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P doctor, I can’t see.” or the patient will get used to it. looks  ne and the oater willeitherfade he orshewillbe ne, because theretina barring anything unusual, tell the patient check foraretinal tearordetachmentand, best vision,whichistypicallynormal, routine, he adds, they measure the patient’s riencing, Dr. Geller says. As amatterof what apatientwitheye oaters isexpe- Many ophthalmologists don’t understand Understanding the Patient academia, by private clinics.” advances have beendonehere, outside their interests lieelsewhere. So, allthe Institute inMiami,” saysDr. Geller. “But Gainesville andtheBascom-Palmer Eye Centers, including the schools in Tampa, and technique (see page ). lectures all over the world on his research also hasgiven animpressive numberof laser procedures across hiscareer. He moreperformed than,eye oater absolute best result possible.” how to modify a technique, and get the size upapatient,know exactly but it takes years of experience to make anincisionandstitchskin, like plastic surgery. Any intern can into it,” Dr. Geller states. “It’s a bit will nottakethetimetoreally get interest, andmostophthalmologists Documented Eye Floater Sessions Laser SOUTH FLORIDA CLINIC EYE South FloridaSouth Eye Clinic sta arewithaworldwide theexperts patient base To which the patient responds, “Florida has some great Ophthalmic Dr. Geller hasthatexperience.He has “Because this is a niche area of SCOTT L. GELLER, MD Quick, EasyandEffective A Fantastic Experience laser eye oaters.” my localdoctor MD, “why can’t Scott Geller, atients oftenask 20 Minutes toFitness HemWell America “ but but where eye oaters are formed. and thoroughly examine the vitreous gel, vision gets with the it.”oater obstructing toseeexactly howon theeye chart badthe always measure the patient’s worst vision noiseinterfering with the good eye. Eye [amblyopia] where the oater causes in the visual axis. patient’s visualacuitywiththe oater for this is simple:  ey don’t take the many ophthalmologists, and the reason mology thatisroutinely ignored by patient bewildered and frustrated. needs tobedone,whichmayleave the out ofhand,tellingthemthatnothing problem andmightdismissthepatient theymaynotcorrectly chart, diagnosethe need tolistenthepatient’s problem the case. That’s whyophthalmologists Dr. Geller notes.“But that’s notalways the patientdoesgetusedtothem,” patients, floatersdoseemtofade,or with maculardegenerationandLazy improvement ofoverall visioneven only thepatient’s bestvisiononaneye “It that, for the is true majority of “At South Florida Eye Clinic,we “We have seenpatientsreporting “ isoneoftheareas ofophthal- “If the ophthalmologist measures A Better Way toBeat Ride theStimwave National Institute ofPain Institute National Lyme Disease Crozier Clinic Boston.  ere wasalsoapeer-reviewed of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in Berlin andtheAmericanSociety World Congress ofOphthalmology in Ophthalmology inIstanbul; the the  European Congress of  Florida Society ofOphthalmology; and Refractive Surgery inPrague; the the  European Congress of Cataract tigious Shanghai Eye and Ear Institute. conferences inChina,includingthepres- “It was followed by lectures at several Ophthalmology inSingapore,” headds. at theInternational Congress of facility using it in the USA.” states Dr. Geller. “And we are theonly Swiss madeLASAG lasertobethebest,” the and have treated patientsinItaly with Documented Eye Floater treated by Dr. Geller. came to Sicily to be examined and Patients from otherareas ofItaly laser aswell astraditional surgery. riences treating eye oaters withthe Italy presented papersontheirexpe- fromOther Holland experts and Meeting in Taormina, Sicily, Italy. at an International Ophthalmology lecturer year ina row forthefourth country,” the doctor notes. Russia European andalmostevery Japan, the People’s Republic of China, following andhave helpedpeoplefrom over the world. topatientsfrom allyears ofservice lasers sessionsacross more than , documentedeye floater Dr. more Geller hasperformed than Laser Treatment Ellex Laser , Sessions “I have quite a reputation in Europe “Other majormeetingsincluded “My  rst scienti c presentation was page4) 20,000 Laser Laser (see Recently, Dr. Geller was a featured “We have aworldwidepatient , but in the USA I nd the E Francisco Arévalo,DMD ye Stop theBleeding Lifting theFogof TMS ofCentralFlorida F Winter 2020 loater Depression T reatment Page 2 | Florida Health Care News | Winter 2020 | New Tampa/Central Pasco County Edition Ophthalmology Physical Fitness New Tampa/Central Pasco County Edition | Winter 2020 | Florida Health Care News | Page 3

enise McQuillen grew up “First of all, the physical therapist just outside of Indianapolis, that I’ve been seeing for the past thir- or the past four years, Brenda Lovell has been her own boss. She owns a “Before recommending a speci c lens, I always consider the patient’s activities, Indiana, where basketball teen years says my spine is functioning consulting company through which she o ers executive business coaching. hobbies, the type of work they do and their visual requirements  rst,” Dr. Berger says. is more of a religion than a better than she’s ever seen it,” Denise She also serves as a consultant to various nonpro t organizations in the “ en, I do a complete eye exam, looking at the patient’s tear  lm, the amount of sport.D Oddly, basketball is one of the few reports. “And the massage therapist that’s Tampa Bay area. Brenda helps leaders and organizations achieve excellence, astigmatism and the health of the retina, cornea and optic nerve. sports this self-proclaimed tomboy never part of that group says he’s seen a big Fhowever they de ne it. “I recommend implants based on all of played during her youth. di erence, too. that information, and I encourage patients to “I’m only  ve feet two inches tall “He always said my back muscles take the time to gain a clear understanding of now as an adult, so basketball was not a were like steel rebar and coiled metal the bene ts of each of the di erent intraocular good sport for me,” says Denise, now . ropes, but now he says my back muscles lenses before making a choice. Something to “But I was always active and involved in actually feel like normal muscle tissue. keep in mind is that no one lens is ideal for sports growing up. I jogged a lot and was And believe me, I can feel the di erence, CRAIG E. BERGER, MD everyone. Lenses come in many di erent sizes, an avid tennis player for years. Now, I’m because I don’t have all that pain and dis- with a variety of features and bene ts.” an avid golfer.” comfort anymore. “I’ve been an executive for global non- One of the things Brenda learned from  e switch from tennis to golf came “Now that my back feels better, I’m profit organizations, and my focus has Dr. Berger was that she could become glasses about nine years ago, long after Denise getting more rotation in my golf swing always been on leadership, team build- free after cataract surgery by choosing multi- moved to Florida. It was a switch brought and actually hitting the golf ball farther ing and developing trust within teams so focal IOLs to replace her cloudy natural lenses. on in great part by the fallout from the when I play. Some of my gol ng friends members can achieve and exceed their per- Brenda was very interested in that option. surgery she had in  to correct a lower have even commented on how much formance goals,” the Illinois native relates. “I used reading glasses for quite a while; back injury she su ered in a car accident. more I can turn my shoulders now.” Alena (left) keeps a watchful eye on Denise as she completes her workout. “I reached an age when I wanted to work for then, a few years ago, I got glasses for dis- “I was thirty-five years old when Denise says the impact  Minutes myself, and consulting in this  eld was the tance vision at night,” Brenda shares. “I used I had the surgery, which was done to exactly what the business’ name implies: The equipment is also calibrated to Fitness workouts have made on her best  t for my experience. them as more of a convenience if I knew I was correct spinal damage and soft tissue achieve results through one -minute to work speci c muscle groups with- life have made her a  rm believer in the “I always wanted to work for nonpro ts. going somewhere and my eyes were tired, but damage in my lower back,” Denise session once a week. out putting undue stress on joints or program, so much so that she has already I liked it because they typically have a for- I wasn’t required to wear them. reports. “But ever since that surgery, I’ve  e workouts are structured around ligaments. Research has shown that in recommended it to several of her friends. pro t arm to raise money to operate. I started “ en, I got transition lenses that helped been struggling with pain in my upper an exercise method known as slow-cadence addition to improving strength, weekly “One of my friends is already going,” my career in internal auditing and ended with near and distance vision, but I never liked back and shoulder area. training.  e coach guides the client’s pace -minute slow-cadence training ses- Denise says, “and my physical therapist, up moving into nonpro ts, and I loved it. I them. I went back and forth between wearing “It was at that same time that I went and form as weights are lifted in ultra- sions can also help improve balance, who has followed my progress and asked particularly loved working for the global non- them and taking them o , especially when I to court reporting school for two years slow movements on highly specialized increase energy, control arthritis, me a lot of questions about  Minutes pro t associations.” gave presentations. and became a court reporter. I think that equipment. Repetitions during each increase bone density,  ght symptoms to Fitness, is now recommending it to All was going well for Brenda until last “I would wear them to see the screen, but being in that awkward position all day workout last approximately  seconds, of diabetes and reduce back pain. other patients. July, when she accompanied her son on a col- then I had to take them o to see the audience. where you’re sitting with your arms out thereby maximizing muscle performance. “We have clients who are planning “It’s really a great program because lege trip to California. She had experienced some minor clouding of her vision prior  at was very annoying.  ose lenses never worked for me, so it was a goal to get rid in front of you aggravated the problem.” The slow-paced movements that to have hip or knee replacement surger- the coaches are all properly trained, and to that, but she noticed it was dramatically worse during the trip. of glasses altogether.” Another contributor to her upper comprise each workout create contin- ies, and their doctors refer them to us they do a great job of watching you to “I wasn’t having much trouble driving at night in places that were familiar to me, back and shoulder discomfort, Denise uous tension on because they know make sure your form is right and you’re but I had trouble in California because I didn’t know the roads,” Brenda explains. Smooth Transition believes, was her penchant for tennis, the muscle fibers, “My physical therapist, we can help them using the equipment properly. For “Headlights from other cars bothered me as well.  ose were pretty much my only Based on her lifestyle and personal wishes, Dr. Berger recommended for Brenda the where players preparing to receive a which allows cli- who has followed my build the mus- me,  Minutes to Fitness has been a symptoms, but they caused me to go to my eye doctor. ReSTOR IOL.  is lens gives patients clear vision at all focal points, and enables serve or volley typically stand with both ents to get more progress and asked me cle around those fantastic experience.” “I ended up going to two eye doctors because the  rst couldn’t  gure out what was patients to live glasses free. hands holding the racket out in front of physical benefits a lot of questions about joints prior to sur- FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Jordan Pysz. ke cataracts wrong with my eyes.  e second eye doctor  nally diagnosed .  