Photobiomodulation is a healing tool used to stimulate cell regeneration, reduce inflammation, and treat pain. I use it to encourage healing of the spinal nerves in my opossum who was attacked by a cat and suffers lower extremity paralysis. It is also known as cold laser therapy.
Why is photobiomodulation?
Photobiomodulation uses certain ranges of lasers to reach cells beneath the skin’s surface. The light causes changes in the cellular, molecular and tissue levels. It specifically targets areas of inflammation.
Non-thermal (not hot) red lasers penetrate and cause a multitude of physiological changes in damaged tissues and can support function of healthy ones.
Cold laser therapy can be used to accelerate wound healing and promote cell regeneration.
Photobiomodulation has been around since the 1960’s and has decades of scientific research to back up it’s usefulness and benefit.
Little boy
I received this little guy on November 7 after he was found dragging himself across the finder’s lawn. His injuries, puncture wounds along his spine, are consistent with a cat attack. He could have also sustained a pelvic fracture. I started him on antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory.
At arrival he had no feeling in his feet or tail and both legs hung limply at his side. He couldn’t control his bowels or urination. Despite this, he could drag himself pretty fast around the incubator! It was sad to see how scared he was.
I had good success this year treating other opossums with lower body paralysis and am willing to do what it takes to get him walking again. Victoria and PJ are my two other success stories.
PJ and Victoria
When I treated PJ and Victoria, I started with several weeks of an anti-inflammatory and very gentle physical therapy to retain range of motion. As they healed, I increased the physical therapy to twice daily. To aid in their relearning to walk, I supported their trunk either with my hands or a towel. I placed a high value treat at one end of a secure surface and helped them “walk” towards it. Placing my hands on their feet and moving the feet forwards also encouraged strengthening of the muscles and guided correct placement of their feet as they moved forwards.
One rather silly seeming physical therapy technique I used turned out to be very helpful-tickling! When I held them on their backs and tickled each side of their belly, the corresponding leg would lift up and wiggle in the air. They were doing the physical therapy themselves!
Little Boy’s treatment plan
The damage done to Little Boy is different than what happened to PJ and Victoria. I don’t actually know what happened to PJ, but Victoria had her tail yanked, damaging the spinal nerves. Little Boy has damaged spinal nerves from the bite wounds and possibly a fractured pelvis. The treatment is the same for both types of injuries.
“Tickling” physical therapy isn’t working the same on Little Boy. He doesn’t wiggle or bicycle his legs. However, he can now lift them straight up in the air. He is also able to move his tail.
Using the cold laser
I have the cold laser set to the lowest setting on a 5 minute timer. Holding him in one hand, I place the machine directly against his body. Most of the time is spent on his spine by the bite wounds, and I switch to his pelvis for the last minute. When I apply the laser to the base of his tail, he waves it a little. He seems to like the feeling of the lasers, even though there is no perceivable sensation. Although he is a very wiggly boy not thrilled to be held, as you see in the first photo, he stays still for all 5 minutes of treatment.
Other physical therapy
Another aspect of his physical therapy is engaging the muscles used to hold his body up. Currently he cannot do so. While on his back, I encourage him to grip my finger with his toes, and push back against his body, while he pushes against me.
When he arrived he had no deep pain response in either foot and I was concerned I couldn’t help him. Now he grips my fingers with his toes and can move his leg. All he can do is lift it up in the air, but that is a huge improvement.
His healing is likely going to take months. I am enjoying spending the special time with him and watching his progression.
