Who wants to teach me about cold lasers? And, do I want to buy one?

[531]

I’ve recently had the opportunity to use two different cold lasers for basic muscle relaxation/soreness treatments on my horse and I can tell he loves it.

I’ve been thinking about buying one myself, but I really don’t know anything about the technology or what I should be looking for. One I used is pretty complex and comes with a price tag and is about $3000 to purchase, the other is more basic, with fewer options and I think a narrower ‘range’ (would that be correct?) and was reportedly $800.

I’d love to learn more about them but I’m not really sure where to go to find out more.

Thoughts?

[IPEsq]

I’ve been off and on looking for ones to buy or rent-to-own. I started using one on my horse for a tendon injury. He seemed to have the best results from a Class IV laser ($$$$) but some lesser ones also seemed to make him feel good. I am mostly considering it for helping him maintain comfort in his neck, where he has some arthritis. Being on stall rest was hard for him, and he got some regular treatments of his neck which did seem to help.

Class 3b lasers seem to be the best balance of safety and effectiveness, and they are pretty readily available. Not cheap. The wavelength and wattage will be important depending on what area you are treating. If you are treating something like the cervical spine, the laser needs to be able to penetrate tissue farther than if you are treating a hock.

I learned about them from equine bodyworkers who have their own lasers and use them in treatment. I also read up on a few models and companies that market to horse people.

[Gainer]

I actually bought one used from my vet ($1000). I was spending so much money renting one for my old horse and then I also needed it for long-term treatment on a cat.

Mine has both the wide attachment (for the horse) and the “accupuncture” attachment for the cat.

[IPEsq]

Oh, I forgot to answer the question of whether you’d want to buy one…

The real reason for me looking into buying is like Gainer. Over time, I’d expect to pay more to other people to treat my horse than it would cost to buy one. I’d also like to use it on my own aches and pains.

[DoodlesMom]

I have been considering getting one because I’ve had the opportunity to use it on myself! My PT has one that I use 2-3 times a week. It’s done wonders for my scar tissue (internal and external)… I normally keloid, but haven’t on the most recent surgery, since using the laser. It gets rid of bruises in record time.

I think it would help my guys, especially the old one with arthritis and tendon issues, but I have yet to see it be used on a horse. My PT has used it on dogs, and said they’ve definitely shown an improvement (but she won’t bring it to my barn!). I’m definitely interested to see what others say, but $3000 is definitely out of my budget for now.

[LookmaNohands]

I have a Theralaser and I really like it. I use it on the horses and on myself. It helps when I am sore. The horses really notice it and usually do a lot of licking and chewing when I use it on them. I think it helps.

I do a fair amount of rehabbing and that is the main reason I bought it.

[Lisa_Preston]

It’s worth reading up on them. Here’s a great place to start:
http://www.doctorramey.com/index.php?s=laser

[Guilherme]

Here’s a pretty good piece on “cold laser.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_level_laser_therapy

We had it done on a mare with a minor pain issues and it was completely ineffective. Since I didn’t get charged for it (it was a demo by a sales agent) I was not annoyed. If I’d been charged I might have been.

Since the evidence for effectiveness is literally “all over the map” I don’t think I’d pony up Three Grand for a unit.

G.

[IPEsq]

I think it’s worth trying it out some with a bodyworker. I was skeptical at first, but my chiropractor uses one on me, and while I don’t feel anything, I get results as shown through repeating certain strength tests. The first time my horse was treated on his neck, he nearly laid down and took a nap.

It would be worth trying before you buy for sure to see whether it would be worth the large expense for you.

