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The Villages Edition Summer 2019

FEATURED ARTICLES

(see A Human Touch, page 4)

RAVI SHARMA, MD

Premier Vein Centers

Part of living in paradise for Augusto was the opportunity to work a job of his choosing. When he became old enough, he began a career in pest control. After many years on the job, which included traveling from assignment to assignment in a company van, Augusto noticed changes in his body that concerned him.

“I spent many hours sitting and driving, and eventually, my legs started swelling and varicose veins started show-ing,” Augusto relates. “My legs were getting heavy as well, and they looked bad. � ey were ugly. I’m very conscious of my appearance, and I wasn’t comfortable with the way my legs looked when I wore shorts or went to the beach.

“� e condition progressed, and my legs became painful, as well as swollen and tired. I had cramps in my legs at night, so I had trouble sleeping. My mother su� ered from the same condition, and I didn’t want mine to get any worse.

“I went to a vein doctor in Miami who tried to correct the problem by cau-terizing the veins with a laser, but he was inexperienced, and it was very painful, so I told him to stop. He told me my sit-uation wasn’t a common, everyday case and that I needed another type of surgery. � at was a bad experience, so I quit trying to treat my varicose veins.”

After the physician in Miami failed, Augusto was discouraged. He later moved to Homosassa, where his hope for a res-olution to his leg problem was renewed after he read an article in Florida Health Care News about Ravi Sharma, MD.

Dr. Sharma is a board-certified cardiovascular surgeon with expertise in blood vessel disorders a� ecting the legs. His practice is Premier Vein Centers, which has o� ces in Homosassa and � e Villages.

As a longtime cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Sharma spent many years working

A ugusto Odio was 12 years old in 1968 when he, his parents and sister fled com-

munist Cuba, seeking freedom in the United States. To young Augusto, the US was “paradise.”

A Human TouchExpertise dispensed with courtesy and kindness

with the intricate blood vessels surround-ing the heart. He now focuses his practice full-time on treating patients with venous disease of the legs.

“When I read the article, I thought, Dr. Sharma has very good credentials, so I asked a few people about him,” Augusto states. “� ey all gave him a good report and I live near their Homosassa o� ce, so I stopped in one day and asked for some information. Then I decided to give Dr. Sharma a try.

“When I met Dr. Sharma, he was very professional and kind. He was very concerned about my health and treat-ment. He explained everything that was going on with my legs and why they were swelling. He said the problem was venous insu� ciency.”

Crucial Qualifi cationsAn intricate series of blood vessels makes up the human circulatory system. Veins are the vessels that return oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart. � ere are three types of veins: super� cial veins, deep veins and perforator veins. Super� cial veins lie

close to the skin, deep veins lie in groups of muscles, and perforator veins connect the super� cial veins to the deep veins.

“When the leg veins cannot pump blood back to the heart, it is a condition called venous insu� ciency,” Dr. Sharma informs. “Chronic venous insu� ciency has multiple causes. Over long periods of sitting or standing, the blood in leg veins can pool. � is increases the venous blood pressure and weakens the vein walls and valves, thereby damaging the valves. Damaged valves prevent proper blood � ow back to the heart.”

Venous insu� ciency has many signs and symptoms. Signs are the issues that can be seen, such as bulging varicose veins, swelling, and thickening and dis-coloration of the skin of the ankles or legs. Symptoms are those things that are felt, not seen. � ey include throb-bing, aching, stinging, burning, itching, nighttime leg cramps and restless legs. � ese are all indications that the veins are not functioning properly.

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F or 15 years, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) slowly robbed Sherwood White of his vision. In the beginning,

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IrisVision has given Sherwood, who is legally blind, new sight.

“At � rst, the AMD was just in one eye, then it a� ected both of them,” shares the semi-retired � nancial advisor. “I knew something was wrong when the television started looking squiggly, and I needed to have really good light to read.

“I eventually reached a point when I couldn’t see my computer adequately to work, so I sold my business and limited my clients. I also downsized my home of twenty-seven years to two condos. One is where I work, the other is where I live. I had to get rid of my car and quit driving. I got a disabled parking pass and an ID card instead of a driver’s license.”

Sherwood’s failing eyesight impacted his quality of life in other ways as well.

“I couldn’t go to events like Rays or Bucs games,” he relates. “And I couldn’t go to my grandsons’ high school foot-ball games to watch them play because I couldn’t see what was happening on the � eld. At church, I couldn’t see the screen where they project the videos and words of the songs, and I couldn’t see the pastor or the choir.”

When Sherwood was declared legally blind, a representative from the Florida Division of Blind Services and a low-vision occupational therapist visited him. � ey taught him to use assistive technol-ogy and modify his tasks to live better with his poor eyesight.

“� e occupational therapist shared ideas that made it easier for me to work, including using a larger keyboard and a video magni-� er for my computer,” he describes. “Other tips included using bigger lights around my desk and a handheld magni� er.

“The therapist also referred me to Lighthouse of Pinellas, an organization for the blind and visually impaired, where I learned how to use an assistive cane. � ey provided all the magnifying prod-ucts I needed through Bob Schrepfer. He brought the products to my house, so I could try them out.”

Bob Schrepfer is president of The Magni� cation Company in St. Petersburg.

� e Magni� cation Company has provided magnifying assessments, training and lec-tures to people with vision issues for more than 30 years. � e company o� ers sales and services throughout Florida.

“Legal blindness is not the same as total blindness,” informs Bob. “People with legal blindness still have some remaining vision, but they’ve lost their visual inde-pendence to drive, recognize faces, watch TV, read print or do all of the things that those with good sight can still do.”

Wearable Magnifi er “� irteen months ago, IrisVision part-nered with Samsung and released a unique product for people with low vision called IrisVision. � is technol-ogy magnifies distant, intermediate and near vision. It’s totally hands-free and can increase o r d e c r e a s e magnification anywhere from one to twenty-four times with a seventy degree � eld of view, which is unheard of for telescopic devices.”

IrisVision is in a brand-new category of magni� ers known as a wear-able electronic magni� er.

Previous to its introduction, the most common devices that provided enough magni� cation to help people with low vision for distance tasks were monocular telescopes and/or binoculars.

“Those devices have significant drawbacks,” comments Bob. “Low vision monocular telescopes will go up to about ten times magni� cation and are typically used for spot reading, while binoculars

can only be held up to the eyes for a very limited time. In addition, the � eld of view with these devices is very limited and they only provide one speci� c power. IrisVision overcomes all of these obstacles.”

According to Bob, before IrisVision was released, its technology, to a lesser degree, was and still is available in desktop electronic magni� ers [CCTVs] that plug into the wall. � ese models are most often used for reading and writing tasks only. � ere’s also portable, handheld electronic magni� ers, but they are limited in their magni� cation range and screen size, plus they have to be held, which is tiresome.

“IrisVision looks like a wearable headset or goggles that can be used with or without prescription glasses,” notes Bob. “With a headset on, people’s hands

are free, so they can do all of their daily tasks like they’re wearing a glorified pair of glasses. The IrisVision, however, provides wearers enhanced contrast and

an unlimited amount of magni� cation, which

is why most visually

impaired individuals can see more detail more clearly with it on.”

The IrisVision technology returns people to the visual world, and makes them visually independent. With the IrisVision on, people can see across a room, recognize facial expressions, read text and access digital media. IrisVision uses a readily available but highly sophis-ticated virtual reality platform, which solves visual problems as well as keeps them cost-e� cient.

“One of the other attributes of IrisVision is that it has its own internal battery,” discloses Bob. “When it’s fully charged, it lasts for about three and a half hours of continuous use. If people need more, we provide a battery adapter that goes into a port underneath the unit. � at will keep it going for as much as eight hours of continuous use.

“� is allows people to go to events. We’ve had people go to Walt Disney

World’s® Epcot � eme Park so they could view the surroundings and the � owers. People use it to go places they haven’t been to in years.”

New World of Vision“I looked at many products before my low-vision doctor told me about IrisVision,” states Sherwood. “� e other products just weren’t going to work for me. I contacted Bob about IrisVision. He brought me an IrisVision headset, and it was just amazing.”

Going to events again was just one of the delights Sherwood experienced from the IrisVision headset he got from � e Magni� cation Company. He found that while wearing the IrisVision unit, he could see the television much better, and work at his computer and read with less di� culty. � e hands-free unit also makes him more independent.

