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South Palm Beach County Edition
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TAKE ME HOME!
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Summer 2015
Featured
ARTICLES
Hearing Health Care
Simply Better Hearing
2
Active
Health Center
Put an End to Chronic
Neck Problems
Life-changing experiences result when advanced technology is backed
by world-class customer service.
It was especially difficult
for Bob to come to terms
with his hearing loss.
B
FHCN PHOTO BY MARC EDWARDS
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ob Resciniti is not a stranger
to loss. In 2006, he endured
the worst loss any parent has
to face, the loss of a child.
He and his wife found few sources of
support following their tragedy, so they
created a not-for-profit foundation to
fill the void. The charity offers grief
counseling and other services to parents
following the death of a child.
“It’s called the Bobby Resciniti
Healing Hearts Foundation,” relates
Bob. “We started it in 2007, a year after
we lost our twenty-one-year-old son,
Bobby, in a crash.”
His work through the foundation
has helped Bob come to terms with the
loss of his child, but he remained in
denial about his hearing loss. The signs
had been there for years. Bob just didn’t
accept them for what they were.
“My wife had been hounding me
about my TV being too loud and me
making a habit of asking her to repeat
herself and saying What? all the time,”
he describes. “Even at work, I’d be in
meetings and I would ask the person
next to me what he said because I didn’t
hear him. I thought it was them. I didn’t
think it was me.”
The problem got progressively worse,
until finally Bob’s wife and daughter took
matters into their own hands. His daughter began researching audiologists, and
found one locally with excellent reviews,
Deborah Kroll, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA, of
Hearing Partners of South Florida. Bob’s
wife called and made an appointment.
“I went to the hearing physician and
she was awesome, absolutely phenomenal,” says Bob. “What happened was
really unbelievable; It blew my mind.
NIMET A. ADAM, AUD, CCC-A
DEBBIE KROLL, AUD, CCC-A, FAAA
MAYA BERENSON, AUD
MEREDITH RESNICK, MA, CCC-A
“She put this device on me and
started doing some testing. Then she said,
I’m going to put these hearing aids on. I’m
going to tune them to your needs, your specifications, and I want to see if you hear this.
So she put the hearing aids in, and she
said, Do you hear that? I said, No. Then she
said, Okay, I’m going to turn your hearing
aids on now, and tell me if you hear it. I
heard it. There were birds chirping.”
Dr. Kroll repeated the test, this time
with the sound of a bell ringing.
“My wife was in the room,” notes
Bob. “She started to cry. She said, You’ve
been missing out on so much. At that
moment, I knew I had cheated myself
and others. That’s when I said, There’s no
way that I can’t get these hearing aids. I got
them and it’s changed my life.”
Team Hearing Partners
Dr. Kroll works as part of the Hearing
Partners of South Florida team, captained
by Nimet A. Adam, AuD, CCC-A. Dr.
Adam, a member of the American Speech
and Hearing Association, is president
of Hearing Partners of South Florida,
which has offices in Delray Beach and
Boynton Beach. Rounding out the team
are Maya Berenson, AuD, and Meredith
Resnick, MA, CCC-A.
For more than two decades, the
professionals at Hearing Partners have
been serving the community, offering
their patients the highest credentials
available in the practice of audiology
and the latest in hearing technology,
while priding themselves on their outstanding customer service.
Each hearing specialist conducts
comprehensive audiologic evaluations
for their patients through which they
can diagnose different types of hearing loss. Based on this in-depth testing,
they can more accurately recommend
a good solution for their patients’ specific hearing needs.
Rich in resources
Bob’s initial visit to Hearing Partners of
South Florida stands out to Dr. Kroll. It
confirms the importance of the patient’s
acceptance of his or her hearing loss and
assent to getting help for it.
“His wife said that she wished she
had pushed him to do this sooner, and I
explained that when someone is not ready,
it won’t work,” states Dr. Kroll. “Bob told
me that he had just recently retired as a
store manager of Publix, and he was starting a new chapter in his life. So, as much
as his wife wanted him to hear better, he
wasn’t ready until that moment.
“When a person is ready to hear
better, we have all of the resources available to help them.”
Hearing Partners of South Florida
is dedicated to superior patient care.
Unlike some providers, Hearing
Partners is an independent practice that
is not limited to one manufacturer or
one type of product. Rather, the clinical
audiologists can select from many quality hearing aid manufacturers to choose
the most appropriate product for the
patient’s individual needs and lifestyle.
“Not everyone has the same needs,”
explains Dr. Adam. “They don’t have the
same type of hearing loss, so when we
make a recommendation, it’s tailored for
the patient.”
Using multiple manufacturers also
gives Hearing Partners access to the latest
and most advanced hearing instrument
technology available. This includes hearing aids with Bluetooth® connectivity to
the patient’s other electronic devices, such
as televisions and cell phones.
The emphasis on world-class customer service is also profound at Hearing
Partners. This commitment to their
patients takes technology to the next level
(see Simply Better Hearing, page 4)
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Pain Solutions
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Vein Associates
Help for
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Eye Floaters?
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of Palm City
Personalized Care
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Page 2 | Florida Health Care News | Summer 2015 | South Palm Beach County Edition
Neck Pain
Put an End to Chronic Neck Problems
D
An often-neglected component of treating neck pain or stiffness is neck muscle weakness.
Fortunately, there is an answer: the MCU.
oris Lauritzen has had her
share of pain, and of surgeries too, for that matter.
“I’ve had rotator cuffs
done, and I’ve had my meniscus done
twice,” she explains. “But my pain
tolerance is extremely high. Where a
normal person would say their pain
level is a ten, I would probably say
mine is a one. Over the years, my body
has learned to compensate.”
MARC A. WEINBERG, DC
The Multi-Cervical Unit
Doris found help at Active Health Center,
where she consulted Dr. Marc Weinberg
and his partner, Colin O. Behrue, DC.
Dr. Weinberg explains that patients
who have tried multiple avenues of relief
without success may be good candidates
for the Multi-Cervical Unit, or MCU.
“If you’ve had unsatisfactory results
with other treatments,” he says, “you
can still get great results and reduced
pain when the neck is strengthened in
the right directions.
“We acquired the MCU II in
November 2008, and ours was the first
Easy to use
“You never hear anyone complain about
being too strong,” observes Dr. Behrue.
“That’s the thing about the MCU
treatment. We see patients coming in
with many different symptoms – pain,
headaches, numbness, tingling – but
oftentimes these other factors can be stabilized just from strengthening the neck.”
He explains that the MCU is both
diagnostic and therapeutic, so once
patients have been tested, the treatment is relatively easy. “When we do the
Marc A. Weinberg, DC, completed his undergraduate studies at the
University of Florida and went on to graduate cum laude from Life
Chiropractic College in Marietta, GA. He is approved by the National
University of Health Sciences to perform Manipulation Under Anesthesia,
a procedure that is proving to be effective in relieving and correcting the
causes and complications of many painful conditions. He has been certified
by the Southeastern Back Institute to perform hands-on spinal decompression. In 2007, he was appointed Alternative Medicine Research and Development Director for
the American Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Association. He has recently been asked to author
two chapters in a medical textbook on Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Dr. Weinberg has been a
constant student, healer and avid lecturer for the past 28 years and makes sure that he always
puts his heart, as well as his knowledge and expertise, into the care of his patients.
Colin O. Behrue, DC, completed his undergraduate studies in
molecular/microbiology at the University of Central Florida and went
on to receive his Doctorate of Chiropractic, cum laude, from Palmer
Chiropractic College Florida in Port Orange. He has completed postgraduate education in neurology and is certified to perform NCV, EMG,
H-reflex, SEP and evoke potentials. Dr. Behrue is a native of Palm Beach
County and looks forward to serving the community.
Unhappily for Doris, problems with
mobility and pain in her neck and shoulder area caused her to severely curtail her
activities in recent years. The problem was
especially noticeable when driving.
“I felt like I had two bricks on the
side of my neck and my back,” she recalls.
“I would turn my entire body, because I
really couldn’t turn my neck. I learned to
compensate, because I never actually realized how tight my neck was.”
Eventually, it got so bad that Doris
could not bear to be up and around.
“I was in bed three to four days out
of the week,” she reports. However, she
adds that she wanted to avoid spine
surgery at all costs. “I’d been to three
different doctors and they all want to
do fusion surgery. But once you have
a fusion, that’s it. If it doesn’t turn out
right, you’re done.”
practice in the state of Florida to use
one of these machines,” Dr. Weinberg
continues. “Since then, other offices
in Central Florida have seen the benefits and have acquired the MCU.
The University of Tampa’s Research
Department has one now as well.”
MCU technology has been used
by chiropractic and physical therapy
offices around the world, as well as by the
National Football League, Major League
Baseball, major research facilities, and
air forces internationally, including the
United States Air Force (USAF).
“Starting in the 1990s, a fair
amount of research came out that
showed that neck weakness will lead to
neck pain, and that you have to address
the neck weakness in order to treat the
pain,” says Dr. Weinberg.
“Say someone gets into a car accident, or has ongoing repetitive motion
micro-trauma from keeping their head
down all the time at a computer. What
happens is that they start off with some
neck discomfort. The muscles become
inhibited, and that weakness leads to
more pain, which leads to further weakness: it’s a vicious cycle. Once we use the
testing functions of the MCU to find
the source of weakness in the neck, the
machine goes to work to fix the problem.”
Dr. Weinberg notes that the MCU
is not the sole treatment used, but
rather a key component of a customized
treatment plan.
“Many of our patients will receive
hands-on care with our physical therapist
in conjunction with the MCU treatment, but the MCU is the missing piece
of the neck pain puzzle.”
Thanks to her treatment, Doris is able to move
more freely while driving.
testing, we put you through a series of
isometric strength exercises where you
don’t have to move, but the machine
records sixteen different ranges of
motion. The average treatment regimen
is nine weeks, but people typically begin
to get results in just three to five weeks.
“It’s completely painless, easy to use
and there’s always someone available to
help you,” says Dr. Behrue. “We constantly monitor every patient to make sure
that they do everything correctly.”
“Physicians need to know about
this,” adds Dr. Weinberg, “because the
research is there. Research has found the
MCU to be the absolute best way to
strengthen the neck. When it comes to
neck pain and weakness, the MCU truly
is the missing link.”
“Safe alternative to surgery”
Doris was thrilled with the MCU treatment, particularly because she got results
within just a few weeks.
