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Martin County Edition Spring 2019

FEATURED ARTICLES

(see Stem Cell Solution, page 4)

EDWARD W. PEARSON, MD, ABIHM

Stem Cell SolutionSpecialized therapy regenerates arthritic hips

R ichard*, 64, has worked in construction since his teens. During his nearly 50-year career, he performed just

about every task in the business, but these days, he’s highly specialized, focusing on building staircase railings. When pain in his hip joints began impacting Richard’s daily routines, he relied on a highly spe-cialized treatment for relief.

“My hips started bothering me when I was about � fty-nine, and they got worse over time,” shares the New Jersey native. “I was in a lot of pain. It was sharp pain at times, depending on how I got up and moved. � en it ached for a while until it subsided enough to where I could maintain.”

When Richard’s pain began inten-sifying, he traveled from his home in New York to Florida, where his son is a chiropractor. His son took x-rays and discovered Richard had arthritis that had severely damaged the cartilage cushioning Richard’s hip joints. � e lack of protec-tion for the bones of his joints led to Richard’s pain. It appeared joint replace-ment surgery was in his future.

“My son told me my hips were bothering me because they were nearly bone-on-bone,” Richard remembers. “I had almost nothing left to cushion my hips. He said the problem would get worse, and I would have to do something about my hips down the line.

“As time went on, the pain did get worse and eventually reached a point where I couldn’t bend over to put on my socks, and it became hard for me to go to work. I didn’t stop any of my activities, but I de� nitely couldn’t do them as well. Finally, the pain got extremely intense. On a scale of one to ten, the pain was a nine, sometimes ten.”

As Richard’s condition deteriorated, his son became interested in a special-ized treatment for arthritic joints called stem cell therapy. He studied it and was impressed. He also learned that a prac-tice he often collaborated with, Back In Action Medical Center in Palm City, was o� ering the revolutionary therapy.

The Body’s Building Blocks“Stem cells are the building blocks of the body,” explains Edward W. Pearson, MD, a board-certi� ed integrative physician who practices functional and holistic medicine at Back In Action Medical Center.

“When people are conceived, stem cells are the � rst cells that are created. � ese cells can then di� erentiate and become almost any other type of cell in the body and regenerate tissue. We use them as a therapy to treat arthritis and other condi-tions. We call it regenerative medicine.”

Stem cells have been a topic of con-versation for at least ten years, Dr. Pearson relates. In the beginning, there was intense debate because the main source of stem cells was unused fetal tissue, including that from abortions. � at’s not the case today.

“We have learned over the years how to harvest stem cells from the material that’s left over after a baby is born, such as the amniotic tissue, placenta and umbil-ical cord,” Dr. Pearson notes. “Once we harvest the incredible cell material, we purify it, sanitize it and make sure it’s safe to use for treatment.

“� ere’s actually more than stem cells in the products we use for therapy. � ere are also growth factors that tell the body to regenerate; cytokines, which are important signaling compounds; and other rejuvenat-ing substances. � ese factors are incredibly useful for treating people’s ailments.”

There are various applications for stem cells, but Dr. Pearson and his sta� at Back In Action Medical Center use them primarily to treat arthritic or injured joints. � is is done to regenerate worn-down cartilage and repair damage to soft tissues such as ligaments and tendons.

“Often, people with painful joints try several medications and cortisone injec-tions to alleviate pain,” Dr. Pearson asserts. “With our therapy, we inject those amazing substances – stem cells, growth factors and cytokines – which are all natural. � ey’re not synthetic and toxic like cortisone. And they don’t just regenerate the joint; they have an incredible impact on in� amma-tion, which results in pain relief.

“For example, there are many peo-ple with severe arthritis or injury in a joint who have been told they need joint replacements. And when they’re done well, those surgeries can be extremely e� ective. But they have many risks and a long recovery period.

“We’re finding that by using stem cell therapy, surgery can be signi� cantly delayed or avoided completely. And peo-ple who have had pain in their joints for years are � nding themselves pain free after one or two stem cell injections. � eir pain goes away, their joint function returns and they’re able to be active without hurting.

“� ere’ve been very exciting results with this treatment,” Dr. Pearson observes. “We are even seeing in� amma-tory conditions disappear and immune system problems improve dramatically with stem cell therapy.”

To see what research is being done and how stem cells might help various conditions, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Gradual and Steady“My son traveled all over the country learning about stem cell therapy,” Richard relates. “I heard about stem cells years ago

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Stem Cell therapy

Dr. Navarro treats many patients with poor circulation, swelling and severe wounds.

Visit Acute Wound Care on the web at

www.acutewoundcare.com or call them directly:

Toll free (855) 949-4325

Locally

(239) 949-4412

ACUTE WOUND CARE

Are You Su� ering From Chronic Limb Swelling?

W hile attending a medi-cal conference, Zoraida Catherine Navarro, MD, listened intently as

actress Kathy Bates described her struggle with post-cancer lymphedema, a condition in which excess � uid collects in the body’s tissues. � e doctor was surprised by what she heard.

“I didn’t realize the kind of swelling in the legs you get from lymphedema was di� erent from the kind of swelling you get from standing a long time or from sitting for a long period of time on an airplane,” notes Dr. Navarro.

“I also didn’t realize lymphedema could cause so much discomfort and pain along with swelling. � en, it happened to me. My legs swelled and became heavy and uncomfortable. � ey were also shiny-looking, like a blown-up balloon, and they felt rubbery. Walking was di� cult.”

Dr. Navarro thought at � rst that her symptoms might be related to a hormonal imbalance or an underactive thyroid. But lymphedema can result from anycondition or procedure that aggravates the circulatory system.

Having recommended a couple of her own patients to them, Dr. Navarro discussed her situation with some of the professionals at Acute Wound Care,

Physician counts on compression pump to curb her own limb swelling

DOCTORan in-home, quality-accredited supply company specializing in hospital-grade compression devices and specialty wound care dressings. One of the company’s therapists suggested Dr. Navarro try a compression pump to treat her leg swelling.

and compression stockings but have gotten little to no relief from those approaches.

“Compression pumps can also be used to remove � uid that has accumu-lated in the arms. � e pump’s limb-sized sleeves gently massage the limbs, draining

the excess � uid back into the body’s circulatory sys-tem so it can be naturally eliminated.

“ C o m p r e s s i o n pumps increase circu-lation in the affected limbs while alleviating many painful symptoms and are both highly e� ec-

tive and noninvasive. For the legs, they are much easier to use than compression stockings.

“Patients generally use the pumps twice a day for forty-� ve minutes, with an interval of at least two hours between treatments, so it is usually done in the morning and in the evening. While using the pumps for the legs, patients simply sit back with their limbs raised to further assist with circulation.

“To aid blood � ow, the pumps have multiple chambers. Each chamber � lls up with air, from the foot to the groin. � en, each chamber releases, and the pattern repeats in a rhythmic fashion. In addition to the circulation boost, many patients will see a noticeable di� erence in the swelling and in the size of their limbs after their � rst forty-� ve-minute pumping session.”

Hands-On Approach� e professionals at Acute Wound Care proudly take a hands-on approach to patient care, which includes certi� ed compression therapists delivering the pumps right to the patient’s home, where the therapist also sets up the equipment, instructs the patient on how to use it and adjusts the pump’s pressure level to the patient’s comfort.

“When we are in the patient’s home, we set the pressure based on the severity of the condition and the physician’s pre-scription,” states Alyssa. “We then adjust it so the patients are comfortable and will actually meet the requirements of the treatment, so they get great results.”

Once Acute Wound Care received Dr. Navarro’s prescription, a compression therapist contacted her to review the next step and answer any questions. After that, the therapist delivered the device, set it up and explained to Dr. Navarro how to use and care for it.

� e compression pump is a prescrip-tion device and is approved by Medicare and covered by many commercial insur-ers. Dr. Navarro is among the many who say they were thrilled with the results of their treatment.

“I was blown away,” she says. “I use my pump every day including at night. When I go home, I sit in my recliner, turn on my machine and call it a day. And when I’m done, I have ankles again. I no longer have cankles or shiny legs.

“I remember the � rst time I used the pump. My legs went down to half the size they were after just one treatment. And all of a sudden, when I got up, I could walk

perfectly well again. � e compression pump makes everything in your lower legs work better because nothing has to counteract � uid in areas where it doesn’t belong.”

Physicians throughout Florida have been recommending Acute Wound Care’s compression pumps to their patients for years and have been getting great results.

“Many doctors have told me that they’ve encouraged their patients to use the pumps to reduce limb swelling and improve circulation,” Alyssa con� rms. “They say the compression pumps are great, safe, noninvasive devices that sup-plement the medical treatment they’ve provided to those patients.

“One even told me that he received feedback from his patients, and that they agree the devices and the outcomes are positive. He said the patients also appre-ciate how good a job Acute Wound Care does of following up and mentioned that all are very pleased with Acute Wound Care and its product.

“� at same doctor said he’s so sat-is� ed with Acute Wound Care that he strongly endorses them and their com-pression devices to other physicians. He said he’s personally thrilled with Acute Wound Care because they help doctors improve their quality of care and the qual-ity of their patients’ lives.”

Dr. Navarro treats many patients with compromised circulatory systems that can lead to lymphedema. She has con� dence recommending the treatment that’s been so bene� cial for her.

“I refer many of my patients to Acute Wound Care for their compression pumps. � ey’re amazing!”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photos by Nerissa Johnson. mkb

Lymphedema is a long-term, progressive condition in which excess lymph � uid collects in tissues, often of the arms or legs, causing swelling (edema). � e swelling may cause pain and skin changes, and may limit

movement of the a� ected area. Lymph is a protein-rich � uid that moves throughout the body in lymph

vessels collecting bacteria, viruses and waste products. � e � uid carries the waste to the lymph nodes, which � lter the impurities from the � uid and remove them from the body.

� ere are two types of lymphedema, primary and secondary. Primary lymph-edema is congenital, or present at birth. It is the result of genetic mutations that cause the lymph nodes and vessels to be improperly developed or missing.

Secondary lymphedema is caused by another condition or disease. Common causes of secondary lymphedema include cancer surgery in which lymph node have been removed or damaged, radiation therapy, infections, in� ammatory conditions, and injury and trauma.

