Let there be light

New therapy relieves pain, restores independence

Maryanne Kocis MacLeod, Macomb Daily

March 3, 2009

The people who know him best describe Jack Kinsella, 73, of Warren, as good-natured and upbeat.

Even while recovering from a systemic blood infection that wrenched him out of an active, philanthropic lifestyle in June and threw him into a hospital bed for four months, Kinsella remained positive.

But a new, in-home medical treatment SOLARIS X-3 Light Therapy administered by Residential Home Health of Madison Heights, is now planting hopeful seeds of independence.

Up until last year, I had a normal life, but was eating too much, said Kinsella, who has peripheral neuropathy and diabetes. I ended up with a systemic blood infection, coded in the hospital and received the anointing of the sick.

Kinsella beat the infection and returned home in November to tackle the long and bumpy road to recovery.

Before SOLARIS, I had constant pain in my feet, Kinsella. It felt like pins and needles. Now, Im pain-free for at least 24 hours afterward and have solid contact with the floor. That wasnt always the case.

Peripheral neuropathy involves damage to the peripheral nervous system, causing intense pain and numbness in the hands and feet. It affects 20 million Americans and is generally found in those who have diabetes, a nutritional imbalance, auto-immune disorders or have been exposed to toxins.

SOLARIS light therapy treatments have enabled Kinsella to begin doing things many of us take for granted, like walk into the kitchen and make his own orange juice.

SOLARIS is pretty neat, said Jack, who uses a walker and, for longer distances, a wheelchair.

Wife, Madge, is also pleased with his progress.

Jacks always in a good mood but this has definitely made him happier, Madge said, adding that the treatment has also provided him with significant relief from back pain as well.

During the last four weeks, Kinsellas received two weekly treatments with the systems infrared light wand 10 minutes for each affected body part.

Were doing something quite innovative in bringing this advanced technology to his home, explained Bernadette Kosir, the occupational therapist who visits the Kinsella household every week. It would be difficult, if not impossible, for Jack to receive this treatment on an out-patient basis. Its not an easy thing for him to leave the house.

SOLARIS Light Therapy repairs tissue and relieves pain by delivering monochromatic infrared light at the cellular level.

The pain-free treatment is available to patients throughout Residential Home Healths 32-county Michigan service areas. President David Curtis said his company is the only in-home care agency in the state to offer the treatment.

Our mission ... is to improve quality of life and increase independence for chronically ill individuals, Curtis said. SOLARIS reduces pain and expedites recovery, both of which contribute greatly to quality of life improvements.

Nationally, the company ranks in the top 1 percent of all in-home care companies in helping patients avoid trips to the emergency room, preventing wound infections and improving transferring abilities, according to OCS, a healthcare information company.

In addition to peripheral neuropathy, SOLARIS helps relieve head, neck, back and nerve pain and the pain and stiffness of arthritis. It works to increase circulation and relax muscles spasms, tightness and cramping and heal chronic skin wounds and ulcers.

Every therapist wants one of these in their car, we love it, said Kosir, gesturing to the 20-pound suitcase that holds the technology.

The Kinsellas hope to harness the momentum of this recent upturn to drive Jacks recovery to new levels.

As the weather warms, future goals include restoring Jacks access to the couples enclosed back porch; regaining the strength and footing necessary for him to climb steps and get back on his beloved computer, currently located on the second floor, and returning to the life of service he led as part of the St. Louise de Marillac parish community.

Jack was a lector at the Sunday liturgy for many years and very involved in RCIA (a faith formation program for adults new to the Catholic Church), Madge said. Maybe next year he can get back to doing that. It was something he loved.

To learn more about available homecare services, call (1-866) 902-4000 or visit www.residentialhomehealth.com.