Opinion: Anodyne therapy offers relief for peripheral neuropathy

Anodyne therapy is a comprehensive approach to caring for those with peripheral neuropathy. Patients complain of sleepless nights, burning pain and trouble simply walking due to peripheral neuropathy, and it is probably one of the most common and frustrating conditions treated. Peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes, but it may also be caused by circulatory problems, medications, chemotherapy, alcohol, AIDS and other unknown factors.

But with Anodyne Therapy System, a trained physical therapist can assess the patient’s functional limitations and develop a comprehensive therapy program that can be used at home.

What is anodyne therapy?

Anodyne therapy uses monochromatic infrared energy to increase local circulation and reduce pain by disassociating nitric oxide from hemoglobin. The localized release of nitric oxide improves nerve function and also is an important signaling molecule for the angiogenesis and collagen formation necessary for wound healing. Low levels of nitric oxide and poor nitric oxide metabolism are common in patients with diabetes and are recognized to be major contributing factors in poor microcirculation, loss of protective sensation, foot ulceration and pain.

Excellent clinical outcomes have been demonstrated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, including restoration of protective sensation, reduction or elimination of neuropathic and ischemic pain and resolution of chronic nonhealing wounds.

According to the Anodyne Neuropathy Care Center, one study examined 784 patients with chronic pain who were unresponsive to ultrasound, electrical stimulation, hot packs and medications. Nearly 89 percent of the patients had excellent to total pain relief within 12 45-minute anodyne therapy sessions.

Medicare recently issued a National Coverage Decision Memorandum that acknowledges loss of protective sensation, as measured by a 5.07 Semmes Weinstein Monofilament, as the leading cause of foot ulcers and lower extremity amputations and recommended appropriate treatment for these high-risk patients.

Anodyne therapy is noninvasive, drug-free and safe. Best clinical results are obtained from a minimum of three treatments per week (30–45 minutes per treatment) over four weeks, in combination with gait and balance training, followed by a home maintenance program. Therapy may include any or all of the following interventions, depending on the patients’ particular needs: anodyne therapy to reduce pain and increase circulation to impaired tissues and nerves; stretching and strengthening exercises; dynamic and static balance exercises; massage and the use of other therapeutic modalities for pain; and sensory integrative techniques to put it all together.

Other responsive conditions to anodyne therapy include arthritis, degenerative disc disease, fibromyalgia, shingles, carpal tunnel syndrome and edema.

The Anodyne Therapy System has been cleared through the FDA and recently received a specific Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Code (EO221). Anodyne therapy has been clinically proven in the past seven years on thousands of patients. This is exciting technology available to patients on an outpatient basis; however, it is also available to patients who are homebound.

Gwen R. Beebe is executive director of business development for Integrity Home Care, a division of Integra HealthCare Inc.