Systems and methods for use in treating sensory impairment

Abstract

Methods and systems for use in treating one or more patient’s sensory impairment, e.g., associated with peripheral neuropathy. An exemplary system may be configured to generate treatment information for treating sensory impairment in at least one body portion using photonic energy from a therapeutic laser based on data indicative of damage.

1 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A method of reducing sensory impairment in a subject’s extremity, the method comprising:
 exposing selected tissue in proximity to a selected nerve root to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus at a power of at least 6.5 Watts; and 
 exposing selected tissue of an affected extremity in proximity to a nerve extending from the selected nerve root to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus at a power of at least 5.5 Watts. 
 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the therapeutic laser is a Class IV therapeutic laser apparatus. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein exposing selected tissue in proximity to a selected nerve root to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus at a power of at least 6.5 Watts occurs before exposing selected tissue of an affected extremity in proximity to a nerve extending from the selected nerve root to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus at a power of at least 5.5 Watts. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein exposing selected tissue in proximity to a selected nerve root to photonic energy occurs for at least 1 minute. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein exposing selected tissue in proximity to a selected nerve root to photonic energy occurs for no greater than 10 minutes. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein exposing selected tissue of an affected extremity in proximity to a nerve extending from the selected nerve root to photonic energy occurs for at least 5 minutes. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein exposing selected tissue of an affected extremity in proximity to a nerve extending from the selected nerve root to photonic energy occurs for no greater than 20 minutes. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein exposure of the selected tissue occurs for a period of time sufficient to deliver a total dosage of at least 7000 Joules to the selected tissue. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein exposure of the selected tissue occurs for a period of time sufficient to deliver a total dosage of at least 9000 Joules to the selected tissue. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the exposing steps occur in a first treatment in a series of treatments occurring over a period of days or weeks. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the treatments of the series of treatments following the first treatment comprise exposing the selected tissue in proximity to the selected nerve root to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus at a power of at least 6.5 Watts. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the treatments of the series of treatments following the first treatment comprise exposing the selected tissue of an affected extremity in proximity to a nerve extending from the selected nerve root to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus at a power of at least 5.5 Watts. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the treatments of the series of treatments following the first treatment comprise exposing the selected tissue in proximity to the selected nerve root to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus at a power of less than 6.5 Watts. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the treatments of the series of treatments following the first treatment comprise exposing the selected tissue of an affected extremity in proximity to a nerve extending from the selected nerve root to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus at a power of less than 5.5 Watts. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the treatments of the series of treatments following the first treatment include exposing selected tissue in proximity to a selected nerve root to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the treatments of the series of treatments following the first treatment include exposing selected tissue of an affected extremity in proximity to a nerve extending from the selected nerve root to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein exposing selected tissue occurs bilaterally. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the sensory impairment is associated with peripheral neuropathy. 
     
     
         86 . A method of reducing sensory impairment in a subject’s extremity, the method comprising:
 evaluating the sensory impairment; 
 identifying one or more nerves and nerve roots that are associated with, or suspected of being associated with, the sensory impairment; 
 exposing selected tissue in proximity to the one or more nerve roots to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus at a power of at least 6.5 Watts for at least 1 minute; and 
 exposing selected tissue of an affected extremity in proximity to the one or more nerves extending from the selected nerve roots to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus at a power of at least 5.5 Watts for at least 1 minute; 
 wherein the exposing steps provide at least 7000 Joules of total energy to the subject. 
 
     
     
         87 . A method of reducing sensory impairment in a subject’s extremity, the method comprising:
 evaluating the sensory impairment; 
 identifying one or more nerves and nerve roots that are associated with, or suspected of being associated with, the sensory impairment; 
 exposing selected tissue in proximity to the one or more nerve roots to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus at a power of at least 6.5 Watts for at least 1 minute; 
 exposing selected tissue of an affected extremity in proximity to the one or more nerves extending from the selected nerve roots to photonic energy from a therapeutic laser apparatus at a power of at least 5.5 Watts for at least 1 minute, wherein the exposing steps in a first treatment provide at least 7000 Joules of total energy to the subject; and 
 repeating the exposing steps in one or more subsequent treatments until at least one symptom of the sensory impairment is reduced.