Hea

lth C

are

Patr

on

PRSR

T.ST

D.

U.S

. PO

STA

GE

PAID

Tam

pa

, FL

Perm

it N

o.2

397

Tam

pa H

ealth

Car

e Ne

ws

Car

rier-

Rout

e Pr

e So

rt

For additional health care information,

visit us on the web at

The online

presence of

Florida Health

Care News

North Tampa Edition

Florida’s Largest Health Care Information Publications

Tampa Health Care NewsFEATURED ARTICLES

Providing Health Care Information for 30 Years

Spring 2018TAKE ME HOME!

A PUBLICATION OF FLORIDA HEALTH CARE NEWS, INC.

Infinity Medical Institute

Travel Back in Time

8

5Defeating Depression

Associates for Behavioral Medicine

12Easy and Effective

HemRelief

Regenerative Orthopedic

Institute

Sports Again – at 81!

15

(see Restless Legs or Venous Insu� ciency?, page 4)

Restless Legs

orVenous

Insu� ciency?Proper diagnosis and treatment lead to relief

In an administrative position for a busy accounting � rm, Patti* usu-ally begins her workday around 8:00 a.m. A native of Michigan

who moved to Florida in 2003, she typ-ically had no trouble getting up and starting her day, but some mornings were tougher than others.

“I was experiencing problems with my legs about every two to three weeks,” Patti relates. “I’d have one of my sleepless nights where I’d fall asleep and wake up an hour later, or sometimes I just couldn’t fall asleep at all. My legs wouldn’t relax, and I could very well be up until three or four in the morning, which was very frustrating since I had to be at work at eight.

“It was very annoying. I couldn’t relax, and I would get up and walk around or change positions. I would � nally get so tired, I’d fall asleep.”

Patti continued to live like this, think-ing there was nothing that could be done. Her thinking was challenged when she read an article online. � e article related how restless legs are a symptom of a vein dis-order caused by leaking valves in the veins called venous insu� ciency. � is is the same condition that results in varicose veins.

“I’ve had some varicose veins for many years, but I didn’t realize they might have the same cause [as my restless legs],” states Patti. “� e veins didn’t really hurt or any-thing. � ey just weren’t very attractive.”

Armed with this new insight, Patti did some additional research and made an appointment with Premier Vein Institute in Tampa.

� e sta� at Premier Vein Institute performed an ultrasound evaluation of her

legs and diagnosed her with restless legs syndrome caused by venous insu� ciency.

“� ey performed the ultrasound the day of my � rst visit and found out that I did have leaky valves, which was the root of the issue,” Patti recalls.

with venous insu� ciency we can make a diagnosis with ultrasound.”

Nestor notes that restless legs syn-drome is often associated with other symptoms as well. These include swol-len, fatigued or heavy legs at the end of the day; nighttime leg cramps or charley horses.

“� e likelihood that the patient has venous insu� ciency as the root cause of all these things is signi� cant,” informs Nestor. “� ere’s probably a ninety percent chance they have venous insu� ciency.”

Nestor points out that there appears to be a disconnect in the health care community concerning the relationship between vein disease and restless legs syn-drome. Many health care professionals are not addressing leaking valves as a potential cause for their patients’ symptoms.

Many patients are being told their veins are not the problem because there’s nothing visible on the outside of their legs, when in fact they have severe vein disease inside. The issue is just not manifesting in the classic way that physicians usually identify or recognize, such as varicose veins.

“Patients and physicians alike are not aware of how safe and simple it is today to detect and correct vein conditions,” elab-orates Nestor. “At Premier Vein Institute, we can uncover the speci� c veins that are leaking and leading to symptoms during a quick and painless radiography procedure.

“Diagnostics are safe and scienti� -cally directed now with ultrasonography. � en, we can correct the problem with a minimally invasive treatment called endovenous ablation.”

The Real ReasonRestless legs syndrome is not a disease. It is a syndrome, a pattern of symptoms in the absence of a diagnosable condi-tion. � e cause of restless legs syndrome is determined by ruling out all possible relatable disorders.

� e most common condition asso-ciated with restless legs syndrome is venous insu� ciency, which was the case with Patti. Between seven to ten million adults in the US have been digangosed with restless legs syndrome, Many of them have underlying vein disease that has gone untreated.

“� e clinical presentation of restless legs syndrome includes an irresistible urge to move the legs, especially in bed at night,” describes Nestor Guerrero, ARNP, certi� ed nurse practitioner at Premier Vein Institute.

“People who experience this typi-cally have venous insu� ciency because its symptoms are identical. � e di� erence is,

20 Minutes to FitnessDoctor Endorsed

Riverside Recovery of TampaPeople of VALOR

Rejuvenate Your LifeBalancing Act

Bay Area Eye InstituteTRULIGN for True Vision

Spinal Correction CentersAll Gain with No Pain

Arbor Terrace Citrus ParkIndependent Living

North Tampa Foot CareBack in Step

South Florida Eye ClinicEye Floater Laser

Coastal Jaw SurgerySame Day Teeth

Impeccable SmilesBack from the Brink

OsteoStrongReversing Osteoporosis

Vascular/Veins

Cra i g E. B e rg e r, M D , i s a b o a r d - c e r t i f i e d , fellowship-trained ophthal-mic surgeon. He received his undergraduate degree in chemistr y from the University of Florida and in

1995 earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Berger completed his internship at the Mayo Clinic in 1996 and his ophthalmology residency at the Tulane School of Medicine. He spent an additional year at Tulane for sub-specialty training in cornea and refractive surgery. Dr. Berger is a member of numerous professional organizations, includ-ing the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, Florida Society of Ophthalmology and the Florida Medical Association.

Visit Bay Area Eye Institute on the web at www.CraigBergerMD.com or fi nd them on Facebook

CRAIG E. BERGER, MD

To better serve youDr. Berger is currently accepting new patients, consults and second opinions. Appointments are available within two days, if not the same day. Emergency patients can often be seen the same day. The caring staff at Bay Area Eye Institute also welcomes your questions regarding ophthalmology and ophthalmic surgery. To schedule

an appointment, visit or call us at:

3242 Cove Bend Drive(813) 265-6940

J ames Reeves spent 35 years driving as an over-the-road trucker. After that, he found a position driv-ing for FedEx® and did that for

another 17½ years before finally retiring. Last year, the man who drove for a living noticed driving was becom-ing hazardous.

“I was having problems reading street signs and other signs until I got up close to them,” describes James. “I had blurry vision, and at night I saw rings around the lights. Reading up close kept getting worse and worse. I could see in the dis-tance, but I couldn’t see up close.”

James had worn glasses for 25 years. Because vision is a critical component of driving safety, he regularly had his prescription updated, but his eyesight steadily deteriorated to a point where, even with glasses, his vision was unclear.

“I kept getting new glasses so I could read the street maps,” he admits. “I was wearing my glasses, and I was still having problems with my eyes. � e last time I went to get new glasses, my eye doctor told me I had cataracts and needed to see someone to have them removed.”

James’ eye doctor referred him to Craig E. Berger, MD, a board-certi� ed, fellowship-trained ophthalmic surgeon at Bay Area Eye Institute in Tampa. In addition to his practice at Bay Area Eye Institute, Dr. Berger spent 15 years serving as an adjunct assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of South Florida Eye Institute. � rough his work in those two positions, he devel-oped extensive expertise in cataracts and cataract surgery.

After his initial examination of James, Dr. Berger veri� ed that James did indeed have some of the “classic symp-toms of cataracts.” He then explained that he agreed with James’ regular eye doctor’s assessment that the cataracts needed to be removed.

“When James � rst came to see me, he complained of blurry vision,” notes Dr. Berger. “In addition, he was experi-encing a lot of glare, especially at night, and he was seeing halos around lights,

which made driving di� cult. � ese are classic symptoms of cataracts.”

Common Problem“Cataracts result from protein build-up in the lens of the eye, which prevents light from passing through and makes the vision look cloudy,” educates Dr. Berger. “Symptoms include cloudy or foggy vision, glare, di� culty seeing at night, loss of color intensity and double vision.”

Cataracts are a common problem, more than 20 million Americans have them and most are related to aging. Other factors, however, such as dia-betes, sun exposure, smoking and a family history, can cause the condition to develop at a younger age.

“Cataracts typically become a prob-lem later in life, but they actually start around the age of forty and progress at di� erent rates in di� erent people,” notes Dr. Berger. “For this reason, they can occur in younger people as well.”

Cataract surgery is generally done on an outpatient basis and involves removal of the a� ected lens and replacement with a new, arti� cial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL) implant. One eye is done at a time, usually a few weeks apart.

� at was the plan Dr. Berger laid out for James, but Dr. Berger also discovered that James had an astigmatism in his right eye. Astigmatism is a defect in the shape of the cornea that a� ects the way light is re� ected as well as the clarity of images processed by the eye.

