Cold Laser Therapy for Knee Pain

Cold Laser Therapy for Knee Pain

Cold laser therapy for knee pain relief has been an effective non-surgical treatment option for individuals in the Dallas Fort Worth area since 2001. Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™ is a program that integrates both physical medicine along with cold laser therapy; so that individuals complaining of knee pain can receive relief and avoid having unnecessary knee surgery.

There are three major outcomes when receiving Cold Laser Therapy for knee pain:

1) Healing- Cold laser therapy accelerates the healing process by stimulating ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) or energy production in the cell thereby allowing tissues to heal and repair faster.

2) Knee Pain Relief: Normalizes the sodium potassium gradient in the nerve cell thereby eliminating or relieving knee pain.

3) Reduction/Elimination of Swelling/Inflammation in the Knees: Allows the cells to get rid of excess fluid thereby allowing the pressure around the knee joint to be relieved.

Overview of Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™:

Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™ is unique in that it combines specialized cold laser knee protocols, multiple lasers, and other physiotherapy treatments to relieve pain, inflammation, and strengthen the muscles around the knee joint.  Each treatment program is customized for the individual.

Moreover, Dr. Schnee utilizes multiple lasers in her treatment programs since an individuals’ knee may be diagnosed with several different conditions that need to be addressed simultaneously.

How Many Treatments Are Necessary?

The total number of treatments varies depending on the knee condition being treated.  It may take 10-30 treatments to receive optimal results.  However, most individuals may notice improvements around the 6-12 treatment.

How Long Does A Treatment Take?

Each treatment takes 20 minutes to an hour depending on the condition being treated.

Is the Treatment Uncomfortable or Painful?

Cold laser treatments are painless, and there are no documented side-effects associated with the therapy.  (It’s rare, but you may be sore after the first treatment, but that sensation goes away after the first day or two.)

What Might I Expect After Completing Treatments?

Over the past 35 years, there have been thousands of papers written and hundreds of double blind placebo controlled studies that have been performed that have proven the effectiveness of cold laser therapy.

In 2011, Dr. Schnee and her colleague Dr. Robert Hanson, D.C. presented their clinical findings in the form of an abstract at the annual North American Association for Laser Therapy conference in Milwaukee.  They found that 79.8% of individuals diagnosed with moderate to severe osteoarthritis in the knee stated that their knee felt ‘moderately better to a great deal better’ after completing cold laser therapy treatments at the DFW Spine & Joint Center in Irving, Texas.

Patient’s Stories….

The following individuals have actually completed Dr. Schnee’s cold laser therapy for knee pain program with Dr. Alexandra Schnee, D.C. at the DFW Spine & Joint Center in Irving, Texas.  The stories you are about to read either came from  individuals who did not want to undergo knee replacement surgery, or were not candidates for knee surgery (due to other health problems).  Prior to starting Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™ they all complained of knee pain when walking, standing, or sleeping.

Here are their stories:

“If Someone Had Not Referred Me To Dr. Schnee I Would Have Scheduled Surgery Replacement For My Knees…”

My knee pain was unbearable at times. I could not do much of anything like clean the house, stand, or walk. I used to get steroid shots every 4-6 weeks (which would only last 4-5 days) I had to take pain medication every day just so I could tolerate the pain in my knee.  The pain medication was non-narcotic so I could function during the day.  I also tried the SYNVISC injections every 6 months (they did not help at all).  I was told to get both knees replaced.

I am so grateful to Dr. Schnee.  If someone had not referred me to her I would have scheduled surgery for replacement for my knees.  I now have the quality of life I have not had in years.  I get up with a smile on my face each dayJ.  I can sleep at night pain free! I can walk, clean house, and stand more than I ever could! I can even vacuum the carpet!  `My knees have improved 90% from the day I walked into the DFW Spine & Joint Center.  The staff is wonderful! They make each patient feel special.  I will miss seeing them and talking to them.–Babette M., Irving, Texas

Cold Laser Therapy for Knee Pain Got Me Walking Again- With Very Little Pain…

I am very pleased with my results.  My knee feels about 80% better than it did prior to my treatment. I am amazed with my results.  I tried everything before trying Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program.  I tried acupuncture, shots, and various other things that didn’t work.  Before I started treatments I could barely walk- I could not go up and down the stairs.  It was very painful to ride long distances in a car and I had a lot of trouble getting out of a chair.  I felt that a knee replacement was the next step. I had a knee replacement already on my other knee so I wanted to try cold laser therapy first (knee replacement surgery was my last resort). Now I can stand, walk and go up and down stairs with very little pain in my knee. — Garland S., Granbury, Texas

I Did Not Want to Endure Another Knee Replacement Surgery…

I had my right knee replaced in December of 2009, and I was hoping to get some pain relief before my other knee got that painful.  Before I started Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program I had pain sleeping at night, and I had to put a pillow under my knees.  I tossed and turned at night just trying to get comfortable.  I could not straighten my knee without discomfort.  Going up and down stairs- a grinding sound occurred and it hurt around the knee cap area.  It hurt more going down stairs than going up stairs.

