Dr. Herbert gives Kudos to Class IV Laser

Please permit me to introduce myself; my name is Lorene L. Hebert, DC, QMF, of Merced and Fresno California. I have been a licensed chiropractor for over 12-years, a Qualified Medical Evaluator and an independent Medical Examiner for 4-years. I would like to share with you something that has changed my way of thinking and my way of practicing chiropractic.

At times I perform vacation relief for doctors in the central valley. On one occasion, I babysat a clinic in which the doctor saw approximately 300 patients a week. Yes, that is no typo.

In my practice, which is trying to rebuild since the worker's compensation reform, I see approximately 30 - 40 patients per week. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to notice there's a big difference, and believe me my right elbow knew it. I developed severe tendonitis after three-days.

On day five, picking up my toothbrush was a major undertaking. So, I did what any chiropractor would do, I got an adjustment, several in fact with minimal to no relief. I then employed ultrasound, myofascial release, and even acupuncture to no avail. So when I was approached for a demonstration of the Class IV Laser, I had nothing to lose but pain. In less than 4-minutes, the pain was gone. Amazing right? Not really.

A couple of months ago I was given the opportunity to utilize the Class IV Laser on a stroke patient, which was being treated at Stanford Hospital & Clinics. He had the typical signs of a recent stroke, right leg foot drop/paralysis, right-sided aphasia, right arm loss of strength and sensation, right shoulder range of motion. I was informed that he had 95% occlusion, not even the doctors at Stanford would perform surgery on him.

He heard about the Class IV Laser and wanted to try it. To make a long story short, he returned to Stanford after approximately six treatments with the laser, therapeutic exercise and chiropractic care. Upon greeting his doctors, the patient reached out and shook his doctors hand with his right hand. The doctor could not believe that this was the same patient who had had a stroke three months earlier. Not only did he have grip strength, range of motion, a slight foot drop and only a hint of aphasia, his occlusion after testing was less than 1%. Now that's amazing!

I'd like to end this with a little side note. I recently became certified to administer cold laser therapy in the treatment of smoking, drug and alcohol cessation and weight loss. The FDA has not yet approved this therapy.

Apparently, the FDA has decided, however, that the cold laser holds enough promise in these treatments to place it under investigation. The cold laser of choice is normally a category III laser. When I demonstrated that my category IV laser had the ability to downgrade to a category III laser, the IRB approved its use in these treatments. What's my point?

If the IRB (Investigational Review Board), which answers to, the FDA thinks the Class IV Laser has enough merit to approve its use, shouldn't you? Shouldn't the chiropractic profession? I believe that this is an asset that the chiropractic profession should endorse, for our own future, and for the good of our patients.

Sincerely,
Lorene L. Hebert, D.C. QME

Lorene L. Hebert, D.C. QME
1775 "O" Street
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: (209) 725-8088
Fax: (209) 725-8089