“It’s amazing how the IrisVision helped me,” enthuses Sherwood. “I have reasonably normal vision with it. I can go to the games and see the action on the � eld when my grandsons play foot-ball. I can see pictures of my grandkids. I couldn’t do that before.

“Now, I can see everything in church plain as day. At my Rotary Club meet-ings, we have speakers, and many times, they have visual presentations. Without IrisVision, I can’t see them, but with it, I can see � ne. When I’m looking for some-thing detailed on my desk, like client � les, I put the IrisVision on because I can see so much better with it.”

Sherwood is amazed by his vision with the help of IrisVision. He shares his success story with friends who come over and visit.

“IrisVision opened up a whole new world of vision for me,” he o� ers. “My vision is like three-dimensional compared to the way it was before. I can see colors really well, and the IrisVision brings a lot of light into the picture.

“I absolutely recommend IrisVision and have already. I took mine to a ninety-one-year-old friend to let him try it. He said, Oh, my gosh. � is is the best thing I’ve seen yet. And I replied, It is for me, too.

“I had to � nd something that works because I wasn’t going to stop doing what I was doing. Bob and � e Magni� cation Company really came through for me.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Jordan Pysz.

Stock photo from FreeImages.com.mkb

Page 2 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2019 | The Villages Edition Low Vision

DreamsSweetEnd back pain

with minimally invasive laser procedures

Laura Wall

JAMES ST. LOUIS, DOBRETT MENMUIR, MD

James St. Louis, DO, earned his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. He received his osteo-pathic medicine 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. Dr. St. Louis is a member of many medical organizations including the American Osteopathic Association, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, American Medical Association and American Association of Physician Specialists.

Brett Menmuir, MD, earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University and his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in orthopedic spine surgery as well as a fellowship at Twin Cities Spine Center in Minneapolis, MN. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Society of Lateral Access Surgery and AO Spine.

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T he nightmare began five years ago for Michigan native Laura Wall. That’s when the former Ford Motor

Company employee first experienced stabbing pain in her lower back. Her doctor diagnosed the problem as spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal and neuroforamen, in the areas where nerves exit the spinal cord though the vertebrae.

“It was an excruciating, throbbing, sharp pain in my lower back, and it was getting very achy,” Laura, 64, shares. “And it was constant. It didn’t last just for � ve minutes. � e pain was present every hour, every day, whether I was sitting or lying down.”

Over the years, Laura’s spinal ste-nosis deteriorated further, and her back pain intensi� ed. Two years ago, the pain became so unpleasant, it began interfering with her daily endeavors. By that time, Laura had retired and was looking ahead to a long, active retirement in the warmer Florida climate. But her back condition threatened to derail those plans.

“� e pain increased until I couldn’t walk very far without holding my back in extreme agony,” Laura relates. “I could hardly walk to the mailbox from my house, which is only six houses down, without pain. I couldn’t swim. I could hardly stand up, but I couldn’t sit for very long, either. � e pain was a ten on a scale of one to ten.”

In search of a solution to her agoniz-ing back problem, Laura turned to several spine specialists for their expert guidance. She visited one specialist while still living in Michigan and two others after she moved to Florida. None had good news for her.

“� e doctors said they couldn’t help me,” she recalls. “� ey said I would have to have major surgery on my discs, and it probably still wouldn’t help with the pain. I cried when I heard that. I thought, Here I am retired, and I can’t do anything because of my back. My life was just terrible at that point.”

Laura’s fortunes began to change in early 2018 after she heard about a seminar on minimally invasive spine sur-gery that was o� ered by the spine specialists at Physician Partners of America. She decided to attend the seminar, and there she met James St. Louis, DO, director of Physician Partners of America’s Minimally Invasive Spine Group. Dr. St. Louis gave Laura what the other doctors did not: hope.

After reviewing her MRI, Dr. St. Louis told Laura she didn’t need major surgery on her discs. Instead, he could perform a minimally invasive spine procedure that would relieve her pain. Laura was ecstatic and agreed.

Sparing MusclesWhen it comes to surgery, the term

“minimally invasive” is typically equated with a procedure performed through smaller inci-sions than those used during open surgery. But with minimally

invasive spine procedures, there’s more to it than that. These procedures are muscle-sparing as well.

“During traditional open surgery on the back or neck, the muscles are cut away from the bone so that the surgeon can visualize the area and see what he or she is doing to the spine,” describes Dr. St. Louis,who is a pioneer in the � eld. “And once a muscle is cut, it is damaged forever and can no longer function appropriately.

“ D u r i n g minimally invasive spine surgery, the muscles are not cut at all. Instead, we insert special dilators between the muscle

� bers and simply push the muscles aside. � is way, we preserve the muscles and their function.”

Because surgeons spare the muscles, and use smaller incisions during mini-mally invasive spine surgery, there is less bleeding, less pain and a quicker recovery. It can be performed as an outpatient pro-cedure rather than requiring a several-day hospital stay.

Surgeons at Physician Partners of America can also use minimally invasive techniques to perform procedures such as laminotomy and foraminotomy using a laser. � ese procedures make room for nerves that are pinched at the openings between the discs or at the neuroforamen.

“We use various instruments to move past the muscles and get to the bone,” explains Brett Menmuir, MD, another Physician Partners of America minimally invasive spine surgeon. “Guided by the patient’s MRI, we assess what is pinching the nerve. It could be a bone spur, a thickened ligament, a cyst or a piece of herniated disc material. We use a laser to free up the nerve by remov-ing whatever is pinching it.

“Using this technique, patients generally have significant

improvement in their pain. And the procedures are performed through an incision that is typically an inch or smaller.”

“A New Life”Laura had a laminotomy

and foraminotomy to relieve her agonizing back pain. Dr. St. Louis used a laser that enabled him to target the speci� c area of her low back that was the source of her problem: lumbar discs three and four.

“Apparently, swollen nerves were wrapped around my spinal cord,” Laura describes. “During surgery, Dr. St. Louis shaved a little bit o� of my spine to make room for the nerves. I walked out of the hospital the same day. I received excellent care, and after two days, I felt fantastic.”

Laura underwent her minimally inva-sive spine procedure in March 2018. Now, more than a year later, she’s still amazed by the surgery’s overwhelming success.

“It’s been a new life for me since I had this surgery,” Laura raves. “Now, I can sleep, I can bend over, I can sit for hours. Everything I couldn’t do before I

can do now. And my pain level is zero. It was zero two days after surgery.

“Now, I can walk to the mailbox and walk long distances. I couldn’t walk very far for � ve years. Now, I walk � ve miles a day. Since my surgery, I can do every-thing without any back pain whatsoever. And it’s been wonderful. I’m going to be sixty-� ve in September, and I’m having the time of my life.”

� e other doctors Laura visited gave her little hope of � nding relief from her ago-nizing back pain, but she de� ed their dire prognoses. She’s especially pleased that her retirement plans are back on schedule. Her nightmare is back to being a sweet dream.

“Getting this minimally invasive laser spine surgery was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Laura enthuses. “It changed my whole retirement life. Now, I can swim. I can play with my grandkids. I can sit and do my pottery. I like to shop, and now I can. I can walk in the park and on the beach. I can do anything I want.

“What’s better than walking out the front door after surgery and going home, relaxing for a day or two, then carrying on with your life the way you want? � ere is no better way to deal with severe back pain than that. So yes, I think min-imally invasive spine surgery at Physician Partners of America is fantastic. I really appreciate what they did for me.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Nerissa Johnson. mkb

The Villages Edition | Summer 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 3Pain managemenT/sPine surgery

(continued from page 1)

Ravi Sharma, MD, is board certi� ed by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland at College Park and attended the University of Maryland Graduate School, Baltimore, before receiving his medical degree from Eastern Virginia School of Medicine, Norfolk. Dr. Sharma completed his internship and residency in general sur-gery at Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine Department of Surgery, Norfolk, and completed his residency in thoracic sur-gery at George Washington University, Washington, DC.

For Premier Vein TreatmentDr. Sharma, a board-certifi ed cardiovascular surgeon,

invites you to have a complimentary leg evaluation at one of the two Premier Vein Centers locations:

Premier Vein Centers o� ers free initial consultations. To � nd out more, visit www.premierveincenters.com, or call (352) 621-0777.

Summer� eldSpruce Creek Medical Center

17820 SE 109th Ave., Suite 109

(352) 693-2052

Homosassa7767 S. Suncoast Blvd.

