Roller Derby Queens Love The LaserTouch One

On the 10th of April, we traveled to Las Vegas to present the LaserTouchOne at the Medtrade show, a large convention that attracts thousands of home medical equipment providers, home healthcare professionals, and manufacturers of home health care products. As we struggled to unload all of our props and booth supplies at the exhibition hall door, the “friendly” guard told us we had to unload elsewhere and couldn’t park even for a few minutes. As a result, we had to pull a large suitcase, as well as a portable treatment table through the hotel lobby, the casino and then the shopping area all the way to the exhibition hall – it seemed like miles! Thank goodness for the LTO later that day!

The convention was very successful as we sold quite a few devices and several of the attendees (mainly home medical equipment store owners) signed up to sell the LaserTouchOne in their stores. We conducted about 70+ demos over 2 days with 99.9% positive results and many “OMG” experiences.  We kept hearing, “I have to get one of these now!” responses from our demonstrations!

We had one young lady stop by our booth who had broken her back in a snowboarding accident 9 years ago and, luckily, was one of the 5% that was not paralyzed. As you can expect, she had pretty intensive treatments and rehab following the accident to get back on her feet. Despite her treatment being deemed a ‘success’, she was left with chronic back pain that has affected her quality of everyday life. After the first demo we did on her, she got quite a bit of relief and came back the next day for a “tune up” and left with her own device.

We also met a roller derby ‘queen’ who had banged up her body for three and a half years and was left with a chronic neck, upper back and shoulder discomfort.  She experienced daily pain and restricted range of motion of her neck in rotation, flexion and extension. After her demo, all of the movement restrictions in her neck were gone and she turned to her husband and said, “honey, I need one of these”.  She left our booth with her own unit and she may sign up to sell the LaserTouchOne to others in pain.

Then there was a family – father, mother and daughter – all in business together. The daughter had immediate, great results from the demo. Mom, however, was reluctant to try the LaserTouchOne since she suffers from arthritis of her right thumb.  She has quite a bit of swelling and tenderness at the base of her thumb and she didn’t want the demo to hurt or aggravate the pain. After setting the e-stim very low, I showed mom how to do it herself, which she did for about two minutes. The next day, we found dad standing at our booth waiting for us to arrive before the show had even started.  When we walked up he said, “My wife woke me at midnight last night to tell me that her thumb was much better and that I had to get here first thing in the morning to get an LaserTouchOne to take home!”

I love these stories because it shows you how people often become ‘silent sufferers’; in many cases, they’ve given up hope that there is anything out there that can help them. We have a LaserTouchOne to offer them and it represents not only hope, but actual results in over 90% of those introduced to it.

They just have to hear from all you passionate LTO users!

LaserTouchOne is reducing chronic pain in Palm Springs

Recently I had the opportunity to travel to Palm Springs and meet with an approved distributor of the LaserTouchOne, Loni Kalai, and some of her referral partners, chiropractors, and a representative from an independent durable medical equipment (DME) store. It was interesting to note, that the person from the DME was initially only mildly interested,  but after spending some quality time demonstrating the LaserTouchOne and its effectiveness,  plans are in place to come back and host a demonstration day for customers of the store. From our past experience with other DME retail outlets, we know the demonstration days are usually very successful.  One of Loni’s referral partners, Dr. Chris Rapoff of ChiropracticPalmSprings.com , is an advocate of the device, and is using the LaserTouchOne in his practice.  If you are curious about LaserTouchOne, live in the Palm Springs area, and would like a demonstration – be sure to contact Dr. Rapoff.

After our meeting in Palm Springs, we spent several hours introducing and setting up a protocol for the Morongo Indian Health Services outcome base study of the LaserTouchOne in their outpatient clinics.  The study is to research and determine if the LaserTouchOne will help reduce the use of narcotics for pain among the Morongo Indian population.  The training session was video-taped and will be used as a reference guide for the clinics in the Morongo Indian Health system.

All in all a fruitful couple of days.

Staying active is a good way to help prevent chronic pain

People who spend a lot of time sitting may be up to 40 percent more likely to die from any cause than those who don’t sit as long, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine March.  The study followed about 222,500 Australians for three years.

It found a strong link between people’s odds of dying and the amount of time they spent sitting The odds of dying were 15 percent more likely for participants who sat for eight hours a day, compared with people who sat less than four hours a day. The odds were 40 percent higher for people who sat 11 hours a day.

“A sedentary lifestyle is not good for your health,” Olveen Carrasquillo, M.D., MPH, told WebMD Health News. He is the chief of the division of general internal medicine at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. “Today we don’t even have to leave the house to go to the bank or mail a letter.”