Advanced technology
for neck pain
Drs. Weinberg and Behrue
are proud to present the
most effective and complete
system for the diagnosis
and treatment of patients
suffering from neck pain,
headaches, whiplash
disorders and general
cervical spine disorders,
including arthritis and
herniated discs, with the
MCU (Multi-Cervical Unit).
Active Health Center is
located at 421 Northlake
Blvd., Suite F, in North Palm
Beach. Call today to schedule
an appointment with them
at (561) 842-2273.
“After about the third week, I could
feel the difference,” she reports. “I could
actually move my head around without
having to turn my body. I feel like a normal person does.”
She cautions those considering the
treatment to have patience with the process.
“You’re really making a commitment
as you go through the different phases,”
she explains. “You have to do the program, but it’s a safe alternative to surgery.
You do it at your own speed, your own
level, and I like that a lot better than going
for an operation, or taking medications.
All those things have side effects.”
She thanks the physicians at Active
Health Center, adding that they are
“excellent” and “very, very knowledgeable” as well.
“I recommend Dr. Weinberg to a lot
of people,” assures Doris. “If I wasn’t confident in him, I wouldn’t have gone back.
He is wonderful. They’re all wonderful!”
FHCN–Michael J. Sahno
More Than Thirty Years
of Patient Care
Whether you have aches and pains from
a motor vehicle accident, an old injury,
a slip and fall or just feeling pain from
the trials of daily life, Drs. Weinberg and
Behrue will help you feel young and
active again. With a combined clinical
experience of more than 30 years, the
physicians offer pain relief for:
• Lower back pain
• Neck pain
• Neck stiffness
• Upper back pain
• Arm pain
• Leg pain
• Knee pain
• Wrist pain
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Herniated discs
Now offering:
• Low Level Laser Therapy
• State-of-the-Art Spinal
Decompression for
Neck and Back
For more information, visit Active Health Center online at www.activehealthctr.com.
Pain Management
South Palm Beach County Edition | Summer 2015 | Florida Health Care News | Page 3
PRP for Pain
Innovative treatment relieves chronic pain for months
without side effects.
F
or more than 15 years, Clifford
Eisenan suffered from debilitating back pain that was so
severe, it kept him away from
activities he loves, like running, bowling and working out. In 1998, the native
New Yorker and retired Florida Atlantic
University employee had spinal fusion
surgery after a failed laminectomy left
him with severe sciatica. “Th ey put a
titanium rod and brackets in my lower
back at L4-L5,” he reports. “Ever since,
I have had pain in that area.”
“He tried therapy. He tried a lot of different pain medications, and nothing was
really working for him. He came in and
we discussed what might be causing his
pain, and we started to focus on the facet
joints adjacent to the level that was fused.
“Any time you do a fusion, you
put extra stress on the levels adjacent
to that fusion,” he explains. “We did
some diagnostic nerve blocks, and his
pain went away temporarily.”
Once Dr. Schaja pinpointed the
cause of Clifford’s pain, he determined
that he was an excellent candidate for
an innovative treatment known as
platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
About PRP
IAN M. SCHAJA, DO
STEVEN A. STEIN, DO
STUART J. FELDMAN, MD
To alleviate that pain, Clifford had
frequent epidural steroid injections,
which gave him temporary relief. In
2012, he began to see a chiropractor
for acupuncture and massage therapy
as well. He recommended that Clifford
make an appointment with Ian M.
Schaja, DO, a board-certified pain
management specialist at Resolute Pain
Solutions in Boca Raton.
“Clifford continued to have a lot of
pain after surgery,” reports Dr. Schaja.
PRP uses elements of the body’s own
blood to heal inflammation and damaged
tissue, and relieve pain. “Your platelets
[small blood components that help the
clotting process by sticking to the lining
of blood vessels] contain hundreds of
granules in them called growth factors and
cytokines,” describes Dr. Schaja. “These
can be used to repair damaged tissue. To
do this, we draw blood from the patient,
separate the blood components in a centrifuge and then inject the concentrated
platelets into the area where the patient is
injured or having pain.”
The procedure takes about 20 minutes and is done right in the Resolute
Pain Solutions office. Within about a
Clifford can go running with his dog Jenny now that his back pain is gone.
week, “the platelets that you put in have
degranulated,” explains Dr. Schaja. “They
release these fantastic growth factors and
the body’s natural anti-inflammatory
products, and the healing begins.”
“I was in constant pain … Then I went
to Dr. Schaja, who administered two
[PRP] injections in the lower back,
and I have been pain free since.”
- Clifford Eisenan
In addition to its healing properties, PRP is benefi cial because it uses
the patient’s own blood and is a natural
treatment. Unlike medications such as
steroids, which wear off in a few weeks
and can have short-term and long-term
side effects, PRP actually addresses the
underlying damage that is causing the
pain and works to heal it. “It’s like making something that’s old new again,”
states Dr. Schaja.
FHCN PHOTOS BY NERISSA JOHNSON
A safe solution
Clifford Eisenan
Ian M. Schaja, DO, is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology.
He is board certified and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pain Medicine. Dr.
Schaja is one of a select few physicians in southern Florida to be board certified and
a Diplomate of the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians. He earned a
Bachelor of Science degree in biology, cum laude, from the State University of New
York at Albany and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the New York
College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1992. Dr. Schaja completed his internship at
Brookdale Hospital Medical Center and anesthesia residency at Thomas Jefferson
University Hospital, where he was named chief resident. He is a founding partner of
Resolute Anesthesia and Pain Solutions and has been practicing pain management
and anesthesia in south Florida since 1996.
Steven A. Stein, DO, is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology. In
addition, Dr. Stein is board certified and a Diplomate of both the American Board of
Pain Medicine and the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians. He received
his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the State University of New York at
Stony Brook, followed by post-graduate studies in electron microscopy at Hofstra
University. Dr. Stein was awarded his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, NJ in 1990. He completed his internship at Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Stratford, NY and a residency
in anesthesiology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. He has
been practicing interventional pain medicine in Florida for more than 20 years and
is a founding partner of Resolute Anesthesia and Pain Solutions.
Stuart J. Feldman, MD, is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology. He earned
a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from the State University of New York and attended medical
school at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Feldman completed his internship at Staten Island
University Hospital and residency in anesthesia at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Feldman also
completed a fellowship in pain management at Albert Einstein Medical Center.
Dr. Schaja, who has been doing the procedure for more than two years, notes that
PRP is both safe and effective. “You’re
avoiding steroids by using PRP,” he says.
“We all know there are many potential
side effects of those types of medications,
and doctors are really limited as to how
much they can safely administer.”
Furthermore, many patients with
chronic pain typically take a variety of
pain medications, including narcotics
like hydrocodone, which can have lasting effects on the body. PRP is “so safe,
it’s worth trying,” Dr. Schaja assures. “It
falls under a new category of regenerative
medicine, and we’re very excited about it.”
PRP has been used successfully to
promote healing of bone and soft-tissue
injuries throughout the body. “It was
first used in plastic surgery for wound
healing,” reports the doctor, “and has
slowly crept over to other specialties. It’s
become very popular in orthopedics for
soft-tissue injuries. We’re now using it in
the spine because a lot of the pain in the
spine is caused by arthritis in small joints
or inflammation of small joints. We’ve
gotten very good results. The nice thing
about it is that it’s virtually harmless.”
Pain free
Before his PRP treatment, Clifford
“couldn’t even work out,” he laments. “I
was in constant pain … Then I went to
Dr. Schaja, who administered two [PRP]
injections in the lower back, and I have
been pain free since.”
Now, six months later, he says, “I
Learn more at www.ResoluteMD.com/health
work out three times a week. I’m losing
weight and taking care of myself. I’m
sixty-five years old, and I feel so much
younger taking the weight off and not
being in pain.”
Before treatment, Clifford was
worried he may never be able to be
as active as he wanted to be. “I used
to run; I used to work out,” he says.
“Since I had the injections, I’ve been
walking again and running and doing
things I couldn’t do before.”
Clifford “did remarkably well,”
observes Dr. Schaja. “He started exercising. He started losing weight. He really
got his life back.”
“I started working out with a personal
trainer,” recalls Clifford. Now, “I can bend
to my waist. I like to run. I like to walk. I
like to bowl. All these things I couldn’t do
before. I feel so much better … I’m just
feeling so blessed.” FHCN–Melanie Casey
Rise Above the Pain
Get back to work, play and the things
you love with Resolute Pain Solutions.
The comprehensive pain care
practice combines skilled specialists,
innovative technology and extensive
resources for the effective treatment
of post-surgical and chronic pain. For
more information or to schedule an
appointment, call
(855) 678-3737.
Offices are located at:
950 Glades Road, Suite 5A, Boca Raton
107 19th Drive, Okeechobee
601 University Blvd., Suite 203, Jupiter
10244 US Highway 1, Port St. Lucie
10050 SW Innovation Way, Suite 104,
Port St. Lucie
2100 SE Ocean Blvd., Suite 100, Stuart
Got pain?
The professionals at Resolute
have your solution for a variety of
conditions, including:
• Arthritis pain
• Back pain
• Bursitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Degenerative disc disease
• Neuropathy
• Fibromyalgia
• Neuralgia
• Sciatica
• Spinal stenosis
• Sports injuries
• Neck pain
• Migraines
Hearing Health Care
Simply Better Hearing
(continued from page 1)
Florida Health
Care News
215 Bullard Parkway
Temple Terrace, FL 33617
(813) 989-1330
Summer 2015
Barry P. Levine
Executive Publisher
to provide a more satisfying and beneficial hearing experience.
“The products are very important, but even more important is
what the audiologist does with that product and the relationship
that the audiologist develops with the patient,” acknowledges
Dr. Adam. “We believe we can improve the quality of patients’
lives with the service that we provide along with the products
that we offer.”
The staff of clinical audiologists at Hearing Partners of South
Florida carry the highest credentials in the field, so patients can be
sure they are getting exceptional advice and recommendations.
“We are physicians of audiology with years of experience,” comments
Dr. Berenson. “We all come from different backgrounds, and we have
worked in different environments, so we have a wide scope of expertise.”
His hearing aids have given Bob a new awareness of sounds and the
world around him. He credits Dr. Kroll and Hearing Partners of
South Florida for making that possible.