(352) 621-0777

“For patients who experience any of these signs or symptoms, it is important that they have their veins assessed,” Dr. Sharma emphasizes. “Leaving the condi-tion untreated can lead to more serious di� culties, including leg ulcers, infection and a break-down of the skin.

“When seeking a physician for care, it is crucially important for people to choose surgeons who specialize in venous dis-eases. � e physicians should also be experienced in the advanced procedures available to treat these diseases. In addition, they must also express genuine concern and compassion for their patients. Physicians with these qualifications achieve the best outcomes.”

Decreased DowntimeAt Premier Vein Centers, a full range of advanced, minimally invasive treatment options for addressing varicose and spi-der veins is available. These treatment options include microphlebectomy, endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), sclerosing injections and the new, non-thermal procedure, VenaSeal™.

Microphlebectomy has replaced stripping, an outdated, more invasive procedure during which doctors removed the large veins by making big gashes across the leg that often left the patient with large scars.

“With microphlebectomy, the incision is tiny – about the size of the tip of a scalpel – and we can do much more through that small incision,” Dr. Sharma assures. “And with this procedure, patients end up with tiny marks on the skin or no scars at all.”

A Human Touch

During EVLA, a sterile laser fiber is introduced into the incompetent vein via a small puncture in the leg. Laser energy is then delivered through the fiber, painlessly closing the vein in less than an hour, using local anesthesia.

Sclerosing injections are used to treat spider veins, which are tiny, dilated blood ves-sels in the skin that become swollen with stagnant blood. Dr. Sharma uses ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (UGS) to guide the injections that gently close the problem vessels.

VenaSeal is a non-thermalclosure system that relieves symptoms by delivering a small amount of a specially formulated medical adhesive, or “super glue,” to the diseased vein. � is permanently seals the vein. � is procedure does not require multiple needle sticks and, in some cases, support stockings are not necessary.

Dr. Sharma uses his expertise to determine which procedures to use based on each patient’s symptoms and health status. � ese advanced treatments are

all performed in a comfortable o� ce setting and result in little or no downtime and discomfort.

“Our patients are often very relieved to discover that there is no general anesthesia involved in our minimally inva-sive treatments,” Dr. Sharma observes. “And they are happy to learn that they can resume activities right away.”

Premier Vein Centers pro-vides a free initial consultation and accepts most insurance, including Medicare.

Rewarding TreatmentAfter evaluating Augusto’s leg veins, Dr. Sharma concluded which minimally invasive pro-cedures were most valuable for treating the retired pest avenger’s venous insu� ciency. Microphlebectomy and EVLA were the procedures the doctor chose.

“Dr. Sharma explained the procedures he recommended for me, going through the pro-cess for each one of them step by step,” Augusto reports. “He took his time, making sure I understood what was going to happen and what I should expect for an outcome.

“During those procedures, Dr. Sharma sealed most of my varicose veins with a laser, but he literally removed some of the bigger, thicker veins that were on my lower legs. � ere was a small amount of

discomfort involved, but that was nothing considering the results I achieved.

“My legs are not as heavy as they were before and the var-icose veins are gone, so my legs are looking much better. Since Dr. Sharma’s vein treatment, the swelling in my legs is gone, and I have no pain. I’m sleeping better and feeling stronger.”

Augusto isn’t just happy with the results of his treat-ment. He’s also happy he found Dr. Sharma. He says the per-sonalized care he received from Dr. Sharma and his staff is beyond anything he’s experi-enced from a doctor before.

“I’m pleased with the staff at Premier Vein Centers, the nurses and clerks, and with Dr. Sharma especially,” he says. “I’m very glad I met him and was able to go through his vein treatment process because I feel significant improvement.

“I’m much happier since my treatment. If I had to make a choice, I would do it all over again. I recommend Dr. Sharma’s vein treatment to anyone who may be feeling heavy, painful legs with cramps or swelling because the treat-ment is very rewarding.

“I’m thankful to Dr. Sharma and his crew, and I very strongly recommend them as profession-als. I had a very good experience at Premier Vein Centers.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. mkb

New Laser Treatment AvailablePremier Vein Centers has added a new laser to its arsenal of treatments: the Aerolase® LightPod Neo®. This laser is eff ective for facial spider veins, skin rejuvenation, skin tightening, sun and age spots, unwanted facial hair, acne, rosacea and scar revision. The LightPod Neo is advanced technology that provides excellent results while maintaining patient comfort.To see an actual LightPod Neo treatment, visit Facebook.com/PremierVeinCenters/Videos. Contact Premier Vein Centers for a free initial consultation.

RAVI SHARMA, MD

Premier Vein Centers

Page 4 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2019 | The Villages Edition

Barry LevineExecutive Publisher

Gina L. d’AngeloCFO/HR

Roy CummingsEditorial Supervisor

Michelle BrooksCreative Director

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Nerissa JohnsonGraphic Designer

Nerissa JohnsonJordan PyszFred BelletPhotography

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Robert MizeGary Smith

Aldy LaracuenteDistribution

Premier Vein CentersVein Treatment

The Magnification CompanyLow Vision

Physician Partners of AmericaPain Management/Spine Surgery

Acute Wound CareCompression Therapy

L. Amarchand, MD, FACPCardiology

iPulseTechnology-Based Wellness

South Florida Eye ClinicOphthalmology

Regenerative Orthopedic InstituteStem Cell Therapy/ Pain Management

Pain Institute of Central FloridaPain Management

West Florida Internal Medicine & Multi-Specialty Group, P.A.Diabetes Treatment/Weight Loss

Alpha Medical GroupErectile Dysfunction

215 Bullard ParkwayTemple Terrace, FL 33617

(813) 989-1330

Florida Health Care News

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Vein TreaTmenT

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

Visit Acute Wound Care on the web at

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Toll free (855) 949-4325

Locally

(239) 949-4412

Are You Su� ering From Chronic Limb Swelling?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Physician counts on compression pump to curb her own limb swelling

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Is Lymphedema?

The pumps are non-invasive

and highly e� ective

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

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

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

ACUTE WOUND CARE

The Villages Edition | Summer 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 5ComPression TheraPy

EECP may be the nonsurgical alternative for you! For more

information or to schedule an appointment, please contact

Dr. Amarchand’s offi ce in Brooksville at:

750 Desoto Ave.(352) 796-6721

L. AMARCHAND, MD, FACP

L. AMARCHAND, MD, FACPDR. TONG GUO

L. Amarchand, MD, FACP, is board certifi ed by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine and a two-year fellowship in cardiology and cardiac nuclear imaging at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ. His third year of fellowship training included a clinical and research fellowship in cardiology and a cardiac nuclear imaging fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA, as well as a research fellowship in medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Amarchand is former chief of staff (-) at Brooksville and Spring Hill Regional Hospitals. He has served as a medical expert for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American College of Cardiology and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Tong Guo, a pioneer in obtaining FDA approval of EECP for use in the United States, assists Dr. Amarchand in overseeing EECP, ensuring the delivery of optimal treatment with excellent outcomes for patients. Dr. Guo worked as a research fellow in the cardiology division at Stony Brook Medical Center School of Medicine, NY, helping to set up the fi rst EECP treatment centers.

J ohn Shepherd held many jobs over the course of his career. Among them, he served as a warehouse supervisor and a courier for a law

� rm. He also worked in a sheet metal shop. Mostly, John was an entertainer, singing and playing guitar for audiences in several states. Nothing stopped this show-man, not even a serious heart condition.

“I’ve had coronary artery disease for many years,” says the Brooklyn, New York native who lived much of his adult life in Oklahoma. “I had a heart attack in 1989 and bypass surgery in 1994.

“Bypass surgery was done after I started feeling pain in my left arm while walking on a treadmill. I went to my car-diologist in Oklahoma, who performed a cardiac catheterization and found one artery was ninety-� ve percent blocked and another was ninety percent blocked.”

Due to his history of heart problems, John immediately looked for a cardiologist upon moving to Florida after retiring in 2011. � rough his insurance, he discov-ered L. Amarchand, MD, a board-certi� ed cardiologist and internist in Brooksville. Dr. Amarchand performed another cardiac catheterization when John began experi-encing symptoms again earlier this year.

“I was feeling a little discomfort in my left arm,” John recalls. “I also felt tired and lethargic and had no energy. I had to back down on my activities around the house. Often, I would just sit in my chair and fall asleep.

“Dr. Amarchand said my problem was angina, which can show itself in many di� erent ways. When he did the cardiac catheterization, he found a little blockage in an area of my heart where he can’t put a stent to open up the artery. He recom-mended a nonsurgical procedure that can move blood around the blockage.”

