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East Volusia County Edition Winter 2021

FEATURED ARTICLES

Injury Health Center

Into

E laine Blanchard is no novice when it comes to dentistry. She worked in her husband’s dental o� ce for 30 years before the

couple retired. While her husband was the dentist, Elaine was the heart and soul of the practice, running the day-to-day business operations.

FutureSte

TheHigh-tech,

o� ce-based system expedites crown creation

PARK AVENUE DENTISTRYSTEPHEN P. LESTER, DDS, MAGD, P.A.

“I worked in my husband’s o� ce with one other woman for all those years,” Elaine, 87, shares. “� en, my husband retired and we built a house at Lake Waterford Estates. He died a couple of years later. I met Ted Blanchard and remarried a few years later. Ted died � ve years ago. Now, I live with my miniature dachshund, Cleo.”

Over time, Elaine’s dental health began to deteriorate. Of particular concern was an upper front tooth that began to turn gray and some old, gold crowns she considered unattractive.

“When that front tooth of mine started turning gray, I would put my hand over my mouth when I smiled to hide it,” Elaine says. “I thought, What in the world is going on? So I started asking friends about a good dentist in the area.”

Several of Elaine’s friends recom-mended she visit Stephen P. Lester, DDS, at Park Avenue Dentistry in Edgewater. During her first visit to the practice, Dr. Lester conducted a thorough examina-tion that revealed a number of problems.

“Elaine came to us in January, and her teeth were in pretty bad repair,” Dr. Lester recalls. “She had a number of old � llings that were decayed, broken and leaking, a few crowns that were broken, and a front tooth that was discolored and unhealthy.”

“I recommended a root canal for one of Elaine’s teeth, and she needed a number of other additional crowns, including one for the cosmetic tooth. I created those crowns using our comput-erized E4D system.”

Abundant Advantages� e E4D system employs computer-aided design and computer-aided manufac-turing (CAD/CAM) technology. For years, CAD/CAM technology has been used to design and manufacture products such as machine and auto parts.

More recently, it was retooled for use in dentistry to meet a growing need for patient comfort and convenience. � at fueled the development of in-o� ce CAD/CAM systems such as the E4D system.

“� e E4D system is a technology that creates porcelain restorations quickly and easily right in the dentist’s o� ce, often in one visit,” Dr. Lester explains. “It can make dental crowns, inlays, onlays, veneers, even bridges.”

� e system consists of three main parts: the computer system, the software and the milling machine. � ese parts work in concert to quickly create the � nished restorations, which in Elaine’s case were crowns.

In treating a patient such as Elaine, Dr. Lester begins the process by using a high-tech laser to quickly and accu-rately scan the patient’s teeth into the computer. He then uses the E4D soft-ware to design the crowns.

The computer takes Dr. Lester’s design and prepares it for the milling machine, which cuts the restorations out of a block of porcelain. For Elaine, this process happened during the same appointment.

“For Elaine’s highly visible front tooth, I used a very attractive porcelain material called Empress, which has been in use for about 30 years,” Dr. Lester notes. “Empress is probably the most aesthetic porcelain available. It looks the most like real teeth of any of the porcelain materials available. And it’s extremely durable.”

Dr. Lester notes that using the E4D system to create dental restorations has abundant advantages for patients.

“For one thing, they do not have to put that messy goo in their mouths to make the impressions of their teeth because impressions are created digi-tally,” he informs. “And they do not have to wear temporary restorations, which always want to fall o� at inconvenient times. � ey also do not have to return for a second visit because, typically, their restorations can be designed and fabricated in a day.”

Elaine was amazed by the technology Dr. Lester used in creating her crowns. She says nothing like the E4D system was available when her husband was practicing and agrees that it greatly expedited the treatment process.

“My husband used to have to send crowns away to be made, and his patients had to wait two weeks before they could get their � nished crowns,” Elaine recalls.