“When we were leaving the doctor’s office, I said What’s that
squeaking noise?” remembers Bob. “I wore Crocs and my wife said,
Those are your Crocs. I’d never heard that. I’m hearing sounds that
I’ve never heard before, so it’s been a remarkable transformation for
me personally. It’s been amazing.
“When I went home, I put the TV on and it was blasting. I can’t
Gina L. d’Angelo
CFO/HR Manager
Judy Wade
A new awareness
Gail Goldy
Senior Associate Publisher
Bob is amazed at the things he can now hear
with his new hearing aids.
believe I put my family through that all those years. Now, I hear the
birds chirping in the morning when I have coffee. I can hear people
in restaurants.
“I am so thankful that I chose Hearing Partners and Dr. Kroll.
The quality of my life is so much better. It’s just been a life-changing
experience for me.” FHCN–Patti DiPanfilo
FHCN PHOTO BY NERISSA JOHNSON
Nimet A. Adam, AuD, CCC-A, is a board-certified clinical
audiologist, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University
of Florida, and is president of Hearing Partners of South
Florida. She is a former adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic
University and is a member of the university accreditation team for the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association. Dr. Adam is also a member of the Florida
Academy of Audiology. She has lectured extensively in community venues and was chair for the Health Board of Florida. Her practice specializes
in diagnostics and management of hearing loss, tinnitus and balance.
Better hearing can
change your life!
Good hearing is too important to leave to chance. The team
at Hearing Partners of South Florida stays focused on each
patient’s individual hearing needs, budget and best solutions.
Please call to schedule your appointment for either of their
convenient locations: Delray Office Plaza, 4731 W. Atlantic
Ave., Suite B-20, Delray Beach (561) 638-6530, or Ansca
Medical Professional Plaza, 7593 Boynton Beach Blvd.,
Suite 100, Boynton Beach (561) 736-6002.
For more information, please visit
www.myhearingpartners.com or
“Like” them at
www.facebook.com/
HearingPartnersofSouthFlorida.
Deborah Kroll, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA, received her
Doctorate in audiology from A.T. Still University. She
obtained her Master’s degree from George Washington
University and her Bachelor of Arts degree from the
University of Florida. Dr. Kroll received a scholarship to
attend George Washington University on a full stipend.
She graduated with high honors from the University of
Florida and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Kroll has worked in audiology in the US, Israel and Australia. She has experience in a variety of clinical
settings that include ENT and private practice. She has been practicing for
more than 27 years. Dr. Kroll is a certified member of the American Speech
and Hearing Association (ASHA) and American Academy of Audiology (AAA)
and was a member of the Audiological Society of Australia. Dr. Kroll’s areas
of expertise include: tinnitus assessment and management; diagnostic and
rehabilitative audiology, newborn through geriatric; counseling and aural
rehabilitation, selection and fitting of amplification (hearing instruments),
Lyric Extended Wear hearing instruments, assistive listening devices, and
vestibular/balance assessment and rehabilitation. Dr. Kroll currently sees
patients in our Boynton Beach office.
Maya Berenson, AuD, earned her doctoral degree in
clinical audiology from The Long Island Consortium,
composed of Hofstra University, Adelphi University and
St. John’s University. She completed her fellowship at State
University of New York Downstate Medical Center, where
she gained expertise in comprehensive audiologic evaluations of adults and children, including the complete
assessment of auditory function, vestibular/balance assessment and treatment, and aural rehabilitation including amplification evaluation, fitting
and orientation. Dr. Berenson has practiced in a variety of clinical settings
including private practice, hospitals and ENT offices. She was previously the
director of The New York Hearing Center affiliated with NYOG. She was also
formerly chief of audiology at Metropolitan Hospital, where she received
extensive training in pediatric audiology.
Meredith Resnick, MA, CCC-A, completed her Bachelor’s
degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her
Master’s degree from Northwestern University. Meredith
has experience in a variety of clinical settings, including
ENT clinics, hospital and private practice settings. She has
been practicing audiology for over 15 years. Meredith is
a certified member of the American Speech-Language
Hearing Association. She attends educational seminars to stay current with
the latest advancements in hearing aid technology. Meredith’s areas of
expertise include diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology, counseling and
aural rehabilitation, selection and fitting of amplification (hearing instruments), Lyric Extended Wear hearing instruments, assistive listening devices,
and vestibular/balance assessment and rehabilitation. Meredith currently
sees patients at our Delray Beach office.
Editorial Manager
Michael J. Sahno
Senior Writer
Patti DiPanfilo
Melanie Casey
Editorial Staff
Michelle Brooks
Creative Director
Nerissa Johnson
Graphic Designer
Marc Edwards
Nerissa Johnson
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Ophthalmology
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Chiropractic
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Vascular Surgery
HELP FOR VARICOSE VEIN PAIN
Pregnancy can worsen this common condition, but noninvasive, in-office treatments offer quick relief.
A
VASCULAR INTERVENTIONAL
& VEIN ASSOCIATES
PRANAY T. RAMDEV, MD, FACS
JUSTIN M. GALOVICH, MD
By the time she was pregnant with her second
child last year, the condition had worsened considerably. “I’d have to tell my one-year-old, No, I’ve got to
sit down, baby. You know Mommy can’t go for a walk
today. I’m sorry,” Kellie laments. She also had trouble
sleeping. “I couldn’t get comfortable; I was constantly
moving my legs.”
Then, almost overnight, a huge, gnarled vein
appeared on her left leg. “It went from the middle of my thigh, wrapped around the outside of
my knee, all the way through the bottom of my
calf,” she describes. “It was huge, about eighteen
to twenty inches long. It looked like a snake, honestly. It was bigger than the width of my finger. It
was horrible.”
Despite having been put on bed rest during both
pregnancies because of the condition, doctors repeatedly
dismissed Kellie’s concerns, saying that, at 27, she was
“too young” for a serious problem. Her insurance company even said the condition was cosmetic. “I didn’t agree
with that,” she says, “because it really, honest to God, was
not cosmetic. You could tell it was not normal.”
It was by chance that Kellie found Pranay Ramdev,
MD, a board-certified vascular surgeon at Vascular
Interventional & Vein Associates. “I found him by the
luck of the draw,” she recalls. “I looked up surgeons in
Fort Pierce and went from there. I didn’t know anything
about him, but everything I read was awesome.”
When Kellie went for a consult last summer, she
noticed that Dr. Ramdev was immediately concerned.
“The first moment he looked at my legs, he said, I
need to get an ultrasound of you today,” she remembers.
“Being in the medical field, I knew something was
going on. When he was doing the ultrasound, you
could see that my veins were very dilated.”
The ultrasound showed that Kellie had significant
reflux of the greater saphenous vein in both her right
and left legs. Having a diagnosis “was such a relief,” she
admits. “At the first appointment, I started crying. I was
so excited that someone was finally listening to me.”
About varicose veins
Varicose veins are caused when veins lose elasticity,
which allows them to stretch. Th e weakened veins
allow deoxygenated blood, which should be moving
up toward the heart, to flow backward, a situation
known as venous reflux.
When this happens, the veins pool with blood,
enlarge and become varicose, or swollen. The condition, which is quite common, leads to an appearance
of bluish or purple veins, some of which may appear
gnarled and twisted.
“Think of it like a garden hose,” explains Dr.
Ramdev. “Held vertically, if you pour water into that
hose, you’d expect the water to flow down naturally with
gravity. So what you have is a one-way check valve that
allows the blood to flow upward. If there are no valves
in that hose, the blood is just going to flow back down.”
Varicose veins can occur due to age, genetics and
particularly during pregnancy, when blood volume
increases dramatically. “A lot of people don’t know
that during pregnancy, a woman’s total volume of
blood and fl uid is increased almost one and a half
to two times,” describes Dr. Ramdev. “That extra
volume you’re carrying can cause incompetence of
the valve, and the valve starts to fail. When this happens, the blood just freefalls from the groin
Kellie with her husband, Mike, and children Paxton and Skylar. straight down toward the foot. As a result,
there’s quite a bit of pressure, and then you
develop these bulging varicose veins that are
not just unsightly for a lot of people, but
really quite painful.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLIE CARROZZA
Treatment options
Pranay T. Ramdev, MD,
FACS, is a Fellow of the
American College of Surgeons
and is board certified by the
National Board of Medical
Examiners – Parts I, II, III, and
by the American Board of
Surgery with a certificate of
added qualification in vascular surgery. He earned
his medical degree from Dartmouth Medical
School in Hanover, NH and served five years of
general surgery residency at the University of
Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital. Dr. Ramdev
went on to complete a fellowship in vascular and
endovascular surgery at Harvard University in
Boston. Following his fellowship, he joined the faculty at the Division of Vascular and Endovascular
Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School
of Medicine. Dr. Ramdev has been practicing vascular surgery for more than 12 years.
PHOTO FROM ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
s a radiology technician who is on her feet all
day, Kellie Carrozza is familiar with having
tired legs after a long shift. While pregnant
with her first child a few years ago, Kellie
started to notice that her legs felt inordinately heavy and
tired. “It was just throbbing and aching,” she says. “It
was a different kind of pain, and I couldn’t explain it to
anyone. It felt like my legs were a ton of bricks. They were
just very heavy and achy at the end of the day.”
To treat varicose veins, Dr. Ramdev first
addresses the source of the problem. “It’s
my philosophy to treat the main leaking
vein first,” he notes. “Once you treat that
vein, a lot of times patients don’t need
anything else.”
For Kellie’s right leg, Dr. Ramdev performed a procedure called radiofrequency
ablation (RFA), a noninvasive, outpatient procedure completed right in the doctor’s office.
Justin M. Galovich, MD, is
a fellowship-trained vascular surgeon. He earned his
Bachelor of Science degree
in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University
of California Santa Cruz and
his medical degree from
St. George’s University School of Medicine,
Grenada, West Indies. Dr. Galovich completed
his internship at Harbor UCLA Medical Center
followed by a residency at the University of
California Irvine, where he was named chief
resident. He completed a fellowship in vascular
surgery at Harbor UCLA Medical Center in 2014.
Dr. Galovich is a member of the Peripheral
Vascular Surgical Society, the Society for
Clinical Vascular Surgery and the American
College of Surgeons. He practices out of the
Sebastian office.
“I am pain free, and it makes
me want to cry because it was
so life-changing. It is amazing.
It really is.”
– Kellie Carrozza
Done under minor sedation, RFA involves inserting a
catheter with a heating element on the tip that causes
the vein to close down.
