At one of Michael’s national kettlebell classes a lady from out of town accidently dropped a 53 pound kettlebell on her hand from about 4 feet up.  By the time Michael got to her, her third and fourth finger were sausages, discoloring and she could not close her hand more than 15 %.

Michael grabbed his LTO and worked on her hand for less than 10 minutes.  When he was done, her fingers were their normal size and the correct color.  Even more impressive was that she had full range of motion in her hand and  was able to  fully participate in the rest of the class.  Needless to say everyone was impressed and the lady was happy to have not missed the class.

If you can catch an injury fast enough you can cut recovery time by more than half and in some instances eliminate the damage before the body has time to react to the injury.  It is remarkable what our bodies can do and how self-efficient they can be.  Having and using the LaserTouchOne is such a bonus to the body’s natural repair and healing process.  Why is it again that everyone does not have one?

When Donna received her LaserTouchOne, she diligently read the User Manual cover to cover, watched the Instructional DVD from beginning to end, and then she tried it on her neck.  She was not overly impressed with the first treatment but decided to give herself a second treatment a few hours later.  After that treatment, which she did for 10 minutes, Donna noticed some improvement in her pain level.  At bedtime that night, she repeated the 10 minute treatment on her neck but this time she enlisted her husband to do it for her so he could get further around her upper shoulders.  She fell asleep that night hoping for the best.

The following morning, Donna woke up and realized that she had slept through the night for the first time in several years.  She gingerly got out of bed and started moving her head around.  She realized there was no cracking in her neck, no pain, and she could move her head a lot more.  She did another treatment and went about her day.

Later that afternoon, Donna’s husband walked up to her, gently put his arm on her shoulder, and said “Honey, you’re humming. I haven’t heard you hum in years.” Donna realized she was indeed humming a song softly to herself.  Overwhelmed with this realization, she started crying.  Donna’s husband gave her a big hug and asked if he could try the “thing” on his legs for his neuropathy.  While this tale ends here, it’s really just the beginning of Donna and her husband’s pain-free life: Donna diligently uses her LaserTouchOne every day and her husband has experienced improvement in his legs.   Things are good down in Texas!

In 1990, Sharon was in a car accident which left her with 5 herniated discs in her neck and lower back.  The physical toll of the accident and the pain ended her ability to exercise and teach classes.  And, for the past 20 years, life has grown increasingly difficult and painful.  Now at 60, Sharon has had both of her thumb joints replaced which left her casted in each hand for 3 months.  Her feet are next in line for surgery.  And doctors estimate that the paravertebral muscles (the muscles that keep the back straight) have atrophied by 75%.

Sharon tried numerous pain medications, which did nothing for her.  For the last eight months she found her mobility increasingly limited by the pain and atrophy of the muscles.  Sharon’s typical day was now defined by how fast she could move from one place to lie down to the next.

Six weeks ago, Sharon was introduced to the LaserTouchOne and decided to give it a try; after all, she thought, she had nothing to lose.  After just one treatment with the LTO, she was pain-free for the first time in eight months for about 90 minutes; she was in heaven.  Sharon has been using her LTO daily for the last six weeks. She uses it for 2-4 minutes on each area of pain between her lower back and hamstrings.  After she’s done treating herself, she uses a moist heating pad for about 15 minutes.

After just six weeks, Sharon reports that she feels ‘almost normal’ and about 90% of the pain is gone.  To safely build her muscle capacity again, she has been working with a physical therapist.  Sharon believes her LaserTouchOne, coupled with physical therapy, has been a ‘god-send’ in her life.   The LaserTouchOne has, once again, helped a pain-sufferer regain their life!

In honor of World Arthritis Day, we felt it was appropriate to give an arthritis sufferer a chance to have her voice heard, so we sat down with Rebecca Hall (name changed for privacy) to find out what life is like living with the disease.

Q) How long have you suffered from arthritis?

A) I have both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, but I first started having symptoms from rheumatoid arthritis 13 years ago. I’m now 72 years old.

Q) What is the difference between rheumatoid and osteoarthritis?

A) Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a form of inflammatory arthritis and an autoimmune disease, when your immune system attacks your body’s own tissues. As a result of the attack, fluid builds up in the joints, causing pain in the joints and inflammation that’s systemic – meaning it can occur throughout the body.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the breakdown of cartilage – the part of a joint that cushions the ends of the bones and allows easy movement. As cartilage deteriorates, bones begin to rub against one another. Osteoarthritis can also damage ligaments, menisci and muscles.

Both RA and OA are chronic diseases, meaning there is no cure.

Q) What were your initial symptoms when you were diagnosed with RA?

A) I had dropped a brick on my hand, which I didn’t think much of. The next day my hand was really sore and swollen. I got an x-ray, and nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. Over the course of the next two years, I had extreme pain throughout my body, and it moved around – sometimes it was my hands, shoulders, wrists, knees. The doctors diagnosed me with tendonitis and then carpal tunnel. I was even going to have surgery for carpal tunnel. The doctors tried to keep the pain under control with medication.

Then the pain escalated, and I knew it was something else. When the pain was at its worst, I couldn’t even walk. I had to wrap wool scarves around my hands and wrists, because even the slightest touch to my skin was excruciating.

After about two years of living with the pain and not getting any answers, I finally found a doctor who immediately knew that I was suffering from RA.

Q) What is your treatment for the disease?

A) I take Methotrexate to stabilize the RA and Vicodin to ease the pain. Even though it’s hard sometimes, I try to stay as active as possible. I exercise in my pool (the water feels good on my joints), ride my bike, walk my dog, and garden.

Q) Do you still have any symptoms from the disease?

A) My symptoms are from both the RA and OA, and they got much better within a couple of months of taking the medication. When the Vicodin is wearing off, my body aches all over, like I have the flu. It’s very common for me to feel this way first thing in the morning. The pain medicine helps me sleep at night, and it seems to give me more energy during the day. I have a blood test every couple of months, and I found out after my last test that my RA is in remission, but it can always come back.

Q) Does your arthritis get in the way of daily activities?

I get fatigued very easily, and I typically have to take a nap in the afternoon. I have a lot of pain in my hips, and I get stiff if I sit still for too long. It’s hard for me to walk too far without sitting down and resting. My hands and feet often cramp, and I have trouble picking up small items such as jewelry and pills. Sometimes I have problems opening jars. My toes are deformed, which makes it more difficult to walk. My skin is also very sensitive, so I have to wear soft cotton clothes. I’m also concerned about side effects from the medication, such as pneumonia and hair loss.

Q) Have you tried any other alternative forms of pain management, such as the LaserTouchOne?

A) No, I haven’t tried the LaserTouchOne, but I would be willing to try it to help ease the pain from my arthritis. I will let you know how it goes!

Weekend warriors are trying to hold aging at bay. Are you someone who has developed aches and pains related to your physical activity? Have you resorted to drugs or surgery to stop the ravages of aging?
Erika Feinberg, CEO of Active Forever, says, “There are three major solutions to aches and pains: drugs, slowing down and taking it easy, or finding a non-drug related product that can help you heal.” Based on her interaction with Boomers, “It is safe to say that they do not care for drugs as the solution. Slowing down is also not an option.”

Surgical relief is frequently an option, and after 38 years of full court basketball, I am living proof with two new shoulders this year and a knee replacement several years ago. Surgery has not relieved all of my pain. Because of side effects, drugs are not a good option.

For the Boomer and those a bit older, there are a multitude of aches and pains. According to Dr. Patience H. White, vice president for public health for the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting 50 million Americans, or one in five adults; that number could jump to 67 million by 2030. Osteoarthritis — a degenerative joint disease characterized by a breakdown of joint cartilage from obesity, past joint injury and age — is the most common form of arthritis.

In addition, Osteoporosis, a precursor to Osteoarthritis, currently affects 10 million Americans and another 34 million are at risk of getting this disease. Research shows that twenty percent of seniors who break a hip die within one year! Experts are predicting that by 2025, osteoporosis will be responsible for roughly three million fractures and $25.3 billion in costs-per-year, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

When you look at the products that are used for bone and joint related diseases, it is estimated by Global Industry Analysts that more than $9 billion will be spent on supplements like calcium fortification, glucosamine, MSM, vitamins, and soy to focus on disease prevention.