A sedentary lifestyle leads to obesity, which leads to chronic health conditions. Plus, sitting for long periods causes stiffness, aches and pains.

If you’re tied to a desk all day, doctors suggest taking a five-minute break every hour to walk around, stretch and relax your muscles. If your wrists or shoulders are sore, give yourself a LaserTouchOne™ treatment during your breaks.

And if chronic pain keeps you in a chair or on the couch for most of the day, this news is all the more reason to treat your condition. By managing the pain, you can stay active and possibly lengthen your life.

Okky Oei and a childhood friend meet after 40 years and thousands of miles.

Earlier this year, while my wife Vicki was visiting Indonesia she had an opportunity to visit some friends whom I have not seen for over forty years.  We were then able to visit them in L.A. while traveling to Palm Springs.  In the small world department, my friend reconnected me with an older cousin, whom I have not seen in over fifty years.  Coincidentally, my cousin and my old friend had one thing in common—both suffered from pain.  It had been many years, and thousands of miles since I had seen old friends and family, but unfortunately one thing that is timeless and universal, is pain.  We were lucky to help them both, and hope that our efforts and the LaserTouchOne will continue to reach Indonesian’s suffering from pain.

The world definitely is getting smaller, however pain issues are universal.  We hope to continue to provide a safe alternative therapy for those who suffer from chronic pain.

Patio at Crickethead Inn in Tucson

Last Tuesday, my wife Vicki and I traveled to Tucson to do a presentation for one of our Tucson Distributors.  We had the pleasure of staying at the Crickethead Inn Bed & Breakfast, run by Wayan, who is from Bali, and her husband, Mike, a Tucson native.  Ironically, Wayan and Mike were introduced to the LaserTouchOne over a year ago and love it.

Mike, a builder by trade, does all the physical work around the property, but finds that his body is starting to “talk back” to him.  The LTO allows him to manage his aches and pains so can complete all of the projects needed to maintain the property.  Wayan is a wonderful chef who spends her time in the kitchen, in the garden, plus cleans and maintains the guest rooms every day.  Because of all the bending and lifting she does, she, too, loves the LTO.  Since their inn is like a ‘home away from home’, Mike and Wayan often find themselves demonstrating the LTO on their patrons who have been hiking the beautiful Tucson mountains during their stay.  Their lucky guests are not only well fed, but the aches and pains are addressed as well!

After dinner during my stay, I did an LTO demonstration for the guests staying at the Inn.  A woman from Mississippi had sore neck and shoulders.  There were also 3 Europeans who are staying in the U.S. for about a year to film a project called Wildlife in the Desert.  The German woman in the group had a sore neck and shoulders – probably from carrying her heavy cameras and film equipment.  The Mississippi woman bought an LTO on the spot because of the relief she experienced; I think the filmmakers are close to buying a unit as well.

During the next evening in Tucson, we did a presentation at the Tucson Country Club for one of our Tucson distributors, Laura H.  Before the meeting started, the head tennis pro came by; he had been diagnosed with a slab tear of his supraspinatus tendon. He did not want to undergo surgery; however, moving and lifting his arm was difficult. After about two minutes of stimulating many of the shoulder muscles, he had almost complete range of motion and no pain.  He asked Laura to bring him an LTO to the Pro Shop – he had to have one.

After the presentation, one of the attending nurse practitioners of a large medical group bought one for himself; he was hopeful the medical practice will buy and carry the LTO in the future.

All in all, our journey to Tucson was a very productive trip!

Approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the LaserTouchOne is an over-the-counter device used for relieving acute and chronic pain and promoting the body’s natural healing process at the cellular level. The LaserTouchOne is the only device available that uses both low-level laser and micro-current electrical stimulation to promote the healing of soft tissue. Proven to be 93 percent effective in relieving pain, the LaserTouchOne is effective at treating a variety of common injuries and general aches and pains.

Okky had the opportunity to demonstrate the device on an employee with acute and chronic back issues, as well as well as other staff members with several nagging pain problems with hips, neck, and upper back.  Everyone who was treated responded well with very positive results. Okky hopes to return to Sedona to demonstrate the LaserTouchOne to additional therapists so they can further expand the wellness concept at the spa.