“Dr. Lester makes crowns right in his o� ce in a few hours. I go to his o� ce for a 9 a.m. appointment, and I’m home before noon with a new crown. Dr. Lester is so up to date on today’s methods of dentistry. Everything is quicker than it was in my husband’s time.”

Dr. Lester’s modern approach is a byproduct of his commitment to ongoing education and advanced training. He can perform most required procedures so patients don’t have to travel to other providers.

“There are times, however, if it is in the patient’s best interest, that I refer patients to qualified specialists for speci� c procedures and therapies,” Dr. Lester acknowledges. “There is a group of specialists in the community I work with that I have vetted and know provide the highest quality patient care and treatment.”

It wasn’t necessary for Dr. Lester to refer Elaine to a specialist. He was able to complete her treatment plan himself, including her root canal. � e ultimate goal of Dr. Lester’s treatment was to improve Elaine’s overall dental health.

“Elaine may be 87, but patients are never too old to achieve good dental health,” he observes.

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Volusia Health Care NewsA PUBLICATION OF FLORIDA HEALTH CARE NEWS, INC.

Volusia Health Care NewsA PUBLICATION OF FLORIDA HEALTH CARE NEWS, INC.

The Perfect Pain Solution

Dr. Utter and his team believe chiropractic care is the perfect solution for nonsurgical, drug-

free relief of neck and back pain. For a consultation appointment, contact Halifax Injury Physicians at their Daytona Beach o� ce at:

337 N. Clyde Morris Blvd.

(386) 265-PAIN (7246)

TRAVIS UTTER, DC

Find Halifax Injury Physicians online at www.pipdoc.com/injury-locations/halifax-injury-physicians

Disc ManagementSpinal decompression is cornerstone of

pain-relieving protocol

Jane Himel, 77, is a wife and mother. � e Pennsylvania native brie� y worked outside the home cleaning houses but spent most

of her time as a caretaker for her elderly mother and father. Over the years, all her e� orts took a toll on her body.

“I developed issues with my back,” Jane elaborates. “A bone scan showed there was a lot of damage. � ere was some vertebral compression and some arthritis in my spine. I could only walk a little ways without pain, and it got pretty bad. When I was in pain, it rated a 12 on a scale of one to 10.

“� e pain was very sharp. I couldn’t turn over in bed and often had to get up. I was using CBD oil and other treat-ments, but absolutely nothing gave me relief. I tried physical therapy, but my pain was still really intense. I couldn’t even lift my legs due to the pain. It was horrible, and I thought, I don’t want to be in a wheelchair.”

Jane’s physician referred her to a pain management clinic, where doctors recom-mended treating her with injections. While waiting at the clinic, Jane’s husband picked up a copy of Volusia Health Care News and read about Halifax Injury Physicians and their spinal decompression treatment for back pain.

“My husband suggested I try it because I was not pleased at all with getting the shots,” Jane remembers.

Halifax Injury Physicians is a full-service chiropractic practice in Daytona Beach. The office is devoted to the nonsurgical treatment of neck and back disorders that can result in severe pain and disability. Brian Pesner, DC, an associate of Travis Utter, DC, the practice’s owner and operator, evaluated Jane’s condition.

M aurice Smith’s life was changed dramatically in July 2014. Smith, a supervisor for a prop-

erty management company, was hauling a trailer of trash to the dump when the vehicle he was driving was T-boned by a delivery truck traveling 60 mph.

“� ey ended up having to cut me and my passengers out of our vehicle,” Maurice, 52, remembers. “� e impact caused a major tear in the muscle on the left side of my lower back. I was in pain. It hurt to stand. It hurt to sit. On a scale of one to 10, my pain level was probably a nine all the time, and for two weeks, my mobility was minimal.

“I thought the only way to � x my problem was to have surgery to reattach the muscle. Then, my attorney told me about Halifax Injury Physicians and their injury rehabilitation program. At � rst, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to waste time doing chiropractic or any kind of treatment, but my wife said, Just go. Maybe it will help you, so I said, Okay, I’ll give it a try. I met with Dr. Utter, and he told me about everything they could do for me.