“Years ago, this required general anesthesia and
a stay in the hospital and was quite painful,” reports
Dr. Ramdev. “We are now able to treat this with a tiny
nick in the skin and a catheter. Patients are up and
walking right away and back to fairly normal activity
within a day.”
For Kellie’s other leg, Dr. Ramdev performed a
microphlebectomy to remove, or strip, the vein. “They
were both done in his office,” recalls Kellie. “He and his
[physician assistant] were amazing. They were so calm
and explained everything to me.
“Dr. Ramdev has a great bedside manner,” she adds.
“He’s so personable. He cares. He really does.”
Finally pain free
Following her procedures, Kellie was immediately pain
free. “It was an instant result,” she remembers. “That
night was the first night I didn’t have restless legs, and I
literally woke up crying. I told my husband, I don’t hurt!
He said, I know, because you didn’t move like you always
do. It was a huge relief. I called [the office] the next day
and said, It’s wonderful!”
Kellie’s treatment at Vascular Interventional & Vein
Associates was truly life-changing. “The tiredness and the
achiness are gone, and the pins and needles are gone,”
she enthuses. “All of that is completely gone. I work a
twelve-hour shift and I’m great.
“I am pain free, and it makes me want to cry because
it was so life-changing,” Kelly confides. “It is amazing. It
really is.” FHCN–Melanie Casey
FIND HELP
Dr. Ramdev and Dr. Galovich welcome
all calls regarding this article as well as
other topics related to vascular issues.
Offices are located at 955 37th Place in
Vero Beach, (772) 567-8482; 7925 Bay
Street in Sebastian, (772) 646-4626
and 2215 Nebraska Avenue, Suite 1A,
in Ft. Pierce, (772) 801-2108.
Please visit www.VIVAMyVeins.com for more information.
Dry Eye T
Relief for Dry Eye Disease
The LipiFlow® technology provides a long-lasting solution to this itching, burning problem.
A
s a hairstylist, Barbara Bassoff
finds that not only does she
have to deal with bits of hair
flying around…her eyes also
take a lot of wear and tear
from exposure to hair products.
“I was looking for a solution for the
problem of things always spraying into
my eyes and things of that nature,” she
explains. “There were things at work that
were blurring my eyes.”
Over time, Barbara developed symptoms of dry eye disease, also known as
keratoconjunctivitis sicca, a problem that
affects millions of Americans. Symptoms
can include intermittent blurry vision,
excess production of tears, itching, burning and stinging.
“I was constantly putting Refresh®
drops in my eyes, and I used Restasis® for
many, many years in an effort to correct
the dry eye problem. I got a treasure trove
of a cabinet full of all sorts of drops. I had
them in my purse, in my car…everywhere
you can imagine.”
Barbara consulted Clifford L. Salinger,
MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist,
cornea and refractive surgeon and dry eye
specialist, and the founder of The Dry Eye
Spa & V.I.P. Laser Eye Center. There, she
received comprehensive treatment for her
dry eye disease.
Barbara
Bassoff
Convenient
new location!
Dr. Salinger is proud to present
the latest breakthrough
medical technology for dry eye
disease. For more information,
or to schedule a consultation,
please call (561) 624-7878.
The Dry Eye Spa & V.I.P. Laser
Eye Center is located at 11020
RCA Center Drive, Suite 2001,
in Palm Beach Gardens. Also
offering consultations in Stuart
and Vero Beach.
“The office was next door to where I
work, and I began to go to him as a specialist,” she explains. “This was about
February 2013.”
THE DRY EYE SPA &
V.I.P. LASER EYE CENTER
CLIFFORD L. SALINGER, MD
The previous April, Dr. Salinger had just
begun to offer a new treatment for dry eye
disease called LipiFlow.
“I did some research on it,” Barbara
recalls, “and it was done mostly in Canada
and in Europe at that time. It was still a
new technique here, so there were very few
specialists who employed it. At first,” she
confides, “I was very skeptical that something like this could actually work. But it was
fairly easy, and I have such complete trust in
Dr. Salinger that I felt totally comfortable.”
Revolutionary treatment
“There are several worthwhile treatments for
dry eye disease that have been used over the
years,” reflects Dr. Salinger, “including hot
compresses and anti-inflammatory steroid
eye drops. Historically, these have been part
of our comprehensive medical therapy for
patients with this condition.
“Barbara’s dry eye disease was severe, but
we were able to achieve improvement in the
frequency and severity of her symptoms with
these treatments. However, she still had a
long way to go because her dry eye problem
was so significant.”
Dr. Salinger offers both extensive testing
and comprehensive treatment for dry eye in
his practice.
“We offer the LipiView® test for evaluating the oil layer of the eyes; lactoferrin
for evaluating the aqueous, or water, layer;
a test called IGE for evaluating the presence
of allergy; tear osmolarity, which measures
the salt concentration in the eyes; and a test
called InflammaDry® for assessing the presence of inflammation.”
When it comes to treatment, the
LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System from
TearScience® provides a key part of the solution, even for seemingly hopeless dry eye
cases that have persisted in spite of traditional comprehensive care.
LipiFlow relieves blockages of the eyelid’s oil glands during a short office visit.
Opening and clearing these blocked glands
enhances the natural production of the oils
that are needed for a healthy layer of tears on
the surface of the eye.
“The dysfunction within the oil glands
is not particularly noticeable,” says Dr.
Salinger, “and most eye doctors are not
accustomed to searching for it. You have
to actively look for it with specialized
diagnostic equipment that most practices
do not have. In fact, our office is one of
very few in the state of Florida to have this
technology, which uses infrared light to
view the oil glands directly.”
Considering all the factors
When addressing dry eye disease, there are
four factors to consider: exposure to the elements, inflammation, the quantity of tear
production and, most importantly, the quality of the tears.
“Dry eye disease is a chronic, progressive
condition that requires some maintenance
treatment,” explains Dr. Salinger. “It never
completely goes away. We can get the symptoms under better control, but we don’t cure
it. If we don’t treat it or we treat it inadequately, then it will progress. And when it’s
more severe, it requires more intensive and
more expensive treatment.
“Exposure to the elements happens to
some degree when we are awake or even
when we sleep, because the eyelids are not
closed completely all night. Even when
we’re sleeping, there is some exposure of the
surface of the eye. So a ceiling fan or air conditioning unit blowing directly on you will
exacerbate the problem.”
Th e quality of tears is the most signifi cant component that can be treated
medically, and LipiFlow directly addresses
the blockage of the oil glands and thus
improves the balance between the oil layer
and the water layer, thereby improving tear
film stability.
Clifford L. Salinger, MD, recipient of the “Heroes in
Medicine” 2014, awarded by the Palm Beach County
Medical Society, is a board-certified ophthalmologist with
subspecialty certification in corneal and refractive surgery,
and dry eye. After completing his undergraduate degree
at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, he received
“Dry eye disease patients are often
treated for aqueous deficiency, or not enough
of the water layer,” adds Dr. Salinger. “What
we now know, however, is that the majority
of the condition is typically caused by evaporative tear deficiency, not aqueous deficiency.
This problem is primarily due to the dysfunction of the oil glands.”
The
System
Fast • Noninvasive • Painless
Effective • Long-lasting
LipiFlow treatment jumpstarts the
oil glands, emptying them of a lifetime of
blocked-up material so that the new oil
being produced is healthier and flows more
naturally from the evacuated glands.
“It is truly a revolutionary breakthrough
for the treatment of chronic dry eye disease,”
says Dr. Salinger.
He reports that, since obtaining the
LipiFlow technology in April of 2012, he has
found that the vast majority of his patients
achieve excellent, long-term results, “feeling
much more comfortable while using less
medication.
“With the LipiFlow technology, we
are finding that less than twenty percent
of individuals have requested additional
treatment. Approximately ninety percent of
patients have reported that their symptoms
have not returned at the one-year mark.
Barbara had her treatment in February
2013, and has done very well since. I saw
her recently for an exam, and she stated that
her eyes were doing great.”
“I feel completely
comfortable with
Dr. Salinger’s
practice and his
staff,” assures
Barbara.
his medical degree from UMDNJ-Rutgers Medical School,
New Brunswick, NJ. Dr. Salinger completed an ophthalmology residency at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. He is a member of the
American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Cornea Society, and the Florida Society
of Ophthalmology. He is a past associate professor at the University of Rochester
and has lectured extensively nationally and abroad. In addition to his volunteer
work, traveling overseas on many occasions, he has been the education chairman
for the Florida Society of Ophthalmology for more than ten years.
Visit The Dry Eye Spa & V.I.P. Laser Eye Cent
Treatment
Laser Vision Correction
A TV veteran sees major improvement in his vision after treatment.
I
“I have the eyes of a
sixteen-year-old now,”
says George after successful LASEK surgery
with Dr. Salinger.
“
was in television for fifty years,”
says Vero Beach resident George
Dooley. “I did it all: behind the
camera, in front of the camera,
running TV stations and producing local
and national programs. I still do a little bit
of voiceover work and that kind of thing.”
After such an illustrious TV career,
it was no surprise that George felt the
need to maintain sharp, clear vision.
Unfortunately, the onset of cataracts
meant that he would need surgery to have
a chance to maintain it.
“My regular ophthalmologist is Dr.
William Mallon, here in Vero Beach,” he
explains. “He did the cataract procedure
on me, and it was terrific.”
A cataract is a clouding of the lens
in the eye that occurs as a natural part
of the aging process. Cataracts can
develop at any age, but are usually not
problematic until patients are 60 or 70
years old. Development can be accelerated by illness or injury, or from taking
certain medications.
Widely considered one of the safest,
most predictable surgeries performed
anywhere in the world, cataract surgery
involves removing the lens of the eye and
replacing it with a clear, synthetic lens
that restores unobstructed vision and
improves visual acuity.
At his physician’s suggestion, George
later drove all the way to Palm Beach
Gardens to consult Dr. Salinger.
“The cataract procedure improved
my vision, but I still had to wear glasses
for distance and for reading,” clarifies
George. “Dr. Mallon suggested Dr.
Salinger for what’s called a LASEK [laser
vision correction] procedure. I was
wearing bifocals up until that point,
and the doctor said, We could improve
your vision so you don’t need glasses for
one situation or another. After I had an
interview with Dr. Salinger, we decided
on the LASEK treatment to eliminate
the glasses for distance.”