In the past, cataract surgery could do little for astigmatism, but modern techniques and newer replacement lenses can correct for the defect and give most patients glasses-free vision. This was Dr. Berger’s goal for James, who notes that Dr. Berger eased his concerns about the

procedures right from the very start. “I felt very comfortable with

Dr. Berger,” James relates. “His plan was to treat my left eye first and my right eye later because the right eye wasn’t as bad as the left. He told me that together we would decide which replacement lens I’d get.”

Broad Range of ChoicesBefore recommending a replacement lens, Dr. Berger explained the advan-tages and disadvantages of the various lens options to James, including a new lens that corrects astigmatism. The doctor also took time to review James’ lifestyle and activities in order to � nd the best lens match for him.

“I encourage patients to take the time to gain a clear understanding of the bene� ts of each of the di� erent intra-ocular lenses before making a choice,” acknowledges Dr. Berger, who, in addition to his practice at Bay Area Eye Institute, also spends one morning per week treating military veterans at the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Hospital in Tampa.

“No one lens is ideal for everyone. Lenses come in many different sizes, with a variety of features and bene� ts. It’s important I have an appreciation of my patient’s lifestyle before making any recommendation.

“I consider the patient’s activities, hobbies, the type of work he or she does and his or her visual requirements. � en I do a complete eye exam, looking at the patient’s tear � lm, the amount of astigma-tism and the health of the retina, cornea and optic nerve. I recommend implants based on all of that information.”

Standard lenses used in cataract sur-gery are monofocal and correct vision

for distance only. Patients opting for these lenses generally still need to wear glasses for near and intermediate vision. Dr. Berger knew James hoped to be glasses free after surgery, so he recommended a more accommodating lens for him, the TRULIGN toric lens.

“Unlike standard lenses, TRULIGN is a multifocal lens,” he explains. “It is designed to correct near, intermediate and distance vision. It gives patients a broader range of vision and helps increase independence from glasses. At the same time, TRULIGN is a toric lens, which is designed to correct astigmatism, further easing the need for glasses.”

Great, and Still ImprovingCataract surgery with TRULIGN replace-ment lenses made a big difference in James’ everyday life. He says his vision is great now, and it’s still improving.

“After surgery, I was only using read-ers when reading things up close,” he reports. “While I still use them once in a while for very close up, I’m not using them as often as I was before. I’m not wearing regular glasses at all when driving or doing anything else.

“Now, I can see the street signs very well using nothing but sunglasses, and my vision is no longer blurred. � ere are no rings around the lights anymore, either.”

An avid hunter and � sherman, James was amazed by the way his environment looked the � rst time he stepped outdoors after surgery. He believes his hobbies are now more enjoyable, and safer.

“I immediately noticed everything looked crisper, clearer and brighter,” he states. “When I went hunting in Georgia recently, I could see everything clearly without glasses.

“I most definitely recommend this TRULIGN lens, and I have already recommended Bay Area Eye Institute. Thanks to Dr. Berger’s advice, every-thing has worked out very wel l because now I can see far, near and everything in between.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Fred Bellet. mkb

Now, I can see the street signs very well using nothing but sunglasses. My vision is no longer blurred.

There are no rings around the lights anymore, either.

– James

TRULIGN® for True VisionGain independence from glasses with new multifocal lens implants

James no longer needs reading glasses to inspect his rods and reels.

Page 2 | Tampa Health Care News | Spring 2018 | North Tampa Edition OphthalmOlOgy

North Tampa Edition | Spring 2018 | Tampa Health Care News | Page 3cOmprehensiVe Dentistry

All stock imagery that is not marked otherwise is

courtesy of istockphoto.com.

❏ Patients have a strong urge to move their legs, which they may not be able to resist.

❏ Symptoms start or become worse when a patient is resting.

❏ Symptoms get better when patients move their legs. Relief persists as long as the motor activity continues.

❏ Symptoms are worse in the evening, especially when lying down.

Information provided by the RLS Foundation

What Is Restless

Legs Syndrome?

In order for patients to be o� cially diagnosed with restless legs syndrome (RLS), they must meet the

criteria described below:

(continued from page 1)

Don’t worry if you’ve got ugly varicose veins or other signs or symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency. Treatment at Premier Vein Institute is easy and covered by most insurance. The Institute has two locations to serve you:

Tampa1881 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Lakeland3035 Lakeland Hills Blvd. For a FREE CONSULTATION or to

make an appointment, call:

(813) 906-1236To learn more, visit Premier Vein Institute on the web at www.premierveins.com

Restless Legs or Venous Insu� ciency?

Today’s TreatmentsIn the past, the only treatment available to o� er patients with venous insu� ciency was surgical vein excisions, or vein stripping, which often required hospitalization and general anesthesia, along with an extended recovery period.

“Now, there is something we can do to � x the problem that is not invasive, is not a stripping, is not done in the hospital, is not done with general anesthesia and does not have a lot of complications or require a lot of recovery time,” notes Nestor.

Endovenous ablation, or endovenous closure, allows the treat-ment of leaking veins by sealing them with heat rather than stripping them out of the legs.

“With endovenous closure, there are no incisions, minimal to no pain and minimal scarring.”

Patti wasn’t sure what to expect when she went to Premier Vein Institute for this procedure. She was thrilled, however, with how easy the process turned out to be.

“It was not painful at all,” she recalls. “� ey sealed the veins and took out some of the varicosities, and my legs were better immedi-ately. I was very surprised because you’re nervous, having never had it done. It doesn’t really seem like a medical procedure. I was fully awake, and we talked about several topics.”

Not only was the procedure easy to tolerate, there was little downtime afterward, which � t right into Patti’s busy lifestyle. As a result, she decided to have some of the unsightly veins on her legs treated and went back for a follow-up visit.

Seeing and FeelingPart of the body’s intricate circulatory system, veins are specially designed to pump blood back toward the heart, against the force of gravity. Inside these blood vessels are a series of one-way valves that open and close with the rhythm of muscle contractions.

Healthy valves close tightly, keeping blood moving upward toward the heart. With vein disease or venous insu� ciency, the valves do not close properly. � is allows blood to � ow backward down the legs and pool in the veins.

Is It Venous Insu� ciency?

Take This Self-TestDo you have one or more of these signs and symptoms? If so, you may have venous insu� ciency and may bene� t from a free vein evaluation:

✓ Pain in the legs ✓ Swelling in the legs/feet ✓ Varicose or spider veins ✓ Cramping in the legs/feet,

especially at night ✓ Discoloration of the ankles

or lower legs ✓ Itchy, dry skin on the

legs/feet ✓ Ulcers or sores on the legs ✓ Heavy legs ✓ Neuropathy ✓ Restless legs syndrome ✓ Burning/tingling in legs/feet

Get Premier

Legs!

� e pooled blood can lead to complications such as swollen, achy legs or leg cramping; “cankles” (where the distinction between calf and ankle is lost because of swelling), varicose veins, and skin changes that can lead to bleeding veins and leg ulcers. � ese com-plications are signs that vein disease is present.

“� ere are symptoms and signs of venous insu� ciency, leaking veins or venous re� ux disease,” Nestor educates. “� e symptoms are what patients feel, and the signs are what patients see. Your legs get heavy as the day goes on. You feel like you’re having leg cramps in bed at night. You feel fatigue in your legs. � ose are symptoms that patients often report.”

Restful NightsSince her treatment, Patti’s symptoms have improved dramatically. She no longer has those nighttime bouts of restless legs, and she has many more good mornings.

“I’m sleeping a lot better now,” she reports. “� e restless legs subsided like crazy. I used to have one of those bad nights every two to three weeks. � en, I was having them maybe once a month. Now, I can’t even remember when I had the last one because they are so infrequent.

“I’m very satis� ed with the results, and I’ll continue to see Nestor if I have any other problems. I would certainly recommend Premier Vein Institute, because they did exactly what they said they were going to do. � ere was minimal discomfort, and the results are beyond amazing. My legs look like they were when I was eighteen years old. I’m ecstatic.

“I’m not waking up cramping anymore. All the issues I had are gone. I have no pain. I haven’t had ankles in probably thirty years, and I have ankles! I think he’s gold.”

Patti attests that Premier Vein Institute is top-notch for treat-ment of vein issues.