[Cowgirl]

I borrowed the small cold laser (still a Class IV) from my horse’s rehab place to use on myself. Three weeks ago, I had all of the hardware removed from my ankle that was placed when I broke it on either side in September of last year). So this is was the second surgery with the same incisions. I use the laser several times a day. The healing was so rapid that removing stiches on day 13 was rather painful because the skin had grown over the stitches. Now, the scars are showing healing that, the first time around, I had at the end of the second month. Additionally, when I use it at the end of the day, after walking on the ankle all day, it takes away any soreness. In the morning, it takes away the stiffness I get from inactivity overnight. I am so impressed with how it is speeding my recovery that I’ve thought about buying this one myself (at $3,000), but I just can’t go there with the $$$$ yet. I do get a ton of pain relief also from icing my ankle…and that is a lot cheaper…and I do get healing improvement from massaging it, which is free.

[candico]

Definitely speeds healing time on wounds. My friend’s plastic surgeon was absolutely amazed at how well her lip that was basically torn off her face in a riding accident healed in such a short amount of time borrowing our laser.

For orthopedic things it seems hit and miss. Some things it works quickly and effectively while other things, nada. Weird thing is that when you use it on yourself you feel nothing except if you use it too long without moving it over dark hair like when I did the back of my neck - it gets hot! Singed my dark bay mare as well. Yet, for horses they definitely do a lot of licking and chewing when you get the right spot during treatment which means they must feel it working.

For me, it definitely helps lower back strains immensely, but didn’t seem to work for mucker’s elbow at all. I do more than the recommended beeps though because I need that pain gone ASAP so I can get back to riding!

Our is the Respond Systems laser.

[IPEsq]

Rats, candico, I was looking at a Respond Systems one and I also need some help for mucker’s elbow (among other things).

[FreshAir]

[QUOTE=IPEsq;8677905]
Rats, candico, I was looking at a Respond Systems one and I also need some help for mucker’s elbow (among other things).[/QUOTE]

Ahh, I had the mucker’s elbow and shoulder for over a year and a half. What finally worked was a combination of acupuncture (needles vibrated and under a heat lamp) and chiropractic. I never thought it would go away, it was so painful in sleep and in movement, just turning over in bed would bother it. The interesting thing is that everyone wants to massage it out - it feels good for the moment it is happening, but it made it worse for me - it was just adding to the inflammation. Good luck - I hope you feel better.

[IPEsq]

[QUOTE=FreshAir;8678836]
Ahh, I had the mucker’s elbow and shoulder for over a year and a half. What finally worked was a combination of acupuncture (needles vibrated and under a heat lamp) and chiropractic. I never thought it would go away, it was so painful in sleep and in movement, just turning over in bed would bother it. The interesting thing is that everyone wants to massage it out - it feels good for the moment it is happening, but it made it worse for me - it was just adding to the inflammation. Good luck - I hope you feel better.[/QUOTE]

What was adjusted by the chiropractor? I was thinking of just putting on some kinesio tape… it helps my bad shoulder when some tendon irritation starts flaring up. I’ve also tried massage…didn’t work for me either.

[FreshAir]

[QUOTE=IPEsq;8679010]
What was adjusted by the chiropractor? I was thinking of just putting on some kinesio tape… it helps my bad shoulder when some tendon irritation starts flaring up. I’ve also tried massage…didn’t work for me either.[/QUOTE]
The chiro yanked on my wrist and cracked my neck and back. This was not my favorite thing but…oh btw he was a trained chiropractor. He also gave me resistance strengthening exercises…basically, bend your elbows, keep them by your waist, clasp your hands together and try to pull your hands apart. I saw a youtube video that says you want to strengthen the muscles holding your shoulder together. This exercise helps that.

[531]

Thanks everyone for all the advice.

This week I’ve been using my barn mate’s: http://vetrolaser.com/Home_Page.html

There is a noticeable difference between pre and post treatment reactions to palpation of his back (sore after an event).

I also called Dr. Kamen on the Vetrolaser website, who does indeed answer all the phone calls and asked about application time, and he reported that for the laser to reach its max depth of 2" you would need to hold it stationary for 2 minutes. I had only been applying it for 10-15 seconds and then moving the laser to a spot just adjacent to that application site, essentially right next to the spot I just treated. I understand now that i was really only affecting the surface and near surface, but it made a difference.