Lymphedema is generally diagnosed using MRI, CT or ultrasound scan-ning. A test called lymphoscintigraphy in which a radioactive dye is injected into the lymphatic system to identify blockages may also be used.

Compression devices, such as Acute Wound Care’s compression pumps, are the mainstays of treatment for lymphedema.

What Is Lymphedema?

The pumps are non-invasive

and highly e� ective

Pump It Up“Acute Wound Care’s compression pumps mimic the body’s lymphatic system and promote lymphatic � ow by moving � uid through the body in the proper direction,” explains Alyssa Parker, a certi� ed compres-sion therapist with Acute Wound Care.

“� e pumps assist circulation by con-tracting the muscles and assisting blood � ow back toward the heart. � ere, the blood is collected, sent to the lungs to be oxygenated and then returned to the body’s organs and tissues.

“� ey reduce pain and swelling and are an excellent treatment for people who’ve tried elevation, diuretics, massage therapy

Pranay T. Ramdev, MD, FACS, is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is board certi� ed by the National Board of Medical Examiners – Parts I, II, III, and by the American Board of Surgery, with a certi� cate of added qual-i� cation in vascular surgery. He earned his medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, NH and served � ve years of general surgery residency at the University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital. Dr. Ramdev went on to complete a fellowship in vascular and endovascular surgery at Harvard University in Boston. Following his fellowship, he joined the faculty at the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Ramdev has been practicing vascular surgery for more than 16 years.

Free screenings available to patients who may have

varicose veins or spider veins

Please visit www.VIVAMyVeins.com for more information

Dr. Ramdev welcomes all calls regarding this article as well as other topics related

to vascular issues. To schedule your varicose vein or spider vein screening, call

or visit one of his offi ces:

Fort Pierce Nebraska Avenue, Suite D

(772) 801-2108Vero Beach

th Place, Suite

(772) 567-8482

Look Better, Feel Better

As summer approaches and the weather gets warmer, business tends to pick up at Vascular Interventional & Vein Associates.

� e reason, according to Pranay T. Ramdev, MD, is rather simple.

“This is Florida, and especially when we’re outside, most of us want to be in shorts or skirts because it’s a lot more comfortable than wearing pants,” Dr. Ramdev explains. “But a lot of people are embarrassed by the way their legs look.

“I’ve had people with varicose veins tell me flat out, The only reason I’m wearing pants all the time is I don’t want anyone looking at my legs. I had a woman with varicose veins tell me once that her grandchildren asked her, Grandma, what’s wrong with your legs?

“� ey get very self-conscious, but there’s no need for anyone to feel that way about their legs or to deal with the aches and pains that often come with varicose veins because we have solutions for those problems.”

Vascular Interventional & Vein Associates provides treatment for a variety of venous issues, including varicose veins, spider veins and venous re� ux. Dr. Ramdev says his goal is to make patients feel con� dent about how their legs look.

“We’ve had a lot of people referred to us by other patients, and when they’ve had their treat-ments, they say, We’re happy we came here because you really changed our outlook on life. We weren’t doing a lot of outdoor activities, but now, we’re back outdoors because our legs feel better and we’re feeling better.”

VASCULAR INTERVENTIONAL & VEIN ASSOCIATES

PRANAY T. RAMDEV, MD, FACS

Walk of LifeLeading-edge treatment relieves chronic leg pain

E ven if they did have nine lives, cats would still have nothing on Howard Starr. � is 71-year-old retired engine mechanic has survived nine heart attacks and three open heart surgeries,

including triple and quintuple bypass procedures.A US Navy veteran who served aboard the destroyer

USS Porter� eld, Howard also survived a near four-year-long tour of duty in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, which is where the root of his health issues can be found.

“I was a mechanic on the Porter� eld and was regu-larly loaned out to PT boats,” Howard reveals. “It’s hard to know how often it happened, but I was exposed to Agent Orange during the war, and that’s what caused all my heart problems.”

It’s not just Howard’s heart that has been negatively impacted by Agent Orange, a defoliant used during the war to reduce the enemy’s natural food supply. � e exposure has also left him with diabetes and severe cir-culatory problems in his legs.

Because of his vast array of health issues, Howard is 100 percent disabled. Still, he was getting around rather well until a couple of years ago, when the circulation problems in his legs began to take a toll.

Howard and Betty Starr

“His leg problems started after he had the � ve-way heart procedure in March 2007,” says Howard’s wife, Betty. “His legs would just get very tired very fast, and he had a lot of pain in his calf muscles.

“He tolerated it for almost ten years, but when he had to take a break after just walking out to the mailbox to get the mail, his cardiologist � nally said, You need to get this � xed.”

Howard’s cardiologist knew just where to go for help, advising him to see board-certified and fellowship-trained vascular surgeon Pranay T. Ramdev, MD, the founder and president of Vascular Interventional & Vein Associates.

Like Playing PAC-MAN™“When Howard � rst came in, he was having di� culty walking even short distances primarily because of pain in his left calf,” Dr. Ramdev explains. “As part of our initial examination of him, we did an ultrasound of that leg.”

� e ultrasound revealed that Howard was su� er-ing from peripheral artery disease, or PAD, a common circulatory problem in which the narrowing of an artery due to plaque build-up inside the artery limits blood � ow to the legs and feet.

As was the case with Howard, symptoms usually begin to present themselves in middle age and worsen over time. For years, surgery was required to remove the plaque, but there are now some outpatient plaque-clearing options that Dr. Ramdev specializes in.

“� e most e� ective procedure for treating periph-eral arterial disease used to be a surgical bypass in which stents were placed, and it had to be done in a hospital and required a hospital stay afterward,” Dr. Ramdev explains.

“But the technology is so advanced now that we can perform minimally invasive procedures in a sur-gical suite right in our o� ce using a local anesthetic and a sedative. � at keeps the patient from having to go to the hospital. I recommended this procedure for Howard, and he agreed.”

� e minimally invasive procedure takes about an hour to complete and begins with the doctor entering the inverted-Y-shaped iliac artery through a half-centimeter incision in the groin. � e doctor then runs a device that cuts, collects and removes the plaque down through the artery.

“There are different devices that can be used for this procedure, including one that spins at about twenty thousand rota-tions a minute that is very good for calci� ed plaque,” Dr. Ramdev notes. “For Howard, I used a device called the Medtronic HawkOne™ that works like the little characters in the old PAC-MAN games.

“It has a very sharp blade on the lower jaw portion that cuts and compacts the plaque, and you can make several passes with it. Once the plaque is cleaned out, a balloon is placed inside the artery that helps to create proper blood � ow through the artery.”

Pain-Free Experience“I had no problems with the procedure whatsoever,” says Howard, who had one leg procedure done two years ago and another this past January. “� ey do a great job of making you feel relaxed, and I was able to watch the whole procedure on TV and even talked to the doctor. He would

say, Can you see where I am now? And I’d say, Yep, I can see it all. It was amazing, and it didn’t hurt a bit.”

That pain-free experience extended beyond the completion of the procedure. Howard had dealt with an increase in pain and a decrease in mobility and function for nearly a decade, but within minutes of Dr. Ramdev completing the plaque-clearing treatment, he was back on his feet and walking without issue.

“� at’s one of the great things about this procedure,” Dr. Ramdev explains. “Not only can you avoid a hospital visit and all that’s involved with that, but you get almost immediate relief from your symptoms, which was the case with Howard. By the time he left our o� ce that day, he was walking virtually symptom free.”

“I was,” Howard con� rms. “� ey didn’t let me walk out of the doctor’s o� ce because they take you out in a wheelchair just to be safe. But I walked

into the house when I got home, walked around without any problems that night,

and I haven’t had any problem since.“Now, I’m back going to the gym at least three

times a week. I’m still quite active, and it’s because of Dr. Ramdev, who is just fantastic. He really is. He took great care of me, and I’d recommend him to anyone.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Patient photo by Nerissa Johnson. Header

stock photo from Pixabay. HawkOne photo courtesy of Medtronic Vascular. Font

created by Hendra. mkb

Page 2 | Florida Health Care News | Spring 2019 | Martin County Edition Martin County Edition | Spring 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 3CompreSSion therapy VaSCular Surgery

For That Healthy SmileDr. Blank and his staff look forward to meeting the readers of Florida Health Care News. To schedule an appointment or learn what Dr. Blank can do for your smile through a complimentary cosmetic consultation, call or visit his offi ce in Port St. Lucie at:

184 NW Central Park Plaza

(772) 878-7348

Dr. Blank was awarded gold medals by the Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (FACD) Scientific Session competition, which is designed to reward excellence in clinical cosmetic dentistry. The FACD is an organization devoted to seeking improvements in the science and art of cosmetic dentistry.

Stephen G. Blank, DDS, is a 1982 graduate of Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago. He has since completed intensive continuing education studies. Dr. Blank has studied TMJ under Mark Piper, MD, DMD, at the Piper Education and Research Center. He has completed the course continuum at the Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Studies. Dr. Blank was a clinical instructor with the Hornbrook Group, teaching dentists from all parts of the country in live, hands-on courses on the various aspects of smile design, occlusion, full mouth reconstruction and complete patient care. He is a facilitator/mentor with the Dental Boot Kamp program. Dr. Blank enjoys teaching dental teams around the country.

Dr. Blank invites you to visit his website at www.PSLDENTIST.com. Visit him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PSLDentist

We take great pride in treating one patient at a time like family. We are a private practice with one dentist with 35 years of experience. We are not part of a corporate dental chain. We believe in building relationships with our patients that make them an integral part of their own success. Scheduling is done with respect for our patients’ time, with double-booking not even considered. We do not measure success by how busy we are, but by our patients’ dental health. Care Credit is available for patients who need assistance with financing.

Your Own Virtual Smile MakeoverInvisalign® is the alternative to

traditional braces. Comfortable and e� ective, they are nearly invisible when

you smile, and you can continue to enjoy your favorite foods. To learn more

about Invisalign by Dr. Blank, go to www.PSLDENTIST.com/invisalign.

Private Care DentistryGold Medal Winner

Silent NightDoctor tested appliance treats sleep apnea

M ore than a third of all men snore while sleep-ing, so it should not have come as much of a

surprise to Stephen G. Blank, DDS, to learn that he was among the many win-dow rattlers who snore so loud, they keep their spouses awake at night.