From the second session with Dr. Schnee I have been able to sleep all night very comfortably.  I have no pain in the back of my knee when I try to straighten it out.  I haven’t had the shooting pain in my knee when walking or climbing stairs.  I am able to walk longer distances at a time without the severe pain in my knees.

Every person that I have come into contact at this establishment has been so friendly, helpful, courteous, knowledgeable yet very professional. Coming here has been a pleasure.–Nancy H., Garland, Texas

Knee Injections Weren’t Working So The Surgeon Recommended Total Knee Replacements…

Prior to coming to the DFW Spine & Joint Center I was told that I would need a total knee replacement.  I had arthroscopic knee surgery in 1997.  My knee pain and stiffness was very intense.

When my problem was at its worst I couldn’t stand up and walk.  I couldn’t sleep very well because I couldn’t turn over on the right side.  Before the cold laser therapy program with Dr. Schnee, I was going to a pain clinic every four weeks to get shots in my knee.  Now after completing Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program, I am very pleased with my overall experience and I feel that my overall percentage of improvement has been around 80%.–Harry H., Frisco, Texas

Dr. Schnee Helped Me After I Was Told That I Couldn’t Have A Knee Replacement…

Before Dr. Schnee’s Cold laser therapy treatments my knees were extremely painful and swollen (due to bone on bone and baker’s cysts).  I had difficulty walking, sleeping, and getting up and down from a chair.  I tried arthritis medication and cortisone injections which did not help.  I am very pleased and I would say I am experiencing maybe 50% less pain in my knees which is wonderful-Thanks!–

Pat R., Carthage, Texas

Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Therapy for Knee Pain Program Got Me Sleeping through the Night Again…

My doctor told me that I would need both knees replaced.  I was up all parts of the night.  I just couldn’t sleep because of the cramps in my legs.  I had a hard time getting up out of a chair and I could not get up off the floor.  I am very pleased with the results with Dr. Schnee’s Cold laser therapy program.  I am walking better and I don’t have the pain in my knees like I had before.

Norman H., Pottsboro, Texas

To read more stories from knee pain sufferers who received knee pain relief from Dr. Schnee’s cold laser therapy for knee pain click on the link.

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, D.C. – A cold laser therapy for knee pain doctor has been helping patients at the DFW Spine & Joint Center in Irving, Texas since 2001.  Her mission is to help knee pain sufferers regain their quality of life, and to help them avoid unnecessary knee surgery.  Dr. Schnee is an author, and expert on the topic of cold laser therapy for the treatment of knee pain.  She has created protocols that are used in Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™.

“Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™ has been helping residents from the Dallas, Fort Worth, and Surrounding Areas with Chronic Knee Pain Since 2001.”

Cold Laser Therapy for Knee Pain

Cold laser therapy for knee pain is an alternative knee treatment offered by Dr. Alexandra Schnee at the DFW Spine & Joint Center, a cold laser therapy center, in Irving Texas.

Knee Replacement Surgery:Study Questions Efficacy and Safety

  Knee Replacement Surgery: New Study Questions Efficacy and Safety

The number of people undergoing total knee replacements in the United States is increasing due to an obesity epidemic and an aging population.  In 2008, more than 650,000 Americans had knee replacements and it cost the U.S. Health Care System $10.4 billion dollars.  Recently, new concerns about knee replacement surgery were just released online in The Lancet.  Dr. Andrew Carr, an orthopedic surgeon, at the University of Oxford Department of Orthopedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences and lead researcher found that there is not enough research supporting the effectiveness or safety for the prosthetics used in total knee replacement surgery. 