The unique treatment protocol and surgical alternative that Dr. Amarchand offers his patients is a safe, noninvasive, circulation-boosting technique called enhanced external counterpulsation, or EECP.

Dr. Amarchand uses EECP to treat patients with heart disorders such as con-gestive heart failure, blocked coronary arteries and angina pain. Using EECP, Dr. Amarchand has an impressive record of success in maintaining his cardiac patients’ heart health and independence.

King Kong ReturnsDr. Amarchand explains that symptoms such as a loss of energy, which John expe-rienced, as well as shortness of breath, a tightening or pressure in the chest and weakness can all be caused by a lack of oxy-genated blood � owing through the heart.

As these symptoms get progressively worse, it’s not unusual for people to restrict their activities in order to reduce their discomfort. As a result, their qual-ity of life quickly diminishes. EECP can reverse these symptoms by working like a natural bypass procedure.

“Through the use of EECP, more than twelve million Americans have found relief from their symptoms and had their energy restored while also receiving other bene� ts,” Dr. Amarchand asserts.

EECP is delivered through a series of 35 hour-long sessions over the course of seven weeks. During an EECP ses-sion, the patient reclines, fully clothed, on a cushioned table while listen-ing to music or watching a movie. Compression cu� s are wrapped around the patient’s calves, thighs and buttocks to apply pressure in rhythms carefully timed to the patient’s heartbeat.

“The pressure propels more blood upward and into the coronary arteries,

enlarging the arteries and improving collateral circulation,” Dr. Amarchand expounds. “It helps the patient’s own cir-culatory system bypass coronary artery blockages and opens up the underused collateral blood vessels.”

“The treatment wasn’t painful at all,” John assures. “It felt like King Kong grabbed me and was hugging and holding me. � en he stopped, then he hugged me again, then stopped and so on. It was that kind of feeling, from my legs up to my groin area, then to my abdomen.”

For individuals who want to try a noninvasive procedure before resorting to open heart surgery, EECP is the per-fect option, Dr. Amarchand suggests. It’s also good for those who have not achieved relief with prior surgical procedures such as bypass and angioplasty, and for patients who aren’t candidates for surgery.

“Accordin g to studies done on the procedure, eighty-� ve percent of patients completing EECP treatments obtain sub-stantial and sometimes dramatic relief from their heart-related symptoms,” Dr. Amarchand observes. “� e same percentage realizes increased exer-cise tolerance, mental alertness and reduced need for nitroglycerin to relieve angina pain.

“EECP can be repeated as often as needed because it is noninvasive,” the doctor says of the treatment that is both FDA-approved and Medicare-reimbursed. “However, its beneficial e� ects can last from three to � ve years.”

Above and BeyondA complete course of EECP therapy is 35 treatment sessions, and all are needed to achieve the full bene� t of the therapy. Still, John began feeling the e� ects of the circulation boost long before he reached the end of his sessions.

“I started to feel a di� erence after about ten sessions,” John reports. “I was gaining more energy. Even my wife noticed. She said, You’re more active, where before you just sat in the chair and slept. I wasn’t doing that as much.”

John wasn’t feeling the nagging discom-fort in his left arm either. During the course of John’s EECP sessions, Dr. Tong Guo, who oversees the treatment, told John he believed the pain had an innocuous origin.

“I assumed the pain in my arm was caused by my blocked artery, but it turns out it really wasn’t from the angina after all,” John relates. “Dr. Guo said he didn’t think the pain came from my heart. He thought something was going on with my arm. Whatever caused it, the pain is gone now, and I’m feeling � ne.

“Since I � nished EECP, I’m moving more and doing a lot of work around the house. I’m painting the wood trim right now and taking on other tasks as they come up. I’m still in the music business. I play in the praise band at my church, so I’m busy all the time.”

Dr. Amarchand has been John’s car-diologist for eight years, and John thinks quite highly of him. John says the physi-cian is extremely knowledgeable and has provided exceptional patient care above and beyond.

“He’s even helped me with non-cardiac medical issues,” John explains. “Once, I had an appointment and had a really bad chest cold. Dr. Amarchand listened to my lungs and said, Holy mack-erel, you’ve got a problem. � en he wrote a prescription for me for antibiotics. Dr. Guo was also very attentive and con-cerned when he did my EECP sessions.

“I’m glad I did EECP because my energy level is up now, and I feel good. I’ll do it again if I need to, no doubt in my mind. I recommend EECP and Dr. Amarchand without hesitation. EECP really got my blood pumping. It widened my arteries and improved blood � ow to my heart. I’m in good shape now.”

FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo.

Photo by Jordan Pysz. mkb

Natural, noninvasive bypass procedure improves blood � ow

“I’m glad I did EECP because my energy level is up now, and I feel good.” – John  

Page 6 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2019 | The Villages Edition CardioLogy

Visit them on the web at www.ipulse.life and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ipulsewellnesscenter

“It’s Like a Miracle Has Happened”Noninvasive, drug-free magnetic therapy

relieves chronic pain, swelling

The founder of iPulse, Peter DeSimone, first discovered pulsed electromagnetic � eld ther-

apy (PEMF therapy) when he was seeking relief from the nagging back and sciatica pain that was making it virtually impos-sible for him to get a good night’s sleep.

“My wife prayed that we would � nd a solution, and that very same day, she came across someone who had this tech-nology in Ocala,’’ Peter reveals. She said, Let’s go try it; you’ve got nothing to lose. I didn’t even hesitate because I was in so much pain and after the � rst session, my back pain and sciatica was gone.”

“I went back for a second session, and after that, a prostate problem I was

having that was causing me to get up just about every hour on the hour to go to the bathroom at night was corrected. It was after that that I really started digging into PEMF and researching it.”

Through his research, Peter dis-covered that NASA and many other institutions have heavily researched and tested PEMF’s ability to improve a vast array of conditions with over-whelmingly positive results. It was then than he decided that in an e� ort to educate and help others relieve their pain issues, he would open a business o� ering PEMF therapy.

“� ere are a lot of treatments out there for all sorts of ailments, but most

people haven’t heard of PEMF, so I invite them to come in and try a free demo, because you’re going to feel some results within one or two sessions,” Peter says.

“I’m not saying it’s going to get you fully to where you want to be in one session, but you’re going to start to feel something, and you’ll have some knowl-edge, some experience, to help you make an educated decision for yourself regard-ing how e� ective it can be.

“� at’s how I function as a business. I invite people down to try PEMF for themselves. I say, in essence, the same thing my wife said to me when she discovered PEMF: Come on down and try it. You’ve got nothing to lose other than your pain.”

From Patient to Practitioner

Peter DeSimone

Take the iPulse

iPulse is a technology-based wellness center that strives

to make patients better through noninvasive, drug-free therapies that heal at

the cellular level, which is the root of all pain.

For more information or to schedule a consultation to

learn what iPulse can do for you, call or visit their offi ce in

Summerfi eld at:

10935 Southeast 177th PlaceSuite 301

(352) 387-9584

T hat Wilma Nelson can walk today is something of a mir-acle, one forged in no small part by her father, who built

from scratch the exercise equipment she needed to rebuild her right leg after it was crushed during a lumber mill accident some 55 years ago.

“I spent ten days in a hospital after that accident, and when it was time to go home, the doctor put me in a wheelchair and asked me if I was comfortable in the wheelchair,” Wilma, 90, remembers. “I said yes, and he said, Good, because you’ll never walk again.

“� at’s how bad my leg was injured, but my father went out right after that and built three pieces of equipment that are now pretty standard in physical therapy o� ces and showed me how to use them. It’s because of that that I was able to walk again.”

Walk yes, but not with-out consequences. Wilma’s journey to free herself from the constraints of her wheelchair took nearly 20 years, and along the way, her legs became so in� amed that when she � nally did walk again, every step was taken in agonizing pain.

“I’ve spent most of my life in tremen-dous pain,” Wilma con� rms. “� ere have been times when the pain was so acute, I thought I was going to lose my mind because of it. � ankfully, my daughter found some-one who has helped me with that.”

Pulse Away Pain� e person Wilma’s daughter found is Peter DeSimone. He’s the founder of iPulse, a technology-based wellness center o� ering a promising remedy for chronic pain and swelling called pulsed electromag-netic � eld therapy, or PEMF therapy.

