My goal is to provide my patients with the best care available. With outstanding patient care at its core, my 40-year Houston-based practice, Parker Foot & Ankle, is focused on treating and healing foot and ankle conditions so that my patients can return to the pain-free lives they want to live. Since going into private practice in 1970, I have been dedicated to being up-to-date on procedures, new findings, and improvements on the way we practice medicine so that my patients receive the best possible care. I have also been actively involved in the education and training of other podiatric professionals, as the past president of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons, and as an examiner and diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine. Throughout my years of experience, I have witnessed a notable shift from steroid-based to regenerative medicine, including laser therapy.
I was an early adopter of low-level laser therapy (LLLT), and purchased the first FDA-cleared laser about 11 years ago. I then purchased another LLLT laser and found both units to be helpful in the reduction of pain and inflammation; however, I was still open to other developing technologies that would further the standard of care that I offer each of my patients. It was my good friend, Dr. Richard Jacoby, of Valley Foot Surgeons & Laser Centers in Scottsdale, AZ, who introduced me to Cutting Edge Laser Technologies in 2010 at a meeting of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons.
Dr. Jacoby had so many good things to say about the ease of use and immeasurable benefits he’d seen from having the patented Multi-Wave Locked System (MLS) laser in his own practice—it was something I had to see for myself. A representative from Cutting Edge was attending a meeting of the AENS and offered to demonstrate the M6 Laser on the wife of an attending doctor who was experiencing acute shoulder pain. After that first treatment, her shoulder was markedly better, and I thought, “What is this?” After a conference speaker was also treated and also report-ed great results, I was convinced. I purchased the fully robotic M6 MLS Therapy Laser on the spot.
I did have concerns before purchasing an M6 laser; for one, I was concerned that my patients might not want to pay for this out-of-pocket modality. However, these fears were eliminated when I found out just how versatile the M6 is, especially in cases where traditional methods of care have not made much of an impact, or where rapid healing is crucial. For example, when used in conjunction with other regenerative therapies, the MLS Therapy Laser vastly improves the outcome from Achilles tendon repair. It is truly remarkable.
I was already using cold lasers in my practice, but they lacked the unassisted feature of the Robotic M6, which allows me, my nurses, and my staff to safely and effectively administer laser treatment without direct hands-on attention. Once the treatment area and protocol have been set on the laser, the M6 will deliver the correct dosage to each area of treatment, without oversight, for the 8-10 minute treatment time. That is a critical feature, especially in a busy practice. And my staff loves the M6—after I determine the diagnosis and treatment plan, my patients are treated by my nurses and staff, who consistently report that the patients are absolutely improving with this treatment.
MLS Laser therapy is also used to alleviate post-operative stiffness—soon after treatment, patients can move without pain and possess a better range of motion. Almost all of my post-op patients get laser treatment and heal faster; an incision site that is 6 weeks post-op looks more like a 6-month post-op site. I will often prescribe MLS Laser Therapy in conjunction with various amnio-therapies to treat conditions that are long-standing, such as Achilles tendinosis, damage to the fascia, and recalcitrant heel pain.
The M6 is a great adjunct with other regenerative medicine treatments, such as platelet-rich plasma and amniotherapies, because the synchronized dual wavelength system works with these modalities to trigger growth factors by increasing mitochondrial activity and nitric oxide transcription, while reducing the reactive oxygen species, which are so damaging to life. The M6 is a phenomenal instrument. With MLS, the healing process is very much enhanced.
When asked if I would recommend this technology to my colleagues, my answer is NO, I wouldn’t. I want to be the only one out there with this laser! Truthfully, at this point, I can’t imagine not having the M6 MLS Therapy Laser in my practice. On average, patients who are being treated with MLS are experiencing over 85-90% improvement in their condition. I am grateful to have this technology that I can share with my patients—it is truly ahead of conventional modalities, it closely follows the shift from steroid-based to regenerative medical practices, and most importantly, it helps me to fulfill my commitment to providing my patients with the best care possible.