It’s unfortunate but the FDA (the Food and Drug Administration) doesn’t really scrutinize knee replacements and the manufacturers of knee prosthetics.  A report from the Institute of Medicine in 2011 stated that medical devices have long lacked testing to ensure their safety and effectiveness.  Studies for knee replacements that are available are typically small and are conducted by surgeons that have invented the knee implant, or who were hired by the implants manufacturer.  Therefore, the studies are often biased with there being an obvious conflict of interest.  Dr. Carr stated that, “Without high quality, unbiased and reliable information surgeons cannot make informed decisions.” And due to the recent rise in the number of people getting total knee replacements Dr. Carr along with millions of other Americans think that the FDA should get tougher on these manufacturers. “In the past 40 years the number of implants available on the market has substantially proliferated, often with little or no evidence of effectiveness or cost effectiveness”, Dr. Carr remarked in a statement.

At this point the only way the medical community knows if there is a problem with a prosthetic is if the patient receives a surgical revision.  So rather than testing the implant properly prior to using it on patients, the patient virtually becomes the guinea pig.  So Dr. Carr and his colleagues are asking for stricter guidelines and “surveillance” of knee replacements. He suggests that knee replacements be treated like medications and that there should be large double blind randomized studies and a registry for implants so that their effectiveness can be tracked.  He also commented on the ‘newer implants’ that have come on the market, “…new joint implants may, in fact, be more prone to revision rather then less.”

In addition, during their research, Dr. Carr and his colleagues found that many patients were receiving total knee replacements when they only complained of mild knee pain, and that he believed there should be stricter guidelines for doctor’s to follow when recommending surgery.  Dr. Carr also suggests that patients receiving a total knee replacement should have pain in their knees when they are weight bearing and complain of having pain at night.  They should have also completed at least six months of conservative therapy and not have responded to it before any knee surgery is recommended.

Dr. Carr and his colleagues are not convinced that total knee replacements provide enough pain relief and really hold up to years of wear and tear.  Dr. Carr believes that other non-surgical knee treatment methods should be researched to help patient’s avoid knee surgery in the future.

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, D.C. is an author, researcher and Dallas Cold Laser Knee Doctor.  She practices at the DFW Spine and Joint Center in Irving, Texas and specializes in cold laser therapy for knee pain.  Dr. Schnee has developed cold laser knee treatment protocols that she uses as part of her Cold Laser Knee Program™.  Since 2001, she’s helped hundreds of patients avoid unnecessary knee replacements. If you’d like to find out about her non-surgical program please visit http://www.HelpMyKneePain.com or to contact Dr. Schnee please call 214-596-1051.

Knee Replacement Surgery: Study Questions Efficacy and Safety

New study questions the efficacy and safety of knee replacement surgery. Dr. Schnee provides non-surgical cold laser therapy for knee pain in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.

Primary Source: The Lancet

Carr A, et al “Knee Replacement” Lancet 2012: DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60752-6.

Cold Laser Therapy Reviews for Knee Treatment in Dallas, TX

Cold Laser Therapy Reviews for Knee Treatment in Dallas, TX

Read (just a handful of) the cold laser therapy reviews below from individuals who have actually completed care with Dr. Alexandra Schnee.

These individuals were diagnosed with one or MORE of the following conditions Bone on Bone Knee Pain, Meniscus Tears, a Baker’s Cyst, Chondromalacia Patella, Osteoarthritis, Tendonitis, a Medial Collateral Ligament Sprain, and Bursitis.

Do any of the following stories remind you of your knee pain?

Osteoarthritis knee pain finally relieved!

“I had arthroscopic knee surgery and I was told I needed a total knee replacement…”  

I had constant knee pain day and night that required pain killers every day.  I couldn’t kneel at church, sleep thru the night, or go shopping or even clean my house.  I had arthroscopic knee surgery and I was told that I needed a total knee replacement.  Now since completing treatments I can sleep with hardly any pain, kneel at church.  I am very pleased with these knee treatments and my overall percentage of improvement which is about 80%.–59 years young, Crowley, Texas

Total Knee Replacements Avoided!

“I couldn’t walk for very long and it hurt when bending my knee…”

I had constant knee pain about an 8 around the knee cap.I couldn’t walk for very long and it hurt when bending my knee.  The doctor told me I needed knee surgery.  Since completing Dr. Schnee’s program I can sleep at night and walk.  My knee feels 95% better than it did!–72 years young, Midlothian, Texas

Knee Pain No Longer Keeps Her Up at Night!