Dr. Salinger emphasizes that patients
need to comply with the comprehensive
treatment program – even if they are
feeling better.
“As they begin to feel better, dry eye
disease patients sometimes reduce or
discontinue their treatments, and their
symptoms return. When the condition
recurs, it’s often more severe and more
difficult to address, so compliance is
extremely important. It’s like high blood
pressure or glaucoma: you don’t cure it,
but you can control it. That is the recognized goal now for dry eye disease care.”
Happy patient
For Barbara, the dry eye treatment was a
crucial part of her comprehensive care at
The Dry Eye Spa.
“I go back every six months for follow-up,” she adds, “and I might even have it
done again. What’s interesting to me is that
none of the eye specialists I had gone to previously knew about this treatment, or were
savvy enough to even explain to me about
the oil glands in the eye. That’s why I feel
completely comfortable with Dr. Salinger’s
practice and his staff,” assures Barbara.
Since getting her dry eye disease
addressed, she has also returned to The Dry
Eye Spa when debris from her salon work
affected one of her eyes.
“I went in there and I had a little piece
of cotton on my eye, probably from a cotton
swab, and Dr. Salinger took that out for me.
It’s so totally comfortable there: super clean,
and very pleasant. And I think that they are
all wonderful.” FHCN–Michael J. Sahno
NOW AVAILABLE:
BREAKTHROUGH
TECHNOLOGY
LASIK or LASEK
DNA TESTING FOR
LASIK SAFETY
ter on the web at www.TheDryEyeSpa.com.
“Terrific” results
“I really want to give credit to
Dr. Mallon for referring me to Dr.
Salinger,” emphasizes George. “He’s a
past president of the Florida Society of
Ophthalmology, and he is the reason
I went to Dr. Salinger. Th ey are two
great ophthalmologists.” Dr. Salinger,
in fact, has been program chairman for
the Florida Society of Ophthalmology
for 14 consecutive years and counting.
George is thrilled with the outcome
of the LASEK procedure, particularly as
it relates to his reduced reliance on glasses.
“The results are terrific: I really feel
like I’ve gone back to being a teenager
with my distance vision,” marvels George.
“It is beautiful – the colors, the resolution.
Dr. Salinger is a perfect ophthalmologist.
He did a wonderful job, and I would recommend it to anybody.” FHCN–Michael J. Sahno
5
Five
Guidelines
for Baby
Boomers:
How to Determine Whether Laser
Vision Correction Is Right for You
1. Your vision has been stable
for at least a year. If there
has been a significant change
in your eyesight recently, you
may not be the right candidate
for refractive surgery.
2. You have no history of
corneal disease or associated
symptoms. Several refractive
s u rg e o n s, i n c l u d i n g D r.
Salinger, use a new test to
detect genetic mutations
that can cause complications
after LASIK surgery. If you
are considering refractive
surgery, you should be tested
to eliminate the risk of such
complications.
3. You do not have significant
medical eye problems such
as previous corneal ulcers,
diabetic retinopathy or
m a c u l a r d e g e n e rat i o n .
Your clinician will also ask
about family histor y to
further evaluate potential
risk factors for “hidden” eye
health concerns.
4. Your eyeglass prescription
is within certain limits set
by your surgeon and the
FDA. Due to increased risk
of vision glare, halos and
decreased night vision, your
pupils should not be larger
than 8.5mm in the dark.
George
Dooley
FHCN PHOTOS OF GEORGE BY NERISSA JOHNSON
FHCN PHOTOS OF BARBARA BY MARC EDWARDS
“If a patient comes to us for LASIK or
LASEK laser vision correction,” says Dr.
Salinger, “the entire evaluation is usually complimentary, and we thoroughly
evaluate whether they have preexisting
dry eye disease, often treating it to stabilize the tear layer before recommending
a surgical procedure.”
After cataract surgery, he explains,
many patients are good candidates for
laser vision correction.
“Many patients after cataract surgery
are left with a need for eyeglasses correction to obtain their best potential vision,
because they have a little nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism,”
reports the physician. “The myth out
there is that these individuals cannot be
corrected with laser vision correction of
any form after cataract surgery. That is
simply not true! In fact, most cataract
surgery patients are candidates for laser
vision correction to make them more
spectacle-independent and to obtain
their best potential vision. Some people
choose to do both eyes for distance,
while others choose to do one eye for
distance and one eye for near vision.”
Refractive procedures such as LASIK,
LASEK and PRK are among the safest
medical procedures available today,
emphasizes Dr. Salinger.
“Millions of patients enjoy great
vision after their procedure,” he assures.
“However, refractive surgery is not for
everyone, and there are several factors
that should be considered before moving forward with surgery…especially for
Baby Boomers.” [see sidebar]
5. You expect improved vision
as a result of the LASIK
procedure, although you
may still need eyeglasses
in certain situations. Due to
limitations in certain aspects
of your vision, some patients
s t i l l wa r ra nt g l a s s e s o r
contact lenses after surgery
for certain activities. Be sure
to discuss expectations with
your surgeon.
Eye Floaters?
Ophthalmology
Laser treatment for
eye floaters is safe
and effective.
E
sign. By the statutory definition of legal word to more ophthalmologists that this
blindness, that would qualify, if only for is a safe technique,” he explains. “And
the short period of time the floater was even more than that, we need to educate
in your field of vision.”
ophthalmologists that in many instances,
Patients with eye floaters of this size − eye floaters can disable.
even if their vision is perfect − are actually
“The current ophthalmic dogma is
quite disabled, stresses Dr. Geller. “Most that an ophthalmologist will say, Well, I
ophthalmologists don’t seem to under- have floaters; what are you complaining
stand that when a patient is complaining about? So they write off the patient and
of serious eye floaters, but their vision is tell them it will go away. In most cases,
20/20, they are actually having a real prob- this is true, but the patients that come to
lem,” he says. “It’s not something that’s me have serious problems.”
SOUTH FLORIDA EYE CLINIC
only in their mind.”
When eye floaters are severe, some
SCOTT L. GELLER, MD
Dr. Geller should know: he is ophthalmologists may offer a vitrecone of the most recognized eye floater tomy, the surgical removal of the gel
“By our usual definition, of course laser specialists in the
where the floaters
not,” says Scott Geller, MD, a board- United States and “ONE OF THE LEADING reside. However, this
is rare because the
certified ophthalmologist at South around the world.
Florida Eye Clinic in Fort Myers who has
“ We h a v e h a d EYE FLOATER FACILITIES operation has some
a special interest in the treatment of eye patients come from all
serious drawbacks
IN THE US”
floaters. “But imagine if you only had over the world to our www.vitreousfloaters.com and complications,
one good eye. Imagine that the floater in facility in Fort Myers
and it is an expensive,
it was so large that when it came across for treatment,” says Dr. Geller. “Many invasive procedure.
your field of vision, you could not even patients come from countries where
However, the complication rate for
see the big E on the eye chart. Imagine medicine is socialized, and there is a laser treatment of eye floaters is very low.
if it were a car on the highway or a road lack of training and proper equipment. Furthermore, there is no risk of infecDuring the past twenty years, we have tion with laser since there is no cutting
treated thousands of patients and have with a scalpel.
performed nearly twenty thousand laser
Dr. Geller has treated many medisessions.”
cal doctors for their eye floaters as well.
“When other doctors and ophthalMaster of floater treatment
mologists come to you for their own
Dr. Geller is a master of this treatment problems, I would say that speaks for
modality. He has trained doctors from itself. We love doing laser surgery on
Holland, Italy, the United States and eye floaters, and love dealing with our
Central America. “We need to spread the patients on a personal basis.” FHCN
FHCN PHOTOS BY MARC EDWARDS
ye floaters − those tiny specks or
strings that float into your field
of vision periodically − can be
concerning. Typically caused by
age-related changes to the vitreous humor,
the thick fluid inside the eye, eye floaters
become more common with age. But can
they cause blindness?
Scott L. Geller, MD, is board certified 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, Pacific
Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, and completed his residency in ophthalmology at Sinai
Hospital of Detroit, which was affiliated 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 floater laser treatment at the International
Congress of Ophthalmology, European Congress
of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, European
Congress of Ophthalmology and the Florida
Society of Ophthalmology.
For eye floater solutions...
Call Dr. Geller at (239) 275-8222 or
toll-free at (877) 371-3937. South
Florida Eye Clinic is located at 4755
Summerlin Rd. in Fort Myers.
www.vitreousfloaters.com
Chiropractic
Personalized Care for Chronic Disease
Functional medicine offers a different approach to health recovery.
B
ATLAS CHIROPRACTIC OF PALM CITY
THOMAS D. KLEINMAN, DC
Years ago, when Bill broke his ankle, surgeons placed
pins in the joint to stabilize it. At the time, they told him
he would likely face arthritis in that ankle as he got older,
and around 2002, the discomfort he was warned about
bothered him so badly, he decided to seek a doctor’s help.
A client pointed him toward Dr. Thomas Kleinman of
Atlas Chiropractic of Palm City.
“I hadn’t been to a chiropractor in years,” recalls Bill.
“The next day, I felt better already. Now, I have a standing
appointment with him once a month.
“Then last summer, he said, I’m going to do a little
something different.”
Something different
Dr. Kleinman notes that the traditional model of medical
care relies on drugs and hormones to treat dysfunction
and disease. This model matches the problem with the
corresponding drug that will reduce the symptoms. This
approach works well for acute injuries, trauma, infection
and emergencies. However, it is less effective for chronic
health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes
and high cholesterol. For these conditions, Dr. Kleinman
suggests a different approach.
“Functional medicine refers to something completely
different than what we have come to know as conventional
medicine,” he explains. “It views each patient as an individual, genetically and biochemically unique. Health care
is then personalized to treat the person, not the disease.
This approach supports the natural healing mechanisms
of the body, rather than attacking the disease directly.”
The functional medicine approach begins by assessing
the patient’s health by measuring biomarkers that correlate to health and disease. It also measures the amount
of energy the patient has in his or her body to deal with
or adapt to the level of stress being imposed upon it. If the
biomarkers are less than optimal to express ideal health,
specific therapies and lifestyle adjustments are suggested.
Great numbers
Bill hasn’t really noticed a big difference in the treatment
he receives from Dr. Kleinman, but his medical doctor is
seeing the positive effects. Since last summer, Bill’s cholesterol and blood glucose levels have improved significantly,
mainly by making some simple lifestyle changes.