“I think the doctors and sta� are remarkable,” she says. “I highly recommend them for any kind of leg vein issues.”FHCN staff article. mkb

* Patient name withheld at her request

Page 4 | Tampa Health Care News | Spring 2018 | North Tampa Edition

Barry P. LevineExecutive Publisher

Dan OchmanSenior Associate Publisher

Gina L. d’AngeloCFO/HR

Roy CummingsEditorial Supervisor

Michelle BrooksCreative Director

Brian LevineProject Coordinator

Patti DiPanfiloAnnette MardisEditorial Staff

Laura EngelProduction Assistant

Nerissa JohnsonGraphic Designer

Nerissa JohnsonJordan PyszFred Bellet

Photography

Steve TurkMario Hill

Kent BoothRick BowserRobert Mize Distribution

Premier Vein InstituteVascular/Veins

Bay Area Eye InstituteOphthalmology

Impeccable SmilesComprehensive Dentistry

Associates for Behavioral Medicine

Psychiatry/TMS

Spinal Correction CentersStretching Under Sedation

Arbor Terrace Citrus ParkSenior Living

Infinity Medical InstituteBio-Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy

OsteoStrongOsteoporosis Treatment

North Tampa Foot CarePodiatric Medicine/Surgery

20 Minutes to FitnessPhysical Fitness

HemReliefHemorrhoid Treatment

South Florida Eye ClinicOphthalmology

Coastal Jaw SurgeryOral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Riverside Recovery of TampaAddiction Treatment

Regenerative Orthopedic InstituteStem Cell Therapy/ Pain Management

Rejuvenate Your LifeWeight Loss

215 Bullard ParkwayTemple Terrace, FL 33617

(813) 989-1330

Tampa Health Care News

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

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

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

Tampa Health Care News provides a paid forum for health care professionals to present their ideas about various aspects of health care treatment and procedures. Florida Health Care News, Inc. is not responsible for the health care delivered by the contributing editors presented in this edition.

Articles reflect the opinion of the sponsoring professional or organization and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other contributing editors. Contributing editors have approved all text contained within their respective articles.

© 2018 Florida Health Care News, Inc. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication, including articles, may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

FOR ALL health care professionals having

articles in this publication: THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON

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

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

PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF, AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO, THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR A FREE,

DISCOUNTED OR REDUCED FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT.

Vascular/Veins

North Tampa Edition | Spring 2018 | Tampa Health Care News | Page 5psychiatry/tms

STEPHEN J. STELLER, DC

Conditions Treated with Manipulation Under Anesthesia

• Neck Pain and Torticollis• Back Pain • Sciatica and Fibrous Adhesions• Numbness and Tingling• Bulging and Herniated Discs• Frozen Shoulder and Shoulder

Impingement Syndrome• Knee Pain/Ankle Pain• Spinal Stenosis • Spondylosis and Arthritis (DJD)• TMJ Pain and Migraine Headaches• Failed Neck and Back Surgeries• Sports Injuries

Visit them online at www.spinalcorrectioncenters.com

E� ective Chiropractic Treatment

The professionals at Spinal Correction Centers focus on the cause of disease, and not just the symptoms. Services o� ered include chiropractic manipulation, nonsurgical spinal decompression, massage therapy, MUA, nutritional counseling and prenatal chiropractic care.

Tampa1906 W. Platt St.

(813) 463-8355Largo

515 Missouri Ave. (727) 587-6667

Dunedin1075 Main St.

(727) 734-7611

Stephen J. Steller, DC, has spent more than 20 years working with per-sonal injury patients to document and treat inju-ries sustained in accidents. He received his doctorate in chiropractic medicine at Life College. Dr. Steller

lectures throughout the tri-county area on the topic of nonsurgical pain relief and offers pain-free movement for everybody.

Painless technique restores lost � exibility, mobility and more

Bending is no longer a painful problem for Bob

D etroit born, Bob Young grew up across the globe while his father was in the US Army. He followed in his father’s

footsteps and served in the Army, as well as the National Guard and US Coast Guard. He then made a career as a biomedical engineer. Now 80 and retired, Bob found himself fighting an enemy that’s been haunting him since his military days.

“I was having low back pain,” dis-closes Bob. “It may have come on with age, or I may have done something in the service to injure my back, but didn’t real-ize I injured it. I don’t remember.

“� e pain seemed to move from one hip to the other, and it also ran down my leg. Usually, it was a chronic, light ache to remind me not to move certain ways, but when it really hit, it was a pretty sharp pain. I was very careful to protect my back, and the pain eventually went away, but it took three or four weeks to get any relief.”

When Bob’s pain � ared, it kept him from doing many of his favorite things, and made doing others uncomfortable. Beyond the pain in his back and leg, Bob also grappled with tightness in his neck, as well as urinary incontinence, which further limited his activities.

“� e pain kept me from bending over and sitting certain ways,” he describes. “With my problems, I couldn’t get out and do things I enjoy, like hunting and fishing and other things outdoors. I couldn’t repair and change things around the house, which I like to do. Getting in and out of my airplane was not the most pleasant thing, although once I was in, I was usually okay.

“I had a couple of shots in my back, but they didn’t do any good. � en, some friends told me about a doctor who targets the problems behind the pain. � ey’d been to him, and their treatments were successful. � ey said maybe he could help me, too.”

The doctor Bob’s friends recom-mended was Stephen J. Steller, DC, of Spinal Correction Centers. Among the treatments Dr. Steller provides at his practice is a unique protocol known as

Sedative Stretching, which is a technique of Manipulation Under Anesthesia.

“When Bob � rst came to see me, he was experiencing low back and neck prob-lems,” reports Dr. Steller. “He was having di� culty walking and bending over, and the range of motion in his neck was limited. Movements such as looking over his shoul-der to back up his car and checking tra� c to change lanes while driving were restricted.

“Bob was also recovering from recent prostate surgery and was struggling with post-surgical incontinence. He was look-ing for treatment that would help his back and neck pain and also address the incon-tinence issue.”

“Dr. Steller was very knowledgeable and thorough with his examination,” notes Bob. “He took a series of x-rays and picked up on a few things with my posture that we started working on immediately.

“At � rst, he recommended chiroprac-tic manipulations, which helped a little. It certainly helped the nerve that runs down my leg, the sciatic nerve.”

Unfortunately, this approach did not get Bob entirely back on his feet. � en, Dr. Steller suggested Sedative Stretching.

“I wasn’t really sure about that at � rst because I don’t like anesthesia,” offers Bob. “But Dr. Steller said it was more of a la-la land thing and very short-term.

“When he did it, it worked out just fine. I felt like I had a nice sleep, but was only asleep for a very short time. Dr. Steller did what he does, and I didn’t feel it. � at was the best part!”

Joints in Motion� ose who bene� t most from Sedative Stretching are people with painful mus-cle and joint conditions, points out Dr. Steller. Ideal candidates are those with conditions such as unresolved neck and back pain, herniated discs, spinal steno-sis, sciatica, frozen shoulder, acute and chronic muscle spasm, headaches and failed back surgery syndrome.

“� e procedure can also bene� t any-one who has su� ered any kind of impact injury,” he adds. “� is can occur from things like wrecking your bike as a kid, falling from a ladder or even sitting at a desk at work for thirty years. Honestly, most everyone could benefit from Sedative Stretching. It restores lost � ex-ibility and motion.

“People start losing � exibility when their typical, daily activities cause minor injuries that lead to inflammation. In� ammation is part of the body’s natural

healing process, which lays down a mesh of connective tissue we know as scar tissue. Over time, layer upon layer of scar tis-sue can form in the muscles, tendons and ligaments around the joints, restricting the joints’ ability to move properly. � ese layers of scar tissue are called adhesions.”

Symptoms and warning signs most often associated with adhesions include the slow and insidious loss of flexibil-ity, as well as an increasing achiness and soreness.

“These symptoms are generally attributed to normal aging,” Dr. Steller reports. “While it’s very common to become stiff and sore with age, it’s not normal. People need to be aware of these warning signs and not simply dismiss them.”

During Sedative Stretching, the patient is put under light sedation, some-times called “twilight” sedation. With the patient relaxed, doctors can take the a� ected joints through their normal full range of motion, freeing the adhesions that have developed that are causing the pain.

“While the patient is sedated, we use light, comprehensive stretching tech-niques,” explains Dr. Steller. “Because we don’t have to � ght tense, guarded muscles, we are able to free up the scar tissue and mobilize the joints without causing the patient any discomfort. � is would be impossible to do without using sedation.

“The fact is, motion keeps joints healthy. Generally, when people get injured, the most common reaction is to stop moving because it hurts. However, this lack of motion makes the joints unhealthy, and eventually they stop functioning properly. Sedative Stretching breaks up the scar tissue that forms and gets those joints moving freely again.”

Sedative Stretching also eliminates pinched nerves in the spine that go to various organs, enabling the organs to function at a much higher level. When

Dr. Steller performed Sedative Stretching on Bob, he released the nerves leading to Bob’s urinary bladder, correcting his incontinence as well.

Comfortable ActivitiesUnlike many people, Bob didn’t experience dramatic pain relief immediately after his Sedative Stretching procedure, but he did the following day. At that point, he noticed most of his intense pain was gone. And his relief has lasted since his procedure was done, more than six months ago.

“I feel � ne now,” he reports. “I still have some aches and pains, but that’s just the way life is at eighty. It’s nothing like the pain I had before, and I haven’t had the pain down my leg in months. As far as the incontinence, Dr. Steller worked on the nerve that controls that area, and it’s pretty much cleared up.”

Now that his back and neck no lon-ger hurt, Bob is working to regain the strength and stamina he lost being immo-bile as a result of his conditions. Already, he’s returned to his favorite activities, and driving and getting into and out of his plane are no longer uncomfortable.

