What initially led you to explore combining MLS® Laser Therapy with regenerative medicine for nerve conditions?
I was seeing good results with hydrodissection and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for nerve entrapments and neuropathies, but the progress was often slow and sometimes incomplete. Even after physically freeing a nerve from surrounding tissues, it sometimes only partially recovered. Because of these partial treatment responses, I began seeking techniques to further enhance my outcomes.
While researching different methods, I kept seeing references to photobiomodulation and laser therapy as potential treatments for neuropathy. Photobiomodulation with the Multiwave Locked System® (MLS) laser appeared to provide consistent pain relief for various conditions, including osteoarthritis and neuropathy. However, what really drew my attention was the ability of laser therapy to enhance neural function.
I began incorporating photobiomodulation into all my neuropathy protocols. The laser treatments improved pain relief and nerve recovery, especially when combined with PRP, prolotherapy, and other regenerative therapies.
Thomas E. Buchheit, MD
Triangle Regen Medicine & Biologics Center
Chapel Hill, NC
How do you structure your protocols, and what clinical factors guide treatment decisions?
When treating nerve pain and neuropathy, I start with the functional goals, physical findings, and the ultrasound exam. What does the patient want to do that they can’t do now? Is there an entrapment mononeuropathy, or is the clinical picture more consistent with a polyneuropathy? Is there inflammatory pain, or does loss of neural function dominate? These factors guide my approach, which often includes MLS Laser Therapy to enhance nerve health, regenerative therapies to deliver growth factors, and additional hydrodissection if there is evidence of entrapment.
In cases of polyneuropathy, I typically recommend multiple laser sessions combined with exercise and healthy foods before considering regenerative injection treatments. Combining the robotic laser and handheld device allows me to treat a larger area before moving on to more targeted methods.
With neuropathies, photobiomodulation often reduces the number of injections needed for effective treatment. Patients appreciate this approach because it simultaneously enhances nerve function and reduces procedural discomfort.
From a clinical standpoint, what changes have you observed when MLS® Laser Therapy is layered onto regenerative treatments compared to using either modality alone?
Using regenerative treatments alone, patients often wait weeks to see full results. Adding photobiomodulation to the protocol accelerates nerve recovery and reduces discomfort following regenerative therapy procedures. The combination seems to work synergistically, promoting a faster return of nerve function and the resolution of pain. Patients can get back to activities they enjoy, whether it’s walking the dog, playing pickleball, or spending time with friends.
What would you say to physicians who are achieving modest results with single-modality treatments and are considering a more integrated approach?
I’d suggest that we shouldn’t rely on a single modality to treat complex issues like neuropathy. As I present in my book, Healing Joints and Nerves: Immune Stimulation and the New Science of Regenerative Therapies, PRP and other regenerative interventions are powerful triggers for healing, but they are not always sufficient on their own.
The best results for the patient often come from using multiple tools at the same time, such as photobiomodulation with devices like the MLS Therapy Laser, regenerative therapies, healthy foods, and exercise. Instead of asking, “What’s the best regenerative treatment?” a better question is: “How do I create the optimal environment for healing?” Laser therapy plays a crucial role in this healing environment.