Halifax Injury Physicians is a full-service chiropractic practice in Daytona Beach. � e o� ce is devoted to the nonsurgical treatment of neck and back disorders that can result in severe pain and disability. Travis Utter, DC, is the practice’s owner and operator.

“At Halifax Injury Physicians, they gave me electrical muscle stim-ulation and manual therapy to loosen up the area in my back. After a couple of weeks, I started to feel a little better and could actually stand up without cringing. Eventually, my pain dropped to about a two or three.”

After receiving the treatments, Maurice continued with the rehabili-tation protocol. As part of the therapy,

Dr. Utter taught Maurice techniques to use in his daily life to prevent rein-juring his back.

“It’s a Miracle”Maurice continued to receive reha-bilitation services at Halifax Injury Physicians for about nine months until his back was strong again.

“I never had surgery, and my back feels great now,” he says. “I started doing more intense workouts to rebuild my lower back muscles, and I can now work without having the pain I was experiencing on a regular basis before.

“On long days or days when I know I’m going to be walking a lot, I wear the back brace that I got from Dr. Utter for added support. I feel blessed. By following the steps Dr. Utter showed me to maintain my back strength, I haven’t reinjured it. I highly recommend Halifax Injury Physicians. In fact, I already have.”

COURSEInjury rehabilitation

program restores injured back muscleHalifax Injury Physicians’ treatment

protocol for severe back and neck pain is a package of therapies that includes nonsurgical spinal decompression, spinal manipulations and physical therapy. Spinal decompression is the cornerstone of the protocol.

“Spinal decompression is an excellent nonsurgical, conservative option for dealing with various spinal conditions, the biggest being disc bulges, disc herni-ations, facet syndrome and even spinal stenosis,” Dr. Utter observes.

Before treatment, the doctor deter-mines the major factors contributing to the pain and other symptoms through a physical examination and imaging tests such as x-ray or MRI.

“When we evaluate all of this information, we are able to hone in on the speci� c level of the spine where the problem is occurring,” Dr. Utter explains. “Sometimes, there is more than one spinal level contributing to the pain.

“At Halifax Injury Physicians, we use a very sophisticated spinal decompression table that allows us to isolate a speci� c level of the spine for treatment. It also allows us to start working on one level, achieve some bene� t, then move on to treat the next level.”

� e spinal decompression is rather simple, especially in cases of disc herni-ation, according to Dr. Utter. With a herniation, pain comes from compression of the spinal nerves by collapsed vertebrae or by material from the center of the disc seeping out through the break, or herni-ation, in the disc.

“� e bones of the spine, or vertebrae, along with the bulged or herniated disc can compress the nerves that exit the spine,” Dr. Utter educates. “Spinal decompression pulls those bones apart extremely gently. As it starts to separate the bones, it creates negative pressure inside the center of the disc. � is negative pressure sucks in the disc material that has herniated onto the nerves.

“By pulling back that disc material, the amount of water and nutrients needed to start e� ectively controlling, containing and repairing the herniation is increased. Spinal decompression is typically administered in a series of treatments that e� ectively build upon each other. Over time, there is continued improvement until the patient is stable and can be discharged from care.”

Countdown to ZeroSpinal decompression made a huge di� er-ence in Jane’s life. � e pain she rated a 12 was essentially eliminated.

“Now, my pain is zero. Once in a while, it’s maybe a one, but that’s nothing. � at’s mainly from being old. After spinal decompression, I feel great again. It’s a miracle,” she reports.

“� e spinal decompression machine worked well. And when I was done with the machine, they did a little therapy on me. By the time I was done with that, I walked out of the o� ce with no pain at all, none. It was good.

“I recommend Halifax Injury Physicians and have already.”FHCN articles by Patti DiPanfilo. Photos by Jordan Pysz.