“Unbearable knee pain kept me from walking and sleeping…”

I had unbearable knee pain in both knees.  I could not walk very [well] and could not sleep.  I am very pleased with the knee treatments and my knees feel 90-95% better.  Now I can sleep and walk.–75 years young, Sulphur, Oklahoma

Exercises to Relieve Arthritis Knee Pain Dallas-Fort Worth Texas

Exercises to Relieve Arthritis Knee Pain Dallas-Fort Worth Texas

Unfortunately, knee osteoarthritis causes stiffness and pain in the knee joints.  In order to help relieve arthritis knee pain it is important that you get moving.  Motion helps increase synovial fluid which helps the natural lubrication in your knees.  In addition, exercises strengthen the muscles around the knee which alleviates the pressure on the cartilage.

Unfortunately, not all exercises will help relieve knee pain.  As a matter of fact some exercises may aggravate your condition.  Here are some guidelines to follow:

Cycling is always the best option to help relieve knee pain:

Walking, cycling, and swimming will all help relieve mild osteoarthritis pain, and stiffness in the knees.  However, cycling or using a recumbent bike, in my opinion, is the best choice of activity for the knee joint.  A recumbent bike allows the thigh muscles to get strengthened without wearing down the cartilage in the knee joint.  Start by cycling for 5 minutes daily for one week, and every week thereafter increase your time by 5 minutes until you reach 20 minutes.  In the beginning, only use a resistance of 1 or 2,  and then continue to increase the resistance by one notch every three weeks until you reach a 5. Finally, make sure that the seat on the bike is adjusted properly so that you don’t further injure your knee joints. 

Exercise done correctly should not cause any knee pain:

 You should never experience any knee pain during or after exercise,  and if you do- STOP.  Please remember there is a significant difference between PAIN and soreness.  Experiencing muscle soreness after exercising is normal and is a good thing! It means you’re actually using and working out the muscles!! 

Low weight, more repetitions:

If you’re doing leg extensions or leg curls at the gym make sure that you are using very light weight and completing more repetitions.  When performing a leg extension never stretch out the knee completely.  You should stop the extension right before the leg becomes fully extended, so the joint never locks.

Avoid doing squats and lunges:

Individuals with mild to severe osteoarthritis should not be doing squats or lunges; especially if you have been diagnosed with chondromalacia patella.  (This is a condition where the cartilage behind the knee cap has thinned and worn down.) 

Avoid exercises that force the knee joint to ‘twist’.

Any activity where an individual is planting their foot on the ground, and twisting their upper body should be avoided.  This type of movement will aggravate an arthritic knee and may cause meniscus or cartilage tears in the knee.  The more arthritic the knee joint, the drier the cartilage becomes and any sort of twisting on the joint can cause meniscus tearing.  Individuals with moderate to severe arthritis should avoid playing golf and tennis because these activities will aggravate an arthritic knee.

Finally, keep in mind, ‘rest, will make you rust.’

(I read this quote in a newsletter recently, and I thought it was appropriate for this blog.)

If you suffer with moderate to severe osteoarthritis you will not feel like walking, cycling OR swimming.  However, it is vital that you get moving otherwise your condition will worsen. Doing five minutes of SOMETHING is better than doing NOTHING.  Once you start exercising, it will eventually become addictive because ALL of your joints will feel stronger and more flexible.

In conclusion:

Again, exercising the knee joint should not be torture! Your knee should feel good during and after any activity.  If it doesn’t then you’re doing the wrong exercise or you’re not doing the exercise correctly. 

Dr. Alexandra Schnee, D.C. is a leading cold laser therapy Dallas-Fort Worth knee doctor.  She has been practicing at the DFW Spine & Joint Center in Irving, Texas since 2001.  She has developed specialized knee protocols and procedures that are used in Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™.  She is also an author, and researcher on the topic of cold laser therapy for the treatment of knee pain.  Dr. Alexandra Schnee can be reached at 214-596-1051 or you can visit her website for more information at http://www.Helpmykneepain.com

Exercises to Relieve Arthritis Knee Pain Dallas-Fort Worth Texas

Cold laser Dallas knee doctor shares tips about which exercises to avoid, and which exercises help relieve arthritis knee pain Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.

Cold Laser Therapy Eliminates Pain for Utah Jazz Basketball Player

Cold Laser Therapy Eliminates Pain for Utah Jazz Basketball Player

Utah Jazz’s Earl Watson sought treatments to relieve pain and swelling from a sprained ankle after he had to sit out a game against the Clippers on February 2nd.  Since the Utah Jazz’s team doctors’ don’t utilize cold laser therapy; Watson had to take a detour to visit his long time doctor in Los Angeles who performed the treatment on his ankle.  After four cold laser therapy treatments the swelling and the pain in his ankle drastically reduced and he was able to play against the Lakers on Saturday. 