You should research and decide the efficacy of drugs to help you relieve pain. Feinberg says, “ The key to keeping aches and pains to a minimum, all comes down to eating correctly for your body, positive thoughts, and moderate exercise, while enabling your body to heal faster than you are damaging it.”

The Arthritis Foundation supports motion as the best medicine for joint therapy. October 12, 2011 is Move Around the World Day. If you go to http://www.fightarthritispain.org/ you can determine your risk and keep track of your movement progress.In searching nondrug ways to provide pain relief Feinberg suggests, “The products we have identified that have been the most and effective include products in the categories of infrared heat therapy, cold laser, compression and traction.”

Tom Lescault, CEO of Renewal Technologies, invited me to use a new product that his company put on the market with FDA approval called Laser Touch One, a device that combines cold laser and electrical stimulation. I borrowed one to see if it would help with the recovery of my two shoulder replacements. I reviewed all of the testimonials and instructions available on the website.

According to Okky Oei, M.D. a pain specialist and Medical Director for Laser Touch One [LTO], it has worked with a variety of conditions from shoulder pain to Fibromyalgia. A research study was completed that compared three technologies, and the LTO was the most effective for pain.For me, as a sample of one, I got pain relief and an increase in range of motion with only two weeks of application. Although Mayo has not tested LTO, my surgeon allowed that cold laser and electrical stimulation are proven techniques in rehabilitation therapy.

Resources:
For products including LTO: http://www.activeforever.com
LaserTouchOne™ information and research: http://www.lasertouchone.com/
For movement: http://www.fightarthritispain.org/

September 15, 2010 – The American Pain Foundation reports that despite the fact that the majority of the U.S. population looks healthy, statistics tell a different story: Approximately 1 in 3 Americans suffer from chronic pain. This chronic pain could be related to an illness like cancer or rheumatoid arthritis, or a condition such as arthritis, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia or back pain from a car accident. Put another way: More than 75 million Americans – more than those diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined – live with chronic pain that makes simple tasks like lifting a child, sitting at their workstation, or swinging a golf club challenging at best and at its worst, nearly impossible. It is this widespread need for pain relief that paves the way for the The LaserTouchOne™, a hand-held, FDA-cleared device for the treatment of chronic and acute pain that stands alone in the marketplace today – and is available without a prescription.

Over a decade ago a Congressional mandate declared 2000 to 2010 as the ‘Decade of Pain Control and Research,’ yet sadly, evidence-based pain relief solutions available direct to consumer have been notably absent in the marketplace…until now. Today Renewal Technologies brings to market the LaserTouchOne, a first-of-its-kind product that – in studies conducted to secure Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance – has been clinically proven to be 93% effective in reducing pain and is a safe alternative to medication or surgery.

Okky Oei, MD, Medical Director for Renewal Technologies and expert in pain research and treatment, was instrumental in the development of the LaserTouchOne device. According to Dr. Oei, “The LaserTouchOne is the only product on the market today that combines two proven modalities – low-level laser, sometimes referred to as ‘cold laser,’ and micro-current electrical stimulation – and can point to demonstrated clinical results.” He added: “It’s safe and easy to use and available without a prescription. In addition, the LaserTouchOne is portable and personal – delivering drug-free, pain-free relief – and is as easy to hold and use as an electric toothbrush.”

Renewal Technologies, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based company founded by Bob Gottschalk, is a mission-driven company that delivers products direct to consumers that relieve pain and/or improve quality of life. A visionary business strategist, Gottschalk is driven by a combination of the desire to help chronic pain sufferers and the business viability of a truly breakthrough product which addresses a pervasive need. Gottschalk played a pivotal role in the development and national growth of the SilverSneakers Fitness Program®, an initiative with health insurance carriers that engaged seniors to become more physically active and thereby improve the quality of their lives.

“When I learned about the LaserTouchOne product I immediately saw parallels to the SilverSneakers program: a well-defined target audience, a high-value product, clearly-defined goals, a viable and reasonable process for accomplishing them, a huge target population… and the ability to make a positive social impact,” said Gottschalk. “I asked myself: Can the LaserTouchOne really be a second opportunity for me and my team to make a real difference in this world by bringing evidence based relief to the millions of people suffering with pain?” His confidence in the product coupled with a strong desire to make a difference led to his securing the exclusive worldwide licensing rights to the LaserTouchOne and the launch of Renewal Technologies.