Accident photo courtesy of Halifax Injury Physicians.mkb

Travis Utter, DC, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the University of Central Florida and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange. He received addi-tional training in electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction veloc-ity (NCV) from the Neurodiagnostics

Institute in Ponce Inlet, and in whiplash and accident reconstruction from the Spine Research Institute

of San Diego. Dr. Utter is certifi ed in whip-

lash and accident reconstruction.

Thomas A. Barnard, MD, is board-certifi ed by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Stetson University in DeLand and a Doctor of Medicine degree from University of South Florida in Tampa. After gradua-tion, Dr. Barnard completed an internship and ophthalmology residency at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Cleveland. He went on to complete a fellowship in vitreoretinal dis-eases and surgery at West Virginia University in Morgantown. Dr. Barnard is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, Central Florida Society of Ophthalmology,

Florida Society of Ophthalmology and Schepens International Society, an organization of ret-ina specialists who completed

fellowships under the direction of Charles L. Schepens, an infl uential

Belgian ophthalmologist.

Excellence in Specialty Eye CareFounded in 1979, Florida Retina Institute has an experienced team of doctors dedicated to providing comprehensive vitreous and retinal ophthalmology. To schedule a consultation, call or visit one of their convenient locations:

Daytona BeachVolusia Medical Park

564 Health Blvd.(386) 258-5777

Orange CityRoyal Oaks Professional Center

424 Treemonte Dr.(386) 775-9909

Palm Coast50 Leanni Way, Suite 5E

(386) 447-1847Lake Mary

1025 Primera Blvd.(407) 333-1570

To learn more, visit them online at � oridaretinainstitute.com

THOMAS A. BARNARD, MDALEXANDER C. BARNES, MD

MATTHEW A. CUNNINGHAM, MDWILLIAM J. DUNN, MD, FACS, CHE

S.K. STEVEN HOUSTON III, MDABDALLAH M. JEROUDI, MD

JAYA B. KUMAR, MDELIAS C. MAVROFRIDES, MD

RAUL J. MORENO, MDTOMAS A. MORENO, MDJAMES A. STAMAN, MD

JONATHAN A. STAMAN, MDBENJAMIN J. THOMAS, MD

Smooth Ride To Stable Vision

At journey’s end, pain-free eye injections reduce retinal swelling

R aymond Bedell wasn’t content after he retired in 2008. He found retire-ment boring, so he began looking for something

meaningful to � ll his days. In time, he secured his ideal retirement job with a local Mercedes-Benz dealership.

“I started out driving the courtesy shuttle part time,” shares Raymond, 76. “Then about five years ago, Mercedes-Benz began requiring dealerships to have a concierge on sta� . So I applied for that position and got it. Today, I’m a product concierge for Mercedes-Benz. When people buy a new Mercedes, I go to their homes and show them how to operate the cars.”

Before taking that first stab at retirement, Raymond worked for 45 years as a manager for a retail packaging manufacturer.

“My company made the trays for Thomas’ English muffins and the packaging for Wheaties and Purell,” Raymond recounts. “I really liked my job because I did something di� erent every day. I’d be in the meat-packaging plant one day, the ice-cream packaging plant the next and the English mu� n plant the day after that. � ere was some-thing new to learn each day.”

Raymond’s company transferred him several times, so the Atlantic City, NJ,

native worked in cities throughout the East Coast, including New York, Philadelphia and Jacksonville. He returned to Florida following his retirement in 2008, but in 2017, Raymond experienced an alarming issue with one of his eyes.

“I’ve always had reasonably good eyesight, but all of a sudden, I started having vision problems. I couldn’t see clearly out of my left eye,” he elaborates. “I was struggling to read the printed word in books and newspapers, and I really like to read.