� e science behind PEMF therapy has been around since the discovery of electricity and is approved by the FDA for use in correcting a variety of mala-dies, including nonunion bone fractures, muscle stimulation, urinary inconti-nence, post-operative pain and swelling, migraines and even brain cancer.

Also approved for use by the FDA in the treatment of depression and anxiety,

PEMF is a noninvasive, drug-free therapy that uses bursts of low-

level electromagnetic pulses to energize cells or, in the case of depression and anxiety, mod-ify neurochemical imbalances.

� e safe, low-level pulses are similar to those emitted during an

MRI and can be delivered through a vari-ety of devices, including a mat, paddle or ring, the latter of which is most often used in the treatment of depression and anxiety.

“� e devices we use all replicate the electromagnetic � eld of the Earth,” Peter explains. “� at’s important because every cell in our body communicates and func-tions through electromagnetic energy. But our cells are like batteries; over time, they lose their charge, become weak and stop functioning properly.

“When that happens, they stop taking in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and oxygen. � at allows waste and toxins to become trapped inside, and that is generally the starting point for every sort of chronic pain, illness or disease known to man.”

Encouraged by what her daugh-ter told her of PEMF therapy, Wilma

� rst visited iPulse shortly after the � rst of the year. During her � rst visit, Peter determined the cause of her pain to be in� ammation and swelling in her legs and recommended PEMF therapy.

“Wilma was excited to try the PEMF therapy. I started working on her by treating multiple areas up and down both legs,” Peter says. “My intent was to improve the circulation because as cir-culation improves, oxygen builds and in� ammation reduces.”

Wilma visited iPulse twice a week for the next few months and says the PEMF therapy has worked “wonders” for her. For the � rst time in decades, Wilma is walking mostly pain free and without the aid of the painkillers she had been taking regularly.

“Before I went to iPulse, my legs looked and felt like tree trunks,” Wilma says. “Now, they look and feel like legs. It’s amazing what PEMF therapy has done for me. It’s like a miracle has happened, and I can’t thank Peter enough.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Peter’s photo by

Jordan Pysz. mkb

If you have used a diff erent device and didn’t get the

results you expected, try the Magna Wave Pro 

before you dismiss PEMF therapy altogether. 

Free Sessionsfor New Clients

The Villages Edition | Summer 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 7TeChnoLogy-Based weLLness

For Eye Floater SolutionsSouth Florida Eye Clinic is located

in Fort Myers at:

4755 Summerlin Rd. Call Dr. Geller at:

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

(877) 371-3937

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

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

SOUTH FLORIDA EYE CLINICSCOTT L. GELLER, MD Dr. Geller has performed more

than 15,000 documented eye fl oater laser sessions.

Scott Geller, MD, teaches the technique worldwide

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dr. Geller uses the Swiss made Lasag laser.

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

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

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

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

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

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

SCAN THIS TO YOUR

SMARTPHONE TO SEE ACTUAL

PATIENTS

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

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

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

is not

acceptable.”

“Live with it

Remote ControMinimally invasive, robotically assisted heart procedure proves e� ective

A dam* describes himself as a � tness fanatic. � e 55-year-old retired Naval o� cer works out at the gym at least � ve days a

week and usually gets in a jog of at least � ve miles every other day.

He’s in excellent physical condi-tion for a man his age, which is why he thought something must be wrong when he suddenly found himself out of breath midway through the 30 minutes it usually takes him to mow his lawn.

After taking the advice of his general practitioner and visiting a heart specialist, Adam was surprised to learn that he was su� ering from mitral valve disease, which is the most common form of heart valve disease in the United States.

Nearly half a million patients are admitted to a hospital each year as a result of some form of mitral valve disease. In turn, those visits result in approximately 40,000 Americans – most of them 50 or younger - undergoing surgery for the condition.

One of four heart valves, the mitral valve is the one that allows the blood received from the lungs to flow from the left atrium, also known as the upper chamber of the heart, to the left ventricle, or lower chamber of the heart.

What Adam learned upon his visit was that he was su� ering from mitral valve regurgitation, a condition where

the mitral valve fails to close tightly when the left ventricle contracts. � is failure results in a leakage or backward � ow of blood through the valve.

W h e n this leakage occurs, blood � ows through the valve in both direc-tions, causing an increase in the volume of blood in the valve as well as an increase in pressure in the atr ium. This, in turn, increases the pressure in the veins leading from the lungs to the heart.

In mild cases of mitral regur-gitation, sufferers may not feel any symptoms at all. In more severe cases, however, the lack of efficient blood flow can cause palpitations and may leave su� erers feeling tired and short of breath the way Adam did.

For years, the primary treatment for mitral valve regurgitation was a sur-gery designed to repair or replace the valve that required the surgeon to access

the a� ected area by performing open heart surgery - sawing the sternum in half, spreading the ribs and operating through the front of the chest.

As a result o f advance s i n m e d i c a l t e c h n o l o g y, surgeons can now perform the same oper-ation remotely with the aid of a small camera and thin robotic arms that are fed into the body through a series of small incis ions on the right side of the chest.

While the surgeon works at a com-puter console that provides complete control of the movement of the robotic arms, the camera provides a clear, three-dimensional view of the mitral valve and its surroundings.

Like traditional mitral valve surgery, the robotically assisted version requires general anesthesia and the use of heart-lung bypass machines to perform the functions of those organs during the procedure. It provides several advantages over open heart surgery.

In addition to alleviating the need to break or cut the breastbone, the advantages of robotically assisted mitral valve surgery include less blood loss, less post-operative patient pain, less scarring and a shorter recovery time than with traditional surgery.

Research shows that robotically assisted mitral valve surgery is just as suc-cessful as the traditional option. In an NYU Langone study of 1,000 patients who had the minimally invasive surgery, their long-term clinical outcomes were equivalent to those achieved by patients who had a traditional sternotomy.

Adam is among those who can attest to the fact that the robotically assisted surgery works. He opted for that approach after he was told of his condition and says now that the surgery has given him a new lease on life.

“When I was told I needed to have heart surgery I wasn’t just shocked, I was scared,’’ Adam says. “Along with the con-cern I had for my general overall health, I was worried about the long layo� that I thought I’d be facing after surgery.

“But I was in the hospital for only two days with this new surgery and within a month of leaving, I was back working out and going through my normal routine. If I had been forced to have the traditional surgery, it might have been months before I was active again.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. mkb

*Patient’s name withheld at their request.

l

Page 8 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2019 | The Villages Edition oPhThaLmoLogy

sPeCiaL To FhCn

ERICK A. GRANA, MD

Erick A. Grana, MD, is a diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabil i tat ion and the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, with subspecialty certifica-tion in pain medicine. After he

received his medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, he completed his internship and residency at the university’s hospital and was subsequently awarded a fel-lowship from the department of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Grana is a former assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and a member of the American Medical Association, the International Spinal Injection Society and the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine.

For more information about stem cell therapy, please call or visit Regenerative Orthopedic Institute in Tampa at:

8011 North Himes Avenue, Suite 3

Visit Regenerative Orthopedic Institute on the web at www.dontoperate.com

(813) 868-1659

New GenerationRegenerative stem cell therapy relieves

disabling knee pain without surgery

T he arrival on the internet of websites such as Ancestry.com,FamilySearch.com and MyHeritage.com has helped

turn genealogy into the second most popular hobby in America. Eighty-two-year-old Lydia Pain is among those caught up in the craze.

“It’s fascinating,’’ Lydia declares. “I recently found out that my family actually has its roots in Greece, Italy and Spain and that someone way back was a privateer, which is like a pirate who’s licensed to hold up merchant ships on the high seas during a war.”

The wife of a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, Lydia’s passion for researching the family trees of friends and other family members has replaced the passion she once had for gardening, which remains the number one hobby in the country.

“Gardening used to be my favorite hobby, but I had to give that up a couple of years ago,’’ Lydia says. “I say I gave it up because of my age, but I had some knee problems that made it hard for me to get up and down and made gardening di� cult.”

Gardening wasn’t the only activity that became di� cult for Lydia. Her knee pain also made it hard for her to climb stairs and eventually made walking more of a chore than it should be. At one point, she was literally bedridden by her pain.

“My husband purchased a walker for me, but even with the walker, the pain was so intense, I couldn’t do anything,’’ Lydia relates. “I was probably in bed for two weeks before I � nally built up the courage to do something about it.”

What held Lydia back from seeking medical attention was her suspicion she would be told the problem could only be corrected through knee replacement sur-gery. She wasn’t surprised then when the � rst doctor she visited suggested just that.