at doctor “All ReSTOR lenses take away the need for glasses, even reading glasses,” the middle of their body. from a -minute, 20 Minutes to Fitness, is gery,” Angela adds. knew Dr. Berger because he had worked with his o ce, so he recommended I visit Dr. Berger elaborates. “According to the manufacturer, they feature a pupil-adaptive “I was in pain all the time when I was once-a-week “ is allows for a Dr. Berger for cataract surgery.” design that precisely allocates light to the retina more like the natural human eye.” playing tennis, and I was in pain after I workout than they now recommending it quicker recovery Craig E. Berger, MD, is a board-certi ed, fellowship-trained ophthalmic surgeon at ReSTOR combines apodized (an optical  ltering technique) di raction and refrac- got o the court,” Denise recalls. “ e would from going to other patients.” after surgery. Bay Area Eye Institute in Tampa. In addition to his practice, Dr. Berger was an adjunct tion technologies that allow for clear vision at both near and far distances.  is helps pain was constant. It was there when I through a tradi- “We’ve even assistant professor of ophthalmology at University of South Florida Eye Institute for focus light on the retina for images at various distances and creates a smooth transition went grocery shopping, when I was cook- tional workout had some people  years. With these two positions, he developed extensive expertise in cataracts and of light between the distant, intermediate and near focal points. ing dinner or shopping for clothes. program three or four times a week. who have been able to hold o on those cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is typically performed one eye at a time, with the patient usually “When I asked my physical therapist Each -minute, full-body workout surgeries because they’ve built up the waiting a couple of weeks or more before having the second eye corrected. In Brenda’s about it, she said the body positioning in consists of six to seven exercises that last muscle around the joint. Most of our A Common Problem case, Dr. Berger corrected her left eye  rst, last October. He then corrected her right tennis was really just compounding the for approximately two minutes each.  e clients, though, are people who want “Cataracts result from protein build-up in the lens of the eye, which prevents light from eye in August of this year. problem.  at’s why I switched to golf goal is to reach what is known as peak to stay  t and don’t have the time or passing through and makes the vision look cloudy,” Dr. Berger informs. “Symptoms “ e surgeries were e ortless!” Brenda exclaims. “I was in and out, and even had because in golf, she said, you’re actually performance, the point where blood ows don’t want to spend hours in a gym and The staff at  Minutes to include cloudy or foggy vision, glare, di culty seeing at night, loss of color intensity lunch with the friend who drove me to the  rst surgery right after the procedure was stretching those muscles more.” to the muscle and supercharges the body. possibly risk injury. and double vision.” done. Recovery was e ortless as well. The switch to golf did alleviate  is helps burn fat while the muscles are “ ey want a safe, quiet, private Fitness look forward to Cataracts are a common problem, and most are related to aging. Other factors, “And since my cataract surgeries, I have / vision in my right eye and / in some of Denise’s pain, but neither that rebuilt and strengthened naturally. studio environment, and that’s what we serving all your fi tness needs. however, such as diabetes, sun exposure, smoking and a family history, can cause the my left eye. My night vision is perfect. Headlights don’t bother me anymore. I don’t nor the physical therapy sessions and “Participants get the maximum o er, in addition to building back that They off er personalized, condition to develop at a younger age. have any issues with my eyesight whatsoever. home exercises she was devoted to ever benefit through one twenty-minute muscle that people lose as they age.  e “Typically, cataracts become a problem later in life, but they actually start around “In fact, I can see so clearly now that I see dirt in my house that I’ve never seen rid her of enough pain to leave her feel- workout per week,” explains Angela other thing is, you’re never too young one-on-one training with the age of forty and progress at di erent rates in di erent people,” Dr. Berger notes. before. Colors are also much brighter now, and I don’t have to wear any glasses at all. ing comfortable. Begin, general manager and part owner or too old to do this. We have teenag- no annual contracts or “For this reason, they can occur in younger people as well.” I didn’t know that was possible, so I’m very excited about that.” “I was thinking that I’d been of Minutes to Fitness. “By going ers who come in, as well as clients who  membership fees. For a Cataract surgery is generally done on an outpatient basis and involves the surgical Brenda is quite happy with the results of her cataract surgery. She credits doing all these exercises and things slowly, we get down deeper into the are in their nineties. We have clients removal of the a ected lens and the replacement of the natural lens with a synthetic Dr. Berger’s expertise for the procedures’ positive outcome. for so long and not getting the results muscle  bers and force them to work who have never worked out as well as complimentary orientation, intraocular lens, known as an IOL. “My cataract surgeries were totally successful,” she enthuses. “I‘ve already recom- that I needed,” Denise relates. “ en at their peak performance. And we work athletes. We build your strength from please call or visit one of their Before recommending a replacement IOL, Dr. Berger explained to Brenda the mended Dr. Berger and Bay Area Eye Institute, as well as ReSTOR lenses.  ey’re I thought, you know, I’ve got a friend the entire body to keep it strong.” where you are today.” advantages and disadvantages of the di erent lens options.  e doctor also reviewed absolutely wonderful.” who goes to  Minutes to Fitness and  e program has years of research and locations: Back in Action Brenda’s lifestyle and activities in order to  nd the best lens match. FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Jordan Pysz. ke thought, maybe I should try that. plenty of science behind its success.  e Tampa “ is was about a year ago, and I highly specialized weight-training equip- Building strength was the primary reason  N. Dale Mabry Hwy. Craig E. Berger, MD, is a board-certifi ed, fellowship-trained ophthalmic know that at my age, you automati- ment is part of that success.  e equipment Denise began working out at  Minutes surgeon. He received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the To Better Serve You cally start losing muscle mass, so I was features a patented double-stacking to Fitness, but she has since realized a few () - University of Florida and in  earned his Doctor of Medicine degree Dr. Berger is currently accepting new patients and offering consults and thinking that I needed to get stronger system, where weight can be increased in other benefits of the workouts con- from the University of South Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Berger com- second opinions, with appointments available within two days if not the all across my body anyway, so I made the increments of  pounds instead of the ducted by Alena, her certi ed personal Lakewood Ranch pleted his internship at the Mayo Clinic in  and his ophthalmology same day. Emergency patients can often be seen the same day. The caring decision to give it a try.” traditional ,  or .  tness coach.  Lake Osprey Drive residency at the Tulane School of Medicine. He spent an additional year staff at Bay Area Eye Institute also welcomes your questions regarding ophthalmology and ophthalmic surgery. To schedule an appointment, call at Tulane for sub-specialty training in cornea and refractive surgery. Tailored Training Alena is a Nationally Certifi ed Personal Fitness Coach who has been () - the number below or visit their office in North Tampa at: Dr. Berger is a member of numerous professional organizations, At  Minutes to Fitness, clients work with  Minutes to Fitness since . She earned her bachelor’s Sarasota out one-on-one with a nationally certi- degree in Exercise Science from the University of South Florida and including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American  Cove Bend Drive  N. Lime Avenue Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, Florida Society of  ed personal  tness coach who creates has been teaching children one year old and older how to swim for and supervises an individualized workout more than  years. She has a strong commitment to improving Ophthalmology and the Florida Medical Association. () - () - program.  e program is designed to do all clients’ quality of life. Visit Bay Area Eye Institute on the web at www.CraigBergerMD.com or fi nd them on Facebook. Learn more at www.minutesto tness.com Florida Health Care News Florida Health Care News Page 4 | | Winter 2020 | New Tampa/Central Pasco County Edition Eye Floater Treatment Florida Health Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery New Tampa/Central Pasco County Edition | Winter 2020 | | Page 5 Care News of time.  e restoring dentist then provides the crown, 20,000 Documented Eye Floater Laser Sessions 215 Bullard Parkway or the fake tooth, that goes onto that implant.” Temple Terrace, FL 33617 When multiple teeth are failing, Dr. Blundell says (continued from page 1) (813) 989-1330 he can place multiple implants in the jaw and connect an implant-supported  xed bridge or denture. In some presentation at the American cases, Dr. Blundell partners with the practice’s prost- Academy of Ophthalmology in hodontist, Philip Hedger, DMD, to provide same-day Barry Levine service for failing teeth. Chicago in .” Executive Publisher Dr. Geller’s latest “We set the patient up for a surgery date, where we Dan Ochman extract the remaining teeth and place multiple dental presentations were at the Senior Associate Publisher prestigious Florida Society of implants,” Dr. Blundell says. “Dr. Hedger is then able to Gina L. d’Angelo place a temporary prosthesis or a denture that is screwed Ophthalmology and the Orione CFO/HR Ophthalmic Congress in Italy, onto those implants on that same day, and the patient where he performed eye oater Roy Cummings typically goes home after the surgery with that in place.” Editorial Supervisor laser sessions on selected patients. Over the next four months, Dr. Hedger is able to Michelle Brooks tweak the temporary teeth until the permanent bridge SOUTH Creative Director or denture is available. FLORIDA Brian Levine Seamless Solution EYE CLINIC Project Coordinator Patti DiPanfilo Because Michelle was missing only a single tooth, “Many doctors tell their Lisa Buie Dr. Blundell was able to treat her using a single implant. patients, live with it, nothing Editorial Staff She also required a bone graft, but Dr. Blundell was able can be done or get vitrectomy Laura Engel to perform the bone graft and place the implant at the surgery,” Dr. Geller notes. “But Production Assistant same time. “I had very little swelling and very little pain going the problem with vitrectomy Nerissa Johnson surgery, which is the surgical Kristy Ellenbecker ichelle Wireman is a busy mom, an active visited another dentist who also recommended a dental forward after that,” Michelle says. “I didn’t really even removal of the entire vitreous gel Graphic Designer runner and a dedicated health care pro- implant but referred her to Jason B. Blundell, DDS, a have any bruising either.  