It did, though, and for one very sim-ple reason:

“I’ve never heard myself snore,” Dr. Blank says with a chuckle. “But my wife has been telling me for years that I snore, and those subtle nudges or that elbow in the ribs that she gives me in the middle of the night are there for a reason. But really, I had no clue.”

Dr. Blank isn’t alone. Most peo-ple who snore – and that community includes three out of every ten women – are unaware they snore because snor-ing typically occurs when the brain is at rest and the sensors that would detect the snoring are in, well, sleep mode.

At the same time, however, other parts of the brain are still active. For exam-ple, the part of the brain that controls the heartbeat and regulates breathing contin-ues to function as normal. � e position in which we sleep, though, can a� ect the rhythm of our breathing.

Lying on your back can cause the base of the tongue and soft palate to fall back into the throat, which can prevent the air we breathe from passing freely. When that � ow of air is disrupted, the soft tissue vibrates and makes a buzzing sound like sawing wood.

But sleep position is just one of the many potential causes of snoring. Obesity, allergies, the shape of the mouth and throat and certain illnesses can also cause snoring, which can be made worse through the consumption of alcohol and other sedatives prior to bedtime.

Another sleep disorder is sleep apnea, a serious condition in which the body actu-ally stops breathing dozens of times during the night. � ese frequent stops rob the brain and body of the oxygen it needs to refresh at night and stay healthy and alert.

� e result often causes su� erers to wake up feeling tired because, unbe-knownst to them, they did not get the proper amount of deep sleep they need to

be at their best. It was this concern that sparked Dr. Blank to seek treatment for his snoring problem.

“If you’re going to bed for seven or eight hours of sleep but still feeling tired sometimes, you’re probably not getting the amount of sleep you need,” Dr. Blank informs. “And there were a few times when that had happened to me.

“I suspected that on those occasions when I felt a bit tired, my body was not recovering the way it should from a good night’s sleep. My snoring was a sign that sleep was not as good as it could be.”

Test RunTo con� rm his suspicion, Dr. Blank took a road few can travel. He participated in a hands-on dental workshop for sleep appli-ances designed to prevent snoring at the Florida Dental Convention last year.

“I signed up for that workshop for my own self-interest and to serve my patients,” Dr. Blank explains. “What the workshop did � rst was require those of us who signed up for it to take an impression of our teeth and send it in a month ahead of time to a sleep appliance laboratory.

“� en, once we arrived at the work-shop, we were given the appliances. � ere

were a dozen people in the workshop, and when we attended the lecture we were each instructed to pair up and deliver each other’s appliance.”

The appliance Dr. Blank had fabri-cated is known clinically as the Custom Fit Dorsal Fin and is made of an acrylic material that’s lined on the inside with a moldable plastic. The plastic allows the appliance to be custom-fitted to each patient’s teeth.

� e appliance contains a moveable block in the back that allows the patient to recalibrate the appliance so that it opens the airway enough to reduce or eliminate symptoms.

“It’s very smooth, and the goal is to hold the lower jaw forward,” Dr. Blank explains. “� at brings the tongue forward, which opens the airway in the back and allows air to pass without the vibration on the palate or soft tissues.”

Benefi cial ResultsAs with most snore guards, the Custom Fit Dorsal Fin takes some getting used to, but not much, according to Dr. Blank, who wore his for the � rst time

while still attending the dental conven-tion in Orlando.

“It probably took me two or three days to get used to wearing it,” Dr. Blank recalls. “Now, I feel odd if I don’t have it in at night. But just as it is with any appliance, the bene� ts far outweigh any minor changes that might come from it.”

Dr. Blank can attest to the fact that there are indeed benefits. He says he’s worn his apnea appliance to bed every night since returning home after the con-vention and that he is literally sleeping more soundly than ever.

“After that � rst night back home, I asked my wife the next morning if she heard any snoring the night before, and she said, No, not a thing,” Dr. Blank reports. “It’s been all quiet at home ever since, so I’ve made two people happy.

“Not only is my wife sleeping better, but I’m sleeping better. I know because I feel fresher in the morning when I get up, and I have a Fitbit® that tells me how often I roll over or move in the middle of the night, and it’s showing far less activity than it used to.

“So, I’m hitting my goal of getting at least seven hours of actual sleep. Not just seven hours in bed, but seven hours of good sleep. � at’s what this appliance is designed to do, because people want results. � ey want to stop snoring, get a good night’s sleep and feel healthier. � is appliance helps them do that.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Doctor photo by Nerissa

Johnson. Header photo from Pixabay. mkb

Dr. Blank has become a Medicare approved provider to deliver Apnea appliances for quali� ed patients. Dr. Blank works with your medical doctor for patients that cannot tolerate their CPAP machine. A follow-up sleep study veri� es the e� ectiveness of the appliance. A dental evaluation is needed to determine if a patient is a candidate for Oral Apnea Appliances. Call today to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Stephen G. Blank, DDS

Edward W. Pearson, MD, ABIHM, is certified in holistic medicine by the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. He earned his undergradu-ate degree in microbiology from the University of Florida. He then studied epidemiology and occupational health at the University of South Florida before earning his medical degree there. Dr. Pearson completed an internship in physical medicine and rehabilitation at University of California Davis Medical Center Hospital in Sacramento. He completed additional training in inter-nal medicine, orthopedic spinal surgery, emergency medicine, and musculoskel-etal and manual medicine.

(continued from page 1)

Back In Action Medical Center is staff ed by skilled and experienced medical professionals who off er a full range of services to meet your medical needs, and they look forward to serving you. For more information or to make an appointment to see if you qualify for stem cell therapy, call or visit their offi ce in Palm City at:

2351 SW Martin Highway

(772) 261-6509

Get Back in Action

Stem Cell Solutionbut didn’t know too much about them. When my son came to a positive conclusion about the therapy, he said, You might as well give it a try. I said, Why not. By then, my hips were really bad, so I � ew to Florida to have the therapy at Back In Action Medical Center. My son had it all set up for me.”

When Richard arrived at Back In Action Medical Center last fall, he met with Dr. Pearson. � e doctor eval-uated Richard’s hip condition and determined he was a good candidate for stem cell therapy.

“Richard was an active guy with arthritis and bilateral hip pain who was told he needed hip replacement surgery, but he had some cartilage left in his hips,” Dr. Pearson reports. “We want to see something left in the joint so there’s material to regenerate with the stem cells. Richard � t the bill.”

Stem cell therapy at Back In Action Medical Center begins with an evaluation and review of imaging, such as x-rays or MRIs. This gives Dr. Pearson a clear picture of the state of the joint. There are various stem-cell-based products available, and the doctor will choose the appro-priate product based on the patient’s condition.

“Sometimes, we combine products to achieve a certain impact on a particular joint or disorder,” Dr. Pearson informs. “A skilled medical professional will perform the actual injec-tion of stem cell products using ultrasound guidance.”

Following the injection, patients are instructed to ease back into activities with grad-ual exercise and rehabilitation. � e exercises are performed to strengthen the joints and estab-lish full range of motion.

“Recovery occurs rapidly,” Dr. Pearson assures. “Typically, the onset of improvement is within days and ongoing. Patients feel better quickly, but the lasting effects of the ther-apy are realized gradually and steadily over several months.”

“After I had the stem cell procedure, Dr. Pearson said I

shouldn’t lift anything over � ve pounds for two weeks,” Richard recalls. “He told me that’s when the stem cells build something like a sca� olding inside the joints, and I didn’t want to damage that. But I had to get back to work, so I hired a person just to carry my tools.

Visit Back In Action Medical Center online at backinactionmedical.com

“Dr. Pearson also told me not to climb up and down steps. I said that would be difficult because I worked on stairs. He said, Well, crawl up them. So, that’s exactly what I did for two weeks.”

Wonder WorkerIn the end, stem cell therapy at Back In Action Medical Center worked wonders for Richard. He achieved an excel-lent outcome, and he’s pleased with how quickly he was back in action at his job.

“My hips are one hun-dred percent better,” Richard raves. “Within the first two weeks after the stem cell procedure, I began to feel pain relief. Going into the third week, I started gingerly walk-ing up stairs at work. � en, after a month, I could go up and down with no di� culty.

“I’m still trying to be care-ful. Even now, I don’t carry real heavy tools. And instead of carrying three or four things, I only carry two.”

The pain relief Richard felt right after his stem cell therapy just got better as the

weeks progressed. Today, he feels nearly complete libera-tion from his hip pain. And he can now perform his work tasks without discomfort.

“Where the pain used to be a nine or ten, it’s now zero,” Richard enthuses. “I might feel a twinge when the weather changes, like when it rains, but otherwise there’s no pain.

“I feel very good now. I work every day, up and down stairs all day long, and everything’s � ne. I don’t have any pain in my hips.”

As a specialist in his � eld, Richard’s grateful for the opportunity to have a highly specialized treatment for his hips. And he’s happy he traveled to Florida to get it at Back In Action Medical Center.

“My stem cell therapy is an absolute success,” Richard stresses. “I’d do it again if I had to. I recommend it to any-one with joint issues who talks to me about it.

“I’m really happy with every-thing about my experience at Back In Action Medical Center, and I absolutely recommend it. Dr. Pearson and the sta� are wonderful and very professional. � ey’re great!” FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo.mkb

*Patient’s name withheld at his request.

Page 4 | Florida Health Care News | Spring 2019 | Martin County Edition Martin County Edition | Spring 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 5

Back In Action Medical CenterStem Cell Therapy

Acute Wound CareCompression Therapy

Vascular Interventional & Vein AssociatesVascular Surgery

Stephen Blank, DDSSleep Appliance/ Cosmetic Dentistry

Slim Body Laser SpaLaser Aesthetics

Stuart Periodontics, P.A.Comprehensive Dentistry

Institute of Health & WellnessAesthetics

The Dry Eye Spa & V.I.P. Laser Eye Center

Dry Eye Treatment

South Florida Eye ClinicOphthalmology

Active Health CenterNeck Pain

Retinal Eye Care AssociatesOphthalmology/Retina Specialist

215 Bullard ParkwayTemple Terrace, FL 33617

(813) 989-1330

Florida Health Care News

Florida Health Care News is published by Florida Health Care News, Inc.

Florida Health Care News, Inc., reserves the right to decline any advertising/marketing article.

Florida Health Care News is provided for information only and should not be construed as health care advice or instruction. If you have questions concerning articles in this edition, feel free to call our contributing editors.

