The LMD Podiatry Podcast
Board certified in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, Dr. Dabakaroff completed her training in Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Dr. Dabakaroff has been published in textbooks and has done research for various foot conditions. Dr. Dabakaroff brings with her new methods, both surgical and non-surgical, for treating multiple foot and ankle ailments.
Dr. Dabakaroff launched a podcast to educate and keep her community informed about various aspects of podiatry. Her goal is to offer a valuable resource to people while establishing new connections both within and outside her community.
To learn more, visit: LMDpodiatry.com or contact (954) 680-7133
The LMD Podiatry Podcast
EP #15: Achieving Pain-Free Mobility with Advanced Therapies
Ever wondered how non-invasive treatments can revolutionize pain management and healing for foot and ankle conditions? Join Dr. Lauren Dabakaroff and Jeremy Wolf on the LMD Podiatry Podcast as they uncover the transformative power of MLS laser therapy. From understanding its unique dual-beam technology to exploring its FDA-approved applications for neuropathy, sprains, Achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis, this episode promises a comprehensive look into a cutting-edge therapy that offers hope to patients who can't undergo surgery or take medications.
But that's not all—Dr. Lauren also shares her insights on the synergy between MLS laser therapy and shockwave therapy for treating stubborn Achilles tendon issues. Learn how combining these treatments can break up scar tissue, reduce pain, and enhance healing, all while emphasizing the significance of consistent sessions for cumulative benefits. With valuable tips on preventive care, self-care routines, and the latest medical advancements, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to take proactive steps towards healthier feet and ankles. Tune in for professional advice and community-focused insights that you won’t want to miss!
To learn more, visit: LMDpodiatry.com or contact (954) 680-7133
Welcome to the LMD Podiatry Podcast. Trust us to get back on your feet. Here's your host, Dr Lauren DeBakeroff.
Speaker 2:Hello, hello everyone, and we are back for another episode of the LMD Podiatry Podcast. I'm your co-host, jeremy Wolf, of course, joined by your host, dr Lauren Dabakaroff. Dr Lauren, always a pleasure. Always a pleasure, jeremy, love to see you. Yes, yes, we are getting close to the end of the year, wrapping up a wonderful, wonderful year, and today we are going to get into a topic that, if I'm being honest, I know absolutely nothing about. So I've actually prepared some good questions for a little Q&A session. I know absolutely nothing about, so I've actually prepared some good questions for a little Q&A session. I know this is a procedure that you offer at your office, that you wanted to kind of get out into the community, and what it is is MLS laser therapy, yes. So why don't you start off by explaining what it is in the first place, right? What is MLS laser therapy and kind of how it works?
Speaker 3:Okay. So the MLS laser it's a laser that heals, right. So the mechanism of action, the way it works, is that it's two. It's the only FDA approved laser that has two beams, um, that fight at the at that aim at the same time. And what the two beams at the same time do is that it forces your cells to generate more energy or more ATP, so that the cell heals itself. So it forces your cell to heal itself by giving it more energy and then the area heals on its own. It basically it almost gives your body a boost to regenerate the area.
Speaker 2:You mentioned ATP. For those of us that are, what does that mean?
Speaker 3:So each cell has mitochondria. Mitochondria is where the energy of the cell gets generated, and the energy of the cell is in the form of ATP.
Speaker 2:Okay, so in essence, the laser therapy basically goes in there and stimulates those cells and creates the energy in there for healing purposes, exactly, very cool. So, like what makes LMS laser therapy different from, I guess, other types of treatments that are typically used for these issues of pituitary?
Speaker 3:So it's, first of all, it's safe. It's non-invasive. There's no needles, there's no injections. You don't feel cold or heat. You feel absolutely nothing, if only, if anything, anything. You just feel better after. Like, you start feeling some tingling after you're done, um, and it takes, you know, a couple sessions to kick in, but the the most, the main thing, it's non-invasive. There's no surgery required.
Speaker 3:Um, you know, you have to think. Um, sometimes there's elderly patients that have debilitating pain and they can't have surgery. They can't get an injection, they can't take pills. This is probably the only thing out there for them that's safe and easy to use Well, easy for us to use on them and it really does make a difference and it heals the area.
Speaker 2:So now we have an idea of what it is and how it differs from, you know, some of the other treatments out there. What are some of the conditions, like the specific conditions or injuries in the foot and ankle specifically, that MLS laser therapy is used for?
Speaker 3:So I use it for a variety of different things. If someone has, for example, like, the number one thing I use it for right now is neuropathy. So neuropathy is an irreversible condition. That's from it comes from diabetes or from back injuries or things like that, and patients have horrible nerve pain. And neuropathy is one of the main things I use it for, because there's really no treatment for this and patients feel better and don't have to take pills when they do this.
