Business ProfileforEnvision Wellness

Owner mis-represented (mislead) to me about the capability of anodyne therapy to cure (or partially cure) numbness in my right metatarsal from previous back injections to relieve pain. I paid the owner $2,500 for Anodyne Therapy and for Rebuilder 300 equipment on 1/11/2022. The owner should have known the limitation of this equipment since I have diabetes and permanent nerve damage from lumbarization of S1 L5-S1 shallow broad-based disc bulging with severe disc degeneration and disc height loss and endplate spurring; moderate to severe right-sided foraminal stenosis, etc. (all my medical back related pain/treatment data was provided to the business owner for her evaluation prior to my home treatment using MIRE). The owner should have been aware monochromatic infrared energy (MIRE) or phototherapy treatment results are inconsistent and that MIRE results in short-term improvement of tactile sensitivity are probably not sustained over time. Limited evidence also suggests that MIRE does NOT provide relief for neuropathic pain as per the National Library of Medicine. I had relayed my dissatisfaction about these treatments to the owner on or about 2/28/2022 and told her I was not going to pay any additional fees. By phone call on 3/28/2022, the owner stated she still had a balance due of over $1,000 (this was the first time I heard about a balance due) since she had an investment of over $3,000 in the equipment. She stated she had paid at least $2,000 for the Anodyne Therapy equipment whereas I told her I had checked on the price from the manufacturer and the consumer price is only $1,197 (I had called the manufacturer on 3/22/2022 to confirm the price since I anticipated she would lie about her price she paid). In short, one cannot place any trust in this chiropractor.

First, I make no statements about curing anything with my patients. The things we do in our office will assist in the reduction of pain, inflammation, numbness and increase functionality, mobility and cellular regeneration. Over the last 28 years I have dealt with many patients with the same conditions as this patient with great success, including patients with stenosis, degeneration, disc bulges, nerve damage and diabetes. I have been using red and infrared light therapy for over 15 years in my practice with great success, however, it is not an immediate result, especially with neuropathy. This was explained to the patient, and is explained to all my patients. It was even mentioned that it could take up to a year for the symptoms to reduce or resolve. This patient half heartedly tried this program for not even 30 days and expected miracles. He did not fully follow the program as described. Even ,in this event, during my conversation with him after declined following the program, I did not charge him the remaining amount nor did I turn it over for collections even though the patient signed a contract. I did not lie to the patient as he stated. He called the Anodyne company, impersonating a Doctor, to get information. You can not purchase this equipment as a general rule, without a doctors' prescription. Also, there are discounts for volume, I assume he was given a volume discount price better than mine. Either way, this patient had no intention of following the program. My assumption is after he bought it he has buyers remorse and looked for a way to get out by making incorrect allegations. Red and infrared therapy have many benefits. There are decades of supporting documents and FDA approval for many conditions, not only neuropathy, pain management, healing and inflammation, but strokes, TBI's, macular degeneration and many more conditions. Below you will find some supporting information on Anodyne alone. It was FDA cleared over 25 years ago and there are more that 11 publications to its effectiveness. This shows the effectiveness of the device and dispells the above patients statements of the treatment having inconsistent results. It also shows that neuropathies do benefit from the light therapy long term. I hate that this patient did not get the results he was looking for but he did not give it time, it is not a miracle treatment. It is also not fair to make false allegations. We have MANY satisfied patients that follow directions and get results. Anodyne infrared Therapy Introduction & Background Photobiomodulation (PBM) or low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a non-invasive therapeutic approach that uses low-level light sources, typically in the form of low-power lasers or light-emitting diodes (LEDs), to stimulate cellular responses and promote healing. The process involves the absorption of red or near-infrared (NIR) light by specific cellular components, mainly the mitochondria, resulting in a cascade of biological reactions that enhance cellular function and overall tissue health. Photobiomodulation (PBM) or low-level laser therapy (LLLT) was demonstrated in numerous in vitro studies to exhibit unique biological effects with a dose-dependent cellular action mechanism. Since its inception in the year 1967, more than 400 randomized, double-blinded clinical trials, some featuring placebo controls, have been published for various employments. The intricate biological mechanisms responsible for LLLT/PBM's therapeutic effects have not been entirely understood, and these mechanisms might differ among cell types and tissue conditions, such as healthy versus stressed or hypoxic states. Nevertheless, both laboratory and clinical investigations indicate that LLLT/PBM effectively diminishes inflammation, prevents fibrosis, alleviates pain, and enhances overall organism function when applied appropriately. Emerging evidence suggests that PBM primarily acts on Cytochrome c Oxidase (CcO) in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, facilitating electron transport and subsequently increasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production by boosting the transmembrane proton gradient [13]. As ATP is the universal energy source for all biological activities in living cells, even a minor upsurge in ATP levels can improve bioavailability for cellular metabolism functions. Furthermore, red or NIR light absorption may cause a brief, transient surge of reactive oxygen species (ROS), followed by an adaptive decrease in oxidative stress. The low ROS concentrations activate numerous cellular processes, including transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-?B), which in turn upregulate stimulatory and protective genes. These genes produce fibroblast growth factors, cytokines and chemokines involved in tissue regeneration. In hypoxic cells or stressed cells, mitochondria generate nitric oxide (NO), that binds to CcO and displaces oxygen. The result of this binding leads to inhibited cellular respiration, reduced ATP generation and increased oxidative stress. This state activates various intracellular signaling pathways and transcription factors such as redox factor-1, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1, and HIF-like factor 17, activator protein-1, nuclear factor-kB, p53, activating transcription factor/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-response element-binding protein (ATF/CREB), inducing the downstream production of both inflammatory mediators like interleukins IL-1 and IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and prostaglandin E2 and anti-inflammatory mediators like Transforming Growth Factor-beta and IL-10. Evidence indicates that administering LLLT/PBM with appropriate parameters to stressed cells can dissociate NO from its competitive binding to CcO, increase ATP production, and restore the balance between pro and antioxidant mediators, reducing oxidative stress. For instance, LLLT/PBM has been demonstrated to attenuate ROS production in neutrophils and reduce ROS in an animal model of traumatic tissue injury. Additionally, PBM has been found to decrease the generation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) and increase IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, in a model of acute lung inflammation. Furthermore, NO's vasodilatory properties can enhance blood supply to illuminated tissue, while LLLT-mediated vascular regulation increases tissue oxygenation and immune cell trafficking. These two effects may contribute to promoting wound repair and regeneration. The analgesic effects of PBM are likely induced by additional mechanisms beyond the increased ATP/reduced oxidative stress model. PBM with a relatively high-power density can inhibit A and C neuronal pain fibers when absorbed by nociceptors, slowing neural conduction velocity, reducing compound action potential amplitude, and suppressing neurogenic inflammation. PBM has the potential to modulate almost all pathogenic mechanisms in the body (e.g., inflammation, edema, pain, fibrosis, ulceration, and neuropathy and myopathy) [1]. Anodyne Anodyne has been used to increase circulations and reduce muscle spasm since it was the first Light therapy device to be cleared by the FDA more than 25 years ago. Diabetic neuropathy is known to be based on inflammation and hypoxia of nerve cells that are unable to receive sufficient blood flow and nutrients. By far the vast majority of patients with diabetic neuropathy obtain relief after using Anodyne therapy. These benefits have been reported in 11 publications since 2000. Best results are obtained when patients use Anodyne consistent with a care plan established by a doctor or Physical Therapist. Of the reported studies regarding the effectiveness of Anodyne, two student show long term benefit of continuing treatment and one of these studies was conducted at a VA hospital. .