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FOR ALL health care professionals having

articles in this publication: THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON

RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT OR BE

REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT WHICH IS

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DISCOUNTED OR REDUCED FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT.

Spring 2019

Sleep applianCe/CoSmetiC DentiStryStem Cell therapy

TRED J. RISSACHER, DC

Results may vary from person to person based on di� erent factors, and there is no guarantee for speci� c results. Testimonials and examples found in this publication, in our article from the Slim Body Laser Spa of Stuart, are veri� ed results that have been actually achieved by our clients as described. However, these results may not apply to the average person and are not intended to represent or guarantee that anyone will achieve the same or similar results.

FDA indications for use FDA 510(k) � e Lapex is intended to emit energy in the visible and infra red spectrum to provide topical heating for the purpose of elevating tissue temperature for the temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain and sti� ness, minor arthritis pain or muscle spasm, the temporary increase in local blood circulation and/or temporary relaxation of muscle.

VIP Priority SchedulingThe first 20 people to schedule

an appointment may begin their treatments right

away. These VIP priority-scheduling times are the most sought-after times available, so

call today for your VIP time.

For more information, please visit www.slimbodylaserspa.com

Treatment AreasDr. Tred’s Ultimate Laser-

Assisted Weight Loss System can eff ectively

treat the following problems in both men

and women:• Belly fat• Chin fat• Upper arm fat• Mu� n top• Thigh fat• Bra bulges

And more

B&As of Dr. Tred’s patients

9 treatments/3 weeks time Total inch loss = 7”lost . inches in sessions in weeks

Tred J. Rissacher, DC, completed his under-graduate studies at Indian River Community College and earned his Doctorate degree in Chiropractic from Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City. He attends postgradu-ate seminars on the diagnosis and treatment of spine disorders. The Lapex BCS is being used “o� label” for spot fat reduction and laser-assisted weight loss.

SE Ocean Blvd.Suite A

Stuart

(772) 223-5885

Here’s where you can find us:

Dr. Tred lost pounds and inches using his own laser-assisted

weight loss system.

Dr. Tred Rissacher has devoted his practice to helping peo-ple safely lose stubborn pounds and inches. When

he started to develop symptoms of pre-diabetes due to his own excess weight gain, he � rst tried dieting and exercising, but the weight did not come o� .

The solution, he realized, was the fat-shrinking system he uses with his patients every day.

“I decided to really commit to my own laser program that I recommend to others,” he

BEFORE

AFTER

Doctor Commits to His Own

Weight Loss Programobserves. “I began the laser program, and within four weeks, I dropped ten inches.”

He also lost 30 pounds in less than six weeks, and his health issue disappeared.

“My diabe-tes responded beautifully to my weight loss. It resolved as soon as I lost weight and got rid of the inches.”

Dr. Tred was pleased with his accom-plishments, but he didn’t stop there. He decided to continue with his treatments. As a result, he added to his weight and inch loss totals.

“As of the � rst of May 2014, I lost forty pounds and twelve inches and dropped three pant sizes in less than eight weeks using my own LipoLaser Weight Loss System,” he describes. “I am also enjoying more energy and better health than I have had in years.

“What’s more important is I’m keep-ing it o� ,” he adds. “I have not gained back any of the weight or inches because I con-tinue to use the laser and watch what I eat.

“I believed in this product before I tried it myself, but now I can say from experience, It really works!”

Areas Served:Stuart, Hobe Sound, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Sewalls Point, Jupiter, Saint Lucie West, Port Saint Lucie, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach and Okeechobee  

Gregory Gollhofer is a smart man. Not only did he work in information technology for 37 years, he also � ed the brutal cold of the Brooklyn,

New York winters and moved to balmy Florida, where he’s lived for the past 34 years.

For most of his life, however, Gregory struggled to lose weight, especially the extra fat on his belly and chest. But he was smart enough to know when to look in a new direction when fancy diets didn’t work.

now, I’m between a thirty-six and thirty-eight waist to even things out, and I went down to large shirts.

“When I’m not at Slim Body Laser Spa, I walk about five miles and do forty-five minutes of aerobic exercise in the pool. And for the past four months, I’ve eaten better and lost about thirty-four pounds total to � nish at a lean one hundred ninety-� ve pounds.”

Both Gregory and Lizette are impressed with Dr. Tred, his sta� and especially his laser-assisted weight-loss program. � ey both experienced dramatic results in only nine sessions in three weeks. � us, they believe in the science behind the laser treatments and have achieved the results to prove it. � ey’re happy to share what they’ve learned.

“I would suggest Dr. Tred’s program at Slim Body Laser Spa to anyone because it was a totally exciting experience for me,” Lizette says. “Anyone can walk in there and lose three and a half or four inches in three weeks. � at’s quite a bit, and it’s pretty impressive.”

“I totally recommend Dr. Tred’s pro-gram to my friends,” Gregory agrees. “It’s an excellent option for losing weight. With it, there are no side e� ects, no pain, no surgery and no dangerous injections. Dr. Tred’s pro-gram helped me reduce my size, gain energy and con� dence, and achieve a good weight for better health.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo Photos by Nerissa Johnson.

Before and after images courtesy of Slimbody Laser Spa.Header

photo & bomb graphic from Pixabay.com. nj

*Patient’s name withheld at her request.

Dr. Tred’s Ultimate Laser-Assisted Weight Loss System is like a dream come true. With it, many people can lose one to � ve inches of measured girth while lying on their backs for 30 minutes three times per week for three weeks. � at’s with no strict calorie reduc-tion or excessive exercise.

“ Thi s dream has become reality in the form of today’s FDA-approved technology called low-level laser lipo machines, also known as red light lasers,” Dr. Tred notes. “� ere’s no longer a need for people to subject themselves to the risks associated with sur-gical interventions such as liposuction and tummy tucks, or the use of thermal energy such as fat freezing and hot lasers.

“When applied to the fat layer under-neath the skin, low-level laser therapy will produce predictable, consistent,

vibration comes in. Whole body vibration use accelerates this transfer of energy.

“Without whole body vibration, it would take two to three days for the body to burn the released calories. Whole body vibration does it e� ectively in only ten minutes, so patients get results quicker and lose inches more consistently than they would if they relied on home exercise to burn the calories.”

“� e laser sessions were very calming, and there was music playing while I was get-ting treated,” Gregory describes. “� e sta� put me at ease and made me feel secure that there’d be no outside interference. I got the laser on two spots, my belly and my chest.

“� e treatments were nothing. All I had to do was lie on a table, and the sta� placed laser paddles on my problem areas, then they moved the paddles every ten minutes. When I finished with that, I went on a special shaking machine for twenty minutes, and that was one complete treatment.”

While the program does not require calorie restriction or strenuous activity, Dr. Tred does mention that diet modi� ca-tion and some exercise can help the process be more sustaining.

“Patients do need to eat right and move around in order for the results from the low-level laser treatments to be long-lasting,” he urges. “People will be more than happy with the results they see if they follow the entire plan.”

Southern ComfortAlabama native Lizette* moved to Florida in 2011 after retiring from 20-plus years in the industrial supply business. She says she wasn’t old enough to retire, but her husband urged her to do it anyway, so she agreed. � e downside to not working, however, was that her activity level decreased, which had a negative e� ect on her body.

“I put on some pounds from not doing anything,” Lizette shares. “I developed a double chin, and my stomach was really sticking out. I’d never been overweight, and I was very uncomfortable.

“My clothes felt uncomfortable on my body. I wouldn’t wear � tted clothes, like � t-ted shirts or dresses, nothing that actually showed my bulges. I wore more loose-� tting clothes because I felt so fat.”

Gregory Gollhofer

Lizette learned about Slim Body Laser Spa and Dr. Tred’s Ultimate Laser-Assisted Weight Loss System at a local fundraiser she attended. At the fundraiser, the spa’s sta� made a positive � rst impression on Lizette.

“The people at Slim Body Laser Spa were just so upbeat when I went for my con-sultation,” Lizette recalls. “I loved Dr. Tred. He was a wonderful person and a class act. I was so impressed that I signed up for the entire three-week, nine-session program.”

� oughts of weight loss were foremost on Lizette’s mind. She was already exercising regularly by swimming in her pool. She was excited about starting Dr. Tred’s program and seeing what the laser could do for her. Like Gregory, Lizette found the treatments comfortable and calming.

“I was totally surprised by the laser sessions. � ey were very relaxing,” Lizette con� rms. “I just lay there and listened to the music. I took a nap while I was getting the treatments. And after the laser sessions, I went on the whole body vibration machine for ten minutes, which was wonderful. I liked it so much, I bought one for home.”

Strict dieting is not required with Dr. Tred’s program, but staff at Slim Body Laser Spa dis-cuss good nutrition with program participants. Lizette took advantage of that bene� t and made some key changes to her daily eating plan.

“� e sta� was very encouraging as far as diet, using high-protein drinks and other nutrition suggestions,” she relates. “I got into new eating habits, which was a won-derful experience for me.

“� ere were two things I pretty much cut out of my diet, sugar and bread. I occasionally have half a sandwich, but it’s very rare for me to go to a restaurant and order a sandwich. My husband is following my exercise and diet plan with me, which makes it easier.”

Gregory was also pleased with the nutri-tion advice he got from the sta� at Slim Body Laser Spa. He liked that they didn’t expect him to follow a complex meal plan, like the one the dietitian created for him, or an extremely low-calorie diet.

“� ere was no crazy diet,” he assures, “� e sta� gave me information on certain vegeta-bles and fruits I should eat. � e information included the number of calories and amount of sugar they contain compared to what I was eating. � ey stressed getting enough protein for my body to function during the day.”

Goal Outcomes AchievedDr. Tred’s Ultimate Laser-Assisted Weight Loss System did for Gregory and Lizette what diets and exercise alone had failed to accomplish. And they were amazed by how quickly they saw changes in their bodies after starting the program.

“After three treatments, I could tell a dif-ference in the way my clothes were � tting,” Lizette enthuses. “At the end of my third treat-ment, they measured me, and I’d already lost several inches. After nine sessions, I lost a total of eleven and a half inches and twelve pounds.

“It was awesome. It was so exciting to see the changes in my body. I had a waistline again. I could wear clothes I wouldn’t wear before, like those � tted shirts and dresses.”