Speaker 3:Mls laser therapy, because it actually helps regenerate tissue in the area, regenerate the nerves and it helps lessen the pain. The other things I use it for I use it a lot for sprains, like if someone has an ankle sprain or a joint sprain or some type of foot sprain or leg sprain. I focus the laser on the area of the sprain and it gets your body to heal it faster. It makes your body lay down the foundation for the ligament to heal faster. I also use it for Achilles, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, anything chronic. It's really great for neuromas. I also use it part of my post-operative protocol, like if someone has surgery, I have them do six sessions right after. It helps a lot with the pain and the swelling after surgery.
Speaker 2:It seems like a really effective process. Is this relatively new or has this been around for a while?
Speaker 3:No, this laser has been around for like many. It's been around for decades actually. It's just, you know, not everybody commits to buying it for their office and having it available. Um, it used to just be, like, I know, when it came out, like 20, 30 years ago, it just used to be like a wand and now it's self-standing and you can just position it and then the body. You know, you mark a grid with the laser and the laser goes by the grid to. You know, focus on the problem area of the foot or the leg. It's also used a lot in chiropractics and pain management centers. People use it on the back and on the shoulder and things like that. It's for every area of the body.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean it seems like a no brainer for somebody that's having some of these types of chronic issues. Anytime there's a non-invasive type procedure that could have effects like that, it's certainly worthwhile to check out. So, like, what is the patient to expect during a session? I mean, it seems like I said it seems pretty straightforward, but what does that look like for a patient that would come in? Is it? What's the first part? I guess the second would be like how many treatments typically before you see effect?
Speaker 3:So it really depends, like for so what patient, the treatment itself, depending on you know the size of the area we're treating, um, it can range anywhere between five minutes and 20 minutes. You know, just one session is, let's let's put an average of 15 minutes per session, um, and basically they, we sit, they come to the office, they sit down, um, my assistant positions them and then we focus the laser to the problem areas and they get their nice little protective eyewear and they sit and they get the treatment. That's kind of the protocol for the office, like what actually happens in real time. But as far as length of treatment, I would say that it really depends. I would say that it really depends.
Speaker 3:Like, if someone has chronic arthritis right, if they have, you know, really bad arthritis in their foot or their ankle, they need, like usually they need like 12 sessions to start with in the first six weeks and then maintenance, okay, and then if someone has a sprain, for example, they need like about you know, eight to ten sessions, something like that, back to back, to just help the body heal the screen. If someone has, like a small little injury and they don't want any pills, and I want injection, I do also about six to eight sessions trying to think what else. I'm using it right now for someone with a chronic heel pain, so they're doing 10 sessions. So it really depends. The lowest amount of sessions is the six For someone who just had surgery. They do six sessions right after the surgery.
Speaker 2:Now is this part of the treatment plan that you're currently doing with my, my stepmother, nora, no no, I'm not.
Speaker 3:I'm not doing it for her actually.
Speaker 2:Oh, okay, it just didn't fit into her, her specific situation, yeah, so yeah for her specific issue, it's she needed a different treatment. Which is going rather well, I might add. Yes, she's very, very happy. She keeps telling me I'm so happy I met Dr Lauren. She's great.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean she would probably benefit from the laser as well. Looking back, but I think that she needed a different treatment to help her out with her issues, so it was more suitable for her help her out with her issues, so it was more suitable for her.
Speaker 2:Are there any like risks or side effects associated with this therapy, or is it? Is it 100% completely benign in all cases?
Speaker 3:So it's completely safe for all patients all ages Um. The only time it's contraindicated is if the patient has cancer or HIV. So the reason is because you know there aren't enough studies to see like because basically patients with that have cancer or have HIV. Their cells are mutated so we don't know what the laser would do to the cells. Got it? No, when you stimulate them essentially. So that's the only time it's not. And if you have any type of bleeding disorder it's advised not to do it. That's the major systemic issue. Contraindications Actually I was told that it's safe to even do it for pregnant women, as long as it's not by their uterus. If you do the foot or the arm or the neck, it's completely safe.
Speaker 2:How often do you use this in conjunction with other treatment plans? For instance, for the case of my stepmother, she was doing something else when you feel like maybe this could also benefit, or maybe, post-operoperative, is there scenarios where you'll do a surgery on someone and for the I guess for the healing process, you'll schedule a series of treatments with the laser to ultimately speed up the healing process? Yeah, you got enough. You're having a party in there, huh?
Speaker 3:you're making noise on the camera, that's all good, all good, all good.
Speaker 2:We roll messages here.
Speaker 3:So your question is how often do I use it in conjunction, in conjunction with other treatments? Yeah, okay. So when it comes to a sprain, like if someone, I actually just I was actually shocked and shocked myself. I have someone who has an Achilles tear and so what I did for him is I combined a stem cell injection together with a laser therapy and within six weeks, his gap without surgery, his gap closed by 85%. Wow, so that's pretty impressive. So I do it in conjunction with stem like.