“I’m back to hunting and � shing and doing everything,” he con� rms. “I recom-mend Sedative Stretching for anybody with back pain, and I recommend Spinal Correction Centers and Dr. Steller. He’s just � ne!”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Jordan Pysz. mkb

All Gain with No PainPage 6 | Tampa Health Care News | Spring 2018 | North Tampa Edition stretching unDer seDatiOn

New community o� ers a comfortable, active lifestyle

L ike many active seniors, Anthony believes he’s done his fair share of mowing lawns and maintaining properties. For his

next phase of life, he wants a home that is personal and comfortable, yet worry free and close to friends and activities. He wants to enjoy a full, dynamic life while living independently, without the respon-sibilities of home ownership.

To learn more about this growing community, visit them online at www.arborcompany.com

Independent Living

Experience ArborAt Arbor Terrace Citrus Park, staff extend a wholehearted welcome to seniors who expect more from their next living experience. They invite the readers of Tampa Health Care News to explore the new, independent living community located on the Arbor Terrace campus in Tampa at:

8305 Old Hixon Road

(813) 452-4300

� at’s exactly the lifestyle available at the new independent living community at Arbor Terrace Citrus Park, set to open in June 2018. Arbor Terrace Citrus Park combines all the comforts of home with a refreshing sense of freedom.

“Life at Arbor Terrace Citrus Park is about the joys of living free from the tedious chores that go along with own-ing a home,” says Amanda Grau, sales and marketing director for Arbor Terrace Citrus Park. “Not having to take care of those responsibilities gives our active seniors more time to enjoy their lives.”

Arbor Terrace Citrus Park is senior living at its finest. The community o� ers 139 independent living apartments in seven large, open-concept, one- or two-bedroom � oor plans, some with dens, balconies or sunrooms. � e � oor plans are designed to meet residents’ living needs with safety and comfort in mind.

� e independent living community rounds out the Arbor Terrace Citrus Park campus, which also includes assisted liv-ing and memory care facilities. Serving the entire campus is a staff passionate about setting the absolute highest stan-dard of senior living on every level.

“We’re here to make deep con-nections with our residents and their families,” says Barbara Marchiselli, senior living counselor. “� e sta� is here to be part of the next chapter in their lives. We want to be profoundly connected to every resident’s story.”

At Arbor Terrace Citrus Park, the sta� began the development process by asking seniors what they needed and wanted in

an independent senior living community.“We started by asking the right ques-

tions and taking the time to listen,” says Barbara. “� en, through the connections we make, we built accordingly to ful� ll our promise to � nd and provide the best possible senior living experience.”

Amenities and ActivitiesAt Arbor Terrace Citrus Park, residents can enjoy the freedom to live life their way, enjoying a rich selection of ameni-ties and activities.

“Residents can cook for themselves in their apartments if they choose,” says Barbara. “Or, if they prefer, they can start each day with a continental breakfast, then have their choice of lunch or din-ner in our beautiful, formal dining room. Meals are served restaurant-style and are prepared to residents’ needs and prefer-ences by our executive chef.”

“� ere’s also a cooking demonstra-tion station and bistro café on site, giving residents another option for their meals,” adds Barbara.

� e community o� ers weekly house-keeping services, and personal laundry and linen services are available, although apartments are furnished with washers and dryers. � e grounds are expertly landscaped and feature walking paths to the outdoor swimming pool and the on-site lake, which is stocked with � sh.

� e grounds also sport a putting green, a lounge area with a � repit, and a playground for resi-dents’ grandchildren. � e building houses a hair and nail salon and spa o� ering mas-sage services, as well as two gyms – one a � tness center, the other dedicated to phys-ical therapy. Seniors can relax and watch a movie in the theatre, read a book or mag-azine in the library, build a masterpiece in the art room and woodworking shops, or enjoy an afternoon in the card room or happy hour in the bar with friends.

“Our location is close to shopping and restaurants,” says Barbara, “including Citrus Park Mall and grocery stores, as well as golf courses, neighborhoods, schools and churches. � e community is just minutes away from beaches, nightlife, Florida his-tory and big-league sports games.”

“� e community is pet-friendly,” says Amanda We have landscaped dog walks on the property.”

Arbor Terrace Citrus Park also pro-vides a robust Engaged Living calendar

of activities to keep the residents’ minds and bodies active. The activities are well-rounded. Activities include regular, community-wide events; sightseeing trips and classes, as well as daily exercise sessions.

“We started the socializing early,” she says. “We’ve gathered those who’ve already signed up for apartments at a dinner to celebrate the birth of our Arbor Terrace Citrus Park family. We plan to continue holding social events monthly until the building opens, then our Engagement Team will take over the activity calendar.

“When seniors move in with us, they don’t have to give up any of the comforts and activities that make them happy. Rather, we like to think they’re going to gain something more by having a chance to try new things and meet new people.”

� e � rst 20 seniors to reserve apart-ments at Arbor Terrace Citrus Park will be part of the facility’s Founder’s Club. As members, they’ll receive special perks, including discounted rates to join certain local country clubs.

� e sta� gets to know all residents on a personal level to make their senior living experience truly special. � e sta� is always ready to provide personalized attention to meet their diverse physical and emotional needs.

“Residents can relax, knowing our highly trained staff is at their service twenty-four hours a day,” says Amanda. “In addition, a top-tier wellness team is just a phone call away. � ey can answer medical questions and provide care when needed.”

Covering Life’s StagesThe staff at Arbor Terrace Citrus Park understands that aging occurs in stages. The independent living community is part of a larger campus that includes facil-ities for assisted living and memory care. With all these stages of life at one campus, seniors at Arbor Terrace Citrus Park can “age in place.”

“We have individual facilities that o� er di� erent types of senior living,” says Amanda. “Our residents can transition into the dif-ferent types if the need arises, avoiding a

disruptive move to a whole new community.“We also have a program called

Bridges, which is just that, a bridge from assisted living to memory care. Having facilities for all di� erent life stages on one campus provides for better conti-nuity of care for the residents.”

Independent living is for active seniors who can manage activities of daily living (ADL) without help. Seniors in the assisted living community need some help with a few ADL, but can otherwise live independently. � e assisted living facility offers meals, housekeeping, organized activities and wellness programs in an apartment-like community.

“Our memory care facility is for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of age-related dementia,” says Amanda. “Sta� there o� er twenty-four-hour supervision, nutritional support and sensory-based programming, also in an apartment-like setting.”

� e campus at Arbor Terrace Citrus Park is well designed to meet the current and future needs of its residents. It has a dedicated sta� that goes the extra mile to enrich residents’ lives, as well as activities and amenities that promote independence and wellness. Barbara stresses they do all this to make those deep connections with the residents.

“We want to be a family with our seniors,” she says. “We’re all in this together.”

� at sounds pretty good to Anthony, who is looking forward to a carefree life-style to make his golden years truly golden.FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photos courtesy of Arbor

Terrace. mkb

Get on the priority list for savings on select apartments while they last!

At Arbor Terrace, residents enjoy a full, dynamic, independent lifestyle without the responsibility of home ownership.

North Tampa Edition | Spring 2018 | Tampa Health Care News | Page 7seniOr liVing

Page 8 | Tampa Health Care News | Spring 2018 | North Tampa Edition BiO-natural hOrmOne replacement therapy

North Tampa Edition | Spring 2018 | Tampa Health Care News | Page 9BiO-natural hOrmOne replacement therapy

OsteoStrong leverages scienti� cally proven osteogenic-loading methodologies to help all ages and fitness levels. It was created using research in cellular biology, anti-aging, longevity and bone mass. OsteoStrong has two Bay area locations:

Tampa 1757 W. Fletcher Ave.

(813) 968-9162 St. Petersburg

6800 Gulfport Blvd., Suite 211(727) 317-2600

Reverse Bone Loss

For more information, please visit their website at www.OsteoStrong.me, fi nd them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/osteostrongcarrollwood

Lynn is amazed at the increase in her bone density.

Reversing Osteoporosis – Without Drugs

Lynn Hummel underwent a routine bone density screen-ing when she was 51 and received distressing news:

Her bone density was lower than nor-mal, enough to indicate a symptomless condition called osteopenia.

Osteopenia is a risk factor for later developing a dangerous disease called osteoporosis – when bones become more fragile and prone to fractures.

“My doctor said I really needed to do something to improve my bone density and wanted to put me on FOSAMAX®,” she shares. “I told them, I don’t want drugs.”

Lynn has a family history of oste-oporosis and didn’t want her bones to continue to weaken. Although she resisted taking medication often prescribed for osteopenia and osteoporosis, she chose to take action in another way.

She enrolled in a revolutionary pro-gram called OsteoStrong, which helps build bone through short weekly sessions on specialized equipment. Six months later, Lynn had another bone density screening, the results of which were dra-matically di� erent from the � rst.

“My bone density had gone up ten percent!” she exclaims. “� ey couldn’t believe the di� erence.”