e whole procedure went fessional who has spent the past  years board-certi ed oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Coastal seamlessly, and I liked that.” [where oaters begin] is that it the American Academy of they couldn’t do anything for safely cut membranes deep in Nerissa Johnson is not without its own problems. Ophthalmology in , and him except vitrectomy, but the eye’s interior. Jordan Pysz literally breathing life into people who Jaw Surgery, which has locations throughout Tampa Bay. After placing her implant and overseeing her healing, “Most patients over the age other meetings worldwide. they also told him, there’s an “I have tried other lasers, Photography Mstruggle with one of the body’s most critical functions. Dr. Blundell sent Michelle back to her dentist six months A Conservative Approach later for a permanent crown. of forty will develop an early ophthalmologist on the West and if they were superior, I would Steve Turk MICHAEL A. PIKOS, DDS cataract and will need another Finding Dr. Geller Coast of Florida who can treat purchase one immediately. But Gary Smith JOSÉ F. LÁZARO, DMD During his initial consultation with her, Dr. Blundell “ ere were quite a few steps to it, but everything Aldy Laracuente KENNETH L. ANDERSON, DDS operation as early as six months Dr. Geller confides that your eye with a laser. I use the Swiss-made LASAG JASON B. BLUNDELL, DDS immediately earned Michelle’s trust by explaining to her was just awless the entire time,” Michelle says of her Bob Mize LINDSEY PIKOS ROSATI, DDS, MS that a single implant was all she would need to gain the experience with Coastal Jaw Surgery. “It’s nice to have a to a year later.  is is due to the patients often find him in a “It wasn’t a direct referral, laser. It is de nitely superior to Dominic Donnell PHILIP J. HEDGER, DMD, MS physiology of the eye, not the roundabout way. but the patient managed to the others out there in my expe- Distribution stability necessary to support a replacement tooth. tooth again. It looks great, and it’s really stable.” skill of the surgeon. “Recently, a man in West  nd me and was ecstatic with rience. And I have two of them.” “I’m a respiratory therapist,” Michelle explains. “I “I felt really con dent with what Dr. Blundell had to “In my hands, with my years Palm Beach went to the satel- his results. Subsequently, Dr. Geller always welcomes operate life-support machines, give breathing treatments say, what he was going to do,” Michelle recalls. “I could of experience, complications lite clinic of a world-famous I uploaded a video of his colleagues to observe or just and provide rehabilitation to patients with conditions tell he had my best interest in mind, and so I agreed that are rare,” assures Dr. Geller, Miami eye institute,” the procedure to YouTube.com call if they need to re ne their South Florida Eye Clinic such as emphysema, asthma, cystic  brosis and COPD. we would go ahead and do the one implant.” Eye Floater Treatment who presented his results at doctor reports. “ ey told him and Vimeo.com, which can be own technique. “My entire career has been in health care. I started Dental implants are titanium-based root shaped found among dozens of videos “Laser treatment of eye Bay Area Eye Institute out as a nurse’s aide when I was  fteen, and I was talking screws that are surgically placed into the jawbone. A I’ve posted.” oaters is fascinating,” Dr. Geller Ophthalmology to a respiratory therapist one day who suggested I look single implant supports an abutment and a crown that Scott L. Geller, MD, is board certified by the American Board of Dr. Geller cautions that not says. “I look forward to doing 20 Minutes to Fitness into respiratory therapy. I did, and I’ve really enjoyed it.” are attached to the implant, creating a new tooth. Two Ophthalmology. He is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and Rush Physical Fitness An Indiana native, Michelle moved to Zephyrhills or more implants can support a  xed bridge. Medical College. While in medical school, he was awarded a student all patients can be helped with this every day.” fellowship to study tropical medicine at a missionary hospi- his laser procedure, though he is Dr. Geller says that, while Coastal Jaw Surgery when she was . She raised her daughter there but later Once they’re placed into the jawbone, dental tal in India and pursued additional studies at the famous pleased to report that, partially his greatest satisfaction comes Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery moved to St. Petersburg to enjoy the beach life. All through implants typically require between two to four months Brompton Hospital in London, England. He interned at those moves, she’s fought a constant battle with her teeth. to heal. It is at that point that the abutment and crown due to his meticulous patient from helping patients who have Physical Medicine Center, Inc. Presbyterian Hospital, Pacifi c Medical Center, San Francisco, selection process, his patient been told by their own ophthal- Erectile Dysfunction/PRP Therapy “I’m one of those unlucky people who doesn’t have can be added. During the waiting period, patients typi- CA, and completed his residency in ophthalmology at Sinai results are excellent. mologists that nothing can be perfectly strong teeth,” says the -year-old, whose den- cally wear temporary crowns or a bridge. Hospital of Detroit, which was affi liated with Wayne State HemWell America She says she would recommend Dr. Blundell and done, he actually welcomes the Hemorrhoid Treatment tal troubles mounted some  years ago when a cavity Depending on how long the teeth have been Medical School and Kresge Eye Institute. Dr. Geller Coastal Jaw Surgery to anyone who needs implants. was fellowship-trained in anterior segment and Laser Selection opportunity to share his tech- developed in a lower left molar. missing, some patients may need to undergo a Crozier Clinic “I was a single parent at the time, and I really couldn’t bone-grafting procedure to ensure they have enough “I’ve had a lot of other dental work done, and I’ve refractive surgery with Dr. William Myers of the While treating patients in nique with others in his  eld. Integrative Medicine Michigan Eye Institute. Dr. Geller is a fellow of the Sardinia, Dr. Geller used the “Other ophthalmologists a ord to get it  xed,” Michelle explains. “ e cavity even- bone to support the implants. had other surgeons, but this is the best I’ve ever had, and American Academy of Ophthalmology and has Ellex Laser when performing National Institute of Pain tually got to a point where it was un xable, and it was In some cases, the bone-grafting procedure can be it was a awless surgery,” she exudes. “It went perfectly. need only call me, or ask one of Pain Management presented papers on eye fl oater laser treatment his eye laser oater procedures. my patients about their results,” he either get an implant or have the tooth removed. So…” done at the same time the implant is placed. In others, I can eat on both sides [of my mouth] now. at the International Congress of Ophthalmology, “As I said previously, I says. “I’m proud of our track record TMS of Central Florida Her dentist removed the tooth. For the next  years, the bone-grafting procedure is done  rst, and the new “And I can’t say enough about the sta and the facil- European Congress of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, Psychiatry/TMS ity, which was beautiful and very clean. Everyone was European Congress of Ophthalmology and the find the Swiss-made LASAG and of the patients we’ve helped.” Michelle made do while she put her daughter through bone is given time – anywhere between three and six Florida Society of Ophthalmology. Microruptor YAG laser to be the Article submitted by Scott L. Geller, MD. mkb Physician Partners of America college. During that time, she limited chewing to the months – to heal before the implant is placed. extremely friendly and very helpful. Dr. Blundell is very best,” he states. “ is laser was Laser Spine Surgery right side of her mouth to avoid discomfort. Dr. Blundell points out that many options are avail- friendly and very honest. speci cally designed by renowned Francisco Arévalo, DMD Once her daughter was  nished with college, Michelle able when it comes to implants. He works to educate each “He was very good at explaining exactly what the “Live with it”- is NOT acceptable Professor Franz Fankhauser Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry decided to get some restorative work done on her teeth.  at patient on what treatment will provide the best results. procedure was going to be like and what to expect. He of the University Eye Clinic, commitment took her to a dentist who restored her failing “If a patient comes to me and they have a single was conservative with what he chose to do, and the Bern, Switzerland, to All stock imagery that is not marked teeth.  at left only the gap where the molar used to be. tooth that needs to be extracted, we typically extract the choices he made weren’t really about making money. otherwise is courtesy of istockphoto.com,  ey were about what was going to be best for me.” Cleanpng.com or pixabay. To correct that, one dentist suggested Michelle would tooth, possibly place an implant at the same time as the need two implants.  inking that was unnecessary, she extraction, and then allow that area to heal for a period FHCN article by Lisa Buie. Photo by Jordan Pysz. ke SCAN THIS WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE TO SEE Florida Health Care News is published by Florida Health Care News, Inc. ACTUAL PATIENTS Jason B. Blundell, DDS, is a board-certifi ed oral and SCAN THIS WITH YOUR Florida Health Care News, Inc., reserves the right to www.vimeo.com/eye oaters decline any advertising/marketing article. maxillofacial surgeon in practice for the past ten years. SMART PHONE TO SEE Florida Health Care News is provided for information He earned his bachelor’s degree in microbiology and cell SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS only and should not be construed as health care advice sciences from the University of Florida and his dental or instruction. If you have questions concerning articles OF DR. GELLER in this edition, feel free to call our contributing editors. degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School www.vitreous oaters.com For Eye Florida Health Care News provides a paid forum for Coastal Jaw Surgery, Same Day Teeth®, welcomes calls regarding this article and other oral of Dentistry. He was commissioned a Naval offi cer in health care professionals to present their ideas about various aspects of health care treatment and proce- surgical topics. Download free reports at www.coastaljaw.com. For a free brochure about  and began an oral and maxillofacial surgery Floater dures. Florida Health Care News, Inc. is not responsible for the health care delivered by the contributing editors dental implants or to schedule a complimentary consultation and CT scan, please call or residency at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. presented in this edition. visit any of their locations: Dr. Blundell specializes in dentoalveolar surgery (tooth What Are Floaters? Solutions Articles reflect the opinion of the sponsoring profes- extraction, wisdom tooth extraction and sional or organization and do not necessarily reflect ye oaters are small dark string-, back of the eye, and are most pronounced South Florida Eye Clinic is the opinions of other contributing editors. Contributing alveoloplasty), dental implants, hard editors have approved all text contained within their cobweb- and knot-shaped specks when looking at a white background, a located respective articles. Tampa