“I thought I needed new glasses, so I went to my ophthalmologist. He said my problem was more serious and recom-mended that I visit a retina specialist. � e experience was awful, though. They found that there was bleeding in my left eye and recommended injections into my eye every four to � ve weeks. But the � rst three injections I got from them really hurt. It felt like somebody stuck a climbing stick in my eye. And my eye was so bloody afterward that I had to wear sunglasses. After that, I started to look for another retina specialist.

retina vein occlusion. When this occurs, there is more � uid entering the retina than leaving, which causes the retina to swell. � at leads to blurry vision.

“In addition, when blood enters the retina but can’t leave, � uid builds up in the smaller blood vessels in the area. As a result, extra force is placed on those blood vessels and they begin to leak. � at further impacts vision.”

In many cases, a central retina vein occlusion can be diagnosed by viewing the retina during a dilated eye examination. Retina specialists may use � uorescein angi-ography in which a dye injected into an arm vein travels through the bloodstream

and creates a roadmap of the blood vessels in the back of the eye.

“The other tech-nology we sometimes use is optical coherence tomography, or OCT, which is like a CT scan of the retina,”

Dr. Ba rna rd i n f o r m s .

“ W i t h O C T , we get a

“My Vision is Clear”Raymond put the bad encounter with his � rst retina specialist behind him once he found Florida Retina Institute.

“Getting an injection in my eye is not as bad as it sounds,” Raymond relates. “At Florida Retina Institute, they numb me up signi� cantly, and when we agree that I’m numb enough, Dr. Barnard takes a small needle and injects the medication into my eye. I don’t feel anything. I haven’t felt an injection there for years.”

Raymond credits Dr. Barnard and his sta� for changing his outlook on injections.

“It’s been a great experience for me, and today, my vision is clear, and I can read without any problems,” he says. “My left eye is essentially normal now, but I must continue getting injections to maintain the vision in that eye. But that’s OK because Dr. Barnard is very patient. If I have questions, he listens and answers them thoroughly. He’s not like some doctors who give you a short answer then scoot out of the room. He spends time with me. He’s a very nice man and a gentleman.

“Everybody at Florida Retina Institute is wonderful. They’re nice people, and they remember my name. They’re very friendly and accommo-dating. I’m so thankful that I made the change and went to Florida Retina Institute. It’s an amazing place. I really landed on my feet with them.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Nerissa Johnson. mkb

Thankfully, somebody at work recom-mended Florida Retina Institute.”

When Raymond ar r ived a t Florida Retina Institute, he met with Thomas A. Barnard, MD, a board-certified, fellowship-trainedretina specialist. Dr. Barnard performed a thorough examination of Raymond’s left eye and determined he had a central retina vein occlusion. Treatment involves injections of medication into the a� ected eye.

Wrinkled Wallpaper“� e retina is the wallpaper in the back of the eye,” Dr. Barnard explains. “� ere is one main artery, the central retina artery, that supplies the retina with blood. � ere is also one vein, the central retina vein, that drains the blood back out of the eye.

“Sometimes, that vein gets pinched or kinked so that blood � ows into the retina but cannot flow out. That is a central

cross-sectional image of the retina that details its thickness. When we perform injections, OCT can show us how much the swelling has been reduced.”

Dr. Barnard is treating Raymond’s central retina vein occlusion using injec-tions of Eylea. � is medication stabilizes the blood vessels in the retina so they do not leak and swelling resolves.

“� e injections do not � x the blocked vein,” Dr. Barnard clari� es. “Often, the body � xes the vein at some point so that blood will start � owing normally again. But even when that occurs, those little blood vessels often stay leaky, and we have to continue the injections over time.

Raymond is doing well and his vision is much better, but his is an ongoing battle because he still has some leakage, Dr. Barnard informs. “We are continuing his injection therapy to keep the swelling down and keep him seeing well,” he says.