Natural SolutionBones are made of tissue that is con-stantly broken down and replaced. But when new bone creation does not keep up with degeneration, osteopenia and osteoporosis can occur.

“Osteoporosis is a silent disease that most people are unaware they have until they fracture a bone,” educates Mark Brady, president of OsteoStrong in South Pasadena. “It’s caused by bone loss. Statistically, one in two women and one in four men over age � fty will have an osteo-porosis-related fracture in their lifetime.”

People who have osteoporosis can reverse the harmful e� ects of the dis-ease through the OsteoStrong program, which Mark describes as an e� ective, natural solution for all age groups, rang-ing from age 8 up to 97.

“We utilize a concept called osteogenic loading, which is a ten-minute, once-a-week, resistance-based session that increases bone density, prevents fractures, strengthens muscle tissue and improves balance.

“� e machine we use applies pres-sure through short, acute activities that

stimulate the body’s natural impulse to rebuild bone and tissue loss. Once the tissue growth process has been triggered, the body will naturally rebuild tissue and bone over the long term. I’ve seen patients with their spines curved and who are hunched over regain the ability to stand up straight again.’’

Sessions are deliberately scheduled once a week, Mark says, because studies have shown that more frequent sessions do not promote additional improvement.

“Unlike most things you hear about in life where more is better, that’s not the case at OsteoStrong,” explains Mark. “� e body simply cannot respond any faster.

“It takes only about ten minutes to complete a session but in that period of time, a response occurs that is nothing short of amazing.

“On average, our studies have found that OsteoStrong improves people’s bone density by about seven percent a year,” Mark continues. “Also, people will increase their strength, on average, by sev-enty-three percent over the course of their � rst year at OsteoStrong.”

Better Balance and StrengthIn addition to improving her bone density, Lynn noticed other positive e� ects from her OsteoStrong sessions. Aches and pains that were part of her life seemed to disappear.

“After a little while, I realized, Oh man, I don’t hurt like I used to. My knees stopped hurting like they usually did,” notes Lynn, who works as a bookkeeper.

“My balance improved – I’ve not

always had a good center of balance, and I could really tell the di� erence – and my strength went up dramatically.”

Most of all, she appreciates how OsteoStrong helped increase her bone density – without having to take any medication.

“� e di� erence OsteoStrong sessions made for me was amazing,” she says. “I’ve stayed away from developing osteoporo-sis, and I’d really like to keep it that way.”FHCN staff article. Lynn’s photo courtesy of Lynn Hummel. mkb

Osteoporosiscauses bones to become brittle and more susceptible to fracture. Men and women can develop the disease, but it is more prevalent among women. Other risk factors include:

� Older Age � Small Body

Frame � Caucasian or

Asian Ethnicity � Family History � Low Estrogen

or Testosterone � Steroid Use

� Low Calcium Intake

� Certain Medications

� Sedentary Lifestyle

� Smoking � Excessive

Alcohol Use

Diane is back in step with custom insoles

Michal Waldman, DPM, graduated in the top half of her class from Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago. She completed her surgical residency with the DVA New York Harbor Healthcare System, a� liated with New York University School of Medicine, where she served as chief resident. Board certi� ed by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, she’s trained in all areas of podiatric medicine and surgery, including pedal dermatology, biomechanics and sports medicine, routine and pediatric podiatric care, diabetic foot care, infectious dis-eases, wound care, pain management, peripheral neuropathy and limb salvage. 

Happy feet, healthy body North Tampa Foot Care is a podiatric medical and surgical practice aimed at improving foot care and overall health. The o� ce is located in Tampa at:

1706 E. Bearss Ave.(813) 972-4300

Back in Step Custom insoles soothe sore feet, ankles

Diane Walker doesn’t know when or how she injured her Achilles tendon. She only knows it was a tremen-

dous pain in her left ankle.Her struggles began during a di� cult

time for Diane and her husband, Donald. He had recently undergone multiple sur-geries and hospitalizations.

As Diane logged numerous steps between parking lots and hospital rooms, her pace slowed and she started limping.

“It hurt so bad, I could hardly walk back and forth,” she recalls. “I’d get so far and then I’d have to rest a minute. I was almost in tears by the time I reached his room.”

Diane thought the lump on her ankle was a bone spur, caused by extra bone growth, because she’d had two pre-vious surgeries to remove spurs on her other ankle. She dreaded going through the intense pain and long recovery again. Also, she needed to stay by her husband’s side, especially as he recuperated at home, so she delayed seeing a doctor.

Visit North Tampa Foot Care on the web at northtampafootcare.com or email them at DrNTFC@gmail.com

MICHAL WALDMAN, DPM

When she finally did, an x-ray revealed a partial tear in her Achilles ten-don. For a while, she wore a boot-like walking cast, which she hated, and used a walker and a knee scooter.

When her ankle still ached, she returned to the doctor and received a new diagnosis: Achilles tendonitis.

Seeking a second opinion, Diane was referred to North Tampa Foot Care and Michal Waldman, DPM, who is trained in all areas of podiatric medicine and surgery.

Personalized Treatment“When Diane � rst came to me, she’d been in a boot from the previous physician for over eight months,” Dr. Waldman notes. “She was in pain, and she could barely move her ankle. She wasn’t able to walk her dog, and most other activities that required walking were di� cult for her.”

A review of Diane’s x-rays and an MRI showed she had supra insertional Achilles tendonitis, meaning the largest tendon in her body was in� amed above where it attaches to the bone.

Dr. Waldman prescribed a soft boot for six or seven weeks, custom insoles for

Diane’s closed-toed shoes and about six weeks of physical therapy.

Diane’s prescription orthotics had to precisely match the contours of her feet and take into account the way she moves. After evaluating Diane’s feet, ankles and legs, Dr. Waldman created a three-dimensional plaster mold of both feet.

“I personally determine every single detail of the insert, including the mate-rials used,” the doctor stresses. “I ensure the appropriate amount of shock absorp-tion for the patient’s activity level. A twenty-year-old triathlete will need di� erent materials than somebody in their eighties.

“I also take into account what type of pain they’re having because sometimes they need a more rigid contact cover ver-sus a softer one,” she expounds. “I then determine whether it’s going to be a full-length versus a partial insert.

While o� -the-shelf insoles or insoles made after stepping on a scanner may be easier to get, appropriate and successful long-term, noninvasive treatment requires a thorough physical examination and imag-ing studies by a trained medical specialist.”

Return to WellnessDiane is feeling much better now. � e lump on her ankle is gone and so is her discomfort.

“She’s able to walk her dog, walk at theme parks, walk on the beach and other uneven surfaces – all pain free,” Dr. Waldman reports.

Diane had such a positive experi-ence at North Tampa Foot Care that she referred a friend to Dr. Waldman who was seeking treatment for plantar fasciitis.

“Dr. Waldman took care of her problem, too,” Diane shares. “She is really amazing.”FHCN article by Annette Mardis. Photo by Fred Bellet. mkb

Page 10 | Tampa Health Care News | Spring 2018 | North Tampa Edition

pODiatric meDicine/surgery

OsteOpOrOsis treatment

The staff at Minutes to Fitness looks forward

to serving all your fitness needs. They offer

personalized, one-on-one training with no annual

contracts or membership fees. For a complimentary

orientation, please contact:

Lakewood Ranch6257 Lake Osprey Drive(941) 309-8989

Sarasota209 N. Lime Avenue

(941) 361-1000Tampa

11610 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.(813) 664-8888

Learn more at www.20minutesto� tness.com

Blake Weinstein is a nationally certi� ed personal � tness profes-sional and is passionate about helping clients improve their health and � tness in a safe and e� ective manner.

Doctor Endorsed – No Excuses!Brief, once-a-week workouts save time and build muscle

Blake Weinstein (left) keeps close watch on Catherine as she works through her 20-minute, once-a-week workout.

Dr. Catherine O’Connell’s cat Fuzzy is quite a handful. Barely two years old, the Maine Coon is already living

up to its reputation as the “gentle giant’’ of the domestic feline world as it currently weighs in at a robust 18 pounds.

For more than a year now, Catherine has been telling her son that she needs to stick to a good workout regimen just to be able to lift Fuzzy. Her son found out this past Christmas that Catherine wasn’t kidding around when she said that.

“I hadn’t seen my son in about a year, and when he came home and saw Fuzzy and reached down to pick him up, he said, You really do have to lift weights to pick this cat up,’’ Catherine relates. “I told him, “� at’s why I go to 20 Minutes to Fitness.”

Catherine, 67, has always been a bit of a � tness fanatic. A family practitioner in Sarasota who still sees patients � ve days a week, she does yoga and spends a lot of her free time either at the gym, biking or hiking.

� at � tness regimen was interrupted a couple years ago when Catherine tore her rotator cu� while at the gym. It was shortly after that, while she was still recov-ering from the tear that forced her to scale back her workouts, she � rst discovered 20 Minutes to Fitness.