Trinity Spring Hill and soft tissue grafting, general anes- 11940 Sheldon Road 8845 Hawbuck 4372 Commercial Way that drift in and out of your  eld lighted computer screen or the sky. in Fort Myers at: © 2020 Florida Health Care News, Inc. All rights thesia, facial trauma and orthognathic reserved. The contents of this publication, including Street Suite 4 (corrective jaw) surgery. Dr. Blundell Eof vision when you move your eyes.  ey In young people, eye oaters most  Summerlin Rd. articles, may not be reproduced in any form without (800) NEW-LOOK written permission from the publisher. assists in teaching dental clinicians in are most often caused by small clumps often form in those with myopia, or Call Dr. Geller at: (727) 375-0469 (352) 596-6804 the Tampa Bay area through Coastal Jaw of collagen floating in the jelly-like nearsightedness, but eye oaters can also Surgery’s Pinnacle Study Club held FOR ALL health care Outside substance of the eye called the vitreous. form as a result of bleeding in the eye, () - professionals having Palm Harbor Trinity at the Pikos Institute in Trinity. Dr. When oating in the vitreous, these in ammation in the eye related to eye or toll-free at: articles in this publication: 2711 Tampa Rd. Same Day Teeth Florida Blundell has been with Coastal clumps cast shadows on the retina, which surgery and certain medical conditions, THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON 8740 Mitchell Blvd. Jaw Surgery since  and RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO (727) 786-1631 (727) 877-0011 () - REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT OR BE sees patients in the Trinity and is the light-sensitive nerve cells lining the including high blood pressure. REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT WHICH IS (800) NEW-LOOK Tampa offi ces. PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF, AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO, THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR A FREE, www.vitreous oaters.com DISCOUNTED OR REDUCED FEE See what patients say about the Eye Floater Laser at www.vimeo.com/eye oaters and on the Scott Geller MD YouTube channel SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT. See educational videos at www.CoastalJaw.com Page 6 | Florida Health Care News | Winter 2020 | New Tampa/Central Pasco County Edition Erectile Dysfunction/PRP Therapy New Tampa/Central Pasco County Edition | Winter 2020 | Florida Health Care News | Page 7

n active lifestyle and a life- therapy for relief from musculoskeletal con- time of working physically ditions and has a program to relieve pain demanding jobs began to from osteoarthritis in the joints of knees, catch up to Marty* at the age shoulders, hips and the spine. of , when a throbbing right “Marty tried other ways to  nd relief knee began to hobble him at work and home. from knee pain before he came to us, such A“I was very active in sports when I was as corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, younger, I was a bartender for many years, ice, rest and braces,” Dr. Lupo says. “But his and now I’m a security manager, so I have knee was getting worse.” been on my feet constantly,’’ Marty relates. Dr. Lupo examined x-rays of Marty’s “When the pain in my right knee started, it knee and took a detailed medical history. was destroying me. He noted Marty was experiencing classic “It constantly ached, and I couldn’t take symptoms of degenerative joint changes enough Advil® to relieve the pain.  e Advil from osteoarthritis.  e knee was sti and helped me sleep at night, but when I got up, sore, and it was di cult for him to stand the pain I felt in my knee when walking was up from a seated position. He had trouble unbearable.” climbing stairs or standing for long periods. On a scale of one to ten, Marty says “All kinds of normal activities had his knee pain was nearly always a nine. He become difficult for him because of his knew toughing out the intense pain wasn’t knee,” observes Dr. Lupo, who agreed with a long-term solution. And with a European Marty that knee surgery should be a last dward* vividly remembers The treatment Edward read about is Suff ering in Silence treatments before they see a result. But it vacation that would require a lot of walking resort and recommended PRP. June , . It was his th GAINSWave® therapy, and it’s provided by Far more common than many realize, ED does work. More than seventy percent just ahead of him, it wasn’t an ideal short- “People should avoid knee surgery birthday and the day he Robert C. Lupo, DC, at Physical Medicine will derail the sex lives of more than half of of men who have GAINSWave therapy term solution either. whenever possible because of issues such as finally admitted he wasn’t Center in Tampa. After his dentist appoint- all men at some point in their lifetime. It respond to it. Marty was at the point where a knee scarring and other problems that can come as vibrant as he used to be, ment was over, Edward called Dr. Lupo and currently stands as the sexual problem most “Another thing to keep in mind is replacement might be the next step. He was afterward, such as infection,” Dr. Lupo cau- particularly in the bedroom. More and made an appointment with him to learn often reported by men to their doctors. that results do not happen right away. It determined to avoid an operation at all costs tions. “We hear of people all the time dying the blood cells that promote clotting, Marty is delighted he discovered PRP and Emore often, Edward had trouble develop- more about GAINSWave. “ED is a problem that occurs progres- may take more than one course of treat- because he’d seen how such surgery a ected from blood clots and things secondary to to repair wounds and accelerate healing. sought treatment at Physical Medicine Center. ing and maintaining an erection suitable “ED is essentially a circulatory problem sively as men age,” Dr. Lupo reports. “But ment, but most men notice a signi cant family members. It’s invasive, and recovery some simple, elective surgery that could  e  rst step in the PRP therapy process “Dr. Lupo is very knowledgeable and for sexual activity, a condition known as caused by an impediment in blood ow to it is even more common in men su ering change in their status after a full course can be long and painful. Like any major pro- have been prevented altogether. PRP may is to draw blood from the patient in the same knows what he’s doing,” he says. “He and his erectile dysfunction, or ED. the chambers that  ll the penis with blood from hypertension and peripheral vascu- of six sessions.” cedure, it carries the risk of complications. be a way for many patients to avoid surgery way that blood is taken for a routine screen- o ce sta are very professional.  ey treat you when stimulated,” Dr. Lupo explains. “For lar and cardiovascular disease, in men who  e e ects of the GAINSWave therapy “My brothers had knee replacement sur- and still relieve the pain.” ing. While the patient waits, the blood is like a human being because they all know who years, physicians have treated ED with smoke or used to smoke and as a result of are long-lasting. Once they begin to realize geries, and they su ered,” Marty explains. Dr. Lupo adds that another signi cant spun in a centrifuge to create a concentration you are. You couldn’t ask for anything more. medications such as VIAGRA® and CIALIS, prescription or illicit drug use.” a result, most patients will continue to enjoy “ e recovery is forever.” use for PRP treatments is to avoid the need of platelet-rich plasma. “I hadn’t heard of PRP before, but when penile injections or penile implants. But Many di erent causes may underlie the those results for one to two years, though Once the platelet solution is ready, it you’re in a lot of pain, you want to try some- now, there’s a nonsurgical, drug-free treat- diagnosis of ED, Dr. Lupo points out.  e some clinics recommend a refresher treat- is injected into the area of the body being thing else. And it worked!” ROBERT C. LUPO, DC ment that corrects the underlying cause of primary cause of erectile dysfunction – the ment every three to six months. treated. The key to PRP therapy is that FHCN staff article. ke ED through the use of acoustic waves.  at one that a ects  to  percent of all suf- when platelets are activated in the body, they *Patient’s name withheld at his request. treatment is GAINSWave therapy.” ferers – is vascular disease. “Completely Gone” release healing proteins called growth factors. “It was frustrating, and I felt bad for Referred to clinically as low-  e second most common cause is a Edward was eager to correct his ED issue, “PRP treatment has the ability to uti- my wife,” Edward shares. “She was under- intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy, or hormone imbalance such as low testosterone so he visited Physical Medicine Center lize growth factors to promote the healing standing and patient, but I knew I had to see LiESWT, GAINSWave uses a small, hand- or excessive estrogen levels. In a fair number and received a series of six GAINSWave process and rejuvenation of damaged tissue,” PRP someone about my condition. I went to my held device to deliver acoustic waves through of patients, both – if not more – factors can treatments. In researching alternatives, Marty read for additional medications. He notes that all Dr. Lupo explains. “It also has a very good family doctor. He recommended a urologist, a series of short, painless pulsations that not be the culprit. All factors must be addressed “GAINSWave therapy was just the kind about platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, therapy medications have side e ects. anti-in ammatory action.” Procedure who prescribed a medication.” only open clogged blood vessels in the penis for best results. of thing I was looking for because I wanted to relieve injured joints, tendons, ligaments “The fewer the medications, the To help relieve joint pain, people are Edward  rst tried correcting the prob- but stimulate the nerve endings to enhance “Unfortunately, most men have a something that was noninvasive, and I didn’t and muscles. He decided to try it and made better, so reducing the number of oral usually treated with three to four injections lem by taking the ED drug CIALIS®. “ e sensitivity and enhance the feeling of orgasm. hard time talking about this problem want to have to take any kind of medica- an appointment with Dr. Lupo at Physical medications the patients take is the best of PRP about a month apart. Marty received CIALIS worked okay for a while,” Edward “The treatment is based on the same and frequently suffer in silence or, at tion that might bring about a bunch of side Medicine Center in Tampa. situation for them,” Dr. Lupo educates. three injections a month apart, the physi- says, but he didn’t like the headaches that technology that’s used to break up kidney most, discuss it with their primary care e ects,” Edward reports. “Our motto at Physical Medicine Center cians at Physical Medicine Center injecting often came as a result of using it. Edward stones,” Dr. Lupo informs. “ e device trans- physician,” Dr. Lupo notes. “But most GAINSWave treatments are performed Classic Symptoms is Restore, Rejuvenate, Repair, and using PRP into both sides of his arthritic knee. soon began looking for a viable alterna- mits acoustic waves that break up the plaque primary care physicians do not have the right in the Physical Medicine Center.  