The results?  Watson scored eight points, and eleven assists.  The Utah Jazz won 96-87 over the Lakers. 

Jazz coach, Tyrone Corbin was asked about the treatment and he stated, “It looked like [cold laser therapy treatments] worked.  His swelling is very down from what it was.  He’s back on the floor.  So that’s what I’m excited for.”

Watson stated, “I love to compete.  So I’m not one to ever linger around any injury and sit out long times.” 

He now insists that after cold laser therapy treatments he no longer has any ankle pain.

Dr. Schnee’s Opinion:

This article in the Deseret News shocked me because I couldn’t believe that the team doctors for the Utah Jazz weren’t using cold laser therapy to help their athletes.   That just seemed so antiquated to me.  Especially, since other professional sports teams have been using this type of treatment to help their athletes recover faster, with great success, for many years. 

In my opinion, there is no valid reason why cold laser therapy shouldn’t be incorporated in EVERY sports team’s injury recovery regime.

 The bottom line is…it appears as though the doctors’ working for the Utah Jazz need to start reading more research studies about new and effective treatments available to help their athletes.  Of course the first order of business is to learn about cold laser therapy.

 That is, if they want their players healthy enough to actually win games. 

 Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, D.C., a Cold laser Dallas knee doctor, has been helping knee pain sufferers in the Dallas, Fort Worth, and surrounding areas since 2001. Dr. Schnee Cold Laser Knee Program™ is a non-invasive, painless treatment regime that incorporates Dr. Schnee’s knee protocols and other non-surgical therapies to help relieve knee pain, swelling, and improve overall function.

Members of the press and others who have additional questions about this information contained in this article are encouraged to contact Dr. Schnee at 214-596-1051 or visit http://www.HelpMyKneePain.com 

Cold Laser Therapy Eliminates Pain for Utah Jazz Basketball Player 

Cold laser therapy Dallas knee doctor, Alexandra Schnee, DC shares article about professional basketball player using cold laser therapy to help eliminate pain.

Dallas,TX- Knee Arthritis Pain? Cold Laser Therapy/Exercises Best Combo

Dallas, TX- Cold Laser Therapy/ Exercises Best Combination for Knee Arthritis Pain

It’s true; exercise usually helps relieve arthritis knee pain and stiffness.  However, a recent study published in PubMed reveals patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis benefit more from adding cold laser therapy (low level laser therapy) to their exercise program then just from exercise alone.  In the study, Brazilian and Norwegian researchers conducted a double-blind placebo controlled study and randomly placed forty patients between the ages of 50-75 years in two groups.  One group of patients underwent a treatment regimen of cold laser therapy and exercises while the other group underwent a series of placebo cold laser treatments and exercises. 

Researchers concluded that patients who underwent a combination treatment program of cold laser therapy and exercises noticed significant improvements in pain, range of motion, muscular strength, and quality of life while the group who had placebo cold laser therapy treatments showed NO significant improvement in ANY of the components. In other words, patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis knee pain experienced more overall benefits by adding cold laser therapy knee treatments to their exercise program. 

Why do cold laser therapy treatments provide more benefits for arthritic knee pain sufferers then exercises alone?  Cold laser therapy reinvigorates soft tissues that are damaged and irritated.  Cold laser therapy does this by improving the metabolic rate of a cell; therefore, cells heal and repair at a faster rate.  Cold laser therapy also improves blood flow and reduces inflammation in and around the knee joint.  Incorporating both exercises and cold laser therapy to a patient’s treatment plan will give patients diagnosed with knee arthritis the most overall benefits.

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee is one of the pioneers in the field of cold laser therapy for the treatment of knee pain, and her program has always incorporated specialized knee exercises as part of a patient’s treatment plan.  Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™  is a unique, progressive, integrated approach to treating chronic knee conditions. Whether a patient is diagnosed with bone on bone knee pain, arthritis knee pain, tendonitis, bursitis, a baker’s cyst or a meniscus tear; Dr. Schnee offers a specialized treatment program to address their condition.  

If you are searching for an alternative option to pain medications, knee injections, and/or knee surgery then Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™ may be a treatment option you should consider.  Call the DFW Spine & Joint Center today at 214-596-1051 or visit http://www.helpmykneepain.com to request more information about her program. 

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, D.C. – Cold Laser Therapy Dallas Knee Doctor – “ Since 2001 Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™ has helped hundreds of knee pain sufferers experience knee pain relief  and avoid knee surgery in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Surrounding Texas areas.”