“Several of my patients were doing it, but the one who tipped the balance for me was an eighty-four-year-old woman who had gone there at � rst just to serve as moral support for a friend who was trying it out,” Catherine explains.

“This lady has a lot of arthritis but still plays a lot of tennis, and she told me that since she’d started going there, she’d lost eight pounds and was feel-ing stronger. When she bounced off my examining table, I thought, Good Lord, this is amazing.

“� at was over two-and-a-half years ago, and I remember thinking to myself at the time, If this woman who is eighty-four can do it, so can I. I went and I tried it out, and I was so impressed that I’ve been going ever since.”

Dr. Catherine O’Connell

Tailored Training At 20 Minutes to Fitness, each client works out one-on-one with a nationally certi� ed personal � tness coach who creates and supervises a detailed workout pro-gram that is designed to do exactly what its name implies: achieve results through once-a-week sessions that last 20 minutes.

� e workouts are structured around an exercise method known as slow-cadence train-ing in which t h e c o a c h gu ides the client’s pace a n d f o r m a s we ight s are lifted in u l t r a - s l o w movements. Each repe-tit ion lasts 20 seconds to maximize muscle per-f o r m a n c e , always achiev-ing a full body workout at each session.

“ W h a t we do is very slow-paced, and what that does is create cont inuous tension on t h e m u s -cle f ibers ,” explains Blake Weinstein, Catherine’s personal � tness coach. “So just because you’re only working twenty minutes a week doesn’t mean you aren’t putting your muscles under tension for the same amount of time that you would during a traditional workout program where you work out three or four times a week.

“In fact, this method is actually more e� ective because in this program you have more time under tension on those mus-cle � bers. And the longer the muscle is challenged, the deeper it reaches into the tissue. So whereas each repetition in a

traditional workout lasts one or two sec-onds up and one or two seconds down, we stretch that out to a ten to twelve sec-ond count. � at’s a big, big di� erence and achieving far better results.”

Each workout consists of five to seven exercises. Each exercise is done on specialized equipment for approx-imately two minutes, with the goal being to reach what is known as peak

performance. W h e n m u s c l e s r e a ch th i s performance level during s t r e n g t h t r a i n i n g , blood � ows to the site. � at � ow of blood supercharges t h e b o d y a n d h e l p s i t to burn fat while it rebuilds and strengthens the muscle naturally.

“Muscle reaches peak performance w h e n y o u can no lon-ger move the weight stack o n e m o r e inch,’’ Blake

relates. “Although we’re not running and jumping and sweating and moving all around, we really are pushing those mus-cles to that peak performance point.”

� e program has years of research and plenty of science behind its success, which is further achieved through highly specialized weight-training equipment that was originally designed for use in physical therapy.

� e equipment features a patented double-stacking system in which weight stacks increase in increments of two pounds instead of the traditional � ve, ten

or 20 pounds. � e system is also calibrated to work speci� c muscle groups without putting stress on joints or ligaments.

Research has shown that in addition to improving strength, weekly, 20-minute, slow-cadence training sessions also help increase energy, control arthri-tis, � ght symptoms of diabetes and reduce back pain. � ey can increase bone density and cardiovascular health, improve bal-ance, and the list goes on.

Improved Strength, BalanceCatherine is a good example of how a 20 Minutes to Fitness workout is geared to improve strength throughout the body. When she � rst arrived at 20 Minutes to Fitness, she was looking for a program designed primarily to aid her in her hik-ing and biking activities and help her correct body imbalances.

“Although always focusing on a full body workout, Dr. O’Connell wanted to target her hamstrings and glutes to improve her gait and to target the muscles in her upper and lower back to improve her posture,” Blake reveals.

“We worked to make sure her neck is nice and strong, and to strengthen the shoulder area where she’d had the prob-lems with her rotator cu� .’’

The success is evident, Catherine explains, when she does chores.

“I notice it most when I go to get bags of salt for the water purifying sys-tem I have,” she relates. “I go in and pick out the big, forty-pound bags and dump them in the cart, and [someone at the store] always asks me if I need a hand with them, and I say, No, I can manage.

“� en I put them in the trunk of my car, and when I get home, I hoist them back out and take one bag in each hand and go around back and dump them in the system. So yes, I am very � t and strong now.”

Catherine says the time she saves as a result of being a client at 20 Minutes to Fitness is one of the best bene� ts.

“I’m very busy and so it frees me up to do other things that I love to do,” she states. “It’s made a big di� erence in my life. Even my patients have noticed. � ey’ll say, You’ve got muscles, Doc, and I’ll say, “Yes, I do.”

“It’s really done wonders for me, which is why I absolutely recommend 20 Minutes to Fitness. � e coaches and everyone there are all so very lovely. � ey’re just delightful and very professional, and I really enjoy it. It’s keeping me � t.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photos by Jordan Pysz. mkb

North Tampa Edition | Spring 2018 | Tampa Health Care News | Page 11physical Fitness

Page 12 | Tampa Health Care News | Spring 2018 | North Tampa Edition

OphthalmOlOgy

hemOrrhOiD treatment

are affiliated with five area hospitals and are members and o� cers of numerous professional organizations, including the Florida Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons; American and Florida Dental Societies of Anesthesiology; American, Florida, West Coast, West Pasco, Upper Pinellas, and Hernando County Dental Associations; Academy of Osseointegration; and American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Additionally, the doctors sponsor dental implant study clubs for the area’s general dentists.

The Doctors at Coastal Jaw Surgery

Palm Harbor2711 Tampa Rd.

(727) 786-1631Trinity

8845 Hawbuck Street

(727) 375-0469Trinity

Same Day Teeth8740 Mitchell Blvd.

(800) NEW LOOKCall today for a complimentary

consultation and a CT scan.

Improve your bite!

Facts You Need to Know About Dr. Pikos

25

See educational videos at www.CoastalJaw.com

BEFORE

AFTER

1. High school class president and valedictorian2. Summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa – The

Ohio State University3. Completed dental degree with honors from

Ohio State College of Dentistry4. Board-certi� ed oral and maxillofacial surgeon5. Diplomate, American Board of Oral and

Maxillofacial Surgery6. Diplomate, American Board of Oral

Implantology/Implant Dentistry7. Diplomate, International Congress of Oral

Implantologists8. Has completed over 5,000 hours of continu-

ing studies9. Aaron Gershko� Memorial Award for out-

standing contributions in implant dentistry10. Founded Coastal Jaw Surgery (1983)11. Has placed more than 20,000 dental implants12. First in Tampa Bay area to acquire cone beam

computed tomography equipment13. Founder of the Pikos Institute14. Has taught more than 3,500 dentists – at least

one from 43 di� erent countries and each of the 50 United States – surgical techniques relating to dental implants, bone grafting and soft-tissue grafting

15. Named Dentistry Today Leader in continuing education 2008 – 2017

16. Founder of Pinnacle Study Club in 198817. Serves on the Editorial Board of the following

journals: Implant Dentistry, Inside Dentistry, the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry and the Journal of Implant and Advanced Clinical Dentistry

18. Scientific board member of Implant News Magazine

19. International educator and lecturer on dental implant reconstruction

20. Consultant for international surgical and regenerative technology-based companies

21. Adjunct Assistant Professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, and Nova Southeastern University School of Medicine; Courtesy Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Periodontics, University of Florida College of Dentistry; and Courtesy Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, University of Florida College of Dentistry

22. Named Health Care Hero by Tampa Bay Business Journal

23. Direct a� liation with Sheri� ’s Youth Ranch, Gulf Coast Dental Outreach and St. Jude’s Research Hospital

24. Advisor to the Board for the Shepherd Center of Tarpon Springs, Florida

25. Recipient of the 2015 Saul Schluger Award for Top Educator Seattle Study Club

MICHAEL A. PIKOS, DDSJOSÉ F. LÁZARO, DMD

KENNETH L. ANDERSON, DDS

Coastal Jaw Surgery, The Center for Dental Implants/Facial & Oral Reconstruction, welcomes calls regarding this article and other oral surgical topics. For a free brochure about dental implants or to schedule a consultation visit, please call any of their locations:

Before retiring in October 2017, Jo Ann Forcino was supervisor of student services for the Hernando County School District. In that

role, she interacted with many individuals, and she possessed the poise and con� dence to do her job successfully.

Back in 2014, however, Jo Ann didn’t have that same level of con� dence. At the time, the Bronx, New York native was experiencing serious dental issues that robbed her of her oral health and her smile, which a� ected her self-esteem.

“My gums hurt and bled,” she con-� des. “My teeth started to become loose and moved while chewing. Eating wasn’t always pleasant because I never knew what would happen with my teeth. I avoided hard-to-chew foods like hard rolls and Italian bread.

“I lost a couple of teeth, so there were obvious spaces in my mouth. My teeth also became discolored from a rinse I was using to treat the gum disease. I totally lacked con� dence because of the way my teeth looked. I didn’t want to smile. I covered my mouth because I didn’t want people to see my teeth.”