ere Physical Medicine Center specializes in chi- PRP is one way we can do that.” “Typically, within the  rst couple of tive for ED treatment and found one in an and calcium that have built up inside the time and the state-of-the-art know-how is no downtime afterward, and Edward says ropractic care, physical and massage therapy, PRP therapy is autologous, meaning weeks after their  rst treatment, people will unlikely place. blood vessels in the penis. Once that plaque to fully evaluate and treat the patient his treatment regimen provided him with the medical care, anti-aging treatments and low- the patient’s own cells are used in the notice decreasing pain with better function “I was in my dentist’s office when I and calcium are broken up, you get better to achieve optimal results. As a result, boost in sexual performance he wanted. level laser therapy.  e center also o ers PRP treatment. It utilizes the body’s platelets, and movement,” Dr. Lupo notes. picked up a copy of Florida Health Care blood ow. It’s that improved blood ow that most men are given a prescription for “The results are truly remarkable,” “ e procedure was painless,” Marty News,” Edward relates. “I read an article leads to better, longer-lasting erections.” pills such as VIAGRA without so much Edward raves. “I actually began to Robert C. Lupo, DC, is the clinic director and a chiropractic physician at Physical reports. “I started feeling better after the  rst about a treatment that offers significant Along with providing better blood as a discussion or explanation of how to notice a change after two or three treat- Medicine Center, which off ers holistic health care, chiropractic and primary set of injections.” improvement in ED symptoms without pills flow through existing blood vessels, the take the pill correctly.” ments, but I completed the whole course, medical care as well as physical therapy. Treatments include spinal decom-  e overall results were dramatic: Marty or surgery. I was immediately intrigued.” GAINSWave treatment also stimulates the Dr. Lupo, who is a certi ed provider and now, six months later, the issue is pression, stem cell/PRP, addiction management, bio-identical hormone could barely walk before the therapy because growth of new nerve tissue, which is vital for of GAINSWave therapy, emphasizes that completely gone.” replacement, weight loss and IV nutrition. Dr. Lupo received his Doctor of it hurt to put weight on his right leg. After achieving and maintaining healthy erections. although many treatments may be e ective, ED patients receiving GAINSWave Chiropractic degree from Life University in Marietta, GA, and has done post- receiving PRP therapy, the knee pain he’d endured for months was gone. In addition, GAINSWave causes the only a few actually reverse the underlying therapy at Physical Medicine Center some- graduate work in nutrition, chiropractic orthopedics, neurology, spinal growth of new blood vessels to occur over cause as opposed to covering up the cause times seek booster treatments after a couple “The first month is when the most disc injury care and auto accident injury care. He is a member of a three- to four-month time period.  is like a BAND-AID®, as is the case with pills. of years. Edward says he won’t hesitate to changes are reported by patients,” Dr. Lupo the American Academy of Anti-Aging Physicians. di ers from the temporary blood ow from get such a booster should he need it, in informs. “The second month is when a sexual enhancement drugs. New blood vessel Remarkable Results part because of how well he was treated by deeper healing process is taking place, and growth leads to larger girth and  rmer erec- GAINSWave treatments take between  Dr. Lupo and his sta . the procedure is showing the good things it tions that are totally natural. and  minutes to complete. A full course “First o , they do a great job of explain- can do. By the third month, we’re typically Dr. Lupo points out that GAINSWave of therapy is generally a total of six sessions ing how the treatment works,” Edward states. just assisting in some further repair.” treatments can also be used to treat Peyronie’s twice a week over the course of three weeks. “And they don’t make you feel awkward at all. For Radiant Health Return to Activity disease, which is what occurs when scar tissue Some patients may need more sessions.  ey actually make you feel very comfortable. Physical Medicine Center is a multidisciplinary builds up in the penis and causes an abnor- “For younger men, one course And the results speak for themselves. “My knee is perfect now,” Marty relates. “I mal bend, or curvature, to the penis that can of six sessions is generally sufficient,” “If you’re looking for better sexual per- treatment and care center. To schedule a consultation, have no pain at all. It’s like I have a new leg. I impede urination and/or ejaculation. Dr. Lupo assures. “But a man in his seven- formance and a boost in sexual con dence, please contact or visit the office in New Tampa at: went to Europe and walked about  fty miles “By making certain adjustments to ties, eighties or nineties with certain health this treatment is a no-brainer. And I recom- during my vacation and didn’t have one issue the machine’s settings, we can treat the issues such as high blood pressure or diabetes mend getting it from Dr. Lupo and his sta  University Point Place with my knee.  brous tissue the same way we treat blood may need more. at Physical Medicine Center.  ey really are “Now, it’s time to get back to the gym. vessels and break down the scar tissue “For those patients as well as any- as professional as they come.” I like to go to the gym and ride my bike and that may be causing that irregular shape,” one who has been a heavy smoker, it may FHCN staff article. ke () - was doing that a couple of times a week, but Dr. Lupo educates. take anywhere from twelve to even thirty *Patient’s name withheld at his request. I had to stop because of the pain.” For more information on Physical Medicine Center, go online to mybackinplace.com Page 8 | Florida Health Care News | Winter 2020 | New Tampa/Central Pasco County Edition Hemorrhoid Treatment Pain Management New Tampa/Central Pasco County Edition | Winter 2020 | Florida Health Care News | Page 9 Safe, Quick, Easy and E ective nonsurgical

or the better part of the ten Outpatient Procedure treatment years he suffered from hem- “Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the relieves orrhoids, Jason* told no one rectum or anal canal and they’re extremely hemorrhoids of the condition, not even his common,” notes Linh B. Nguyen, MD, Fwife or his doctor. of HemWell America. “In fact, more than “I guess like a lot of people I was too  fty percent of people age  fty or older n , Maggie* was only  when He began that process by  rst per- has metal contacts where the electri- embarrassed to talk about it,” have them to some degree.” her agonizing journey of pain forming a sympathetic nerve block test to cal current exits.  e tube contains a “Spinal cord stimulation Jason con des. “It was de - Most sufferers are began with a constant aching in determine if her sympathetic nerves were computer chip that receives power from is an excellent, nitely a problem, though. understandably reluctant her left knee. She was initially involved. A sympathetic nerve block is the battery, and it has an antenna at its drug-free option that I’d wake up in the middle of to try the available treat- diagnosed with osteochondritis, an injection during which a needle is end.  e antenna communicates with works e ectively to relieve the night, itching like crazy. ment options, some of an in ammation of the bone-cartilage placed into the back alongside the spine the battery. I tried hemorrhoid cream, which have traditionally Ijuncture. From that point, the discomfort where the sympathetic nerves are located. “ e Stimwave’s battery is external people’s pain.” but it didn’t do anything. It been both painful and intensi ed, and complications with her Maggie achieved significant pain and wireless. It’s housed in a small con- was horrible.” inconvenient. Fortunately, and convenient. Up to ninety percent of Also gone is Jason’s unwillingness knee condition caused the pain to spread relief from the nerve block that lasted trol box. It has a cable attached to a at Now retired, Jason spent Dr. Nguyen o ers microcur- people who have it done get relief from to talk about hemorrhoids. In fact, he to her lower back and hip. approximately three days. The test antenna, which is placed over the site his working years in the LINH B. NGUYEN, MD rent electrolysis (MCE), an their hemorrhoids, and it can be safely talks about them freely now, in case it thus confirmed that her sympathetic of the wire implant.  e battery device broadcasting industry, where FDA-approved, nonsurgi- repeated as needed. helps others. nerves were indeed involved in her is generally worn under the patient’s he managed radio and television stations. cal method for treatment of hemorrhoids. “One of the best things about it is “I tell people that this is the most pain condition. clothing. Some clip it to their pants; positions, which occurred with older One day, he heard about HemWell  e noninvasive, relatively painless outpa- that there is no need to take any special comfortable treatment and it’s not an “After we determined the source of some women clip it to their bras to keep models.  ere’s also nothing to aggra- America and had a revelatory moment. tient procedure has been helping patients preparation to clear the bowels. Patients embarrassing situation,” he notes. “If the problem, we discussed treatment it as unobtrusive as possible.” vate neuropathic symptoms, explains “I said to myself,  at’s me. I’m not for more than  years and is completed can have the procedure done and go you’re putting treatment o because of options,” notes Dr. Panchal. “Maggie The latest generation of stimulators Dr. Panchal, who has particular exper- telling my wife about this; I’m not telling right in the doctor’s o ce. back to work immediately, so there is no embarrassment, don’t wait another sec- wanted something that would be e ec- also uses a different type of program- tise with Stimwave stimulators. anybody,” Jason recalls. “So I went home “A low current is applied to the base downtime.  e entire procedure takes ond. Pick up the phone and get it done tive and long-lasting, so I recommended ming that provides more comfort for When the system’s first generation that night and told my wife, I’m having of the hemorrhoid, causing a chemical approximately twenty minutes.” because it’s not embarrassing at all.” NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PAIN the spinal cord stimulator.” the patient. of devices was launched in , he a little problem down there and I’m going reaction that induces the hemorrhoid FHCN staff article. mkb SUNIL J. PANCHAL, MD “When stimulators  rst came out, performed the first surgery with that to make an appointment with HemWell.” to shrink,” the doctor explains. “This “Feel Like New” *Patient’s name withheld at his request. New Generation they used tonic stimulation,” Dr. Panchal system in the United States. When method doesn’t cause the agonizing pain “Dr. Nguyen makes you feel very comfort- Spinal cord stimulation uses implanted educates. “With that type of stimulation, the second generation was released, Microcurrent Electrolysis often associated with traditional hem- able during the procedure,” says Jason, who Why Su er? “My doctors tried to relieve my pain electrodes to send electrical impulses the patient’s pain was replaced with a tin- Dr. Panchal did the first implant of Hemorrhoid Treatment orrhoid surgery and is covered by most reports that the MCE treatment was not If pain, itching and bleeding from with various treatments such as surgery that keep pain messages from traveling gling sensation, called a paresthesia. Some that system worldwide. insurances and Medicare. only painless but immediately e ective. hemorrhoids are aff ecting you, and pain medications, including opi- from the a ected nerves to the brain. By patients didn’t like the tingling, however, • FDA-approved “In addition to being well tolerated “I felt like a new person when I walked there’s help. Call HemWell America oids,” relates Maggie. “But they didn’t interrupting these messages, the stimu- and in many patients with neuropathic Relief at Last • Well-tolerated – no anesthesia by patients, this method does not require out of the doctor’s o ce after the proce- today or visit one of their offi ces: work for me. I didn’t get lasting relief lus for pain is not detected, so there is pain, the tingling actually aggravated Dr. Panchal has now performed more required anesthesia, and it’s highly e ective, safe dure,” he says. “ e itching was gone.” Tampa from them.” less pain felt by the patient. their symptoms. than  permanent implant proce- • No downtime  Armenia Ave., Suite  Although Maggie was treated for her dures with the advanced Stimwave • No special preparation Linh B. Nguyen, MD, is board certifi ed and is a diplomate of the American Board of  W. Linebaugh Ave. pain, her overall condition deteriorated system, the most procedures of anyone • No painful surgery Family Practice. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and received his medical further until the fall of .  at’s when in the world. As the first step in that • Covered by most insurance and degree from Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA. He is certifi ed in microcurrent Pinellas Park electrolysis for the treatment of hemorrhoids. she consulted Sunil Panchal, MD, a board- implant process with Maggie, he per- Medicare  Park Blvd., Suite  certified interventional pain specialist. formed a stimulator trial that involved • Highly eff ective and safe () -WELL () Dr. Panchal is president and medical direc- placing a temporary wire on her spine Visit www.hemwellamerica.com tor of National Institute of Pain, which has and evaluating the results. Integrative Medicine centers in Lutz and Riverview.  e trial gave the doctor a good idea “After her osteochondritis diagnosis, of the extent to which a permanent stim- Maggie was treated with bone graft sur- ulator would bene t his patient. gery and cartilage replacement,” reports “Maggie got sixty- ve to seventy per- Customized care helps busy CEO reclaim her life Dr. Panchal. “Over time, she had six cent relief from the trial and quali ed to more surgeries on her left knee and four receive a permanent stimulator system,” n addition to being a school teacher and stiffness and pain, heart palpitations and other on her right knee. Dr. Panchal states. “I then implanted pastor’s wife, Jimmelynn Garland Rice is also physical and neurological problems. “With the repeated surgeries, Maggie the permanent Stimwave system under the founder of Girls Nite In International®, a developed neuropathic nerve pain, so she Maggie’s skin, and she reported as non-pro t group that helps girls work through Customized Care Brings Relief had symptoms of numbness in her legs much as eighty percent relief from that. self-esteem issues and make wise life choices. Jimmelynn Traditional treatments for Lyme disease include antibiotics, and pain and burning with light touch. She also reported that her episodes of Garland Rice but antibiotics don’t always work in severe cases because Her left leg also turned purple, which numbness went away. I the bacteria morphs very rapidly and becomes resistant to meant the nerve control to her blood “Maggie had been treated with pain antibiotics within  hours. vessels was abnormal. medications, including opioids,” notes “Because people’s genetics are di erent, a degree of “ e pain she experienced altered Dr. Panchal. “Neuropathic pain tends GORDON J. CROZIER, DO trial and error exists in the treatment of Lyme disease,” the way she walked, and that triggered not to respond well to narcotics, and too Dr. Crozier adds. “But I have honed things down to looking at her back pain,” continues Dr. Panchal. many people in our country have a prob-  ough it started small, the organization soon went a person’s genetics to see what will work and what won’t work.” “ en, after her last surgery, she devel- lem with opioids. Spinal cord stimulation global, and when she traveled to Argentina to launch a traditional medicine. He is also a leader in the research What worked for Jimmelynn was a therapy combina- oped hip pain as well.  e back and hip When it was  rst introduced some “Now, they’ve developed a high- is an excellent, drug-free option that works chapter there in , Jimmelynn was riding the crest and application of integrative medicine and a pioneer in tion that included intravenous Vitamin B and amino acid pain had been going on since , so  years ago, spinal cord stimulation frequency stimulation that sends the e ectively to relieve people’s pain.” of a wave of success. Shortly after returning home from genetics-based medicine. treatments that boosted her immune system, peptides and in October , she came to me for involved implanting the electrodes near electrical signals at a much faster rate, “I achieved great results with the Argentina, however, the wave crashed. Upon seeing Jimmelynn, Dr. Crozier immediately an IV lipid wash that cleansed her cell membranes and an evaluation.” the problem nerves coming o the spine so patients don’t feel any tingling at all. new spinal cord stimulator,” says Maggie. “I noticed suddenly that I was really sick, desper- suspected she was su ering from Lyme disease. His suspicion mitochondria, where energy production occurs. Dr. Panchal knew pain medications and a pacemaker-sized control device It simply reduces pain. As it turns out, “I recommend it and Dr. Panchal to ately sick,” says Jimmelynn, whose illness manifested was later con rmed through tests Dr. Crozier ordered after Lyme disease su erers typically notice an improvement were not a treatment option for Maggie. under the skin of the lower abdomen. the success rate with the paresthesia-free anyone in pain.” itself as severe exhaustion that depleted Jimmelynn to introducing himself to Jimmelynn following the service. in their condition about six weeks after beginning treatment. He also knew that other treatments such Battery changes, however, required a approach to stimulation is actually higher FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. ke the core. “It was all I could do many days just to crawl Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia Jimmelynn  rst noticed a change after about eight weeks and as physical therapy and injections had surgical procedure. than with the old approach.” *Patient’s name withheld at her request. from the bed to the bathroom.” burgdorferi, which is transmitted through the bite is back to living her life at full speed. provided limited relief for her, so he “The newest generation sys-  e newer technology stimulators When the problem persisted, Jimmelynn visited her of an infected tick. Jimmelynn does not recall being “I should not be here, but I am, and I credit that to knew he would have to dig deep into tem I use, called Stimwave, requires are also less bothersome to patients primary care physician, then a specialist. Each provided a bitten but suspects she contracted the disease during the two G’s in my life – God and Dr. Gordon Crozier,” his arsenal of treatment tools to  nd an only a small wire implant,” explains because they don’t feel changes in their Our Highest Priority di erent diagnosis and suggested rest, but a three-month her mission trip to Argentina. Jimmelynn enthuses. “Dr. Crozier is a brilliant Lyme National Institute of Pain makes patient e ective alternative for her. Dr. Panchal. “It’s essentially a tube that condition when they move their body care their highest priority. They use a sabbatical provided no relief. The most common initial sign of infection is specialist, geneticist, researcher and scientist, and I trust my multidisciplinary team approach to provide  en, six months later, Jimmelynn found herself an expanding area of redness known as erythema body completely to him.” Sunil J. Panchal, MD, is board certifi ed by the American Board of Anesthesiology in interventional pain medicine. He earned comprehensive care and advance the treatment of pain. If you’re hurting, the struggling on stage at a church where her husband is the migrans. The rash, which often looks like a bullseye, FHCN article by Lisa Buie. Photo courtesy of Jimmelynn Garland Rice. ke his bachelor’s degree in Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, and earned his medical degree from institute has two locations to serve you: senior pastor.  ankfully, one of the parishioners that is neither itchy nor painful, but half of all infected Albany Medical College of Union University in Albany, NY. In addition, Dr. Panchal completed The Business of Medicine day was Gordon J. Crozier, DO, the medical director of people don’t develop a rash. Leading-Edge Cellular Graduate Program at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Panchal completed an internship in general surgery Lutz the Crozier Clinic in Lake Mary. Other early symptoms may include fever, at the University of South Florida in Tampa, a residency in anesthesiology at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL and a  Van Dyke Road fellowship in interventional pain medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He previously served as co-director of the Dr. Crozier treats illness and injury on a cellular headache and fatigue, and if left untreated, Lyme & Integrative Medicine chronic pain service and director of the multidisciplinary pain fellowship training program at Johns Hopkins University and level by integrating natural healing methods and disease can cause paralysis, severe headaches, joint At Crozier Clinic, Dr. Crozier combines natural treatments subsequently as director of the division of pain medicine at Cornell University in New York. He is a member of the North Tampa with traditional medicine to restore and regenerate American Spine Society, the North American Neuromodulation Society, the International Neuromodulation Society and the  Palm River Rd., Suite  Gordon J. Crozier, DO, earned a bachelor’s degree in Medical Science from Alderson- He received his aging, damaged and injured body tissues. To schedule a American Academy of Pain Medicine. Dr. Panchal has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and has served Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Des Moines University & College of Osteopathic Medicine. He consultation appointment, contact the Clinic in Lake Mary at: For an appointment as a reviewer and editor for several journals. He is the co-editor and co-author of the textbook Comprehensive Treatment then completed an internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Michigan State University. He at either location, call: also completed fellowships in regenerative medicine and peptides. Dr. Crozier has achieved the status of   S. International Parkway, Suite  of Chronic Pain by Medical, Interventional, and Integrative Approaches (). Dr. Panchal is a principal investigator in educator and mastermind in peptides. numerous clinical trials, including a current study evaluating sacroiliac joint fusion. () -PAIN () To learn more, visit them on the web at www.crozierclinic.com () - Look for them online at www.nationalinstituteofpain.org Page 10 | Florida Health Care News | Winter 2020 | New Tampa/Central Pasco County Edition Psychiatry/TMS Laser Spine Surgery New Tampa/Central Pasco County Edition | Winter 2020 | Florida Health Care News | Page 11