Standard treatments for CTS initially include adjusting the work environment, use of wrist splints, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. A more aggressive measure includes steroid injections directly into the carpel tunnel, but this often provides only temporary relief. More than 40% of CTS cases eventually require surgery, with an estimated 460,000 procedures performed annually. Unfortunately, only 40% regain normal function following surgery and 5% of people actually worsen. CTS requires, on average, the longest recuperation period of all injuries or illnesses requiring time off work. According to data from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, occupational CTS averaged nearly three workers for every 100, per year. During this time frame, cumulative medical and disability compensation costs in Washington State alone were on average $64 million.

These statistics were compiled in a study printed in the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine in 1999. It was conducted by Acupuncture Healthcare Services, Boston University School of Medicine and Department of Veterans Affairs (Boston) and indicates that using low-level laser and micro-current electric stimulation along with acupuncture significantly reduced pain in CTS patients by 50%. The study further indicates that treatments increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP), decreased inflammation, and temporary increase of serotonin. Fourteen participants of the study who previously had failed surgeries for CTS found successful treatments using this combination. The estimated cost savings per person utilizing this methodology, versus surgery is approximately $11,000.

According to the creator of the LaserTouchOne, Okky Oei, M.D., L.C., “Many acupuncturists have found great success using the LaserTouchOne because you can easily create the effects of acupuncture without the use of needles.” Fortunately, by focusing treatment on the muscles/tendons that are responsible for the entrapment of the nerves going through the carpal tunnel, anyone can use the LaserTouchOne, not just acupuncturists.

The LaserTouchOne is the only pain relief device on the market that combines the two therapies used in this study: a low-level laser and micro-current electrical stimulation. Proven in a study to be 93 percent effective in relieving pain, the hand-held device promotes the body’s natural repair and healing process at the cellular level. Available for over the counter purchase, portable, and safe to use at home, the LaserTouchOne allows anyone suffering from CTS the ability to effectively treat themselves at home. This eliminates the expense of medication, doctor’s visits, and lost time off work.

To read the full study in the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, click here.

I was recently reminded of a very important factor in the success of the LTO: it has to be used correctly to achieve maximum pain relief results.  Here’s what happened:

A gentleman came to my office recently; he had purchased an LTO for various aches and pains that he had developed over the years.  He’s always been an active guy – regular workouts, spinning classes, as well as a former runner.  However, he had stopped running years ago because of a ‘pain in the behind’ issue which was diagnosed as possible piriformis syndrome (a condition in which the piriformis muscle irritates the sciatic nerve and causes pain the buttocks).  He was also suffering from numbness in the bottom of his feet, particularly the three middle toes, which had been diagnosed as neuropathy.  Unfortunately, he had been offered no solutions to this issue.  To top off the list, he has chronic low back pain and occasional left side neck pain. He had purchased and tried the LTO but did not find much overall pain relief.

In my initial assessment of this man’s condition, I saw that his right leg was shorter than his left.  Apparently he knew this because his tailor had to shorten each of his pant legs at different lengths.  It’s natural that the body will compensate for any imperfections or deficiencies, but over the years the uneven wear and tear on the body can become issues that gradually become more and more painful. Obviously, his body had learned to cope with this for years, though lately it seemed that his symptoms had been getting worse (as he described, he often ‘paid the price’ after a strenuous workout).

I began about a 15 minute demo on his neck, lower back, buttocks, knee, feet and ankles.  Right after the demo, he reported that he did notice a considerable difference in decreased pain levels and improved range of motion. Now that he understood how to best use the LTO for his specific areas, he was encouraged that the LTO would help him in the short- and long-term.

We have very informative videos posted at www.LaserTouchOne.com <http://www.LaserTouchOne.com>  – they offer great tips on how to use the device for some common pain issues.  It might also be a good idea to develop a relationship with a local professional who uses the LaserTouchOne in practice (massage therapist, acupuncturist, physical therapist, chiropractor, etc.) and who can demonstrate to you how to maximize your results with the device.  Your area distributor can also help answer some use questions on best-use practices.

Christina’s three-year-old son, Devin, suffers from Spastic Diaplegia Cerebral Palsy, a condition he’s had since he was 11 months old. Not a disease, this type of Cerebral Palsy is a result of an injury to the brain during gestation or birth. In Devin’s case, he was seven weeks premature.

Devin has endured a great deal in his short life, developing much slower than a child should. He did not roll over until he was almost a year old or sit on his own until he was two. Devin’s speech has been delayed and his mobility is struggled. He wears leg braces to assist with walking and a hip brace at night to help prevent hip dysplasia and to stretch his abductor muscles. He’s also been through a surgery to uncross his eyes and help with his vision.