Largely because of her age and the time required for recovery, Lydia was unwilling to go through surgery. As a result, she began looking for an alterna-tive. She found it while reading a copy of Florida Health Care News.

Since receiving the RegenaJoint treatment, Lydia has been pain free for two years. 

“I was looking through the paper and saw an article about him and his practice,” Lydia says of Erick A. Grana, MD, of Regenerative Orthopedic Institute. “After reading the article, I was intrigued by his work and the success he’s had.

“After that, I started researching him a little more, and the more I researched him, the more I learned things that made me comfortable with him. I learned, for example, that Dr. Grana was a professor at Baylor University in Texas.

“My brother taught there for a while, too, and that was a selling point for me. Since I had someone in my own family who had taught at the same university he had, I felt good about him and decided to see if he could help me.”

New Age Specialty Dr. Grana specializes in regenerative medicine and treats patients with a nonsurgical technique called stem cell therapy. � is therapy uses the patient’s own specialized stem cells to promote the growth of new tissue in joints ravaged by arthritis or injury.

“Regenerative medicine treats disease and injuries by harnessing the body’s own healing powers,’’ Dr. Grana explains. “� e natural healing process is accelerated by a combination of growth factors and bio-active cells in the form of stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

“� is process results in a safe, e� ective treatment, and unlike traditional surgery, which can result in blood loss, scarring and long, painful recovery periods, stem cell therapy requires only injections into the damaged joint.

“It also o� ers a much quicker recov-ery than surgery. Typically, patients begin to feel a noticeable decrease in pain after six weeks.”

Stem cell therapy is autologous, meaning it utilizes stem cells, PRP and growth factors taken from the patient’s own body. Using the patient’s own cells eliminates the chances of reactive side e� ects or rejection.

Stem cells are extracted from the patient’s bone marrow or fat, while the PRP is taken from the patient’s own blood. The harvested stem cells are separated through a centrifuge and injected into the painful area to stimu-late the regeneration of damaged tissue and the healing of tendons, ligaments, joints or spinal discs.

“When I was first introduced to stem cell therapy, I recognized its tre-mendous potential for patients who would otherwise have limited treatment options for pain relief,” Dr. Grana dis-closes. “Patients with osteoarthritis, in particular, have very few choices other than surgery when the condition advances and damages the joint.

“Since surgery has potential com-plications, when we treat arthritic joints without surgery, patients do much bet-ter. Not only can we relieve the patient’s pain, but we can also reverse some of the damage done by the osteoarthritis. � is is accomplished by regenerating the cartilage and connective tissues in and around the joint area.”

Dr. Grana has developed a system for the delivery of stem cells and PRP into the pain generators in and around joints such as the knees, shoulders and hips. It’s called RegenaJoint™.

He also developed a similar system to treat the spine called RegenaSpine™. RegenaJoint and RegenaSpine are both minimally invasive procedures that are performed right in the doctor’s office using a local anesthetic. Patients typically resume normal activities immediately fol-lowing the procedure.

Marvelous Outcome Lydia � rst went to see Dr. Grana two years ago. � ough the doctor she � rst visited told her she had no cartilage left in her knees, she was con� dent there was enough left to make her a candidate for stem cell therapy. Dr. Grana con� rmed her belief.

“I had done my homework and thought I understood that there is almost always a little bit of cartilage left that can grow,’’ she says. “� at’s what I was aiming for, and when Dr. Grana said there was, I said, Great, let’s go ahead with the injections.”

After going through the extraction process, which she describes as simple and painless, Lydia eventually received stem cell injections in both knees. She returned about a month later for a sec-ond injection in each knee. Her pain began to disappear soon thereafter.

“After I received the injections, it was like a miracle had happened,’’ Lydia exudes. “I was in pain for so long, but I have now been pain free going on two years. I do walk with a cane when walk-ing long distances, but that’s because I’m afraid of falling, not because of pain.

“� e pain is truly gone, and that’s the most important thing because pain is very aging. It makes you not want to do things, but Dr. Grana took care of that. I have to tell you, he is so nice, and he answered all the questions I had.

“He explained everything about the procedure so well, and he really knows what he’s doing. As for me, I just mar-veled at the whole thing because it’s such a simple procedure compared to the replacement surgery, and it gets even better results.

“I was so impressed that I even encouraged my son, who is � fty-� ve and has some knees that are in very bad shape, to have it. He did, and he’s thrilled with the outcome, just like I am.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photos by Jordan Pysz. mkb

Lydia Pain

Don’t Operate, Regenerate

The Villages Edition | Summer 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 9sTem CeLL TheraPy/Pain managemenT

Mark Fallows, DO, is board certifi ed by, and a diplomate of, the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians. He is also board certifi ed by, and a fellow of, the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology. He completed his undergraduate work at Alma College, Michigan, and earned his osteopathic medicine degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, MO. Dr. Fallows interned at Wellington Regional Medical Center, West Palm Beach, FL, and completed his anesthesiology residency at Detroit Osteopathic Hospital/Bi-County Community Hospitals, Warren, MI, with a fellowship in cardio-thoracic anesthesia completed at Ingham Medical Center, Lansing. He is a diplomate of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners and is a fellow of the American Osteopathic

College of Anesthesiologists. Dr. Fallows is a member of The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, International Spine Intervention Society, the North American Neuromodulation Society and the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. He is a past president of the Florida Wellcare Alliance and the Citrus County Medical Society. He is also a Trustee of the Citrus County Hospital Board.

If You Have PainDr. Fallows is the medical director of Pain Institute of Central Florida,

which off ers patients a comfortable and private experience in a state-of-

the-art medical offi ce. He invites your inquiries regarding the management of chronic pain. For information or a

consultation, please contact:

Pain Instituteof Central Florida

70 N. Lecanto Hwy.Lecanto 

(352) 527-4444

MARK FALLOWS, DO Board Certifi ed in Interventional Pain Management

Backfield in MotionSpinal cord stimulation relieves post-surgical back pain

James R. Tyner, Sr., 64, earned his bad back. His painful condition developed due to a slow build-up of damage from years of overuse

and abuse, and – according to James – years of trying to act young.

“I was a volunteer � re� ghter for thirty-seven years, and growing up, I worked with my dad selling and working on appli-ances,” James reveals. “� en, I had my own patient transport company, so I used my back to lift people, and sometimes, I couldn’t lift properly. I also refereed high school football for twenty-� ve years, so I deserved my bad back.”

James doesn’t recall injuring his back, but he does remember that it would go out on him every so often. Over time, as he continued his activities, James’ back became more unstable.

“I ended up having spinal fusion sur-gery on my lower back in August 2011,” he relates. “I did � ne after that and was able to maintain my normal lifestyle, including refereeing football. � en a disc above the fusion ruptured, and I required a second surgery in December 2012.”

Following his second surgery, James had little trouble with his back. That changed in late 2017 when he began experiencing extreme discomfort in his low back and into both legs. Again, he doesn’t recall any initiating event.

“Somehow, my sciatic nerves became pinched, and I had terrible pain in my back that shot down my legs, stopping at my knees,” James describes. “� e pain was sharp and stab-bing. I put ice and heat on my back, trying to relieve the pain. Sometimes, a hot shower helped.

“Eventually, the pain got so bad, I was forced to use a cane to walk. We had passes to Walt Disney World®, and I toured the park in a wheelchair. I couldn’t walk for more than a hundred feet with-out excruciating pain. At its worst, it was a ten on a scale of one to ten. I had to give up refereeing, something I love, because I just couldn’t do it anymore.”

As James’ pain intensi� ed, he tried sev-eral treatments, including physical therapy, injections and pain medications, without lasting relief. But he wasn’t interested in a third surgery, so his surgeon recommended pain management specialist Mark Fallows, DO, of Pain Institute of Central Florida.

Dr. Fallows is uniquely qualified to manage his patients’ complex pain issues. He is certif ied by the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians (ABIPP), which has

certi� ed fewer than 400 physicians nation-ally. Dr. Fallows is the only physician in Citrus County who is board certi� ed in interventional pain management. He has served area residents since 1990.

“I saw Dr. Fallows the first time August 8, 2018,” James remembers. “By then, I was taking six pain pills a day and still having terrible pain. Dr. Fallows asked me if I had ever con-sidered spinal cord stimulation. I hadn’t because I’d never heard of it. He explained all about stimulators, and I said, � at sounds like something that would really help me. Let’s go for it.”