Gregory had a similar experience. He realized a difference in his body even sooner, experiencing results right o� the bat.

“� e changes started right away after the � rst

session,” he marvels. “I noticed I dropped a pound or so of weight, and the size of my body changed. I could tell by the clothing I was wearing.

“I went for nine sessions in three weeks and lost � ve and a half inches o� my belly and one and three-quarters inches o� my chest. I also lost nine pounds during that time. I was ecstatic, so I signed up for addi-tional treatments.”

Like Lizette, Gregory also felt more comfortable in his clothes after his laser treatments. He was so pleased with his results, he used them as a springboard to begin a healthier lifestyle that included a nutritious diet and regular exercise. � ese changes proved very successful for him.

“Before I went to Slim Body Laser Spa, I was wearing size forty or larger pants and extra-large shirts,” Gregory reports. “Right

sustainable inch reduction without pain, downtime, rigid food discipline or strenu-ous exercise. Areas such as the belly, chest, back, thighs, arms and chin can all be safely improved using laser lipo.”

When compared to classic weight loss, the dif-ference is the laser, which works directly on the prob-lem fat cells, causing them to release their contents and shrink. Each 30-minute laser session releases approx-imately 40 to 60 grams of free fatty acids, or 400 to 600 calories, into the body’s surrounding tissue.

Dr. Tred explains, “� e laser treatments release stored calories from the fatty layer of cells, which the body burns as energy. It’s a slow process for the body to absorb and convert those calories into energy with normal exercise and time. � at’s where a process called whole body

Gregory used his weight loss at Slim Body Laser Spa as a springboard for a

healthier lifestyle.

Drop stubborn pounds and inches while lying on your back

“I went for nine sessions in three weeks and lost � ve and a half inches o� my belly and one and three-quarters inches o� my chest. I also lost nine pounds during that time.” –

Greg

ory

“A� er nine sessions, I lost a total of eleven and a half inches and twelve pounds. . . . It was so exciting to see the changes in my body.” –

Lize

tte

“At one point, I weighed two hundred and twenty-nine pounds, was wearing size forty pants and extra-large shirts, and even they didn’t feel comfortable on me,” Gregory reveals. “So, I tried one of those big diet programs.

“I lost fifty pounds, but the weight came right back. I tried to convince myself that program was the way to go, so I went on it a second time, and the same thing happened, so I learned that diet program really didn’t work for me.

“� en, I went to a dietitian, and she taught me how to eat, what to eat and what portions to eat, which was excellent. But fol-lowing that meal plan was too complex, so I didn’t maintain my weight loss.”

When his attempts at dieting failed, Gregory didn’t give up. He remained open to new approaches to losing weight and eventually discovered a unique option in an unlikely place – his doctor’s waiting room.

While waiting for an appointment, Gregory picked up a copy of Florida Health Care News and read an article about Tred Rissacher, DC, and the Ultimate Laser-Assisted Weight Loss System he o� ers at Slim Body Laser Spa in Stuart.

“When I read the article, I said, � is is something I’ve never thought about before. Maybe I should look into it and learn more about it,” Gregory remembers, “So, I made an appointment for a consultation to see what was involved with the program.

“My first impression of the spa was excellent. � e people who work with you are very professional. Then I met with Dr. Tred, and I was impressed by his knowl-edge. He explained how everything worked.

“Before meeting with Dr. Tred, whenever I thought about lasers, I thought of some-thing destructive. But Dr. Tred explained that his laser system is designed to heal the body and could help me lose weight.”

BOMBARD BELLY FATPage 6 | Florida Health Care News | Spring 2019 | Martin County Edition Martin County Edition | Spring 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 7laSer aeSthetiCS

Deborah A. DeMarta, MD, FACS, FAARFM, is a colorectal surgeon and functional medicine specialist. Dr. DeMarta completed her medical internship and residency at Mount

Sinai Hospital in New York City. She completed a research and clinical fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Fort Lauderdale in 1997 and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. DeMarta is the founder and principal of the Institute of Health & Wellness. As a functional medical practitioner, she works with patients to identify the underlying causes contributing to chronic health issues. She then develops individualized programs to restore natural balance using nutrition, supplements and lifestyle changes.

Visit the Institute of Colorectal Health & Wellness online at www.InstituteHealthWellness.com

Excellence in Functional Medicine

For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call or visit the Institute, located in historic

downtown Stuart at:

SW Atlanta Ave.(772) 539-9556

Dr. DeMarta performs the Halo treatment on one of her pati ents.

Restore Your GlowUnique, dual-wave laser treatment restores youthful appearance

A n old proverb promises that all good things come to those who wait. Dolores* is a � rm believer in that adage. After

all, she waited 79 years to � nd the love of her life, and now that she’s found him, she says life is as good as it’s ever been.

“I was married twice before, but the feel-ing I get when I’m with this man is a feeling I’ve never felt before,” Dolores says of the man she met and married this past January. “I can’t tell you how happy I am with him. For the � rst time, life is truly wonderful.”

A client of her son’s computer com-pany, Dolores’ husband is ten years younger than she is, and one of the things she loves most about him is that he approaches life as if he’s 40 years younger than she is. At � rst, that was a bit of a concern for her, however.

“After we first got married, I was thinking, Oh, I’m so old; I hope I don’t lose him,” Dolores relates. “It’s not that I’m not energetic and ready to do things. I am. My concern was that maybe I looked too old for him. I wanted to do something about that.”

Dolores’ concern prompted a search for a treatment that would take a few years o� her appearance. She found what she was looking for in an article about Deborah A. DeMarta, MD, and Institute of Health & Wellness in Florida Health Care News.

After making an appointment with Dr. DeMarta and discussing the anti-aging treatments available at the Institute, Dolores chose to undergo a new hybrid-laser facial treatment that uses the Halo™ Hybrid Fractional Laser by Sciton®.

One of a Kind What sets Halo treatments apart from all others is its ability to deliver two di� erent wavelengths to the skin simultaneously. � at allows it to coagulate and vaporize

skin tissue all at once to treat an array of mild to severe skin issues.

“We frequently encounter patients who express a desire to improve on their skin texture, pigment issues, skin tight-ness, acne scars and wrinkles without undergoing the downtime associated with conventional plastic surgery techniques,” Dr. DeMarta explains.

“� at’s what the Halo does. It’s liter-ally the � rst of its kind, and what makes it special is that it allows you to get the same bene� ts you get from major laser therapy, but instead of needing two weeks of heal-ing time, you only need a couple of days.”

Halo treatments always begin with a consultation in which the patient’s concerns and skin type are evaluated. Patients are later given a prescription for an oral relaxant that they take prior to beginning the treatment itself, which lasts about an hour.

Dolores says she’s never had a lot of wrinkles but notes that those she did have were very deep. As a result of the Halo treatment, those deep wrinkles have virtu-ally disappeared, she says, along with years of age spots and weathering.

“I can’t tell you how awesome the treatment is and how much more con� -dent I am about the way I look now that I’ve had it done,” Dolores exudes. “I look and feel awesome, and the best part is, my husband agrees.

“And I’m so glad that I went to see Dr. DeMarta for this. She’s just great.

Going to see her is like going to see your sister. And her o� ce is so beautiful. It’s like visiting a villa in Italy. I recommend her and the Halo treatment to anybody and everybody.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Nerissa Johnson.

Sun graphic from kisspng.mkb

* Patient’s last name withheld at her request

INSTITUTE OF HEALTH & WELLNESS

DEBORAH A. DEMARTA, MD, FACS, FAARFM

STUART PERIODONTICS, P.A.C. NICHOLAS DETURE, DMD

C. Nicholas DeTure, DMD, is a gradu-ate of the University of Florida College of Dentistry and completed three years of graduate training in peri-odontology and implantology at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology.

Visit Stuart Periodontics on the web at www.stuartperiodontics.com

Rescue MissionNoninvasive procedure saves teeth, restores smile

C laudia Capasso was only six years old when her fam-ily moved from her native Colombia to the United

States. Along with her favorite toys, Claudia brought to her new home a susceptibility to gum disease that began taking its toll in adulthood.

“I found out the problem was hereditary after I � rst started having some serious issues with it several years ago,” explains Claudia, now 53. “I’ve always taken good care of my teeth, but for years, brushing was uncomfortable because they bled so badly.”

The problem Claudia has suffered from is periodontitis. In addition to causing bleeding gums, it can also result in bone loss to the extent that the teeth are no lon-ger salvageable. Claudia learned that news the hard way a couple years back.

“I found a dentist and started getting regular cleanings,” Claudia says. “But the cleanings were always very painful, and when they didn’t do anything to stop the bleeding, the dentist told me I was going to need to have all my teeth taken out.”

Horri� ed by the prospect of losing all her teeth as well as the cost of a full set of upper and lower dentures, Claudia began searching for a new dentist. After some time, her search led her to C. Nicholas DeTure, DMD, at Stuart Periodontics.

“When Claudia first came to us, she had very advanced gum disease,” Dr. DeTure con� rms. “Given that she had been seeing another dentist for reg-ular cleanings, it was clear to me that the hygienist she had been seeing previously was undertreating her.

“� ey weren’t cleaning her teeth e� ec-tively; they were polishing them. In an e� ort to not hurt her during her cleaning, they were undertreating her and essentially were waiting for her teeth to get so bad that they’d all have to be pulled.”

As bad as Claudia’s situation was, it was not hopeless. Dr. DeTure pointed out that she could save most of her teeth by undergoing a state-of-the-art gum treat-ment called LANAP, which stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure.

Equally Eff ective“Because LANAP uses a laser that gen-tly stimulates the gum tissue without the need for incisions or stitches, it’s less

invasive than traditional periodontal dis-ease treatments, yet it’s equally e� ective,” Dr. DeTure notes.

Once Claudia agreed to the treat-ment, Dr. DeTure began his work on her by doing a bacterial analysis of her gums to determine the speci� c bacteria that were a� ecting her and what antibiotic would work best to get rid of them.

“� at’s a step that few dentists take. What we are looking for are mobile forms of bacteria,” Dr. DeTure says. “Some of these forms of bacteria occur normally in the mouth at low levels, but when they over-grow, that’s when they cause damage. � e analogy I often use is that it’s okay to have a cat and a dog. But if you have a thousand cats and dogs, then you’ve got a problem.”