Devin’s family spends an enormous amount of time and energy to help Devin grow and develop properly. He attends physical therapy three times a week, occupational therapy twice a week, and speech therapy is provided three times a week through special education classes he attends daily. According to Christina, despite Devin’s struggles, he’s an amazing little boy who never complains.

Devin’s family had hoped to be able to take advantage of Botox injections, which are a fairly new method being used on those with Devin’s condition. The localized injection temporarily paralyzes the muscle, allowing for stretching, which helps lengthen the muscle and decrease spasticity in legs and arms. To be a candidate for Botox treatments, the patient cannot be high tone, or in other words so tight that a targeted injection would not allow for improvement. To the dismay of his parents, Devin was denied Botox injections because he was too high tone. With Botox out of the picture, they were told pharmaceutical treatments may work but surgery was looking like the best option. A discouraging outlook, Devin’s parents were hesitant to go down this path because of the risks and side effects that are common with prescriptions or surgery. Botox was their only option that didn’t have any side effects.

Christina’s mother-in-law, discovered the LaserTouchOne and suggested they try it on Devin. After two months of using the device twice a day (morning and night), Devin was not only considered a candidate for Botox but his doctor said that he should expect “remarkable” results. The Botox injections will give Devin’s parents the opportunity to stretch the muscles that are his biggest culprits in not being able to walk so that he can eventually walk on his own.

Since using the LaserTouchOne not only has Devin’s family seen a difference in his mobility and speech, but his specialists, such as his Neurologist, CCS Clinic Doctor, Physical Therapist, and Occupational Therapist have noticed changes in Devin. He wants to walk with his walker (which he never did before). He has reciprocal motion when he crawls, meaning both legs move up and down instead of one moving and the other dragging. His tone and spasticity have decreased so much that stretching went from three to four times a day to once a day. Devin is more interested in exploring his environment, and he’s able to articulate things that he’s learned, such as his shapes, alphabets and numbers.

They are continuing to the use the LaserTouchOne, and Devin actually gets excited when it’s time for his “massage.” This excitement lets his parents know that he feels the difference just as much as they can see the difference. Improved development is so critical during the first five years of life for a child with Cerebral Palsy because the brain can actually be retrained. According to Christina, “The LaserTouchOne is amazing, and the possibilities for what can be achieved are just endless.”

If you want to hear more about Devin’s story, watch our video.

Written by Jay Joshi, MD – CEO/Medical Director, National Pain Centers LLC

To suffer from chronic pain is mentally and physically draining. To not have it properly managed or treated is unnecessary.  Pain is the body’s built-in protective mechanism to alert you when something is wrong.  But what happens when that mechanism short circuits? What happens when the mechanism’s “off” switch stays in the “on” position?  In many cases, that’s called chronic pain.  Chronic pain is not only a description of symptoms, it is a disease state.  It can fundamentally change the way nerves in the body and the brain perceive pain and it can even make minimally painful signals feel very painful.

Numbers Don’t Lie.

Chronic pain, which is defined as pain that lasts for more than 3 months, is not as rare as many people think.  It affects an estimated 116 million people, or more than one in three people in America.  In other words, on average, one member of each household in America has chronic pain.  If that’s not troubling enough, chronic pain costs America a staggering $635 billion a year in medical treatments and lost productivity.

To many, it seems straightforward: If there is pain, do somethingto stop it.  If it was that simple, we would not see the staggering numbers of patients or dollars spent.  If we can appropriately educate society to identify real experts in pain and educate healthcare providers to identify diagnoses and treatments more rapidly, we can improve patient care, quality, and outcomes, while reducing costs and waste.

Conditions such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches, pelvic pain and interstitial cystitis affect women many times more than men.  Due to a lack of understanding, it was not too long ago that some members of the medical establishment thought that most female patients with chronic pain had “psychological issues”.

Fortunately, that stereotype is disappearing. In the last five to ten years, we have made some great strides in awareness and treatments for all chronic pain patients.  But we still have a long way to go.  We do not have any test that objectively tells us where pain exists.  All medical and non-medical providers still do not have a comprehensive understanding of chronicpain and that is a major problem. As a result, there is variability in the treatment of chronic pain.  Thus, patients still get under-diagnosed, over-diagnosed, or misdiagnosed.

The treatment of chronic pain can be multimodal and complex.  In many cases, it involves the combination of diet, exercise, nutrition, physical therapy, massage, mobilization, acupuncture, counseling, vitamins, supplements, medications, interventional spine and pain injections, and surgery. This is in addition to a strong support system such as family, friends, and a considerate work environment. It is important for chronic pain patients not to lose hope.  They are not alone and there are safe and affective options available.