Dallas,TX- Knee Arthritis Pain? Cold Laser Therapy/Exercises Best Combo

Dallas,TX- Cold laser therapy, exercises best combination to relieve arthritis knee pain. Dallas-Fort Worth Cold laser therapy knee doctor, Dr Schnee, DC  shares study.

Baker’s Cyst Pain Relief | Dr. Schnee’s Knee Treatment Dallas, TX

Baker’s Cyst Pain Relief | Dr. Schnee’s Knee Treatment Dallas, TX

If there is a pre-existing meniscus tear or if there is arthritis in the knee joint, and the joint get irritated or injured in some way then the knee may produce excess fluid.  If the knee produces more fluid then it can get rid of, and that fluid fills the bursa or sac in the back of the knee the condition is called a baker’s cyst.  A baker’s cyst or popliteal cyst is when synovial fluid (joint fluid) accumulates in the back of the knee.

Signs and Symptoms:

If a baker’s cyst is small in size it may go unnoticed, but as it grows it becomes more symptomatic.  A baker’s cyst can get so large that it looks like a ‘tumor’ in the back of the knee, and oftentimes patient’s mistaken it for a blood clot. 

Patients with a baker’s cyst will often complain of pain, tightness, and swelling in the back of the knee. The pain may become more severe at night and when the knee is in a bent or in an extended position.  Patients may also experience pain in the back of the leg. 

Knee Treatment:

Aspirating the fluid from a baker’s cyst is unproductive because the fluid will return.  Surgery is never recommended for removing a baker’s cyst since it is a secondary reaction to arthritis or a meniscus tear in the knee joint.  Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™ has clinically shown remarkable improvements in helping patients experience knee pain relief diagnosed with a baker’s cyst. 

Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™:  Baker’s Cyst Pain Relief :

The following reviews are from patients who had pain in the back of their knee and leg and were diagnosed with a baker’s cyst.

After completing Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program ™ Mr. W. was able to complete a FULL marathon in October 2011.

Mr. W shows off his medal!

 “My biggest issue was stiffness and pain behind the knee (Baker’s Cyst).  As a runner my knee was sore and stiff when I started to run.  But both of those issues reduced after I got further into my run BUT after my run I would have pain and stiffness again.  Steps were very difficult, bending, and kneeling was also difficult.  I had arthroscopic on this same knee 2 years ago.  I didn’t even consider surgery this time as an option, and I was looking for an alternative knee treatment to surgery.  I found Dr. Schnee by reading about her knee program on the Internet.  I am extremely pleased with this knee treatment. I would and have recommended it to others, not only for knees but other issues.  Dr. Schnee and the entire staff are awesome! I really appreciate Dr. Schnee’s willingness to work with me in my desire to continue to run.”  M.W., Fort Worth, Texas

After completing Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program ™ the following patient was able to sleep through the night without pain in the back of her knee.

Finally- Pain in back of the knee relieved!!

“The pain in back of my left knee was constant.  Even when lying with my leg propped up it was throbbing.  This caused me to have knee pain at night and difficulty sleeping.  It was just wearing me out physically and mentally.

I could not walk for any great distance without stopping to rest and when getting up from a chair I had to stand before I could take a step because my knee would lock.  I had been to my primary care physician and she sent me for an ultrasound, then referred me to an orthopedic who sent me for an MRI, then she sent me back to my primary care physician…I was using pain medication twice a day, rubbing my knee and leg with all kinds of knee pain medication.  I was also using the stick on patches that are supposed to give you relief- all in vain. 

After starting Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program I had some relief after my very first cold laser treatment.  Cold laser therapy solved the majority of the swelling in my knee and leg.  I’m not back to walking on the treadmill or using my elliptical but other than that I’m back to normal.  When I stretch out at night I thank God that the knee pain is gone and I’m able to sleep.  I get up, get dressed and go off to work with a great attitude and pain free.

Dr. Schnee and her great staff were professional, caring and welcoming.  It was a very positive experience for me.  She warned me that 100% recovery might not be possible but we would try for 90-95% improvement and I am confident that I am 90% improved.  I have NO pain except if I over extend myself and I have very little swelling.  It was a very positive experience.” B. D., Euless, Texas

If you have been diagnosed with a baker’s cyst aka popliteal cyst, and you have pain behind the knee or leg, and you live in the Dallas, Fort Worth or surrounding areas; then Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™ may be able to help you.