“In July, when I went to the doctor, she said, I’m
going to take you off of one of your medications. Your cholesterol is so good, I don’t think you should be taking this
Whole Food Nutrition Offered
Dr. Kleinman has incorporated whole food nutrition from Standard Process® as part of his
wellness program. He invites you to learn more about the role of whole food nutrition in
reversing disease. Workshops are held at Atlas Health and Wellness, located in the Palm City
Professional Center, 1516 SW Mapp Road. Please call (772) 781-9987 for further information.
“I think Dr. Kleinman is out
for your overall well-being,”
says Bill.
ill Rose has been a sought-after interior
designer for nearly 40 years. Even in his
retirement, Bill will lend his creative eye to a
handful of favorite clients if they downsize or
move into a new home.
“You become friends after a while, especially
if you’ve done more than one [home],” remarks the
Michigan native. “For some of our clients, we’ve done
four or five establishments.”
medication anymore,” reports Bill.
In October, they had a similar discussion, and Bill
was able to stop taking his diabetes medication. He also
noticed that, since last summer, he has been in alignment or very close whenever he goes in for his regular
chiropractic treatments. He might not see a big difference using the functional medicine approach, but Bill is
reaping tremendous benefits from looking at his blood
pressure and glucose issues in a different way.
“I would not give up my monthly appointment for
anything.” FHCN
Schedule a consultation or register for one of Dr. Kleinman’s
functional medicine workshops. They’re free and may be just
what you are looking for. Call his office at (772) 781-9987.
Thomas D. Kleinman, DC, is board certified by the National Board
of Chiropractic Examiners. He holds advanced degrees in the pharmaceutical sciences and neurology. He has formerly practiced as a
registered pharmacist in both hospital and retail settings. He has been
in private practice as a chiropractor for 32 years.
Rejuvenation
Noninvasive Aesthetic Renewal
Never before have there been so many effective
options for facial rejuvenation without surgery.
W
hen Linda Craig
decided to look into
having facial rejuvenation treatment,
she knew exactly who she wanted to
see: Valerie A. Barrett, MD, of RENU
Medical Aesthetics in Tequesta.
VALERIE A. BARRETT, MD
EndyMed™ and IPL
RENU Medical Aesthetics provides
a comprehensive range of aesthetic
and rejuvenation treatments in a spalike atmosphere. Services range from
BOTOX® Cosmetic, JUVÉDERM®,
EndyMed and Sculptra® to laser resurfacing, prescription-grade skincare
using the ZO® Skin Health line from
Dr. Zein Obagi, and Dr. Barrett’s patented RENU Lift™.
“When it comes to rejuvenation treatment,” says the physician, “many people
do not realize that there are a variety of
noninvasive options, such as skin tightening and photofacials. In fact, significant
rejuvenation can be done with little to no
downtime or discomfort.”
Skin laxity and loss of volume in
the face can both be addressed noninvasively, she assures.
“We treat the entire facial area,”
explains Dr. Barrett. “We treat pigmentation, pores and vessels on the skin, and
then we re-volumize. Patients can lose
“Outstanding” care
Linda knew she was in good hands with
Dr. Barrett, but the combination of
treatments exceeded even her own high
expectations.
Call to find out
about monthly
specials and seminars.
“I’ve known Dr. Barrett since
2006,” explains Linda. “I used to do
cosmetic laser work, and I worked with
her office at the time. Her practice has
been very successful over the years, and
for many good reasons.
“One reason is the excellence of
her work, which I think is harder and
harder to come by these days in every
field. Another reason is that Dr. Barrett
is very patient and not at all pushy. She
has a conservative approach, and truly
helps her clients set realistic expectations. That is so important in the field
of cosmetic medicine.”
As someone who has treated others
with laser, Linda had a good idea of what
areas she wanted to address.
“One of my biggest concerns was
fine lines around the mouth, the vertical lip lines,” she recalls. “So I went to
Dr. Barrett to talk specifically about that.
I was also curious about the liquid lift,
which is a nonsurgical facelift.”
From her previous experience working with the physician, Linda knew
what to expect.
“The first thing she does is to hand
you a mirror. She’ll say, Okay, I’m looking at your face, you’re looking at your
face. What is it that bothers you? The
great thing about Dr. Barrett is that she
wants you to tell her what you want, and
then she will tell you whether it’s possible. Hers was really the only practice I
considered going to.”
a significant amount of volume in the
face, which leads to things like nasolabial
folds, extending from the corner of the
nose down to the chin, and what we call
marionette lines, located at and below the
corners of the mouth. These are all issues
that occur with aging.
“People also get laxity, which leads to
jowling and loss of the jawline. Sun damage is a concern, especially here in Florida.
It can lead to brown spots and pigmentation in the skin, as well as issues like
noticeable facial telangiectasias, or spider
veins. Some patients have rosacea, and we
can address that, too.”
One of the most powerful treatments
in the cosmetic world today is a noninvasive tool for skin tightening.
“In order to address the skin laxity
that occurs with aging, we can use the
EndyMed machine. It uses radiofrequency heat to stimulate collagen,” notes
Dr. Barrett. “EndyMed is noninvasive,
painless and produces excellent results. It
can be used on any area of the body to
tighten skin, but it is most popular for
the eyes, face and neck, or in combination
with the i-Lipo™.”
The treatment is typically performed
in a series of three to four sessions.
“Patients can expect to get some immediate results, then significant tightening over
the next three to six months. We can treat
the jowling, neck laxity and the upper
chest – when patients start to develop that
crêpe-like effect in the décolletage area.”
For those with pigmentation or
brown spots, there is still hope to reverse
some of the sun’s damaging effects.
“Sun damage can be treated quite
efficiently by performing a photofacial
with the IPL (intense pulsed light), a
type of laser treatment,” clarifi es Dr.
Barrett. “IPL brings up the pigment so
that you get a little bit of darkening, but
then it sloughs off over the next ten to
fourteen days.
“Photofacials are noninvasive, and
you can wear makeup immediately afterward,” she adds. “They are used to treat
spider veins, which some women get on
the cheeks, chin or the corners of the nose.
You also get significant pore tightening,
skin smoothing and some skin tightening.
IPL photofacials can treat rosacea, as well.”
In addition to skin tightening,
RENU Medical Aesthetics offers noninvasive treatment for loss of volume in
the face.
“We can easily replace volume with
products like RADIESSE® or Sculptra
for a very natural look. We address all
aspects of aging, and if you start early
enough, you really turn back time.
Patients can look up to ten years younger
with little to no downtime.”
Linda is very pleased with the results of her care at
RENU Medical Aesthetics.
“The IPL photofacial greatly helped
to minimize sun damage, lightening the
dark spots and evening out my skin tone,”
she reports. “It was great – not only on
my face, but also on my chest, hands and
arms. It’s easy, painless and fast.”
The EndyMed was especially effective
for skin tightening, she says.
“It’s a huge improvement over its predecessor, Thermage®, which I used to do,”
explains Linda, who has also tried some
BELOTERO® and BOTOX/XEOMIN®
treatments. “EndyMed is more effective,
so everyone can get results. It’s painless,
too. All you feel is some warmth as the
wand moves over your skin. It can tighten
lax skin anywhere, but I think it’s wonderful for the lower face and neck.”
She emphasizes how much she
appreciates the staff of RENU Medical
Aesthetics, and Dr. Barrett in particular.
“She’s great to work with,” assures
Linda. “She’s very relaxed, unlike so many
physicians who just want to tell you what
to do. The staff is simply wonderful. I’m
very happy with everyone I’ve met there.
And of course, all their services have been
outstanding.” FHCN–Michael J. Sahno
Valerie A. Barrett, MD,
is board certified by the
American Board of Internal
Medicine. After receiving
her medical degree from
The Chicago Medical
School in Chicago, IL, she
completed her internship and residency at
Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in
Chicago. Dr. Barrett is a member of the American
Association of Anti-Aging, the American College
of Physicians, the Aesthetic Academy, the Liquid
Lift Association, and is a certified Merz Aesthetics
Elite and Allergan Platinum provider.
Visit RENU Medical Aesthetics online at www.renuforyou.com.
When you look great,
you feel great
RENU Medical Aesthetics is a
multidisciplinary center offering
aesthetic and rejuvenation treatments,
massage therapy and chiropractic
care in a spa-like atmosphere. For
more information, or to schedule a
consultation, please call the office,
located at 304 Tequesta Dr.,
Suite 3, Tequesta, (561) 406-6123.
Where health and
beauty come full
circle
At RENU, patient care is truly
a labor of love. Their goal is to
help each patient get to a place
in their life where they feel good
about themselves and the way
they look. “When you look good,
you feel good.” Services include:
• Laser Body Sculpting
• Cellulite Reduction
• Skin Tightening
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL
Photofacial)
• Laser Hair Removal
• KTP for Facial Vessels
• Skin Resurfacing
Procedures
• Facials/Microdermabrasion
• BOTOX/XEOMIN
• JUVÉDERM
• BELOTERO
• RADIESSE
• Sculptra
• Restylane® Silk
• ZO Skin Health from Dr.
Zein Obagi
• iS Clinical Products
RENU Medical Aesthetics of
Tequesta will host a seminar May
27, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. RSVP required.
Please call (561) 406-6123.
Compression Therapy
Treatment for Limb Swelling
Compression pumps increase circulation while decreasing swelling in patient’s legs.
W
FHCN PHOTOS BY MARC EDWARDS
olfgang Markgraf, MD,
knew the possible problems that could occur if
he left the swelling in
his legs untreated. He began to search
for a solution to manage the incurable
leg swelling. Dr. Markgraf discovered a
compression device supplied by Acute
Wound Care in Bonita Springs, a
Medicare-licensed provider and a highly
recommended agency. Acute Wound Care
is an in-home, HQAA-accredited supply
company specializing in wound care supplies and compression devices.
“I had already explored getting a
compression device, so I started with an
off-the-shelf machine,” he describes. “I
went through a couple of these devices
that gave out after a while. I hadn’t really
researched the issue properly, and then
I realized that Medicare would cover a
proper device.
Acute Wound Care’s Heather Caputo
makes sure Dr. Markgraf has a good fit
with his compression sleeves.
“In very short order, they [Acute
Wound Care] got my order completed and
fitted me,” he notes. “I’m very satisfied.”