Page 2 | Volusia Health Care News | Winter 2021 | East Volusia County Edition East Volusia County Edition | Winter 2021 | Volusia Health Care News | Page 3ChIropraCtICophthalmology/retIna speCIalIst

Stephen P. Lester, DDS, MAGD, PA, earned his dental degree from Emory University in Atlanta and completed a comprehensive advanced program in cosmetic dentistry, Level 1, at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Dr. Lester holds mastership status from the Academy of General Dentistry, which is awarded to less than 1 percent of US and Canadian dentists. He is a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and an associate fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentists and the World Clinical Laser Institute.

Dr. Lester is Air Force-qualifi ed to administer IV sedation and holds a Florida permit to administer oral and IV moderate sedation. He has completed a one-year continuum course in all aspects – scientifi c, surgical and cosmetic – of implant dentistry from the Medical College of Georgia, and he is certifi ed in three standard categories from the Academy of Laser Dentistry. He is a member of a number of

professional associations including the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, Volusia Dental Academy and the prestigious, exclusive Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

104 E. Park Ave.

(386) 423-7770Visit on the web at www.WeCreateBeautifulSmiles.com or

text SMILE to 33733 for monthly specials. Like them on Facebook at facebook.com/ParkAvenueDentistry

Smiles in StyleThinking of a smile makeover?

Determined to have a smile that is healthy and dazzling? Dr. Lester welcomes questions about general,

cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry. To schedule a complimentary tour of the office and meet Dr. Lester and his staff, call or visit them in Edgewater at:

“Good denta l health contributes to good general health and helps people look good. And looking good makes them f ee l good, which makes them want to go on living and being active and healthy.”

“Brand New Teeth”In all, Dr. Lester placed eight dental crowns, and Elaine is delighted with the results.

“I can’t believe how nice my crowns turned out,” Elaine enthuses, “especially compared to what was done 30 or 40 years ago when they used gold crowns. � e crowns Dr. Lester made for me are white, and they look like real teeth. � ey look much better than the crowns I had before.

“Now, I’m happy to smile, and I get compliments wherever I go. People say, Elaine, you’ve got a beautiful smile. Dr. Lester did a very good job. And there was no pain with his process. Whenever he numbed my gums, I didn’t feel a thing.”

Elaine, holding Cleo, is thrilled with how well the crowns Dr. Lester created for her turned out.

Into FutureSte

The(continued from page 1)

E l a i n e i s extremely pleased

not only with Dr. Lester but also with his sta� . She says they made her visits an easy, pleasant

experience. “Dr. Lester

doesn’t dilly-dally. He gets right down to

business,” Elaine describes. “He’s been a dentist for years, so he has a lot of experience. But he’s also very nice and friendly, and has a great personality. � e way Dr. Lester conducts himself with his sta� is special, and his sta� loves him. He’s that kind of guy. He’s something else.

“Everybody at Park Avenue Dentistry is happy. In all the time that I’ve been here, since the 1950s, I’ve been to many physicians’ o� ces and worked with many staffs, but I have never worked with an office staff like Dr. Lester’s. They’re fantastic, and a lot of that has to do with Dr. Lester’s leadership.”

Beyond Dr. Lester’s profes-sional responsibilities, he also helped direct the design of Park Avenue Dentistry’s inte-rior. The office environment

is set up to be relaxing and welcoming to help patients feel comfortable. Elaine thinks Dr. Lester achieved that goal.

“I’ve never seen an office like Dr. Lester’s,” she relates. “As you walk in, it’s just beau-tiful, and each room all the way down is neat and clean. When you’re sitting in the treatment room, you look out the back window and there are all kinds of waterfalls, as well as flowers and bushes.

He even has TVs in the rooms that you can watch while he’s working on you. He thought of everything.

“I’ve never gone to a dentist like Dr. Lester, and I’m so glad to have him as my dentist,” Elaine adds. “And just like me, other people who go to him will never forget him. It’s absolutely wonderful to have a dentist like Dr. Lester in this town.”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photos by

Nerissa Johnson. mkb

p

Crown being placed on tooth.

The skilled physicians at Atlantic Ear, Nose & Throat welcome your call.