“When TMS is successful, there is a true anatomical and physiological change is carried out using a scope with a camera, and the sur- within the brain.  e anatomical change is geon operates while visualizing images from the camera the increased blood ow.  e physiological on a computer screen. change is the better regulation of blood sugar “Once the incision is made, we insert a series of and brain chemistry that produces a result tubes to dilate the muscles that sit on top of the bone ship was torpedoed, I su ered an injury to my spine where people can either come o their medi- and create an opening in the lamina using a laser, small that didn’t show up until later. Couple that with the cation altogether or function better with it.” drill and a kerasin. We use rongeurs to remove the pieces walking and lifting I did, and the strain on my of bone that were in the lamina.” Life-Changing Results back really got bad. To relieve pressure on spinal nerves, Dr. St. Louis “The first symptom I noticed  e amount of time it takes for patients to uses the kerasin to remove some of the bone surrounding was weakness in my right leg, begin realizing results from TMS therapy the foramen where the nerves exit the spinal cord.  is followed by numbness and Nonsurgical, drug-free therapy restores passion for life treatments varies. Some don’t notice a is a foraminotomy. Because laminotomy and foramino- cramping in both legs. I di erence in their mood for a few weeks. tomy are performed minimally invasively, recovery is also experienced pretty Others, such as Mishelle, notice a change short and complications are rare. intense pain in my back and o say that Mishelle Delfrate restored to the shoulder, which she can  e magnetic pulses are similar to after only a few days. down my left leg.  ere were was once a fitness fanatic no longer lift over her head. those emitted during an MRI, the di er- “Within a week of starting the treat- stabbing, sharp pains, then there would be a bit of an That limited mobility ended ence being they are delivered through a ments, I could tell I was coming out of were dull pains. It ran the gamut, understatement. For this Mishelle’s career as a  tness instructor, cup-shaped device that is placed on the the fog,” she says. “ en I started to get but the pain was a ten on a scale of JAMES ST. LOUIS, DO -year-old native of El Paso, Texas, which so devastated her that over the prefrontal cortex of the patient while he up and actually had a desire to clean up T one to ten. If I lifted something, I KEITH GIRTON, MD  tness was never just a pastime or even a course of the next year, she fell into a or she rests comfortably in a chair similar around the house and do other things. could guarantee I’d be in pain for passion. It was a way of life. deep depression during which she all but to a dentist’s chair. I remember saying to myself one day, I days. I’m a very active person. It “It pretty much encompassed my cut herself o from the rest of the world. TMS treatments last for  minutes actually feel good. “I typically instruct patients to walk for an hour was di cult for me to just sit still. life,” Mishelle con rms. “I was a Zumba® and  seconds, and patients typically “The biggest difference was when the day after surgery in three twenty-minute intervals,” “My wife and I like to go boat- Dr. St. Louis informs. “Total recovery time depends instructor and a yoga instructor, and receive a total of  treatments over a people would call. I was no longer looking ing and travel, and I draw and paint on the patient’s degree of activity. If they’re return- for years, that was where I drew most of six-to-eight-week period. Patients are for an excuse not to talk to them. And outside, but with a bad back, I didn’t my friends from and where a lot of the usually treated five times per week for when somebody asked me if I wanted ing to a desk job, they can go back within a week. do much but sit on ice and take pain excitement in my life came from. It was the first five weeks of the program, to go to lunch or something, instead of If they do manual labor, they must wait anywhere pills. It got to the point that my wife my identity.” with the length of treatments and their saying no, I would say yes and actually go. from two weeks to a month.” said, Look, I want to travel, but if Mishelle’s passion for  tness instruc- number being reduced beginning in “After that, I started going outside Dr. St. Louis makes a point of noting that Physician you want to sit here in pain, I’ll tion didn’t come without consequences. the sixth week. more, and I have to say, once I got out into Partners of America accepts Medicare, so patients with CHARLES DEVINE, MD get you a subscription to the From simple wear and tear, she twice Medicare don’t have to pay large out-of-pocket sums for KATHLEEN CARROLL, MD newspaper.  at prompted tore her left rotator cu so badly that she their laser surgery.  is is important because many of the TROY NOONAN, MD me to seek treatment.” needed surgery to repair it. However, it conditions that require procedures such as laminotomy TMS has Larry already had was a non-work-related shoulder injury “Prior to becoming a  tness instructor, and foraminotomy are common in older adults. an idea where he’d that robbed her of her identity. I was very introverted,” Mishelle reveals. helped “As people age, they often develop bone spurs that go for help with his bad “I was on my way to a doctor’s “Being a  tness instructor changed that. can pinch the spinal cord or spinal nerves and cause Mishelle back. His daughter worked for appointment one day in  when I But after the accident, I went back to the pain,” the doctor observes. “In addition, every nerve Physician Partners of America, and Larry got rear-ended,” Mishelle explains. “ e way I was before, only worse. I literally enjoy life arry Solie grew up on a ranch, so he’s no travels through a tunnel, and over time, that tunnel knew their surgeons performed minimally invasive laser person who hit me never stopped and hit went into a tailspin. stranger to responsibility and hard work out- shrinks and puts pressure on the nerve. Laminotomy again spine surgery. Larry made an appointment and met with me so hard that as my car spun around, “Because I didn’t know what to do doors. Every day, he toiled in the garden and and foraminotomy remove the bone spurs and open up Dr. James St. Louis, director of the practice’s Minimally the seat belt cut into my shoulder and with my life anymore, it was all I could cared for the horses. It was a natural transition the tunnels, freeing the nerves and relieving pain.” Invasive Spine Group. severed all the nerves.” do most days just to get out of bed. And Lwhen he became executive director of a wilderness pro- gram for troubled teens. “Immediate Relief” Mishelle’s third shoulder injury in when I did, I didn’t want to talk or visit Attachment Point two years required yet another surgery, with anyone. And if someone did talk to “The program operated over a fifty-thousand- Dr. St. Louis thoroughly explained what was causing “Upon evaluating Larry, I discovered that a dam- but this time, the damage was so great me, I didn’t have the energy to respond.” acre spread in Central Oregon,” Larry describes. “We Larry’s back and leg pain, and detailed how laser lami- aged disc in his lower spine was pinching the nerves that full range of motion could not be Mishelle’s lack of energy took a toll worked with three hundred teens a year.  ey learned notomy and foraminotomy would repair the problem. exiting through the openings in the spinal column, on her general health as well. Within tracking and navigation skills, how to build  res with- Larry agreed to undergo the procedures and was amazed which are called foramen,” Dr. St. Louis explains. a year of losing her job, she gained  out matches and many Native American-style ways of by how quickly he noticed a di erence in his condition. “Pressure on the nerves caused the pain in his back pounds and sat idly while her blood living in the wilderness. “I felt immediate relief,” Larry enthuses. “And my and numbness down his legs. Be Your pressure soared.  ankfully, the doctor Far different than electroconvulsive the garden, it was like a light bulb went “Before I took over that program, I was head- recovery was very quick. I walked out of surgery with no  e a ected nerve is identi ed after evaluating she had long seen for help with attention- therapy, which uses an electric stimulus, on. All of a sudden, I loved being outside master at a school for troubled boys. During that pain in my back or down my legs. At  rst, I attributed time, I met the founder of the wilderness program the patient’s symptoms and using MRI to pinpoint most of the relief to the anesthesia, but the pain hasn’t de cit disorder took notice. TMS treatments are administered in the in the sun, working in the garden. Now, I the speci c nerve. Best Self “He started asking if I was okay, and doctor’s office and are considered safe can spend all day out there. I just love it.” – an ex-ranger who wanted help with his business. returned.  ere’s zero pain now, when before it was a ten.” “To address Larry’s condition, I chose to perform I’d always say, I’m  ne or just really tired, and easy on the body.  e most common Along with gardening, Mishelle has We formed an alliance to cross-train our kids, and I Larry no longer su ers with discomfort in his back two minimally invasive laser spine procedures, a lamino- The highly trained doctors and sta but he could see I was declining,” Mishelle side e ect is some mild to moderate scalp found another new passion in photography. eventually bought his program.” or legs, so he’s able to perform his favorite activities. members at TMS of Central Florida tomy and a foraminotomy.  e goal of performing those says regarding Charles Devine, MD, of discomfort stemming from the treatment She has even served as the photographer Larry expanded the program, which was featured  ose include working in the garden, shades of his are committed to providing their on a television series in . The show garnered procedures was to ease the pressure on Larry’s nerves and days on the ranch. patients with compassionate care TMS of Central Florida. “Finally, he application. for a couple of weddings. She doubts she’d relieve his painful symptoms.” gardener in a comfortable environment. The suggested I try an antidepressant.” “What TMS does is stimulate blood be doing that or much else were it not for national recognition for Larry’s program as well as the “My wife doesn’t call me a ,” Larry relates. staff utilizes the most advanced A lamina is a part of the vertebral arch. A pair of landscaper Mishelle says that over the course flow to the frontal lobes of the brain, Dr. Devine and TMS therapy. attention of larger organizations doing residential and “She calls me a because what I do requires a lot technology available in providing wilderness-based programming. Larry left his program laminae join with the bony projections that jut from of physical activity. We walk daily as well. And I recently hope and healing for conditions of a couple of years, she tried a number which is where the emotional regulatory “It’s been great for me, and with the the middle of the vertebrae, called spinous processes, to such as treatment-resistant of antidepressants, but none of them centers are located,” Dr. Devine educates. exception of a few short treatments about in the capable hands of one of those organizations and picked up an airbrush. I’ve been an artist all my life, so provide a point of attachment for the spine’s muscles depression. If you’re su ering from effectively pulled her out of her depres- “By increasing that blood ow, the brain six months after I had the  rst series, I retired in . I’m moving into a di erent level of art. depression or another disorder and ligaments. A laminotomy is the removal of some sion. Eventually, Dr. Devine suggested is stimulated to more e ectively regulate haven’t had to have it since,” Mishelle Unfortunately, all those years of working on the “I’m looking forward to getting back to boating and that is making it di cult to enjoy ranch and hiking and sleeping on the hard ground in of the lamina to relieve pressure from the bone pressing traveling. I had to cancel a couple of trips due to my life or to function, call or visit the she try TMS therapy. its own blood sugar, which is what we’re exudes. “I believe in TMS therapy so on the spinal cord. o ce for a free consultation. trying to target with medications. much that I even recommended my son the wilderness took a toll on Larry’s back.  at distress back pain, but that’s all behind me now. I highly recom- “Minimally invasive laser laminotomy is performed The TMS Era “At its core, TMS is a noninvasive, try it because he’s a lot like me. was compounded by damage done to his back during mend Dr. St. Louis and his team at Physician Partners of through a half-inch incision in the back,” Dr. St. Louis Brandon Approved by the Food and Drug non-medicinal therapy that produces “And of course, I recommended that his military career. America.  