Jo Ann went to several dentists, who all told her she had periodontal disease. Because her gum disease was advanced,

Jo Ann’s new smile gives her more self-con� dence

she was warned she would continue los-ing teeth. � ey also said she was not a candidate for dental implants because she lacked su� cient bone in her jaw.

Living in Spring Hill, Jo Ann had heard about board-certi� ed oral and max-illofacial surgeon Michael A. Pikos, DDS, of Coastal Jaw Surgery, who is a global leader in dental implants and surgical reconstruction. She hadn’t visited him previously because she already received identical diagnoses from other dentists. � en, she saw a newspaper article about a unique process Dr. Pikos o� ers called Same Day Teeth®, and she reconsidered.

“A copy of Florida Health Care News came in the mail,” she remembers. “I read the article about Dr. Pikos and Same Day Teeth and thought, Maybe Dr. Pikos can help me.

“When I went for my initial appoint-ment, Dr. Pikos was very up-front, and he presented many options. Treatment wasn’t this or nothing, and it was my decision to make. I liked that. I made the decision for Same Day Teeth for both my upper and lower jaw.”

Planned ProtocolSame Day Teeth is an excellent option for people with gum disease, decay, bone loss and teeth that are better served being removed, observes Dr. Pikos. Using this protocol, the oral surgeon can remove the teeth, position the dental implants and place permanent teeth in a single visit.

“To begin the Same Day Teeth process, we work with a laboratory out of Reno, Nevada, and together we use proprietary software to do a virtual workup for the patients,” he describes. “We operate using that as the plan, and it allows us to complete every step in one surgical session.”

Same Day Teeth has advantages over traditional dentures, even those secured by dental implants.

“If we use the traditional approach for patients like Jo Ann, and we always give them that option, we extract the teeth and replace them with implants,” he elab-orates. “Many times, patients may also need bone grafting in advance of placing the implants and possibly root canal or periodontal treatments as well.

“For those patients, the traditional approach requires many dental disci-plines to complete the work, so there are increases in cost and time. Many are in treatment for a year or more before the

process is completed. � en, they still have those remaining natural teeth, which can be problematic later.”

With Same Day Teeth, all of the fail-ing teeth are removed, so there are none to cause issues later. Also, additional pro-cedures such as bone grafting and gum disease treatment aren’t necessary to a successful outcome.

Returned Confi denceJo Ann left Dr. Pikos’ o� ce ecstatic after her Same Day Teeth were done. � e look of her teeth made her feel like a new per-son. Even simple things, like eating Italian bread again, make her happy. She credits her comeback to the single-session process.

“It’s the best thing I ever did for myself,” she reports. “I love the way my teeth look. Same Day Teeth gave me back my smile and increased my self-esteem. When I had the procedure done, I imme-diately felt my con� dence return.”

Since reading the article about Dr. Pikos and Same Day Teeth, Jo Ann has become a dedicated patient of Coastal Jaw Surgery. Even though she and her husband are relocating and will be a dis-tance away from Dr. Pikos, she still plans to make the drive to visit him.

“We are moving to Winter Garden, which is in Orange County, but I will be continuing with Dr. Pikos for my check-ups and follow-up appointments,” veri� es Jo Ann. “I will and have recommended him. When people ask me where I went to have my teeth done, I tell them, To Dr. Pikos at Coastal Jaw Surgery!”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Jordan Pysz.

Before and after images courtesy of Coastal Jaw Surgery. mkb

Same Day Teeth®

Unique protocol restores appearance

and self-con� dence in one visit

North Tampa Edition | Spring 2018 | Tampa Health Care News | Page 13Oral anD maxillOFacial surgery

OF TAMPA

Break Free from AddictionDrug and alcohol addiction is a disease that can steal your happiness and your life. If you suffer from the disease of addiction, Riverside Recovery of Tampa is here to help. The comprehensive t re at m e nt ce nte r i s l o c ate d at : N. Riverside Drive

(800) 871-5440

VALORPeople of

Center introduces recovery program for veterans and active military

Veterans and active military gather at Riverside Recovery with VALOR.

T housands of men and women have served or are currently serving in the US military. For many, serving is a noble

and satisfying experience. For some, ser-vice is a struggle that leaves physical or emotional scars that lead to alcohol or drug abuse.

For veterans and active duty mili-tary members battling substance abuse, there’s a new, safe place to recharge and recover. In December, Riverside Recovery of Tampa introduced VALOR, its residen-tial substance abuse program dedicated to past and present members of the military. VALOR was designed using tactics from military training and lifestyle.

“I served in the United States Air Force for close to eleven years,” recounts Abbey Brown, chief operating o� cer at Riverside Recovery. “I worked as a therapist in the mental health � eld. I recognized then that there was a need for substance abuse ser-vices not only for active duty members but also for veterans coming out of the military and returning to civilian life.

“� e VALOR program was built on the practices of active duty. It was created based on the culture of the military. It’s very structured, yet provides individu-alized care. It looks at the whole person and focuses on the four pillars of wellness: social, emotional, physical and spiritual. Our sta� uses the best mental health prac-tices identi� ed by the military.”

� e program is housed within Riverside Recovery’s inpatient building. VALOR res-idents interact with other substance abuse residents, but have their own program. � ey have a separate sta� and schedule.

“VALOR residents partner with the other clients to go to meetings, such as Alcoholics Anonymous® and Narcotics Anonymous, at night,” con� rms Abbey.

“It is important for our VALOR clients to learn how to crosstalk with the civilian residents, but VALOR has its own pro-gramming every day.

“As part of that programming, we use cognitive behavioral therapy and accelerated resolution therapy to give residents tailored treatment in a very regulated environment. Residents in the VALOR program can stay at the center anywhere from thirty to ninety days, depending on their specific needs.”

Many people with substance abuse also suf-fer with mental health disorders. Sta� members in the VALOR pro-gram are trained to address these conditions as well. To qualify for the program, however, a res-ident’s primary diagnosis must be substance abuse disorder.

To the LetterValor is de� ned as heroic courage in the face of great danger. Riverside Recovery takes that meaning further. As part of the new program, every letter in the word VALOR represents a phase in the process of battling substance abuse. V is for Vitality.

“Part of achieving sobriety for the res-idents is becoming aware of their issues so they can surmount the obstacles that are in the way of living a healthy, vital life,” describes Abbey. “� e sta� starts by show-ing them the consequences of their use, not only physically, but also mentally and socially, as well as within their families.

“Once the residents become aware and gain some insight into those reali-ties, they graduate to the second phase, which is Align. They align with the staff in our clinical approach because everything we do is clinically based and best-practice-driven.”

In therapy, residents then Learn

how to rebuild relationships, how to get through the recovery period and how to live sober and clean. They are taught how to make the necessary changes to improve their life circum-stances and put the past in the past.

“� at brings us to O for Overcome the past,” reveals Abbey. “We work on over-coming any of the consequences from

past events. If there is trauma or a mental health concern, we con-centrate on that from a clinical standpoint. We will also assist the residents if they need the help of a case manager, especially if there are any ongoing issues.

“After all of these phases are completed, the residents develop Resiliency. This h e l p s t h e m remain strong in

their recovery. It also helps them carry what they’ve learned beyond the program and Riverside Recovery to live healthy, clean and sober lives in the community.”

� e last part of the VALOR program is a partnership with Veterans Alternative, a nonpro� t program in Holiday that pres-ents workshops and retreats for current and past members of the military. Veterans Alternative primarily focuses on sober liv-ing, returning to the community and being a successful member of society as a veteran.

“We bus the residents to Holiday to participate in workshops during the day and then bring them back to the center at night,” explains Abbey. “It’s a great opportunity for them to get out in the community and use the new skills they’ve learned at Riverside Recovery.”

Center for WellnessDuring a resident’s time in the VALOR program, the Riverside Recovery staff directly tackles the resident’s substance abuse issues. � e sta� also addresses any other issues the resident may have while working toward improving overall physi-cal and social wellness.

“Substance abuse may be deeply rooted in people’s histories, causing prob-lems in their current lives, especially with their physical health and social interac-tions,” states Abbey. “Drugs and alcohol have a negative impact on the body, which can lead to injuries and disease. Being constantly drunk or high can ruin family occasions and destroy relationships.

“The VALOR program teaches residents to live sober lifestyles, which naturally resolves some of these social problems. Guided exercise and physical therapy are used to strengthen the resi-dents’ bodies to support their physical health, as well as their journeys to sobriety.

To assist them, a full-time trainer and a full-time physical therapist are on sta� .”

Abbey notes that an integral com-ponent of the VALOR program is giving back to the community. � is is another opportunity for residents to spend time in the community and interact with civil-ians, further bolstering the social skills they learn at Riverside Recovery.

“Volunteering and doing things for others is a big part of being in the mili-tary,” she observes. “Within our program, the clients can identify what type of activ-ity they want to do, and then we help them get involved and do it.”

