Canadians are said to be suffering through a chronic pain epidemic. Pain is a major concern for seniors, many of whom are already coping with health problems associated with age including cognitive issues, a decline in mobility, and other chronic conditions. Approximately 27% of seniors living at home and 38% of seniors in health care institutions suffer some form of chronic pain.1 Pain is an issue which transcends age, not only affecting older Canadians. A Canadian Community Health Survey found that around 1 in 10 Canadians aged 12 to 44 – approximately 1.5 million people – experience some form of chronic pain.2 There are three main types of pain, classified based on where it originates: Somatic pain is caused when receptors in the body surface or musculoskeletal tissues are activated. Pain usually takes the form of a dull ache and is often exacerbated by activity Neuropathic pain originates in the … Read More
Laser Therapy for Diabetic Neuropathy
Patents living with diabetes are at risk of developing a number of other serious health problems. Prolonged exposure to high blood glucose levels can lead to a myriad of diseases which can affect the eyes, kidneys, teeth, nerves and circulatory system. As many as 60% of diabetics suffer from some form of diabetic neuropathy, which most commonly presents in older patients with a long history of diabetes, or those with high blood pressure or excess body fat. Peripheral neuropathy, one of many forms for diabetic neuropathy, causes numbness and decreased feeling in the feet and toes, pain when walking, and muscle weakness. Charcot Foot, a progressive degenerative condition that affects the joints in the feet, is a frequent result of peripheral neuropathy. Decreases in pain and sensation, combined with decreasing muscle reflexes and control, subject the feet to repeated trauma and injury causing progressive damage to the ligaments, cartilage, and … Read More