ey provided me with pain relief and in turn explains. “ e incision is carefully placed with the help Administration in  for people a genuine anatomical change, which he see Dr. Devine. I really think the world “I served during the Six-Day War, and we got banged gave me my life back.”  Nikki View Dr. of a special x-ray called C-arm  uoroscopy. Laminotomy FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Jordan Pysz. ke with treatment-resistant depression, in terms of regulating blood sugar is of him. I’m extremely fortunate that he’s in around on my ship quite a bit,” Larry recalls. “When my () TMS therapy uses magnetic pulses to di erent than insulin. While insulin helps my life and so happy that he recommended stimulate the parts of the brain that are somebody regulate their blood sugar, you TMS therapy for me. I probably wouldn’t James St. Louis, DO, earned his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees Leaders in Interventional Pain Management insu ciently active in people su ering have to keep taking your insulin to keep it feel as good as I do today without it.” from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. He received his osteopathic medicine and Minimally Invasive Laser Spine Surgery - from depression. regulated.  at’s not the case with TMS. FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Jordan Pysz. mkb degree from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, and completed his surgical training in the US Army and at Kennedy Medical Center in Cherry Hill, NJ. Physician Partners of America is committed to providing the Charles Devine, MD, (center) specializes in psychiatry and neurology and has been in practice for more than  years. He earned his medical degree Dr. St. Louis is a member of many medical organizations including the American highest levels of compassionate, patient-centered care possible. from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in  and later performed his residency at the University of South Florida. He is a member of They have  locations across Florida to serve you. To schedule the Florida Psychiatric Society and is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Osteopathic Association, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, a consultation with one of their pain management or minimally American Medical Association and American Association of Physician Specialists. Kathleen Carroll, MD, (left) specializes in psychiatry and neurology and has been in practice for more than  years. She earned her medical degree invasive laser spine specialists, call or visit one of their offi ces: from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in  and later completed a general psychiatry residency at the University of South Florida. She received advanced training in electroconvulsive therapy at Bay Pines Veterans Administration Hospital and is a member of the Florida Psychiatric Keith Girton, MD, is board certifi ed by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Tampa St. Petersburg Society as well as a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He is a native of Columbus, Ohio and earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Girton completed a residency in family medicine at  N Habana  th Avenue N. Troy Noonan, MD, (right) specializes in general psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry. He earned his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University in Chicago, Illinois in  and has been in practice for more than  years. He is a member of the American Board Miami Valley Hospital in Ohio and a residency in orthopedics at Fort Worth Affi liated Avenue, Suite  Suite B of Psychiatry and Neurology. Hospitals in Texas. During his second residency, he joined the US Air Force and was stationed at Scott Air Force Base near Belleville, Illinois. He was honorably discharged.

Visit them online at www.tmscentral orida.com To learn more, visit them online at PPOASpine.com () - Page 12 | Florida Health Care News | Winter 2020 | New Tampa/Central Pasco County Edition Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry

ucia Baez is stationed at the front of the long “An Excellent Technique” line of people pulling on the rope that leads to To correct the latter issue, Dr. Arévalo suggested Lucia the Shriners Hospitals for Children® – Tampa, undergo a minimally invasive laser treatment that he’s providing good will and medical care to chil- been performing for several years now called LANAP®, drenL with special needs. which stands for laser-assisted new attachment procedure. As benevolent as they come, Lucia is a donations LANAP is one of several treatment options for peri- coordinator at the Shriners Hospitals for Children’s head- odontal disease, but Dr. Arévalo prefers it over others quarters in Tampa, where she willingly admits there are because it improves the attachment between the gums few things she enjoys more than doing her job. and teeth, does not result in a gross loss of tissue or gum recession and is pain free. “Most patients who underwent one of the previous treatments used for gum disease will tell you their frustra- tion came from how painful the surgery was, how much discomfort it caused them,” Dr. Arévalo says. Lucia “But with LANAP, patients don’t complain about pain either during or after the treatment. It’s an excel- Baez lent technique. And when we use it, we see an amazing “I actually moved from Broward County to work change. We get a wow factor.” Lucia began to notice a di erence within a couple of for the Shriners, and I’m very proud of the work I do,” Lucia chose to have Dr. Arévalo correct some of her weeks of undergoing the treatment. Lucia says. “My department coordinates practically all other dental issues before undergoing the LANAP pro- “Within a week or two, the swelling and bleeding the donations that come in, so it’s very rewarding work.” cedure, but she says she was convinced it was what she stopped almost right away,” she says. “And once the Lucia’s move to Tampa came a little more than three needed after she watched an online video detailing the bleeding stopped, something else that I had been dealing years ago. Shortly after making the move, she began a procedure and its bene ts. with for a while stopped, too. search for a new dentist that resulted in the selection of “For a long time prior to getting the LANAP proce- Francisco Arévalo, DMD, who opened his practice in dure done, I had been having a lot of stomach issues. I Tampa in . was getting a lot of indigestion, bloating and heartburn, “When I  rst went to see Dr. Arévalo, he did a com- and for the longest time, I thought it was from a medi- plete examination, and the thing I remember most about cation I was taking. it is that he was the  rst dentist I’d ever been to who “But then, almost as soon as I got done with actually took the time to go over the x-rays of every one the LANAP procedure, I started to feel better. That of my teeth,” Lucia says. whole issue was gone. Then I read somewhere that “I was very impressed with that as well as the fact bleeding gums and that kind of thing can lead to that he really took his time with me and told me exactly stomach problems and heartburn. which teeth needed to be worked on and which teeth “So the LANAP procedure didn’t just help heal my didn’t need to be worked on. Right away, I knew I’d “I was very impressed with what I saw on the web- gums and make my teeth stronger. I believe it also helped made a good choice.” site,” Lucia says. “So, after Dr. Arévalo replaced some clear up another health issue that I had been dealing with Dr. Arévalo says Lucia’s dental situation was typ-  llings and did some other work, I went ahead and told for a long time.  at made me feel even better about it.” ical of many patients he sees for the  rst time. She him I wanted to get the LANAP procedure done, and Following the LANAP procedure, Dr. Arévalo needed several new  llings, a crown on one tooth and I’m very happy that I did.” re-evaluates the patient’s gums every three months for some cosmetic work to even out the tops and bottoms Treating one side of the mouth – both top and a year to ensure the procedure provides the intended of several teeth. bottom – during each session, Dr. Arévalo typically com- bene ts. He says proper home dental care is critical to its She also needed some periodontal work done, as pletes the LANAP procedure in two visits that require success and that Lucia achieved that objective. Dr. Arévalo reported  nding a lot of swelling of the gums, the patient to spend about two hours in the dental chair. Lucia says that Dr. Arévalo’s caring manner, patient some bleeding gums and several periodontal pockets that During each session, Dr. Arévalo completes three approach and the results of all the work he performed on ran as deep as six millimeters, which is more than three passes across the gums with the laser.  e  rst pass kills her, including the LANAP procedure, convinced her that millimeters deeper than normal. all bacteria in the gums, vaporizes the diseased gum tissue she should make him her regular dentist going forward.  at news did not come as a surprise to Lucia, who, and dehydrates the tartar on the teeth to make it brittle “Yes, he has become the dentist that I see on a despite receiving regular deep cleanings from the dentist and easy to remove. regular basis,” Lucia confirms. “I love his manner she visited in Broward County, had been su ering with During the second step, the tartar is removed with and his professionalism, and to give you an idea of swollen, bleeding gums for a couple of years. a  ne-tipped, vibrating, ultrasonic instrument, the teeth how happy I am with him, I’ve already recommended are rinsed with an antimicrobial substance that halts the him to a few friends. growth of new bacteria and all diseased tissue is removed. “Everyone working in his o ce is really nice, and During the third pass, the setting on the laser I want to make a point of how clean everything in that is changed and an antimicrobial seal is created that o ce is.  e whole place is very clean, and everyone is prevents re-infection and releases growth factors very pleasant. I was very impressed with that and very from blood cells that help regenerate the attachment impressed with Dr. Arévalo. between the gums and the teeth. “I’d recommend him to anyone, especially someone who is having trouble with their gums. Even if it’s just Surprising Results a little swelling or bleeding, get them checked out, and Depending on the degree of damage to the gums, the if you need it, get the LANAP procedure done, because results of the LANAP procedure can take anywhere from it works great.” two weeks to two months or more to become evident. FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Jordan Pysz. ke

Francisco Arévalo, DMD, is a native of Cartagena, Colombia who graduated from the University of Cartagena and later earned his doctorate degree from Boston University in Boston, MA. He opened his practice in Tampa in  and is now one of less than  den- tists to have earned the honor of Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Arévalo is a member of the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association and Hillsborough County Dental Association.