Using the results of the culture as his guide, Dr. DeTure performed the LANAP procedure on all of Claudia’s upper and lower gums. � e results, Claudia reports, were miraculous.

“I don’t take pain well, but I had no problems with the LANAP proce-dure,” she says. “The treatment was great, and now, I have no more discom-fort or bleeding, and the best thing is, Dr. DeTure saved all my teeth.

“I’m so glad I didn’t listen to that other dentist and found Dr. DeTure. I recommend him to anyone who is hav-ing problems with their teeth or gums.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings.Photo by Nerissa Johnson. mkb

We Help Save Your Teeth

In addition to treating patients with periodontal issues, Stuart Periodontics off ers a wide range of preventative dental services. Stuart Periodontics is in Stuart at:

901 SE Ocean Blvd.

(772) 283-1400

Claudia Capasso

Triple-stage process eliminates dry eye symptoms

Eileen Hoffman

THE DRY EYE SPA® & V.I.P. LASER EYE CENTER

CLIFFORD L. SALINGER, MD

E ileen Hoffman, 55, had bad eyes since her youth. Because she wore glasses most of her life, she maintained her vision

with annual exams by an eye doctor. At one appointment, the Jamaica native couldn’t achieve clear vision, and her doctor o� ered a possible explanation that sounded serious.

“At my eye exams, my glasses pre-scription kept going up each year,” Eileen recounts. “One year, no matter what pre-scription we tried, it wasn’t improving my vision. My doctor also tried a few di� erent approaches, including using a series of soft contact lenses. When that didn’t help, he suggested I might have a condition called keratoconus. He told me I needed to see a specialist.”

Keratoconus is a disorder of the cor-nea, the transparent layer that forms the front part of the eye. With keratoconus, the cornea thins out and bulges forward. It cannot maintain its round shape and instead becomes shaped like a cone. Treatments for keratoconus include spe-cial contact lenses, corneal inserts and, in severe cases, corneal transplants.

Eileen began looking for a cornea specialist. She was given the name of Clifford L. Salinger, MD, founder of The Dry Eye Spa & V.I.P. Laser Eye Center in Palm Beach Gardens. Dr. Salinger, she was told, was one of the top cornea specialists in the area.

Dr. Salinger became Eileen’s cornea specialist in 2000. He confirmed the keratoconus, and Eileen eventually had corneal transplants in both eyes.

“After the surgery, I began su� ering with severe dry eye disease,” Eileen describes. “My eyes were irritated, and because of the corneal transplants, they became painful. My eyes were itchy, and I had blurred vision. I was also having di� culty with sensitivity to light. I’m an avid reader and news watcher, and my dry eye symptoms made doing those things uncomfortable.”

Dr. Salinger explained to Eileen that the oil glands in her eyelids had become clogged with debris. � ey weren’t releas-ing enough of the oils necessary to keep a good, consistent tear � lm on her eyes’ surfaces, which keeps the eyes moist. � e lack of a consistent tear � lm was causing Eileen’s eyes to be dry and irritated.

The Surgery FactorDr. Salinger notes that many factors contribute to dry eye disease, including previous eye surgeries such as cataract surgery and LASIK®. Surgery does this by interrupting the corneal nerves. � is plays an important role in the development of dry eye disease.

“Any surgery, even perfect surgery, can upset the delicate balance of the eye’s tear layer,” Dr. Salinger explains. “As a result, the tear layer is more unstable and has the potential to evaporate more quickly, which leads to dry eye symptoms.

“Eileen had a history of eye surgery. She had the corneal transplants in both eyes – first in her right eye in 2004 and

then in her left eye in 2006 – and those surgeries, along with her age and per-imenopausal status, all contributed to her dry eye issues.”

Initially, Dr. Salinger treated Eileen’s dry eye symptoms with a reg-imen that included preservative-free, over-the-counter, sterile arti� cial tears; hot compresses; lid cleansings; vitamin supplements speci� cally for dry eye and anti-in� ammatory eye drops to reduce the in� ammation that contributes to the evaporation of tears.

“� at treatment improved her symp-toms some, but only incrementally,”Dr. Salinger states. “She was still having di� culty wearing her contacts, and con-tinued to have discomfort, itching and irritation. We � nally recommended treat-ment with the LipiFlow® and went ahead and performed it in April 2018.”

� e LipiFlow � ermal Pulsation System from TearScience® combines the controlled application of therapeutic heat with a gen-tle, pulsating massage. � ese two functions work to liquefy then remove clogging debris from the glands in the eyelids, enabling them to function e� ciently.

“LipiFlow is a revolutionary breakthrough for treating chronic dry eye disease,”Dr. Sa l inger a s s e r t s . “ I t

relieves dry eye symptoms by remov-ing blockages of the eyelid’s oil glands. Opening and clearing the blocked glands enhances the natural production of the oils needed to restore a healthier tear layer on the surface of the eye.”

Visit The Dry Eye Spa & V.I.P. Laser Eye Center on the web at www.TheDryEyeSpa.com

Cli� ord L. Salinger, MD, recipient of the “Heroes in Medicine” 2014, awarded by the Palm Beach County Medical Society, is a board-certi� ed ophthalmologist with subspecialty certi� cation in corneal and refractive surgery, and dry eye. After completing his undergraduate degree at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, he received his medical degree from UMDNJ-Rutgers Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ. Dr. Salinger completed

an ophthalmology residency at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Cornea Society and the Florida Society of Ophthalmology. He is a past associate profes-sor at the University of Rochester and has lectured extensively nationally and abroad. In addition to his volunteer work, traveling overseas on many occasions, he has been the education chairman for the Florida Society of Ophthalmology for more than 15 years.

Convenient Location!Dr. Salinger is proud to present the latest breakthrough

medical technology for dry eye disease. He off ers consultations in Stuart. The Dry Eye Spa & V.I.P. Laser

Eye Center is located in Palm Beach Gardens at:

11020 RCA Center DriveSuite 2001

(561) 624-7878

Startling Results“LipiFlow can be performed in di� erent ways,” Dr. Salinger informs. “Many doc-tors perform LipiFlow only. We perform a three-step process that includes treat-ment with the LipiFlow. Step one in the process is a very thorough deep cleaning of the eyelids. Step two is treatment with the LipiFlow itself.

“� e third step is an expression of the oil glands by the doctor immediately after the LipiFlow while the gland material is still warm and relatively viscous. � is step is done to remove any clogging material the LipiFlow may have left behind.”

� e results are startling. Dr. Salinger reports that 90 percent of people experi-ence measurable improvement after one LipiFlow treatment at � e Dry Eye Spa and V.I.P. Laser Eye Center. About half of those patients notice improvement within one month. For the other half, it may take two to three months. For a very small percentage, it may take longer.

“The treatment was actually very comfortable,” Eileen comments. “During the first part of the LipiFlow process, the cleansing part, I was in heaven. � e second part was great, too. � e manual expression part I didn’t like as much, but I got through it with no problem.”

Dr. Salinger stresses that after patients achieve symptom relief with LipiFlow, it’s important that they continue with their routine dry eye treatment regimen. � is is critical for maintaining the bene� ts of the LipiFlow treatment process.

“If patients want to keep the oils from their eyelid glands flowing, they have to continue addressing their dry eye condition,” Dr. Salinger con� rms.

“Maintaining their routine treatments will keep them on a healthier track.”

The Best DecisionOnce Eileen had the LipiFlow proce-dure, her vision improved appreciably, and her symptoms of irritation, itch-ing and sensitivity to light disappeared. She can now read and watch the news in comfort. She’s thrilled with the out-come of her treatment.

“� e LipiFlow was the best thing I ever did,” Eileen raves. “Since I had it done, I haven’t had any issues with dry eye.

“I told Dr. Salinger that some-times things are going on in my life, and I forget to do my daily drops and cleansing routine. When that happens, I can go four or � ve days without suf-fering any ill e� ects. I attribute that to the LipiFlow because prior to that, if I skipped my drops or cleansing, I’d get severe irritation and discomfort.”

Eileen began seeing Dr. Salinger for her corneal disorder, but she con-tinued with him afterward for all of her eye health needs. She’s grateful to the doctor and his sta� for the care they’ve given her over the years.

“I love The Dry Eye Spa and V.I.P. Laser Eye Center,” she enthuses. “It’s topnotch. And I love Dr. Salinger. I’ve been with Dr. Salinger for eighteen years, which is a testament to the con-fidence I have in him and his team. I trust him implicitly.

“I recommend Dr. Salinger and � e Dry Eye Spa and V.I.P Laser Eye Center wholeheartedly to anyone who has corneal or dry eye issues.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Jordan Pysz. mkb

Page 8 | Florida Health Care News | Spring 2019 | Martin County Edition Martin County Edition | Spring 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 9

aeSthetiCS

ComprehenSiVe DentiStry Dry eye treatment

For Eye Floater SolutionsSouth Florida Eye Clinic is located

in Fort Myers at:

4755 Summerlin Rd. Call Dr. Geller at:

(239) 275-8222or toll-free at:

(877) 371-3937

Scott L. Geller, MD, is board certi� ed by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and Rush Medical College. While in medical school, he was awarded a student fellowship to study tropical medicine at a missionary hospital in India, and pursued additional studies at the famous Brompton Hospital in London, England. He interned at Presbyterian Hospital, Paci� c Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, and completed his residency in ophthalmology at Sinai Hospital of Detroit, which was a� liated with Wayne State Medical School and Kresge Eye Institute. Dr. Geller was fellowship-trained in anterior segment and

refractive surgery with Dr. William Myers of the Michigan Eye Institute. Dr. Geller is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and has presented papers on eye � oater laser treatment at the International Congress of Ophthalmology, European Congress of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, European Congress of Ophthalmology and the Florida Society of Ophthalmology.

SOUTH FLORIDA EYE CLINICSCOTT L. GELLER, MD

Dr. Geller has performed more than 15,000 documented � oater laser sessions.

Scott Geller, MD, teaches the technique worldwide

“L aser treatment of eye � oat-ers is fascinating,” says Scott Geller, MD, a board certified ophthalmologist

with a specialty clinic in Fort Myers. “I look forward to doing this every day. And our

reputation has become worldwide with the advent of the internet. We’ve had a steady � ow of patients from Europe, Canada, and even Russia, China, Arabia, and Israel.”