The staff at Riverside Recovery use a range of techniques to teach res-idents how to stay sober and clean and how to integrate themselves into soci-ety. These techniques are used with VALOR residents as well.

“The techniques cover the scope of recovery services,” reports Abbey. “They include group and individual therapy, motivational interventions, mindfulness-based relapse prevention and twelve-step facilitation.

“As part of the treatment in the VALOR program at Riverside Recovery of Tampa, residents are shown that they can live happy, normal, healthy lives without the use of drugs and alcohol.”

The center offers amenities and activities to guide them in this discov-ery. Riverside Recovery has a half-court basketball court, an exercise room with weight and elliptical machines, and a swimming pool. Construction will start soon on a deck to be built overlooking the Hillsborough River. � is will allow clients to enjoy scenic views, all while taking part in group activities.

“Veterans can enter the VALOR pro-gram through the Veterans Administration’s Veterans Choice Program,” notes Abbey. “Active duty members are enrolled through their bases. All are welcome to call the sta� at Riverside Recovery, who will work with them through the admissions process.

“Whether active duty or veteran, all of the residents in this program are facing grave danger in drugs and alcohol with heroic courage. � at makes them people of VALOR.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photos by Jordan Pysz. mkb

Abbey updates the VALOR recovery programming

All Needs in One PlaceRiverside Recovery of Tampa is among the few centers in Florida that provide all levels of care under one roof. They combine a detox facility with a residential center and intensive outpatient services on one site.

Page 14 | Tampa Health Care News | Spring 2018 | North Tampa Edition aDDictiOn treatment

North Tampa Edition | Spring 2018 | Tampa Health Care News | Page 15stem cell therapy/pain management

Balancing ActAlong with diet and exercise, optimizing

hormones helps improve weight loss

Lisa* was one of the millions of men and women who resolved last January to lose weight and get more � t in 2017. She was

also one of the few who actually stuck with her adopted plan of diet and exercise for more than just a few weeks.

GIL MEJIA, MD

� e program just didn’t work for her.Lisa, 59, closely lowered her calorie

intake and began walking three times a week for at least 20 minutes, but when the 4th of July holiday rolled around, she still had not shed the excess belly fat she set out to lose.

“I was very frustrated,” Lisa explains. “I changed my diet, and I was really good about making sure I got my walks in. And I always made sure to walk at a brisk pace. But after six months, it was like I hadn’t done anything at all.”

Lisa is not alone. For many, eating less and exercising more is indeed the key to losing weight and getting properly � t. For others, that simple equation alone will never allow them to achieve their desired weight and � tness goals.

Not as long as their hormones are unbalanced.

“For many who struggle with weight loss, the problem does not lie in their lack of commitment to a new diet or exercise program,” says Gil Mejia, MD, the med-ical director at Rejuvenate Your Life. “It lies in a hormonal imbalance.

“An elevated insulin level, for exam-ple, can cause you to gain weight. It’s also hard to lose weight if your corti-sol is too high or your thyroid is not optimized because the thyroid is what controls your metabolism.

“And then there’s your testosterone. And not just in men, but women, too. Testosterone is what gives you the energy to become active and do the exercise that allows you to lose the weight, and the motivation to focus on the diet program.

“What we have found is that, for those who struggle to lose that stub-born weight, there is often an imbalance somewhere in their hormone levels. We optimize these hormones so that you can achieve your goals.”

Find Your Hormonal Sweet Spot� e ultimate goal at Rejuvenate Your Life is for each patient to regain an optimal state of functioning. � at goal is achieved through two basic scienti� c principles, the � rst of which is eliminat-ing from the body anything that might prevent it from reaching its optimal state. � e second is restoring anything to the body that it may be lacking.

For patients seeking to lose weight, the process begins with a simple consultation in which the patient’s weight-loss goals are determined. What follows is a compre-hensive blood test that Dr. Mejia says is covered by most basic insurance plans.

“We don’t do any guessing in this program,” Dr. Mejia reports. “We base everything on science, which is why we do the blood work. If there are hormonal imbalances, they are easily detected through blood work.

“With any imbalances we find, we strive to optimize the hormones to a youth-ful level because that’s when they function the best. If you’ll remember, when we were young, we could play all day.

“As you age, your metabolism becomes sluggish, and when your metab-olism becomes sluggish, it becomes harder to lose weight. That’s why checking the thyroid is one of the most important things we do.

“It’s also very important to check cortisol because high levels of cortisol in the setting of chronic stress can cause you to lose sleep and slow down your metabolism, which leads to weight gain and insulin resistance.”

Dr. Mejia also checks the levels of insulin and testosterone in each patient. If the � ndings show imbalances in any of the hormones, he develops a plan of action aimed at returning the hormones to their optimum levels.

� e plan usually includes a diet pro-gram because the levels of some hormones such as insulin and testosterone can not only be improved but also controlled through dietary changes such as elimi-nating carbohydrates, sugars and alcohol.

“� e majority of the people who are seeing me are struggling to lose weight because of either aging or lifestyle,” Dr. Mejia reports. “If your lifestyle is poor from an eating standpoint, for example, your insulin levels are going to be high. High insulin levels make it di� cult to lose weight.

For correcting thyroid levels, Dr. Mejia often recommends dietary changes as well as supplementation. For example, increases in iodine, which can be obtained through a supplement, can sometimes cure the imbalance.

For improving levels of cortisol, Dr. Mejia recommends a stress manage-ment program. � ese programs usually involve an increase in activities known to help reduce stress.

Yoga, meditation and deep breathing are some of the activities that have helped patients with high stress levels. Dr. Mejia is quick to point out, however, that those activities are not recommended if the patient doesn’t enjoy them.

“We want you to better manage the stress, which is why I recommend doing something that does not add more stress,” Dr. Mejia says. “For example, we know that yoga helps reduce stress, but if you hate doing yoga, we don’t want you to do it.

“We recommend that patients relieve stress by doing something they love. If you love to dance, go dancing; if you like to swim, go swimming. If you love it, do it. Just be sure you’re not doing something that will actually harm you.”

Weight and Stress ReducedLisa, who was referred to Dr. Mejia by a friend, was one of those whose corti-sol levels were unusually high. She took

Gil Mejia, MD, received his Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology and graduated cum laude from Far Eastern University in the Philippines. He also received his medical degree from Far Eastern University with hon-ors and completed his internal medicine residency program

at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. He has 20 years of experience in primary care, emergency medicine and hospital medicine. Dr. Mejia has advanced training in weight loss and nutrition and is a Certi� ed BioTE® Provider. He completed Age Management Elite Training from the prestigious Cenegenics Education and Research Foundation. Dr. Mejia has also earned a fellowship in anti-aging and functional medicine from the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M).

Visit Rejuvenate Your Life on the web at rejuvenateyourlife.net and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RejuvenateYourLifeWellness

Catering to Your Needs Rejuvenate Your Life is proud to serve the Tampa community with a variety of health and wellness services. Whether you are looking to lose weight, improve your sexual health or manage an existing condition, they can cater a treatment plan to meet your unique needs. See how they can help you obtain optimal health!

Tampa 4102 West Linebaugh Avenue

Suite 100

(813) 960-3436

Services They O� er ® Testosterone Treatment for Male and Female

® GAINSWave™ – Solution for Erectile Dysfunction

® Menopause Management ® Andropause Management ® Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

® Pellet Hormone Therapy ® ThermiVa® – Nonsurgical Feminine Rejuvenation

® Hypothyroid Management ® C a r d i o v a s c u l a r R i s k Assessment & Management

® Diabetes Risk Assessment & Management

® Advanced Cholesterol Management

® Liver Detoxi� cation

Dr. Mejia up on his suggestion to do yoga and found that it relaxed her. She also got involved in an aerobics class twice a week.

� e results, she says, have been amaz-ing. She’s lost more than 30 pounds since she started to see Dr. Mejia and believes she’d still be � ghting her own battle of the bulge had she not been introduced to the hormone balance program.

“I feel better and look better than I have in years,” Lisa raves. “In terms of trying to lose weight, I was really just spinning my wheels before I discovered Dr. Mejia. He unlocked the secret to a healthier and happier me.”

� at is one of Dr. Mejia’s goals. His practice is not only about helping people who are having trouble losing weight but about helping people manage everything from diabetes to autoimmune issues.

“While many culprits contribute to weight loss resistance, I � nd addressing hormonal imbalances helps many patients lose stubborn weight and keep it off,” Dr. Mejia reports. “Once we put some-one on a program, I typically see them again about four or six weeks later, and the majority come back to me feeling hap-pier. � ey’re more focused, their aches and pains are better and they’re leaner and los-ing weight. � ey come to me for weight loss, but at the end of the day, it’s how they feel inside that’s most important.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. mkb

*Patient’s name withheld at her request

Through hormone optimization,

Rejuvenate Your Life helps patients regain

an optimal state of functioning

Page 16 | Tampa Health Care News | Spring 2018 | North Tampa Edition Weight lOss