How it works
Easy-to-use compression pumps from
Acute Wound Care can be used to
remove fluid that has accumulated in
the legs or arms. The pump’s limb-sized
sleeves gently massage the limb, draining the excess fluid back into the body’s
circulatory system so it can be naturally
eliminated. The compression pump
increases circulation in the affected limb
while alleviating many painful symptoms. While using the pump, the patient
simply sits back with the limb raised to
further assist with circulation.
“It is both highly effective and noninvasive,” states Nancy Pomposello, RN,
physician liaison at Acute Wound Care.
“And for the legs, it is much easier to use
than compression stockings. The patient
uses the pump twice a day for forty-five
minutes, with an interval of at least two
hours in between treatments, so it is
usually done in the morning and in the
evening. The patient should be sitting in
a recliner or chair that elevates the legs
while pumping.”
Acute Wound Care’s certified compression therapists bring the pump right
to the patient’s home. During the visit,
the therapist instructs the patient on the
pump’s use and care.
“The compression pump can also
be used for patients with chronic
wounds and non-healing ulcers,”
informs Nancy. “The pump assists in
the wound healing process by circulating the healing factors in the blood.
“The sleeves are reusable and can be
washed off with a damp cloth, so if the
patient has an open wound, they can use
the pump, as long as the wound is covered.”
The compression pump is a prescription device and is approved by Medicare
and covered by many commercial insurers.
Qualified and effective
Nancy is confident that patients in need
of treatment for swelling in their limbs
will find Acute Wound Care’s compression pump to be their best option. Dr.
Markgraf agrees.
He was a young man in the service
when he began his studies during the
Second World War. To meet his obligation to the GI Bill, Dr. Markgraf served
as a medical officer in Korea, but when
the conflict ended, he believed his commitment to the military extended further.
Thus, he devoted his life’s work to caring
for US veterans as a general surgeon.
“I got an appointment with the
Veterans Administration in Miami, so
that’s how I started here in Florida,” he
explains. “Then I transferred to the Bay
Pines Veterans Hospital in St. Petersburg.
I completed a forty-eight-year career
with the military and the Veterans
Administration Service.”
Dr. Markgraf became a patient himself when he fought a battle with bladder
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Feel Better, Naturally
Hormone replacement with pellets provides better results for patients suffering from mood swings, night sweats and loss of libido.
C
I wanted to change that.”
Cathy heard about hormone pellet
therapy and started searching for a physician in her area who could help. That’s
when she found Mikhail Berman, MD,
at BHRT, Inc. in Palm Beach Gardens.
Mikhail Berman, MD,
is a general practitioner
who focuses on holistic
and anti-aging medicine. Dr. Berman earned
his medical degree from
the Leningrad Pediatric
School of Medicine in
St. Petersburg, Russia.
He completed his internship and residency at the Second Hospital
of Leningrad and completed residencies at
the Institute of Trauma and Orthopedics
and the Urology Second School of
Medicine in St. Petersburg, Russia. More
recently, Dr. Berman has received board
certification and is a fellow of the American
Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Dr.
Berman is a board member of the National
Science Foundation University-Industry
Cooperative Research Center.
After a thorough consultation, it was
determined that Cathy was indeed an
ideal candidate for hormone replacement, so Dr. Berman recommended
bio-identical pellet hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
“Hormones are messenger molecules,” explains Dr. Berman. “They are
responsible for making all systems of the
body work in unison. Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are important
hormones that are produced in ovaries,
testicles and adrenal glands. As we age,
they decline and this negatively affects
not only sexuality, but also mood, sleep,
energy and many other functions.
BHRT, INC.
MIKHAIL BERMAN, MD
“I did not want to waste any more
time, really,” Cathy says. “I tried various treatments over the years and
nothing helped. I always felt just kind
of drained and lifeless. I was willing to
give pellet therapy a try.”
Feel good again
“When delivered by pellets,” he continues, “which are the size of a grain of
rice, hormones provide superior relief
of menopausal symptoms. The oldest
method of hormone replacement, pellets
have been used since the 1940s and are the
safest and most thoroughly studied way
to replace hormones. Pellets also prevent
hormone transmission to others, which
can occur when using creams.”
Dr. Berman says pellet therapy is the
most effective, most efficient hormone
replacement program available.
“Pellets deliver a steady stream of
hormones into the blood because they
are introduced under the skin into
fat tissue, and they slowly dissolve
over a period of four to five months,”
he explains. “This ensures their levels
remain stable and do not fluctuate.”
Renewed lifestyle
Cathy says it was the natural progression
of feeling better that made her want to
continue her treatments.
“If I was skeptical at all in the beginning, I certainly am on board with it
now,” she says. “It has really changed
my life in many ways. My sex drive has
increased, and I look and feel better. I
am resting better, and I have much more
energy to spend quality time with the
grandkids. They keep me busy.”
One thing she likes about Dr.
Berman, Cathy says, is his availability.
cancer. However, complications of the
cancer therapy he received left him with
chronic swelling in his legs.
“If you don’t keep after this every day,
you’ll have to sit with your legs elevated
eight hours a day, and that certainly is not
reasonable,” he says. “But by using this
device at least twice a day, it keeps the
swelling under control.
“I’m perfectly satisfied. I think the
device is going to last me. I reached
ninety-two last Wednesday, so I’m chugging along.” FHCN
ACUTE WOUND CARE
Are you suffering from
chronic limb swelling?
Call Acute Wound Care
at (239) 949-4412 or
visit them on the web at
www.acutewoundcare.com.
Correct Your
Hormones Today!
If you are interested in hormone
replacement, visit Dr. Berman’s
office at 8295 North Military Trail,
Suite G, in Palm Beach Gardens or
call his office at (561) 626-3205. For
more information, visit his website at
www.hormonecorrection.com.
“I can pick up the phone and call him
direct, and he answers the phone,” Cathy
says. “How many physicians do that
nowadays? He is very
professional and
knowledgeable,
and I feel comfortable talking
to him. If pellet therapy is
something
you have
h e a rd o f
and want
to try, I
recommend Dr.
Berman.
I feel like
I have my
life back
again!”
FHCN–Judy Wade
Cathy has a
renewed energy
and youthful feeling
after pellet therapy.
athy Ferris underwent a
total hysterectomy at age 28
after being diagnosed with
endometriosis.
For years following surgery, Cathy
says she never felt quite the same way,
both physically and mentally.
“A hysterectomy is life-changing, for
sure,” she relays. “My skin was always
dry, I was moody and my energy level
was never where I felt it should be for my
age over the years. I have three grandsons,
and I never had any energy left for them.”
Married for 36 years to her husband, Tom, Cathy says her sex drive
also diminished.
“It was something that was concerning to both of us, of course, and
Dr. Markgraf gets all his questions
answered by Acute Wound Care’s
Heather Caputo.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Range of Motion Restored
Outpatient disc replacement procedure offers a
leading-edge alternative to disc fusion surgery.
I
“
guess you could say I’m kind of a
tomboy,” reflects Lori Hengber.
“I’m really big into water-skiing,
swimming, four-wheeling and
things like that. I’m not afraid of doing a
whole lot of anything.”
SCOTT S. KATZMAN, MD, P.A.
CENTER FOR
ARTIFICIAL DISC
REPLACEMENT
3355 Burns Rd., Suite 304
Palm Beach Gardens
3500 Tyler St.
Hollywood
499 E. Central Pkwy., Suite 130
Altamonte Springs
652 Palm Springs Dr.
Altamonte Springs
2401 Frist Blvd., Suite 7
Fort Pierce
Dr. Katzman explains that patients who
have neck problems like disc herniation,
cervical stenosis, foraminal stenosis and
radiculopathy are treated by most surgeons
in the country with a fusion [ACDF] procedure. “This surgical technique requires
placement of a device into the disc space,
typically locking it into position with
screws and plates,” he describes.
Rather than a fusion, Dr. Katzman
prefers to use an artificial disc implant
made of a combination of titanium
and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyurethane. He notes that artificial disc
replacement has become a well-established
procedure in recent years, comparable to
total knee or hip replacement.
“Disc replacement has actually been
FDA-approved for years, although there
are not many surgeons offering this procedure yet in the US,” observes the doctor,
who has been performing artificial disc
replacement for more than a decade. “We
now have between ten and fifteen years of
data showing its effectiveness.”
The skilled surgeon explains that the
replacement procedure has several significant
advantages over traditional fusion surgery.
“A fusion doesn’t move; an artifi cial disc does. Fusion requires a brace
for several months; an artificial disc
requires none. A fusion can stress the
adjacent segments of the spine; with an
artificial disc, there’s no extra stress.”
Artificial disc replacement is performed on an outpatient basis with
no significant restrictions. Moreover,
patients are able to resume normal activities within days, not months.
“Because the disc itself is moveable,
the patient is able to move right away,”
emphasizes Dr. Katzman. “Unlike spinal
fusion, which requires a lengthy recovery
and limits mobility permanently, the disc
replacement procedure enables patients to
return to activities quickly. It’s an impressive advance, and one that renders the
old fusion procedure virtually obsolete.
We are now one of the leading centers in
the world that is performing these disc
replacement procedures.”
“Very, very happy”
Lori was pleased with her surgery, both
in terms of how it went that day and
also the results themselves.
“Every day I’m feeling better and better,” marvels Lori,
shown here with husband Peter and grandson Xavier.
“It was a good experience,” she assures.
“Everyone was very kind, pleasant and
patient that morning. They came into the
room and introduced themselves and told me
what they would be doing. I just had a peace
that everything was going to be all right.”
Her return to leisure activities has
been especially rewarding for Lori.
“Water sports and swimming are
really big for me,” she reminds, “but I
couldn’t really swim that well because
when you’re doing free strokes, your
head goes up a bit and you have to turn
it around, back and forth. I would end
up with really bad headaches just from
swimming laps in the pool or the ocean.”
In addition to the resolution of the
nerve problem that caused her to drop
objects, Lori also has found great relief for
pain problems she had carried for decades.
“I was experiencing both severe headaches and severe pain in my legs for thirty
years,” she says, “and living with pain for
thirty years is no fun. Since the surgery,
even that has gotten better. Walking,
Scott S. Katzman, MD,
is bo ard cer ti fied by
the American Board of
Orthopaedic Surgery. He
completed his undergraduate studies at the
University of California at
San Diego and earned his
medical degree at Jefferson
Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University,
Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Katzman served his general surgery internship at the University of
California, San Francisco, and his residency
in orthopedic surgery at the University of
Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, where
he also completed a spine mini-fellowship. Dr.
