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New laser procedure touted as cure for carpal tunnel syndrome

By Denise Allabaugh , Citizens' Voice Staff Writer 04/15/2004

Years of stretching pizza dough have caused Paul Adamchick of Trucksville to suffer from a very common work-related injury.

Adamchick, 35, whose family owns Pizza Perfect in Trucksville, once suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome, a debilitating wrist condition resulting from nerve entrapment.

"I had severe hand cramping. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. My hand was always numb," Adamchick said.
Thanks to a new treatment called "low-level laser therapy," Adamchick says he has been cured.

"I can do anything now. I can do what everybody else can do," Adamchick said. "It works. I'm living proof. It's like I have a new pair of hands."
Adamchick underwent the therapy six times at the Newhart Chiropractic Center in Plains.
Dr. William Newhart believes laser therapy is the "future of medicine."

In addition to treating patients with carpal tunnel, he also uses this therapy to treat other problems such as arthritic and sports injuries.

"It heals tissue. It gets rid of inflammation and it provides pain control," Dr. Newhart said. "It is so simple and the results are phenomenal. People who can't move their hands walk out of here without pain. It's almost like a miracle."

Dr. Newhart noted surgery to alleviate carpal tunnel has a success rate of only about 10 percent.
Some research has indicated that surgery actually can cause symptoms to return. Some physicians prescribe medications or inject cortico-steroids, which may temporarily reduce pain and swelling but symptoms also can return.

"Carpal tunnel is one of the most costly work-related injuries in the United States. Typing often causes the condition," Dr. Newhart said. "When people have surgery, they are out of work for about eight weeks and they may need surgery again."

Maria Sobieski, 52 of Swoyersville, who works in customer service for Trion Industries, spends long periods of time on a computer and also suffered from carpal tunnel.

"I'm on a mouse eight to nine hours a day. I was having problems at night. I would wake up and my hand was dead," Sobieski recalled.
Sobieski also underwent laser therapy at Dr. Newhart's office and she says she has been cured.
"My hand is back," Sobieski said. "I'm not up at night any more. I can peel potatoes again."

Dr. Newhart purchased his small laser device for $8,000. It was manufactured by THOR Photomedicine.
When his son had a black and blue mark from a karate injury, Dr. Newhart said he used the device to treat it and the bruise was gone immediately and so was the pain.
Another patient suffered a sprained ankle and after undergoing laser therapy, he is playing baseball again.

Dr. Newhart said the laser can be used to treat "anywhere there is inflammation."
"The light gets rids of the inflammation," he explained. "It heals at a much quicker rate. Within two weeks, I am seeing problems relieved. The more difficult ones are taking a little longer."

Treatment time for a hand takes just two and a half minutes, Dr. Newhart said. He first adjusts the hand and then applies the laser. After the therapy, he recommends stretching exercises.
Laser systems are popular in Europe. The systems are used to treat not only sports injuries, but to heal tissue in patients with terminal illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved lasers in the United States to treat conditions such as carpal tunnel and sports injuries.

Dr. Newhart said he is only the second person in Pennsylvania to offer the laser therapy.