Call the DFW Spine & Joint Center at 214-596-1051 or to read more about Dr. Schnee’s Knee Treatment program or to read more reviews visit  http://www.HelpMyKneePain.com

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, D.C.- The Cold Laser Doctor™ – “Since 2001, Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™ has been helping patients with knee pain- without knee surgery, medications, and knee injections in the Dallas, Fort Worth, and surrounding areas.”

Baker’s Cyst Pain Relief | Dr. Schnee’s Knee Treatment Dallas, TX

Knee treatment in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas helps patients get knee pain relief from baker’s cyst pain (pain behind the knee). Knee treatment is non-surgical, painless, and does not involve injections.

Dallas, TX- Knee Replacements, Knee Osteoarthritis on the Rise

Dallas, TX- Knee Replacements, Knee Osteoarthritis on the Rise

According to research presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, over 6.5 million Americans between the ages of 35 and 84 are expected to be diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis in the next decade.  Nearly half of those diagnosed will be individuals between the ages of 45 and 64.  This of course will increase the number of total knee replacements and will place an additional burden on our already troubled health care system.

Head author of the study, Dr. Elena Losina, Ph-D and coordinator of the Orthropeadic and Arthritis Center for Outcomes Research at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston explained that the mean age of physician diagnosed knee osteoarthritis fell from 72 in the 1990’s to 56 years of age in 2010.  “The large number of newly developed cases of knee osteoarthritis in younger individuals will lead to continued increases in the use of total knee replacements.  Furthermore, our findings are consistent with the recently observed tripling of total knee replacements in 45-65 year olds in the United States…”

Dr. Losina and her colleagues believe the increase in the number of knee osteoarthritis in younger people is due to the rise in obesity and the number of knee injuries in the United States. 

The National Institutes of Health funded this study.

Dr. Schnee’s Perspective:

The companies that manufacture knee replacement parts are ‘jumping for joy’ after hearing about this news.  (Of course they knew it all along.  It’s impossible for a country to have an obesity epidemic, and NOT have a rise in knee osteoarthritis and total knee replacements).  It’s discouraging that the United States hasn’t lead the way in finding a ‘replacement’ too costly knee joint replacements.  It is even more frustrating that Medicare and some other health care companies refuse to pay for effective, less costly ‘alternative’ medications and treatments; but are happy to pay for medications that have been rushed through FDA clearance (and have horrible side-effects), a $60,000 knee replacement, and gel injections- where the results remain inconclusive.   

Perhaps we should start following the lead of other countries like Scotland, and Germany who WANT to find alternatives to costly knee replacements, so they’ve been studying adult (not embryonic) stem cells as a way to replace cartilage in the knee joint so that they can reduce the number of total knee joint replacements in the population. 

For years the Koreans, Chinese, and the Japanese people have been using acupuncture, supplements, cold laser therapy and other alternative practices to relieve knee pain- in their hospitals!  The Norwegian healthcare system, in a study led by Dr. Jan M. Bjordal, M.D., found that cold laser therapy eased osteoarthritis knee pain and was twice as effective as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and it saved the system money.  So guess what?  In Norway, Cold laser therapy earned a top spot as a treatment recommendation for patients suffering from osteoarthritis knee pain.   

Our healthcare system has to change:  Medicare and some other health insurance companies need to stop being dictated by ‘big pharma’ and start paying for treatments that we know are effective, have the research to back them, and are significantly less costly to our healthcare system. Let’s start with cold laser therapy.

To find out more about Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™ call the DFW Spine & Joint Center at 214-596-1051 or visit http://www.Helpmykneepain.com

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, D.C. – The Cold Laser Doctor™ for knee pain relief for the non-surgical treatment of knee pain for the Dallas, Fort Worth and Surrounding Texas Areas.  “Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™ has been helping knee pain sufferers without knee injections, medications, or knee surgery since 2001.”

Dallas, TX- Knee Replacements, Knee Osteoarthritis on the Rise

Dallas knee pain relief doctor shares alarming study which shows knee replacements, knee osteoarthritis on the rise, and why our healthcare system has to change.

To read the entire abstract go to http://www.rheumatology.org/about/newsroom/

Knee Osteoarthritis Risk Depends on Shape of Knee

Knee Osteoarthritis Risk Depends on Shape of Knee

Jan Waarsing and her colleagues, researchers from the Netherlands, compared the knee shapes of women diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (oa) to those without arthritis. There were 606 participants used in the study, and x-rays were used to view the shapes of womens knees.