Phenomenally BetterA spinal cord stimulator is an implanted device that distorts pain signals going to the brain, blocking pain sensations. It is most often considered once patients begin su� ering functionally due to their pain.

For years, spinal cord stimulators worked by replacing pain with a tin-gling sensation called a paresthesia. Many patients found that sensation too strong to tolerate, however, so a new generation of stimulator providing very little sensa-tion, or none at all, was developed.

“This newer technology is called burst stimulation, and it takes care of vast amounts of the patient’s pain, but it doesn’t replace it with anything,” Dr. Fallows informs. “Previously, we tried to mask pain with another sensation. With burst stimu-lation, we are not masking it anymore, and that makes patients much happier.”

Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in October 2016, the burst stimulation device has proved to be a hit with patients who had been using older models. In one study, patients who had been using traditional stimulators were asked to try the newer technology and compare the two. Seventy to 80 percent preferred burst over the traditional stim-ulators. One reason is that burst does a better job of relieving back pain.

“The burst stimulator is seventy percent more e� ective than the old unit at reducing pain,” Dr. Fallows reports. “� at’s a huge increase. If there were a treatment in medicine that improved outcomes by twenty percent, we’d think that was incredible. Here, we have a tech-nology that’s seventy percent better. � at’s phenomenal!”

Another bene� t of spinal cord stim-ulation is that patients are given a trial run of the treatment before the devices are permanently implanted. Dr. Fallows fol-lowed that protocol with James, who was given a burst stimulator for his trial run.

“Dr. Fallows � rst taped the temporary stimulator to my back, and I wore it for a week to make sure stimulation would help me, which it did,” James con� rms. “I was amazed by how much I could do without my back hurting. Dr. Fallows implanted the permanent stimulator on October 29, 2018, and I’m doing exceptionally well.

“I hardly have any pain now. On a bad day, my pain level is two, but on a good day, it’s zero. I’m only taking one half of a pain pill at night now, down from six a day, and I’m working to get o� the pain medication altogether.”

Easy RiderSince James received his spinal cord stim-ulator, he can’t believe the di� erence in his quality of life.

“It’s amazing,” he raves. “For one thing, I’m sleeping better, and when I sleep better, everything else feels better, as well. As for football, I realized that ref-erees sometimes get knocked down, and I decided I didn’t need to get knocked down, so I didn’t go back to refereeing. But I can do many of my other activities.

“We’ve been back to Walt Disney World, and I walked the entire time at the park. Last Saturday, I took my grandson to a festival, and we walked around for seven hours. I never would’ve dreamed of doing that a year ago. Before, I couldn’t ride my motorcycle because it aggravated my back. Now, if it’s not raining, I’m rid-ing. It’s my favorite activity.

“I de� nitely recommend Dr. Fallows and Pain Institute of Central Florida. I’ve told people who are discouraged and want to give up to look into a spinal cord stimu-lator. It’s made a huge di� erence in my life.” FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Jordan Pysz. mkb

James R. Tyner, Sr.

Page 10 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2019 | The Villages Edition Pain managemenT

Eihab H. Taw� k, MD, is board eligible by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He began his undergraduate work at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ, and later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Rutgers University in Newark, NJ. He earned his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Roseau, Dominica. He completed his residency at Drexel University Veteran Aff airs Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Medical weight-loss program brings healthy results

A t 56 years of age, Jody Musto is not so far removed from his youth that he can’t remember that time in his life when he was a healthy, 250-pound shot-putter and discus

thrower on an area track team.“I was into physical � tness back then and was always

outside doing something,” Jody reveals. “My family lived about two miles from town, but instead of driving or being driven there, whenever I went into town, I always walked. � at’s how active I was.”

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Type II• Diabetes Screening• Insulin Pump

Management• Continuous Glucose

Monitoring (CGM)• Vascular

Complications & Nerve Damage

• Hypertension & Cholesterol Treatment

• Wound Care

Additional Services O� ered

• Physicians Medical Weight-Loss Program

• Heart Attack/Stroke/Cancer Prevention & Screening

• Physical Exams & Routine Care for Men & Women

• Sick Visits

Is It Time for Medical Weight Loss?

For diabetics and non-diabetics alike, achieving a healthy weight can be a truly life-changing experience. In addition to improved phys-

ical strength and well-being, medical weight-loss patients � nd greater self-esteem, con� dence and energy through participation in the program. At West Florida Internal Medicine & Multi-Specialty Group, patients also have access to medical spa treat-ments and medical aesthetics to help them sculpt the � t, healthy bodies they have always imagined.

With a unique combination of medications, vitamin injections, customized diet programs, weekly health and weight-loss monitoring, sta� support, and aesthetic procedures, patients battling weight issues � nd the key to true transformation. Why not put an end to the struggle today?

After

Jody Musto

Life Saver

Jody remained physically active well into his high-school years. It wasn’t until his late teens, after he took a job at a restaurant, that his activity level began to wane. It was also around that time that he began putting on weight. Lots of weight.

“Part of the problem was that once I started working in the restaurant, I stopped eating right,” Jody says. “At � rst, I tried dieting, and of course I tried all the fad diets, but none of them worked. � en, in 1981, I had gastric bypass surgery.”

Gastric bypass surgery is a weight-loss procedure in which the functional volume of the stomach is reduced. It’s designed to alter the way the body absorbs and digests food. In Jody’s case, those changes didn’t result in weight loss; they resulted in further weight gain.

“� e surgery was experimen-tal at the time, and the doctor who did mine more or less botched it,” Jody reveals. “It wasn’t done the right way, so I started putting on more weight. I eventually got up to � ve hundred and � fty pounds.”

In addition to his weight gain, Jody also developed dump-ing syndrome, a condition where certain foods, especially those rich in table or fruit sugar, travel through the stomach and into the small bowel too quickly, causing nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

In time, Jody grew so heavy that several of the vertebrae in his lower back were crushed. � at and severe knee pain, also caused by his weight gain, left him completely disabled and eventually forced him to give up his job as a car salesman.

It was after he lost his job and became disabled that Jody began looking for a better solution to his weight problem. He found it in 2003 in the o� ce of Eihab H. Taw� k, MD, who is now associated with West Florida Internal Medicine & Multi-Specialty Group.

Been There, Done That Dr. Taw� k is a board-eligible internist who, based on his own experience with excess weight, developed a weight-loss program that uses a combination of diet, exercise and proper doses of appetite suppressants and vitamin injections to control metabolism.

“During medical school and my residency, I found it very di� cult to lose weight,” recalls Dr. Taw� k. “I was overweight, and once I started practicing, I realized the importance of controlling what I was eating and the size of the portions as well.

“I also realized that a patient should not come to a weight-loss center and see a doctor who is overweight himself. So, I did something about my weight because I want to be an example to all the patients I serve.”

Dr. Taw� k’s program calls for patients to spend the � rst � ve days eating a very lean protein-based diet. � at is followed by another � ve-day stretch in which the patient eats a higher-calorie protein diet.

“Patients typically lose up to ten pounds that � rst week, with an average weight loss after four weeks rang-ing between twenty and thirty pounds,” Dr. Taw� k says. “In addition to the weight loss, this program changes our patients’ eating habits, which supports the development of a longer, healthier life.”

Prior to placing a patient on his program, Dr. Taw� k always meets with and reviews the patient’s medical and dietary history. He measures their weight, body fat index

and performs an EKG to help develop a diet tai-lored speci� cally to each patient’s needs.

In Jody’s case, Dr. Taw� k’s testing revealed the issues associated with

Jody’s gastric bypass surgery. � at resulted in Jody undergoing yet another gastric bypass proce-dure to repair the problems caused by the � rst.

Dr. Tawfik’s testing also revealed that Jody was pre-diabetic and part of his weight

gain was due to a lack of Vitamin B12. Armed with the knowl-

edge gained through his research, Dr. Taw� k customized a dietary pro-

gram that worked wonders for Jody.

“Comfortable” Weight “Once I had that second surgery, the weight started to come off,” Jody reports. “Since I started seeing Dr. Taw� k, I’ve lost about three hundred pounds, and I can gladly say that I’m at a point now at about two hundred and � fty pounds where I’m comfortable with my weight.

“I still have some other medical issues – the dumping syndrome, for example. But Dr. Taw� k does a great job of following those issues for me and making sure that every-thing in my diet is right so that things don’t get crazy.”