Dr. Geller can rightly claim to have started this niche area of ophthalmic surgery, with the largest, continuous clinical series, having performed more than 15,000 documented eye � oater laser sessions.

“I’m always asked why this useful treatment modality is not more widely available, or why some doctors try it but give it up,’’ Dr. Geller explains. “The answer is simple: there are no courses for training, and there is a lack of proper equipment.”

Dr. Geller was trained directly by the professor who researched laser inside the human eye at the famous University Eye Clinic in Bern, Switzerland.Dr. Geller adds: “� ey never thought this would be applica-ble to eye � oaters, but I proved them wrong.”

Dr. Geller uses the Swiss made Lasag laser.

“I have tried others, but there is absolutely no doubt in my mind this is the most versatile and precise instrument,’’ he notes. “In fact, I have two of them, and

I � y in the engineers from Switzerland to update and service them yearly.”

A Doctor and an EducatorDr. Geller has personally trained the most experienced ophthalmologists in the US, as well as the top surgeons from Italy and Holland, who have visited his Florida facility.

“I am concerned about colleagues rushing into some-thing new without having a formal preceptorship,’’Dr. Geller says. “It is easy to push the button, but not so easy to get the optimal result and avoid complications.”

To improve physician education, Dr. Geller gave an hour-long course this year at one of the country’s major ophthalmology associations.

“This was the first course of this quality anywhere in the US,’’ notes Dr. Geller. “And I am going back to Italy, where I was invited to lecture at a major

SCAN THIS TO YOUR

SMARTPHONE TO SEE ACTUAL

PATIENTS

See what Dr. Geller’s patients say about the Eye Floater Laser at www.vimeo.com/eye� oaters and on the Scott Geller MD YouTube channel.

ophthalmology meeting. � is is the fourth invitation, and I will also consult and treat patients there, as I have in the past.”

Dr. Geller welcomes other ophthalmol-ogists to come and observe, and to call if they need advice on di� cult cases.Article submitted by Scott Geller, MD. Photo by Jordan Pysz. mkb

is not

acceptable.”

“Live with it

OPS™ replacement surgery more precise

T he number of Americans hav-ing hip replacement surgery has grown steadily over the past 18 years. It’s estimated

that this year, more than 300,000 peo-ple will undergo the procedure, up from 138,000 in 2000. � e procedure, fortu-nately, has improved as well.

A recent advancement to hip replace-ment surgery was the release and FDA approval of a technology that helps surgeons determine the most accurate alignment of the replacement implants. � is technology is the optimized position-ing system, or OPS™.

� e inspiration behind OPS is the fact that no two people move the same way, and this can make a significant impact on the proper positioning of the hip implants. OPS is designed to account for the di� erences. It tailors the implant placement to each patient.

The hip joint has two essential parts, the ball and the socket. � e ball of the joint is the head of the femur, or thigh bone. � e socket, or acetabulum, is a concave depression in the pelvis, in which the ball sits. � e ball and socket are the parts that are replaced during surgery and must be positioned appro-priately for the best outcome.

To get the proper position, hip replacement surgery using OPS begins long before the procedure is performed. An extensive preoperative evaluation is � rst performed to determine how the patient’s femur, pelvis and spine work together during routine daily activities. This

evaluation provides a speci� c functional simulation of the patient’s movement.

� e information is essential to achiev-ing optimum results during surgery. If the implants aren’t positioned precisely during surgery, there’s a greater risk for compli-cations such as premature wear, implant loosening and dislocation, as well as nerve impingement.

The preoperative evaluation also includes imaging such as x-rays and CT scans to generate pictures of how the patient’s hip moves in three dimensions. The imaging captures the anatomical geometry around the person’s hip joint.

Using all of the information gath-ered from the preoperative evaluation, surgeons create exact 3-D models of the patients’ anatomy. � ey then use these models as guides to optimize implant position during the hip replacement procedure.

The preoperative evaluation is the � rst step in the hip replacement using OPS process. � e second step is using the system during the procedure itself. During surgery, the 3-D model, which is unique to each patient, is combined with a laser guidance system. Surgeons match up the laser points to ensure the optimized plan is accurately recreated during surgery.

Need for OPS� e most common reason for needing hip replacement surgery with OPS is deterio-ration of the hip joint from arthritis. � e most common type of arthritis is osteo-arthritis, also known as “wear and tear”

arthritis. Osteoarthritis generally devel-ops with age. It’s estimated that more than 28 million Americans su� er from the disorder.

Osteoarthritis can develop in any joint in the body, but it most often a� ects weight-bearing joints such as knees and hips. � e hip is one of the largest joints in the body, and like other joints, its surfaces are covered with a smooth cushioning material called articular cartilage. � is cartilage enables the bones to slide over one another more easily.

Joints also contain another cushion-ing substance called synovial � uid. � is � uid lubricates the joint cartilage and aids in movement. With osteoarthritis, the articular cartilage begins to wear away, and the synovial � uid begins to thin out. � is results in the bones of the joint rubbing together without cushioning. Damaged bone may also start to grow. � ese result-ing growths are called bone spurs.

All of the damage to the hip joint is degenerative; it gets worse over time. It also causes pain, swelling and other symp-toms that get progressively more intense. Additional symptoms of osteoarthritis include tenderness around the hip, lim-ited range of motion, a grating sensation with movement and di� culty walking.

� e doctor can generally diagnose osteoarthritis through a complete his-tory and physical exam. � e doctor will con� rm the � ndings with an x-ray of the patient’s hip.

Treatment for osteoarthritis generally begins with lifestyle modi� cations, such

as switching from high-impact activi-ties to lower-impact activities and losing weight. Other conservative treatments include doing physical therapy, using support such as a cane when walking and taking anti-inflammatory and/or pain medications.

If conservative treatments fail to relieve symptoms, the doctor may sug-gest surgery. Surgical options include hip resurfacing and total hip replacement. FHCN staff article. mkb

Need New Hip Joint?Seventy Years of

Combined Patient CareWhether you have aches and pains from a motor vehicle accident, an old injury, a slip and fall or just feeling pain from the trials of daily life, the physicians at Active Health Center will help you feel young and get active again. In business for more than years, the doctors offer pain relief for:

• Lower back pain• Neck pain• Neck stiffness• Upper back pain• Arm pain• Leg pain• Knee pain• Wrist pain• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome• Herniated discs

Also offering:• Low Level Laser Therapy• State-of-the-Art Spinal

Decompression for Neck and Back

• Eccentron™ Negative Resistance for Better Leg Strengthening Outcomes

MARC A. WEINBERG, DCCOLIN O. BEHRUE, DC

BRYAN HUNTE, DCFORREST HARVEY, DC

ADAM HOLLEMAN, DPT

Support SystemM ore than half a million people in the United States alone were injured in automobile accidents

caused by distracted drivers in 2008, and Sharon Ben-David, a � nancial advisor living in Singer Island, was one of them.

“� ere was this young kid who was texting while driving, and he drove through a red light and hit me,” Sharon, now 47, remembers. “I was already in the intersec-tion when I saw him coming, and I tried to speed up to get through but didn’t make it.”

MCU™ therapy relieves chronic neck, radiating arm pain

MCU therapy has Sharon smiling and living pain free.

Advanced Technology for Neck Pain

Physicians at Active Health Center are proud to present the most eff ective and complete system for the diagnosis and treatment of patients suff ering from neck pain, headaches, whiplash disorders and general cervical spine disorders, including arthritis and herniated discs, with the MCU (Multi-Cervical Unit). Active Health Center is located in North Palm Beach at:

421 Northlake Blvd.Suite F

(561) 842-2273For more information, visit Active Health Center online at www.activehealthctr.com, or on their MCU informational website at www.mcunow.com

Marc A. Weinberg, DC, completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Florida and went on to graduate cum laude from Life Chiropractic College in Marietta, GA. He is approved by the National University of Health Sciences to perform Manipulation Under Anesthesia, a procedure that is proving to be e� ective in relieving and correcting the causes and complications of many painful condi-tions. He has been certi� ed by the Southeastern Back Institute to perform hands-on spinal decompression. In 2007, he was appointed Alternative Medicine Research and Development Director for the American Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Association. He has also authored two chapters in a medical textbook on Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Dr. Weinberg has been a constant student, healer and avid lecturer for the past 30 years and makes sure that he always puts his heart, as well as his knowledge and expertise, into the care of his patients.

Colin O. Behrue, DC, completed his undergraduate studies in molecular/microbiology at the University of Central Florida and went on to receive his Doctor of Chiropractic degree, cum laude, from Palmer Chiropractic College Florida in Port Orange. He has completed postgraduate education in neurology and is certi� ed to perform NCV, EMG, H-re� ex, SEP and evoke potentials. Dr. Behrue is a native of Palm Beach County and looks forward to serving the community.

Bryan T. Hunte, DC, earned his undergraduate degree in � tness and cardiac rehab/exercises science and biology from Ithaca College. He received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from National University of Health Sciences. He is currently working toward his diplomate.

Forrest Harvey, DC, completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Pennsylvania’s Westminster College before earning his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange, Florida. He treats patients of all ages but as a former two-sport collegiate athlete, Dr. Harvey especially enjoys working with athletes.

Adam Holleman, DPT, earned his undergraduate degree in exercise science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, VA. He received his doctorate in physical therapy from Winston-Salem State University. He performed research in biomechanical analysis of golf swings of patients following total hip replacement. Dr. Holleman is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and orthopedic section. He is pursuing advanced certi� cations as a certi� ed strength and conditioning specialist, spinal manipulation certi� cation and as an orthopedic certi� ed specialist.

In addition to spinning her car around, the impact of the crash left Sharon with a sore back and neck pain that not only worsened over the years but moved into her left arm and caused her left hand to go numb.

“� at pain and numbness were pretty consistent, and it made it very hard for me to sleep, because there was no way for me to get comfortable,” Sharon explains. “I used to work out a lot, too, but there was no going to the gym with this pain.”

Sharon says the problem even a� ected her at work, largely because the sleepless nights left her exhausted and sometimes made it hard for her to focus throughout the day. Finally, this past February, she decided to � nd a cure for the problem once and for all.

After checking with her insurance company, Sharon was referred to Active Health Center, where the team of phy-sicians uses a variety of techniques and technologies to determine the cause of each patient’s problems and treats them in the quickest, most e� ective manner possible.