The researchers found three key differences in the knee shape of women with knee oa versus those without knee osteoarthritis:

1. Those with knee arthritis had a wider knee on x-ray (wider femoral and tibial bone).
2. They also found that those with arthritic knees had raised lateral tibial plateaus (the outer part of the shin bone was higher).
3. Also osteoarthritis knee patients extended their knees more on the x-ray than those without knee oa.

More studies have to be conducted about how knee shape affects knee osteoarthritis, but with these new findings researchers hope that this could help predict knee osteoarthritis in patients and offer early knee treatment and counseling to those with knee osteoarthritis in hopes to manage its progression.

Knee Osteoarthritis Facts:

-The Arthritis Foundation stated that women are at greater risk than men for developing oa. Moreover, a 2010 study found that women were likely to develop arthritic knees after the age of forty.

- The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recently reported that more people limit their activity with a diagnosis of arthritis then those with diabetes, cancer, or heart disease.

-One in three people diagnosed with arthritis in the US have difficulty functioning at work.

-Arthritis Today Magazine reports that exercise eases osteoarthritis knee pain; however, most people discontinue exercising because they confuse muscle pain soreness with knee joint pain.

In Conclusion:

If you have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, are searching for knee pain relief, and live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area then Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee may be able to help you.  Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™ provides relief for those with chronic knee pain, by decreasing inflammation, and improving mobility in the knee. Dr. Schnee’s program is painless and safe.  Most importantly, it does not involve surgery, injections or medications.  To find out more about her program visit http://www.Helpmykneepain.com or call the DFW Spine & Joint Center at 214-596-1051. 

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, D.C.- The Cold Laser Doctor™ for the Non-Invasive Treatment of Knee Pain for the Dallas, Fort Worth Texas and Surrounding areas – “ Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™ has been helping chronic knee pain sufferers experience knee pain relief since 2001.”

Citation: D.J HaverKamp, et al. Variation of Joint Shape in Osteoarthritic Knees

Knee Osteoarthritis Risk Depends on Shape of Knee

Knee osteoarthritis risk rises depending on shape of knee. Dallas-Fort Worth cold laser therapy knee pain relief doctor Alexandra Schnee, D.C. shares study and knee treatment option.

Knee Replacement Surgery Outcomes Affected by Pain Meds

Knee Replacement Surgery Outcomes Affected by Pain Meds

A study recently published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery reported that patients taking pain medications (narcotic pain relievers) prior to knee replacement surgery experienced worse results then those not taking pain meds.

The study showed that those taking pain meds prior to knee replacement surgery had more difficulty recovering after knee surgery, had longer hospital stays, experienced more knee pain after the replacement, had more complications, and were more likely to need additional knee surgeries  then those not dependent on pain medications. 

Michael A. Mont, M.D., orthopedic surgeon, and lead researcher in the study, expected that the research would show that opioid users would have more difficulty dealing with knee replacement surgery then those not taking pain medications.  However, he was surprised to discover how great the differences between the two groups ended up being.  He stated, “Previous studies have found that patients who use opioids are more dissatisfied after [knee replacement] surgery…but these are more powerful finding since patients [who use pain meds] require additional [knee] surgeries.  This is a topic our orthopedic community and other care providers need to address together.”

Dr. Mont along with the co-authors of the study suggested that surgeons consider the following procedures prior to performing knee replacement surgery on patients.

1)      Slowly weaning patients off opioid pain medications.

2)      Prescribing non-opioid medications.

3)      Considering non-pharmacological alternatives as part a pain management strategy.

The Bottom Line:

There are several non-pharmacological alternatives to treating severe knee pain.  Some are more effective than others, but you must talk to your doctor before discontinuing any medication. If you live in the Dallas – Fort Worth or surrounding areas one option to consider is Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™. Dr. Schnee’s Knee Program, is a unique system, which combines non-surgical cold laser therapy along with physiotherapy, to help relieve knee pain.  It is considered a safe, painless, and non-pharmacological option for patients who are searching for knee pain relief.

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, D.C.-is considered an authority in the field of cold laser therapy for the treatment of knee pain, and offers knee treatments in Dallas, Fort Worth, and the Irving area. “Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program™- knee pain relief without knee surgery since 2001.”

To contact Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, D.C. at the DFW Spine & Joint Center call 214-596-1051 or visit http://www.HelpMyKneePain.com

Knee Replacement Surgery Outcomes Affected by Pain Meds

Study: pain meds adversely affect knee replacement surgery outcomes. Try non drug alternatives before having knee surgery. Dallas knee pain relief doctor shares info.

Source: The Journal of  Bone and Joint Surgery