Speaker 3:If someone has a rupture or a tear so I always like a bad one I always combine a stem cell, like one or two stem cells, together with the laser therapy. That's something I do in conjunction with the other thing the laser is also. It's so versatile I even just was reading that it's good for fungus as well, so I can combine a topical fungal medication together with the laser for the fungus. The other thing I combine it with is very rare do I do a steroid injection with the laser, only if the situation is really bad. But yeah, that's the stem cell for really bad injuries. I will combine the stem cell with the laser, and there is actually the laser company put a study out that it's actually like it's very synergistic together and it really does help heal the area faster when you do them together.
Speaker 2:Very, very interesting. Are there any specific factors that I'm sure there are that you're considering when it comes to making these treatment plans? Obviously, if somebody has, like, a serious injury, they need surgery. But, for instance, like I keep going back to my stepmom because it's familiar to me, she has these chronic issues. She meets with you. It's like what factors do you take into consideration to determine whether or not she's a good candidate for the laser versus what you actually did for her Right?
Speaker 3:So can I use your mom as a case why I didn't use a laser, or no, we don't want to, okay, so so I'll have. I'll give you two, two scenarios. So your mom, for example she has her ultrasound confirmed that her Achilles tendon is extremely thick and full of scar tissue. Ok, so in her case, shockwave therapy I thought was better, because we just need to break up a lot of the scar tissue and not to say that the laser wouldn't help her. It would help a lot with the pain and the inflammation associated with it. But to really get deep into the tendon and to wake it up and heal the area and get it to like go back to a normal tendon, you need more than just the laser. And then in another situation I have a patient. They had really bad Achilles pain also, but again their tendon was normal. It's just that they're always inflamed, they can't get a shot, they don't want to take pills anymore. So this would be a great option for them.
Speaker 2:So it helps a lot with pain and inflammation and things like that. Lastly, what's on the horizon? What are some future advancements, things that are upcoming in the field with laser therapy, like when are we going to have that laser where, whatever the ailment is, you come in and you wave your magic wand and the issue is magically resolved? When is that coming? Pull out the crystal ball.
Speaker 3:I would have to say you know there's a lot of machines out in the market and there's like I keep seeing all these ads for like StemWave and SoundWave and you know all of them have very, you know, similar functions, but I don't think there's anything out in the market now that's going to like immediately fix it. You know, this is not the ending scene of Click, where they just kind of scan it and it's like I wish you were there. Maybe with the new AI advances, maybe it can happen. But you know I really like this laser. Let's just summarize that I love this laser because my patients are like so happy and their pain is gone in just two or three sessions. They already feel the difference. Oh, the other thing is fantastic.
Speaker 3:You have to do three in a row, like three in the first week, because the laser does have a cumulative effect, like, just like an antibiotic has a loading dose. Like you take a Z-Pak, you take two on the first day, then one, one, one, one. It's the same thing with the laser you have to take. You have to do the first three sessions within the first week. That way you're kind of jolting yourselves into waking up and starting the healing process.
Speaker 3:So it's just, you know, I'm still like I'm researching it myself, because we've only had it for the past month or two and I'm seeing amazing things with my patients and everybody's super, super happy, even the older patients, you know, they don't, they can't take anything and they're doing the lasers. They can't take anything and they're doing the lasers and they're walking and they're happy and they don't have pain and they're taking less of their pills for pain, pain medications. So it's a great choice in those situations and for people with, you know, younger generation with a regular foot and ankle pain, it's just good to know and I feel calm to know that there is something out there that is not surgery and it's not injections and it's not you know plethora of other things that you know, everybody else does you know. It's just different. You know and and I keep saying you know, I know you know, I know, you know it works.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, it's good to know. I'm glad we did this. I had no idea about any of this. It's good to know there are treatment plans like this available and I ask, like tongue in cheek, when we're going to have the magic laser that fixes everything. But that's not how this stuff works right. There's no magic bullet, there's no one thing. It all goes back to we said this before taking care of yourself right, Getting routine checkups, eating right, exercising, stretching all the things that are difficult for people to do because it's hard. But just implementing those daily habits from a younger age or from wherever you're at in life, really just starting to do those things slowly but surely, will generally eliminate a lot of the problems that you're ultimately solving at the office. So you hear that everyone out there Stay healthy, put a routine in place, always get annual checkups. If you ever have a problem you're experiencing, any pain in the feet, anything, reach out to Dr Lauren. She's obviously a wonderful resource. She's an integral part of our great community here doing really great work. So if you have any questions any time, there's always a link in the description to her contact information so you could reach her.
Speaker 2:Thanks for tuning in and you know we'll catch everyone next time. I just said, you know too, you infected me with. You know we'll catch everyone next time. I just I just said you know to, you got your. You know, all right, it was always, always a pleasure, Good seeing you, and we will catch everyone next time on the next episode of the LMD podiatry podcast. Everyone, take care, have a wonderful day and stay blessed. Bye, Bye blessed.
Speaker 1:Bye, bye. Thank you for listening to the LMD podiatry podcast. For more information, visit LMDPodiatrycom. That's L M D P O D I A T R Ycom, or call 954-680-7133.