Her response is totally incorrect (and dishonest) such as: (1) I NEVER signed ANY contract; if she should try to produce one, it would be a case of fraud, and I would like to be notified if she does. (2) When I called Anodyne Therapy (1-800-521-6664) NO ONE mentioned that in order to purchase the Model 120 one has to be a doctor; I believe her statement is totally false. I DID NOT try to impersonate a doctor.

In response to the above reply.... in 28 years I have never moved forward with any program I have without the patient signing office paperwork/ contracts.  The above person did indeed sign the paperwork that even stated "No refunds".  I allowed him to discontinue and didn't charge him in good faith.  The patient above instead defrauded my office by not paying his balance due and making up lies that he didn't sign paperwork.  I have the paperwork, and No, I didn't make it up.  I have no need to do such a thing and after 28 years in business and lots of happy customers, this is an absurd statement.  Also making a bad review 1 year after our discussion and my office taking a loss and trying to rectify the situation and not charging him the remainder, proves he has  ill intent.  

As to Mrs. Karen W******** statement: "He called the Anodyne company, impersonating a Doctor, to get information. You can not purchase this equipment as a general rule, without a doctors' prescription." Anyone can go to the Anodyne Therapy web site (www.anodynetherapy.com) and order their products such as the Model 120 which Mrs. W******** sold me. So much as to her credibility.

As to Mr. ******'s reply above and as stated on the Anodyne website, under the Contact us Tab, then the "ready to order tab" it specifically states Products cannot be ordered online, but provide us your info, and we’ll start processing your order." Anodyne links customers with physicians or the customer has to provide a valid prescription from a doctor to order.

I recommend someone at the Better Business Bureau of Central and Northwest NC make a phone call to Anodyne Therapy (###-###-####) and inquire to their customer service "is a doctor's permission needed to purchase a Anodyne Therapy Model 120". I did make another call some weeks ago and got the same answer that a doctor's permission is NOT required.