Neuropathy is a general term that describes damage to a nerve or nerve group. It can affect any nerve in your body, but commonly affects the nerves in your legs and feet. Your femoral nerve supplies the muscles that help to straighten your leg. Damage to this nerve is called femoral neuropathy. Low-level infrared heat therapy is an experimental treatment option that involves using a low-energy laser to help reverse neuropathy symptoms.
Nerve Damage
Damage to a single nerve, such as the femoral nerve, is known as mononeuropathy. Direct trauma to the nerve, prolonged pressure, or compression to the nerve can cause femoral nerve damage. You may experience sensation changes in your knee, legs or thighs such as numbness or tingling if you have femoral nerve damage. You may also experience weakness in the affected leg, making it challenging to go up and down stairs.
Therapy
There is insufficient evidence to show that infrared heat therapy is effective for neuropathy such as femoral nerve damage, so it is considered experimental. Integrated Systems Physiology, which manufactures a low-level energy laser for neuropathy treatment, says that the laser increases circulation and stimulates the release of nitric oxide, which decreases pain and promotes healing. However, there are no published studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of low-level infrared heat therapy for nerve damage.
What to Expect
Your doctor will refer you to a physical therapy center for infrared heat therapy. Your therapist will assess your condition and determine how many sessions are necessary. This will depend on the severity of your nerve damage. Infrared heat therapy is painless. You can expect to feel a warm sensation from the infrared lights, similar to that of a low-level tanning bed. Some manufacturers produce at-home units for general health and restorative benefits. Initially, however, you should have a trained professional administer your therapy. Only use at-home infrared heat therapy units with your therapist's permission.
Considerations
If the cause of your femoral nerve damage is identified and treated, it is possible to recover fully, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication if necessary. Treatment goals aim to reduce pain and increase mobility of the affected leg. A leg brace can help with walking if needed. Physical therapy can help strengthen your leg as you heal. Your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids to help reduce inflammation, in addition to infrared heat therapy.