Offi ces are in Lake Mary, DeLand and Orange City. For an initial consultation

at any location, call:

(407) 774-9880 or

(386) 774-9880

For Audiological & ENT Expertise

Visit Atlantic Ear, Nose & Throat on the web at www.myENTdoctor.com

Devang M. Shah, MD, is board-certifi ed in otolaryngology. Dr. Shah attended MIT as an undergraduate. After receiving his medical degree with honors, he completed his surgical internship and residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Dr. Shah has served as chair of the department of surgery at AdventHealth Fish Memorial in Orange City and is a clinical assistant professor at Florida State University College

of Medicine. He co-authored several journal articles investigating the relationship between microscopic inner-ear structures and hearing function and has presented his work at research conferences.

Daniel L. Rothbaum, MD, is board-certifi ed in otolaryngology. Dr. Rothbaum graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in Cambridge, MA, with a degree in social studies. He received his medical doctorate from Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, CT, and completed his intern-ship and residency training at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where he also spent a year focusing on facial plastic surgery under the guidance of nationally recognized leaders in the fi eld. Dr. Rothbaum specializes in advanced techniques in facial reconstruction after skin cancer removal (Mohs reconstruction).

DEVANG M. SHAH, MDDANIEL L. ROTHBAUM, MD

Winner By A NoseMinimally invasive outpatient procedure opens blocked sinuses

A s a farm boy growing up in Massachusetts, Henry Molinari loved horses so much that he would skip

school and steal away to a nearby race-track, where he received an education in how to care for and train thoroughbreds.

“I started out mucking stalls,” Henry reveals with a chuckle. “But I loved every minute of it and worked my way up to where I trained thoroughbreds for many years until I changed over and started training standardbred horses.”

“Standardbreds are the kind that race with the rider in a sulky behind them. I not only trained those kinds of horses; I also drove them. But I wound up having a few wrecks that ended the driving part for me, so after that I just trained them.”

Henry, 80, brought his training talents to Florida several years ago, and his passion for thoroughbreds and standard-breds remains so great that he sometimes has to � ght o� the urge to become part owner of one.

About � ve years ago, Henry found himself � ghting an impulse to stay in bed and sleep all day.

“It was very strange because all of a sudden I started feeling very sluggish and tired,” Henry explains. “And that’s odd for me, because I’ve been a very active person all my life. Even now, I still go out bike riding every day, sometimes twice a day.”

“The good news is that it really didn’t a� ect my breathing all that much, but I was � ghting this urge to just lay in bed all day. At the same time, I was starting to get a lot of sinus headaches, and they were lasting a long time. It really wiped me out.”

Henry struggled with sinus issues for several weeks. When he � nally sought medical attention, his doctor started with an allergy test. � at test came back negative, meaning Henry’s problem was not caused by allergies.

Henry’s doctor then suggested he visit a specialist. Based on the recommen-dation of a close friend, Henry visited Devang M. Shah, MD, of Atlantic Ear, Nose & � roat.

“When Henry first came to us, his biggest complaint was that he was su� ering from a lot of nasal congestion and sinus pressure,” Dr. Shah reports. “Based on those complaints, I ordered a CT scan of his sinuses.”

The dedicated team of physicians and specialists at Atlantic Ear, Nose & � roat provide compre-

hensive, state-of-the-art care for a range of disorders and conditions, including a nasal valve collapse and deviated septum.

A nasal valve collapse comes as a result of the nostrils collapsing when taking a deep breath. When the nostrils collapse in such a manner, breathing is more di� cult and the sinuses can become blocked.

With a deviated septum, breathing naturally through the nose is compro-mised by irregularities in the septum, the bone and cartilage that divide the nasal cavity.

As Dr. Shah explains, both condi-tions can be corrected through an e� ective outpatient procedure that calls for the insertion of a cartilage alterna-tive known as the LATERA® Absorbable Nasal Implant.