During her � rst visit to Active Health Center, Sharon was examined by Forrest Harvey, DC, whose examination revealed that the cause of Sharon’s pain was a condi-tion called cervical degenerative disc disease.

A common cause of neck and radi-ating arm pain, cervical degenerative disc disease is usually the result of one or more of the discs in the cervical spine breaking down from typical wear and tear.

“The reason the discs degenerate is because the muscles around them are not stabilized,” Dr. Harvey educates. “As a result, the discs shift and weaken over time and that causes them to rub and degenerate.”

A Lasting Fix“When I asked Dr. Harvey what he could do to � x the problem, he said, well, we have this machine that not everybody has,” Sharon reveals. “He said they’ve helped dozens of people with this machine and that it’s a � x that will last.”

� e machine Dr. Harvey spoke of is an MCU™ or Multi-Cervical Unit. It is a unique, nonsurgical device that iso-lates and strengthens the muscles around the neck and provides a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s physical prog-ress while the patient receives the therapy.

A tool in what many doctors refer to as evidence-based medicine, the MCU records 16 different ranges of muscle movement for strength to determine the speci� c areas of the neck in which there are strengths, weaknesses, imbalances or a loss in range of motion.

Once that data is produced, a custom-ized treatment program is designed that allows the MCU to correct those prob-lems. Considered the most complete and e� cient system for assessment and rehabil-itation of the neck, the MCU machine has also proven to be highly e� ective.

According to Active Health Center, studies show that after receiving MCU therapy, patient pain levels decreased by 66 percent while strength levels increased by more than 70 percent, with more than 90-percent of patients making a full recovery.

A single MCU session lasts between 20 and 30 minutes, with patients typically going through three sessions a week for nine weeks. During those nine weeks, patients are re-tested at least three times to determine the effectiveness of the treatments.

“We re-test the patient every three weeks, or nine visits, and compare the results of those tests with the results we received from our original examination of the patient,” explains Colin Behrue, DC, at Active Health Center.

“� at shows us how well the patient is progressing, and based on the � ndings, we make clinical changes. � e change could be di� erent exercises, di� erent angles or

di� erent weights that help the patient continue to improve and build strength.”

After nine weeks of therapy, patients are typically given a maintenance program that includes exercises they do at home to main-tain their strength. Sharon was one who needed a little more time before graduating to the home exercise part of the program.

“I was supposed to be done by May 21, but when they took the test that day it showed that I still didn’t have full strength in my neck, so we actually continued until June 15,” Sharon says. “But the extra time was worth it because now, I feel great.

“I’ve been doing the home exercises just like they told me, and I feel one-hundred-percent better, and I have to say that one of the great things about this whole experience was how the people at Active Health Center make it so much fun.

“� ey create an environment that actu-ally makes you want to go there. And it’s not just because you know you’re improving, but because you just want to see the people and say good morning to them.

“They all work synergistically to make sure you’re happy and comfortable and feeling better. I don’t think there’s

anything such as a 10-star rating, because five is as high as it goes but that just doesn’t seem to be enough for them.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Nerissa Johnson.

Background image from Pixabay. mkb

Page 10 | Florida Health Care News | Spring 2019 | Martin County Edition Martin County Edition | Spring 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 11ophthalmology

SpeCial to FhCn

neCk pain

Kevin Donato

PETER J. LOWE, MD

K evin Donato likes to joke that at the printing and adver-tising specialty business he owns, they’ll print anything

but money. � at’s okay for Kevin. Money isn’t what’s most important to him. He’s more concerned about his health, espe-cially the health of his eyes, which have been problematic since his childhood.

“I never had great eyesight,” Kevin shares. “I have astigmatism, and I had eye surgery when I was very young. � ere was a tendon that was pulling my right eye and causing me to be cross-eyed. � at tendon had to be surgically pulled back to put my eye straight.

“I go to the eye doctor every year, and I’ve always worn glasses and contact lenses. Now, I wear a reading contact in my right eye, and a contact for distance in my left eye. I’m comfortable with that because I don’t like wearing reading glasses to read or use the computer.”

About eight months ago, Kevin began noticing a spot moving across his vision in his right eye. Initially, he thought it was the result of being overly tired and spending too much time in front of the computer. The irregularity continued, however, despite getting rest and taking breaks from the electronics.

“When a contact moves o� your eye, your vision becomes blurry just for the second it’s not in place,” he describes. “That’s what this spot was like, but it lasted closer to ten seconds. My vision would be blurry, then it would be clear, then blurry again. Something went across my line of sight that caused this to hap-pen. It went on twenty-four seven.

“I struggled with the blurry spots in my right eye because the only way I could read was with my left eye, which was my distance eye. I had to wear reading glasses again.”

Frustrated, Kevin went to his eye doctor, who told him the spot moving across his eye was an eye � oater. His eye doctor recommended Kevin make an appointment with Peter J. Lowe, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist at Retinal Eye Care Associates who sub-specializes in diseases of the retina and vitreous. She explained that Dr. Lowe

Coexisting eye diseases don’t bar patients from � oater procedure

Visit Dr. Lowe and Retinal Eye Care Associates online at www.retinaleyecare.com

Peter J. Lowe, MD, is a board-certi� ed ophthalmologist who specializes in retinal and vitreous disease. After completing his undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis, he received his medical degree from Chicago Medical School. Dr. Lowe completed an internship at Cook County Hospital prior to com-pleting an ophthalmology residency at Michael Reese Hospital, both in Chicago. He continued his education with a fellowship at Harvard University, Massachusetts Eye & Ear In� rmary, where he specialized in retinal and vitreous diseases. With more than 30 years in practice, he is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Palm Beach County Ophthalmology Society, the Florida Society of Ophthalmology and the Palm Beach Medical Society.

Be Floater Free!Dr. Lowe is proud to off er laser

vitreolysis, a nonsurgical method to vaporize vitreous fl oaters. For more information, or to schedule

an appointment, please visit Retinal Eye Care Associates at

these locations:

Lake Worth4175 S. Congress Ave., Suite L

(561) 967-8000Delray Beach

4800 Linton Blvd., Bldg. E, Suite 308

(561) 637-3003

Dr. Lowe now off ers

VIP Urgent Care

for patients with wet macular degeneration,

diabetic retinal diseases and other vascular

disorders of the eye.

uses a noninvasive procedure called laser vitreolysis to remove the eye � oaters from his patients’ eyes.

“When my doctor told me it was a laser treatment, it scared me,” Kevin admits. “I wasn’t really comfortable with it, just the sense that I was going to have a laser put in my eye to get rid of this problem.

“That was in October. I knew I needed to reach out to Dr. Lowe, but I didn’t do it right away. � en in March, I was out on my boat, and I had a moment when I just had it with the floater. I couldn’t deal with it anymore. When I got back into town, I called Dr. Lowe and made an appointment.”

During their consultation, Kevin expressed his concerns about laser vitreolysis to Dr. Lowe. � e retina specialist carefully explained how the procedure is performed. He noted that it takes ten to 15 minutes to complete, requires no incisions and causes no discomfort. Dr. Lowe estimated he’s per-formed more than 500 of those procedures over the past � ve-plus years.

“I was still very nervous about it,” relates Kevin, “but Dr. Lowe took time with me. He told me how he’ll put a lens on top of my eye and have me look left and right. � en, he’ll dissolve the � oater with the laser. He took an extra step and went through the entire procedure, doing everything but use the laser. � at trial run made me more comfortable with the pro-cess and helped me know I could do it.”

Ideal Candidates“Kevin had a very complex ocular his-tory,” notes Dr. Lowe. “He’d been seen by other ophthalmologists early in his life and had surgery for strabismus, which is when the eyes aren’t perfectly aligned.

“More recently, he was having prob-lems seeing from his right eye because it was getting cloudy. In addition to a little latent eye turn, he had a fairly large cen-tral � oater obscuring the visual pathway in that eye.”

At � rst, Dr. Lowe wasn’t certain Kevin was a candidate for laser vitreolysis due to his strabismus because with that, Kevin had an inherent suppression of vision in his right eye. But after performing a thorough examination and � nding no other clinical problems with Kevin’s eye, Dr. Lowe proceeded with the treatment.

“Kevin had already adapted to the visual weakness he had since his youth,” observes Dr. Lowe. “� en, when the � oater came along, it totally threw o� the way he was seeing with two eyes. After treatment, he experienced signi� cant visual improve-ment and was able to see clearly again from

his right eye, so it also improved his psy-chological visual adaptation.”

Proceeding with treatment on Kevin illustrates how Dr. Lowe’s expertise enables him to treat patients with � oaters who also have coexistent eye diseases.

“When I � rst started doing laser vitre-olysis, I concentrated on ideal patients, such as elderly patients who’d had cataract sur-gery,” he states. “As I got more experience, I became more comfortable treating patients with other unique eye diseases. Now, there are few contraindications to the treatment.

Excellent Eyesight After all was said and done, Kevin’s con-cerns regarding laser vitreolysis were relieved through the kind attention he received from Dr. Lowe. � anks to the doctor, Kevin became comfortable with the steps of the procedure, and he’s glad he did. He says he couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

“� e � oater is gone,” Kevin raves. “My vision is nice and clear now, and I don’t have any issues. I’m very excited. � e procedure was a big success, and my eyesight has been excellent ever since.

“I’m back to wearing the reading contact in my right eye and a distance contact in my left eye. I’m now able to read the computer screen, a magazine and my phone without reading glasses. And

I don’t see a blurry spot running across my eye anymore. I’ve been out in the sun many times since the procedure and hav-en’t had any issues with my eyes.”

Kevin is proud of himself for overcom-ing his fear, but he gives Dr. Lowe most of the credit. He says Dr. Lowe is unlike many physicians and adds that the doctor has tremendous empathy for his patients.

“Doctors sometimes get a bad reputa-tion because they don’t always have good bedside manners, but not Dr. Lowe,” enthuses Kevin. “His bedside manner is exceptional, and I told him that in my � nal follow-up appointment. � at’s why I decided to go through with laser vitreolysis.

“I’m especially grateful for the time Dr. Lowe took with me to go through that dry run. With his help, I set my mind to go through the procedure. I’m very appre-ciative of that.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Nerissa Johnson. mkb

Page 12 | Florida Health Care News | Spring 2019 | Martin County Edition ophthalmology/retina SpeCialiSt