Years of research and testing preceded the clinical study that secured FDA clearance. The LaserTouchOne combines science, medicine and technology in creating a powerful new alternative for pain relief – one that leverages the synergies of two proven treatment modalities that, when used in tandem, are more effective than either a single modality TENS unit or cold laser device:

Low Level Laser Therapy, also referred to as Cold Laser, is a method of treatment using a single diode laser for delivery of low level (cold) laser therapy. It is a well-established therapy for pain relief and rehabilitation of numerous injuries. The laser light penetrates tissue where it is absorbed by cells and effectively stimulates healing and rapid pain relief.

Electrical Stimulation stimulates the nerves in affected areas. These micro-currents effectively block pain and stimulate the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain relievers. As a result, local physiological changes become evident, namely muscle relaxation and improved circulation. When this occurs, oxygen flows more freely and promotes natural healing.

Features of the LaserTouchOne include:

• Safe and easy to use… no cumbersome wires
• Ergonomic, handheld design
• Portable for easy transport (It’s about the size of an electric toothbrush)
• Can be used multiple times per day in two-minute treatment sessions
• 30-day money back guarantee

Key benefits to those suffering from chronic or acute pain:

• Treatment promotes the body’s natural repair and healing processes at the cellular level
• Proven to be 93 percent effective in relieving pain
• Provides a safe alternative to medication as well as surgery and other invasive procedures
• Easy for consumers’ self-use… comfortable and painless
• Available without a prescription
• A qualified medical device expense
• Supports improved quality of life

Pain sufferers can learn more about the LaserTouchOne at www.lasertouchone.com. Consumers can order directly from that site or through a growing network of local distributors. The product is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Gottschalk, who brings decades of experience in healthcare, wellness, fitness, franchising and pharmacy operations and sales to bear in launching Renewal Technologies, sees today’s demographics and trends as a ‘perfect storm’ of sorts related to a unique business opportunity. “We have aging baby boomers, controversy over healthcare reform, the financial challenges that face entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, rising medical costs – all driving an increased interest on the part of patients and payers to seek and try alternative remedies for health and wellness.”

Remember those dreams of retirement? The freedom of playing 18 holes of golf every day, taking a tennis match to five sets or spending a lazy afternoon fishing with the grandchildren.

Have your dreams of an active, idyllic and well-deserved retirement been derailed by nagging, debilitating pain? Are you asking yourself how, in just a few short years, could life have changed so dramatically?

If you’ve joined the ranks of those battling chronic pain, you’re not alone. More and more Americans are looking beyond the traditional solutions for pain treatment and reclaiming their active lifestyle.

One in three Americans suffer from chronic pain, according to estimates from the American Pain Foundation. This could be an illness like cancer or rheumatoid arthritis, or a condition such as arthritis, tendonitis, neck and shoulder pain, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, back pain, or the after-effects of a car accident or a fall.

Put another way: More than 75 million Americans – more than those diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined – live with chronic pain that makes simple tasks like lifting a child, sitting at a computer or swinging a golf club nearly impossible.

If you’re among those who refuse to give up on the retirement lifestyle you’ve dreamed of, or a diminished quality of life, you’ll be happy to know that thanks to medicinal advancements, science, technology and the commitment of pain specialists – there are new alternatives to the traditional remedies for chronic pain.

Until recently the options for treating chronic pain were limited. Most of the traditional choices – like surgery and drugs – come with considerable expense and risk and no guarantee of success.

Today, thanks to the breakthrough work by Dr. Okky Oei, a Scottsdale resident and expert in pain assessment and treatment, the world is learning about a new and revolutionary way to treat chronic and acute pain that has earned both recognition and respect over the past few years.

The solution is LaserTouchOne – a safe, effective, painless and easy-to-use personal pain relief solution.

Dr. Oei’s work in developing the LaserTouchOne began nearly 30 years ago – when he himself was challenged by chronic pain due to a back injury. His motivation stemmed from his belief that there were opportunities to use new and developing technology to facilitate the body’s natural healing process by addressing the source of pain rather than simply treating symptoms.

