercise more. Maybe they are overweight, maybe they need to better control their diabetes. And they are motivated! But, the pain is stopping them. It’s a vicious circle.

More exercise=More pain.

Many feel they are not being listened to. And yes some think that your feet and ankles are supposed to hurt, that’s just what happens. They may have been dumbed down by all the drug marketing to the point they assume that if something below the knee hurts and a drug doesn’t help, then there may be nothing that can be done. Sound crazy? Well, sadly, it’s becoming a more common mind set.

Major surgery or living with it are the only options patients are getting!How to avoid ankle fusion or replacemet

Regarding ankle arthritis: the common approach in severe cases are the options of replacing the joint, just like replacing a hip or knee joint, or fusion of the joint. Both are major surgeries.
On the one hand, ankle joint replacements may not be as successful as replacing a hip or knee. On the other hand, ankle fusion leaves one with a stiff ankle that no longer moves, and a much altered walk.

Stop- consider a simpler, less painful solution.

Before you take the last step to replace or fuse a joint with all the potential risk consider deinervation of the joint. Simply stated this means getting rid of the nerve or nerves that send messages to the brain telling it the joint hurts. The area where the nerve or nerves are removed is just above the ankle.

We have been doing this surgery for 2 years, and our success rate is very high! Patients are able to walk immediately, or within just a few days.  I must stress, we don’t remove nerves that would make the joint weaker, but simply remove branches that give the joint sensation. We have seen very rewarding results, and if it fails there is still the option to have the ankle replaced or fused. Patients who had given up are now being active with very significant reduction of pain, and now with no more drugs!

Don’t let the thought of a major surgery stop you from getting better! Just remember, before you fuse or replace consider this simple, proven procedure and simply deinvervate.