Jody has been following Dr. Taw� k’s diet program for more than a decade. During that time, Dr. Taw� k has adjusted the program to be sure Jody is receiving the right amount of the right foods and vitamins to keep him as � t and healthy as possible.

“He makes it real easy,” Jody reports. “You go in, and he tells you what you need. Another thing I really like is that he doesn’t make you feel guilty if you put on a few pounds or you aren’t exactly doing what’s right.

“He has a very good way of showing you what the bene� ts of the program are and explaining the success you can have if you stick to it. And he does a great job of monitoring everything so that if you’re de� cient in anything, he can take care of that.”

Jody visits Dr. Taw� k about once a month for check-ups, and it was during one of those check-ups several years ago that Dr. Taw� k detected something that gravely concerned him. His concern was warranted when it was learned Jody had kidney cancer.

“Without Dr. Taw� k, I might not be alive today,” Jody says. “� anks to him, everything has worked out, and I’m living a far more comfortable and enjoyable life. He’s always there for you. It’s like, whatever you need, he’ll take care of it.

“As far as his weight-loss program goes, well, I’m living proof that it works and works well. I know a lot of other people who have tried other weight-loss programs without their doctor’s supervision, and they just don’t do as well on theirs as I do on this one.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Jordan Pysz. Before image courtesy

of Jody Musto. mkb

Before

WEST FLORIDA INTERNAL MEDICINE &

MULTI-SPECIALTY GROUP, P.A.EIHAB H. TAWFIK, MD

Multiple Services, One LocationWest Florida Internal Medicine & Multi-Specialty Group is a family practice that specializes in diabetes and medical weight-loss treatment. To learn more about their multitude of services, call or visit the offi ce in Crystal River at:

7394 W. Gulf to Lake Hwy.

(352) 419-4126

The Villages Edition | Summer 2019 | Florida Health Care News | Page 11diaBeTes TreaTmenT/weighT Loss

John Ligeon, MD, is board certifi ed in internal medicine and is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Medicine. Following graduation, Dr. Ligeon trained and specialized in internal medicine at Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando, where he completed his training in . A diplomate in internal medicine, he has practiced in inpatient hospital medicine, as well as in outpa-tient primary care, for the past years. His special interests include the areas of men’s health, preventive medicine such as weight loss and management, and care for US veterans.

Scott Hollington, MD, is board certifi ed in pathology, laboratory medicine, and informatics. He earned his medical degree from the University of Miami Medical School in and became board certifi ed in medicine soon there-after. He spent four years serving his residency at the University of Florida, Jacksonville and then spent a year training at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Texas. Dr. Hollington also practices emerging medicine, bringing to his patients treatments that are not widely available through conventional clinics.

JOHN LIGEON, MDSCOTT HOLLINGTON, MD

The New WaveThe physicians at Alpha Medical Groups’ goal is to find the root cause of their patient’s problems and to treat them with the safest, most eff ective drug-free, surgery-free treatments available. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call or visit one of their three locations.

Leesburg4120 Corley Island Rd.

Suite 500

(352) 816-1901Palm Coast

515 Palm Coast Pkwy. SWSuite 5

(386) 276-3075Jacksonville

6817 Southpoint Pkwy.Suite 503

(904) 763-1400Visit them on the web at alphamedicalgroup.com

Noninvasive ED treatment improves sexual performance

T he � rst thing Tom* did upon returning to the United States following his 14-month tour of duty in Southeast

Asia during the Vietnam War was kiss his high school sweetheart. Later that same day, he went out and married her.

that fails, the last resort has long been a penile implant.

Tom wanted nothing to do with the injections or implants, so after visiting a urologist, he � rst tried correcting the problem by taking CIALIS. “� e CIALIS worked okay for a while,” Tom says, but he didn’t like the headaches that often came as a result of using it.

On the advice of his urologist, Tom considered trying another medication, but he soon took it upon himself to begin researching the problem and other forms of treatment. � at’s when he stumbled on Extracorporeal Shock Wave � erapy or ESWT.

“I was searching the internet and � nally found this website for a place that didn’t treat erectile dysfunction with pills or injections,” Tom says. “I � gured it wouldn’t hurt to give them a try, so I called and made an appointment.”

penis but stimulate the nerve endings to enhance sensitivity and enhance the feel-ing of an orgasm.

“� e treatment is based on the same technology that’s used to break up gall-stones,” says Scott Hollington, MD, at Alpha Medical Group. “� e device trans-mits acoustical waves that break up the plaque and calcium that have built up inside the penis’ blood vessels.

“It works like a little jackhammer. Once that plaque and calcium are broken up, you get better blood � ow, and it’s that improved blood � ow that leads to better, longer-lasting erections.”

In addition to providing better blood flow through existing blood vessels, ESWT also stimulates the growth of new nerve tissue, which is vital for achieving and maintaining healthy erections.

Dr. Hollington points out that it can also be used to treat Peyronie’s

Remarkable ResultsESWT calls for patients to receive two treatments per week for three weeks. Patients are then evaluated 12 weeks later and if necessary, they can be given a second, third or even fourth round of treatments.

Dr. Hollington says many patients opt for subsequent rounds of treatment, though most experience an improvement in sexual function after just one round. Overall, 83-percent of all men treated with ESWT experience a reversal of their con-dition, the doctor notes.

Tom is one of those who reported positive results after just one round of treatments. He says he may opt to have another round of ESWT treatments but that right now, his performance is more than satisfactory.

“I just turned seventy a couple months ago, and in the bedroom, I feel like I’m half that age,” Tom exudes. “It’s really remarkable what this ESWT does for you. And the treatments are all very quick and virtually painless. A few min-utes and you’re out of there.

“And one of the best things is how professional the technicians at Alpha Medical Group are. Let’s face it, this is a touchy subject for men. It’s not some-thing anybody is going to brag about. But they put you at ease, and make you feel comfortable.

“I can’t thank Dr. Hollington and his sta� enough for treating me so well and for giving me back this part of my life. � ey did a great job, and I recommend them and ESWT for anyone who has a problem with ED.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. mkb

*Patient’s name withheld at his request.

Acoustic Pressure Wave Technology � e practice Tom found is Alpha Medical Group. With offices in Palm Coast, Leesburg and Jacksonville, it specializes in the administration of ESWT, or APWT which treats erectile dysfunction through the use of acoustical wave therapy.

Using a small, handheld device, the acoustical waves are delivered through a series of short, virtually painless pulsations that not only open the blood vessels in the

disease, which is what occurs when scar tissue builds up in the penis and causes an abnormal bend, or curvature, to the penis that can impede urination and/or ejaculation.

“By making certain adjustments to the machine’s settings, we can treat the � brous tissue the same way we treat blood vessels and break down the scar tissue that may be causing that irregular shape,” Dr. Hollington informs.

ESWT treatments only take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete, but prior to providing any such treatment, Dr. Hollington begins his care for patients such as Tom by doing a Doppler ultrasound exam to determine the amount of vascular compromise in the penis.

“We look for something similar to what a cardiologist looks for in the heart, which is an occlusion of seventy percent or more,” Dr. Hollington informs. “If we see that, we go ahead with the treatment, and we reevaluate the blood vessels after completion of the treatment .”

“I actually proposed in a letter I sent from overseas about six months before I came home,” the former US Marine Corps sergeant reveals. “She said yes in her next letter back to me, and we later decided we’d get married as soon as I got back, � rst thing.”

Natives of Central Florida, Tom and his wife have “been going strong,” as Tom puts it, ever since. � ey now have three grown children, a granddaughter, and a grandson on the way. � ere’s just one problem.

For the better part of the year that followed his 69th birthday last August, Tom had trouble developing and main-taining an erection strong enough to have sexual intercourse. � e issue is known as erectile dysfunction, or ED, and it’s more common than many think.

Studies show that more than half of all men will experience some form of erectile dysfunction during their lifetime and that the chances of dysfunction are even greater among men su� ering from hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Studies show that smoking, heavy consumption of alcohol and drugs (either illicit or prescription) can also cause erec-tile dysfunction, which is typically the result of circulatory impairment in the blood capillaries or urogenital areas of the penis.

For years, medications such as VIAGRA® and CIALIS® have been the � rst line of defense against ED. If those prove unsuccessful, the next treatment option is generally injections into the penis. If

“I just turned seventy a couple months ago, and in the bedroom,

I feel like I’m half that age.It’s really remarkable

what this ESWT does for you.”

- Tom

Page 12 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2019 | The Villages Edition ereCTiLe dysFunCTion