People throughout the Valley, like Fountain Hills resident Phil Yin, have become true believers in the power of electrical medicine. Five years ago Phil hurt his hip, and that injury led to his discovery of the LaserTouchOne.

“I went to all kinds of doctors…orthopedic surgeons, you name it. They all said I needed hip surgery and that I had severe arthritis. It was so bad that I stopped working out, and I’m a health fanatic, and couldn’t even put my pants on,” he says. “We went to Dr. Oei’s office, and as he treated me he explained the science behind the LTO. When I told him that after just one treatment I could actually lift my leg to my chest again…it was a miracle.”

Today, Phil is back to running, jogging and working out four days a week.

“I’m 70-years-old,” he says, “and thanks to Dr. Oei and the LaserTouchOne, I’ve prevented major surgery.”

http://LovinLifeAfter50.com

The group led a coalition to establish the first Pain Awareness Month back in 2001. Eighty organizations, ranging from healthcare professionals to consumer groups, helped form Partners For Understanding Pain. The NAACP even joined the effort.

The Partners’ mission? To promote awareness of chronic, acute and cancer pain every September. Since then, this once little-understood issue has been gaining national exposure. And people with pain conditions don’t have to feel alone anymore.

This year, the group is encouraging pain survivors across the country to add their voices to the movement. It suggests contacting local government and community leaders as well as members of the media to let them know Pain Awareness Month is approaching.

To make it easier, the Chronic Pain Association posted tools for communicating with government and media.

Additionally, the association says, it’s a great time to reach out to a healthcare provider if you haven’t already, and to share your story with friends and family. You can post information about Pain Awareness Month on Facebook, or “like” your favorite pain-related group or business on Facebook.

And if you are living with pain, make a list of ways to take care of yourself in the month ahead. Lastly, consider setting aside time to relax every day, meditate or treat yourself to a therapeutic massage.

This guy was willing to try anything! He sat down in our booth so we could do a demonstration on him. After about 3 minutes into the demo, he got up, stretched, twisted and said, “yeah, it feels better now but tomorrow morning will tell the truth”. He left shortly after. We encouraged him to come by in the morning so that we could do another demo on him.

The next morning, before the announcer could even declare the show was open for the day, he came BOUNDING down the aisle with a shining face and declared, “I can’t believe it! I am a new man!”. He was totally amazed – for the first time in almost two weeks he jumped out of bed that morning and even tied his own shoes. He was going to call his doctor and cancel his appointment. He could not thank us enough!

What a pleasure it is to have this kind of feedback in the line of work we have all chosen to be in – it kind of makes your day.

It’s the go-to protocol for almost any minor injury, such as a sprained ankle. It stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, & Elevation.

• Rest: Stop the activity immediately. Continued stress can increase the damage done to the tissue.
• Ice: Apply a cold compress to the area to reduce the size of the blood vessels, thereby decreasing the bleeding, reducing swelling, and easing pain.
• Compression: Apply compression with a bandage to reduce swelling.
• Elevation: Elevate the injured limb above the level of the heart to help drain excess fluid from the area.

There is nothing wrong with RICE method of treatment – it is a logical, responsible way to handle a minor injury.

But What If:

In addition to the RICE therapy, the injured person used the the LaserTouchOne immediately after the minor injury?* The immediate stimulation of tissue promotes the repair and healing process, and in many cases can reduce the amount (or even prevents) swelling from occurring.

How To Effectively Treat Minor Injuries With The LaserTouchOne

• Use the LTO on the injured area for 2-4 minutes using GENTLE pressure. Be sure the stim-dial is turned down to a comfortable level.
• Treat the surrounding muscles for 2-6 minutes. Be sure to focus on the muscles that feed into the injured area(s) and the major muscle groups that make the area/joint function.
• Rest, ice and elevation are still recommended as needed.
• As soon as it’s not too painful, gentle range of motion stretching should be done to keep muscles from contracting and/or shortening.

This simple 4-step process can be repeated anywhere from once to twice daily.

Faster Healing

No one wants to be stuck on the couch with an injury instead of being active. For injuries that would have taken weeks to heal, the LaserTouchOne can reduce healing time to just days.

*If there is significant tissue damage, consult a medical professional as soon as possible.