Katzman has published and lectured extensively on topics in orthopedic surgery, and he
is a leader in the development of minimally
invasive joint replacement techniques.
getting in and out of a car, standing up
from a hard seat, sitting at a desk for
long periods of time – these were all huge
tasks for me. Getting up in the morning
was a task. Holding my grandbabies was
becoming difficult toward the end. That
scared me, because I was afraid I might
drop them.”
She appreciates Dr. Katzman and his
staff both for listening to her concerns and
for providing the right solution for her.
“I’m very, very happy,” adds Lori. “I
knew there was something that needed to
be done years ago, but I didn’t want to
do a fusion with the plates and screws. I
was looking for someone who would do
something better than that. The day after
surgery, I was actually back to work.
“I brag about Dr. Katzman to everyone I meet who shares with me that
they’re in pain, because what I experienced has been a very positive thing in
my life.” FHCN–Michael J. Sahno
Benefits of artificial disc
replacement vs. traditional
spinal fusion
•
•
•
•
•
•
Full range of natural motion
Decrease in pain and stiffness
Faster recovery
No brace requirement
No screws
Minimally invasive, outpatient
procedure
Learn more online at www.centerforartificialdiscreplacement.com or www.advancedhere.com
GRAPHIC COURTESY OF CENTER FOR ARTIFICIAL DISC REPLACEMENT
A leader in minimally
invasive spine surgery
Call (888) 975-2127 for all locations:
Artificial disc replacement
PHOTO COURTESY OF LORI HENGBER
Unfortunately for Lori, her fearless attitude comes in spite of her sustaining some
injuries – including one at an early age.
“I hurt my back when I was nineteen,” she explains. “I did all kinds of
different procedures for it: chiropractic
care, epidural blocks, cortisone injections, acupuncture, massage therapy.
You name it, I’ve done it.”
More recently, Lori began to experience symptoms that were not only
unprecedented for her but also unusual
for someone still in her forties.
“I started falling, and I started dropping things,” she recalls. “It was like I
didn’t have any strength in my hands to
grip things.”
After getting an MRI and discussing her case with a surgeon, Lori was
more distressed than ever.
“The surgeon’s office told me what I
already knew, that I had herniated discs
in my neck and spinal stenosis. They said
that they would go in and do a surgery
with some cadaver bone. That was in
March 2014, but then I never heard from
them for the next six months. When I
called to request that my MRI reports be
sent back, they called me back to discuss
a completely different procedure for my
neck. That scared me.”
On the recommendation of her
boss, Lori consulted Scott S. Katzman,
MD, and the Center for Artificial Disc
Replacement in Palm Beach Gardens. The
response from Dr. Katzman’s office was
worlds away from her experience with the
previous surgeon’s practice.
“My husband, Peter, and I met with
Dr. Katzman, and he is a very nice gentleman,” she assures. “I believe he spent over
two and a half hours with us, going over
everything. He explained that my neck
would get worse if I continued to do the
things I typically do, like water sports, and
that I could even become paralyzed. So
we went ahead and scheduled a procedure
with him.”
Dentistry
Creating Smiles for Life
Thanks to a comprehensive dental treatment plan, this Boca
Raton patient has finally regained the confidence he once lost.
F
offi ce that Monday morning to have
that tooth pulled.”
Not only did Harry have that tooth
extracted, but Dr. Fatmi also pulled seven
other teeth that day and recommended
two bridges for Harry.
“I needed extensive dental work,”
recalls Harry. “And I convinced myself
that I was ready only because Dr. Fatmi
made me feel so comfortable about the
process.”
or a decade, Harry Navedo
avoided dentists like the
plague. Working in the admissions department for a public
university, Harry comes face to face
with many people over the course of his
workday. Because he had not been to a
dentist in years and his oral health had
suffered, he lacked self-confidence and
rarely smiled for photos, or just avoided
being in them altogether.
Emergency services
NAVED FATMI, DMD
“I had a fear of dentists and avoided
them for far too long,” he says. “I played
rugby years ago, and I chipped a few teeth
as a result of that. I had decaying teeth. I
never wanted to show my teeth because I
was embarrassed by my smile. I avoided
social gatherings a lot because I was shy
about talking. Yet, I avoided doing anything to help myself. I just did not want
to go to a dentist unless I absolutely had
no choice.”
However, Harry’s dental phobia took
a back seat one weekend when he had a
toothache that would not subside.
“One Saturday afternoon, I had a
toothache that was very painful,” he continues. “The tooth was abscessed. So, I
started calling emergency numbers at dental offices to see if I could find one nearby
to help me. In my search, one dentist
returned my call and that was Dr. Fatmi.”
Harry is referring to Naved Fatmi,
DMD, of Regency Court Dentistry in
Boca Raton.
“Dr. Fatmi met me at his office that
same day, and I was very impressed,”
Harry relays. “You just can’t find a dentist willing to walk away from his own
personal time to meet with a patient on
a weekend. But he never hesitated. He
gave me an antibiotic to help me get
through the weekend. I returned to his
For a
relaxed
dental visit
Regency Court Dentistry is now
accepting new patients. For more
information or to schedule an
appointment, please call (561) 9980727 for the office, located at Regency
Court of Woodfield, 3003 Yamato Rd.,
Suite C5, in Boca Raton.
Regency Court Dentistry prides itself
on offering emergency dentistry services. Visitors to an emergency dentistry
practice often have waited longer than
needed, until an easily fixable problem
has escalated to an emergency. This is
because many people are afraid to go to
the dentist, and procrastinate until the
problem becomes severe, which was the
exact case with Harry.
“We see patients on the weekends
and after hours,” notes Dr. Fatmi. “If
someone is in pain and calls the office
and presses option two, it goes directly to
my cellphone. When someone is visiting
South Florida – and we do have a lot of
snowbirds – many of these people are in
town on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays,
and we’re able to see patients on the weekends, take care of their issues and get them
back to their general dentists up north.”
Regency Court Dentistry provides
comprehensive care in a comfortable environment. They specialize in denture repairs,
extractions, root canals and crown repair.
For patients, like Harry, with “dentalphobia,” Dr. Fatmi and his staff work
hard to ensure that every experience in the
office is pleasant, even relaxing.
“We treat people comprehensively
from beginning to end,” he assures. “We
do see a lot of people who are anxious
at first, like Harry, so we offer oral sedation in the practice, if necessary, to help
patients relax. We are very open with each
patient and explain what their options are,
and we frequently have a different viewpoint than what they’re used to hearing
from other dentists. Our goal is to work
with the patient to achieve the ultimate
goal of good oral health.”
clamp, or removable partial denture. The
problem is that this clamp can stress the
adjacent teeth that it clasps onto, and has
greatly reduced function, chewing force
and aesthetic appeal compared to permanent [non-removable] crowns attached
to implants.”
Many patients are pleased to discover
that they can get their old silver fillings
replaced with a newer material made from
either a resin or porcelain composite, a
significant improvement and often a prelude to whitening treatment.
Veneers are a more advanced cosmetic
option, and may be appropriate for a
variety of dental conditions seen in front
teeth, particularly gaps between teeth,
stained fillings, permanently discolored
teeth or chipped or crooked teeth.
In addition to offering complete
dental services, Regency Court Dentistry
is a true citizen of the Boca Raton area.
They participate in many local events and
fundraisers, such as the Early Head Start
dental exams held at Florence Fuller Child
Development Center, and The Arc of The
Glades program on behalf of the Dental
Home Initiative.
“We are proud of the results we
provide for our patients, and especially
pleased to play an active role in our community,” concludes Dr. Fatmi. “Going to
the dentist should not be a scary or traumatic event, and we invite even those who
are nervous about needed dental work to
come in and let us help them.”
Comprehensive care
Renewed confidence
Other services offered at Regency Court
Dentistry include crowns, implants,
Invisalign®, veneers, inlays and onlays,
and whitening.
“Dental implants offer great benefits for denture wearers by providing
tremendously improved stabilization
and function with implant-supported
overdentures, when compared to
conventional dentures that have no
mechanical or physical attachment to
the jaw,” explains Dr. Fatmi.
“However, implants are also great
for replacing individual teeth. When a
tooth is missing, the only way to restore
that missing tooth, other than utilizing
a dental implant, is with a removable
“Harry came in for emergency treatment
and along with it, he needed comprehensive treatment to get back to function
and aesthetics, and to get his confidence
back to normal,” Dr. Fatmi says. “I feel
very good about the final outcome with
Harry because he came in to see me on an
emergency basis, and I fulfilled his need. I
eased his fears. That is really rewarding.”
Even more rewarding, says Dr. Fatmi,
is the reaction from Harry’s wife, Nancy.
“She came in crying tears of joy
because she said he had a renewed confidence she had not seen in years,” he
relays. “That alone was really satisfying
to me. I not only helped the patient, I
also helped the family. Now, Harry is no
As an admissions counselor,
Harry takes a moment to
speak to a new student.
longer hesitant for family photos and no
longer wants to avoid people.”
Harry says he is thrilled with the feel
and the look of the partial dentures Dr.
Fatmi made.
“The partials are so well made that
you cannot even tell they are not my real
teeth,” Harry says. “Even my neighbor
said to me, I should have gone to your
dentist. They look so real.”
Harry says he is impressed by Dr.
Fatmi’s commitment to his patients and
his knowledge in the field.
“He is outstanding, he really is,” he
raves. “He learns all the new techniques
and technologies, and he goes above and
beyond to meet your needs. I am very
comfortable with him. And he has a very
skilled team as well. I have sent several of
my friends to him, and they all think he
is fantastic!” FHCN–Judy Wade
Specializing in all aspects of
dentistry, including:
• Temporary fillings
• Dental implants
• Extraction of teeth
• Crowns
• Veneers
• Porcelain onlays and
inlays
• Dentures
• Partials
• Bridges
• Invisalign
• Whitening
• Dental emergencies
Naved Fatmi, DMD,
received his Doctor
of Dental Medicine
degree from the
University of Florida
College of Dentistry
in Gainesville. Dr.
Fatmi is an adjunct
professor at Palm
Beach State College.
He is a member of
the American Dental
Society, the Florida
Dental Society and
the Palm Beach
Dental Society.
Visit Regency Court Dentistry on the web at www.regencycourtdentistry.com and on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/RegencyCourtDentistry.

EDITION - Florida Health Care News

Transcription

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