Effect of low-intensity laser on lower limb neuropathic pain in patients with diabetes mellitus

Distal symmetric polyneuropathy was the most common diabetic neuropathy that caused to significant disability. Sever pain، decrease and absence of sense and increase risk of ulcer and amputation were the complication of diabetes. Several therapeutic modalities used for pain control in these patients but none of them didn''t provide complete consensually of patients. The aim of this study was evaluation of the effect of low-intensity laser on limb neuropathic pain in patients with diabetes mellitus. In a Randomized Controlled Trial study with placebo، 30 patients with diabetic neuropathy، according to Electromyographic results، were included in two groups. In study group (15patients) irradiated from the Lumbosacral nerves to internal Maleous by infrared laser 980 nanometer، 200miliwaat، in 8 point. Each point applied 10 joule during 12 sessions. In control group (15patients) irradiated the same way with zero power. Effect of low-intensity laser on neuropathic lower limb pain were assessed and recorded by VAS scale at the end of every week. Nine of patients were male and 21 of them were female. Mean base pain score of patient in low-intensity laser group was 9. 53 ± 0. 63 and Mean base pain score of patient in placebo low-intensity laser group w 9. 53 ± 0. 63 (P=1). Mean pain score of patient after one week in low-intensity laser group was 7. 26 ± 1. 59 and Mean pain score of patient after one week in placebo low-intensity laser group was 8. 40 ± 1. 12 (P=0. 299). Mean pain score of patient after two week in low-intensity laser group was 5. 80 ± 1. 42 and Mean pain score of patient after two week in placebo low-intensity laser group was 8. 47 ± 0. 74. Mean pain score of patient after three weeks in low-intensity laser group was 3. 80 ± 1. 56 and Mean pain score of patient after three weeks in placebo low-intensity laser group was 8. 06 ± 0. 59. Mean pain score of patient after fore weeks in low-intensity laser group was 3. 26 ± 2. 40 and Mean pain score of patient after fore weeks in placebo low-intensity laser group was 8. 46 ± 0. 51 Mean pain score in end of two، three and four weeks in patients of low-intensity laser group were significantly lower than mean pain score in end of two، three and four weeks in patients of placebo low-intensity laser group (P<0. 001). Significantly decrease was found in pain score in low-intensity laser group patients in weeks after treatment.