“The technology has evolved to the point where this procedure is more widely available and easier for patients

to tolerate than traditional surgery, where you have to harvest the cartilage and make a wider opening to get that cartilage in there,” Dr. Shah reports.

During the implant procedure, which can be done in a doctor’s o� ce under IV sedation or in a surgery center in association with another procedure under general anesthesia, the LATERA implant is inserted into the nasal wall or cartilage through an insertion tube.

Similar to dissolvable sutures, the LATERA nasal implant is made of special materials that are naturally absorbed into the body over about 18 months. Its impact is immediate, and following completion of the absorption period, its e� ects continue to be felt for approximately six more months.

Because the implant is placed inside the nasal wall, it cannot be seen and does not alter the patient’s appear-ance. Some patients sense the awareness of the implant during the healing stage but generally do not notice it after a few days or a couple of weeks.

Breathe Easier

� e CT scan showed that Henry was suffering from a major blockage in his sinuses. To treat such blockages, physicians have two choices. One is traditional sinus surgery. � e other is a minimally invasive procedure called a balloon sinus dilation.

“With the traditional approach, we take the patient to the operating room, put them to sleep under general anesthesia and treat them with a device that’s sort of like a Roto-Rooter that removes tissue and opens up the sinuses,” Dr. Shah explains. “It’s a very aggressive approach and, as you might expect, there’s a long recovery period that usually includes taking a few days off from normal activities because a signi� cant amount of pain medication is often required afterward.

“ T h e re a r e times when it’s absolutely neces-sary to do that surgery. But some s inus problems are amenable to simply opening the sinuses. � at’s what the balloon sinus dilation does, and that’s why I r e c o m m e n d e d i t for Henry.”The balloon sinus dilation carries far less risk than traditional surgery, because it is performed using a local anesthetic that allows the patient to remain awake throughout the procedure.

“We start by giving the patient a Valium and some pain medication to relax them a bit,’’ Dr. Shah educates. “Then we administer the local anes-thetic. Once that has taken e� ect, we find the opening of the sinuses and gently insert the de� ated balloon.

“There’s a bone that surrounds the opening of the sinus, and once the balloon is in the right spot, we slowly inflate it with water. As the balloon is inflated, it gently shifts that bone over and enlarges the opening. Once that’s

done, we remove the balloon. Shifting that bone is what keeps the sinus open, because you’re actually changing the shape of the opening. It’s not as though you’re moving soft tissue that is going to flop back, so the procedure works very well.”

“Another one of the great things about this procedure is that there’s hardly any bleeding involved, and there’s no bruising or packing of the nose afterward. Patients

usually go back to their normal activities the next day.”

That’s how it was for Henry. He says that after two days he felt “like a new man,” and he has felt that way ever since the procedure was completed. His energy level is back to normal, and he’s breathing easier than he has in years.

“The balloon t r e a t m e n t t h a t Dr. Shah did has helped me tremen-

dously,” Henry raves. “I really could not be happier with the outcome. Dr. Shah is like a magic man the way he took care of me. He did a heck of a job.

“And I want to add that I could not have been treated any better than I was by everybody at Atlantic Ear, Nose & � roat. It’s a very classy out� t, the people are great and I highly recommend them to anyone.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Nerissa Johnson. mkb

Page 4 | Volusia Health Care News | Winter 2021 | East Volusia County Edition East Volusia County Edition | Winter 2021 | Volusia Health Care News | Page 5

Barry LevineExecutive Publisher

Thom GiordanoAssociate Publisher

Gina L. d’AngeloCFO/HR

Roy CummingsEditorial Supervisor

Michelle BrooksCreative Director

Brian LevineProject Coordinator

Rick MayerCopy Editor

Patti DiPanfiloLaura EngelEditorial Staff

Laura EngelProduction Assistant

Nerissa JohnsonGraphic Designer

Nerissa JohnsonJordan PyszPhotography

Richard Jones Aldy Laracuente

Gary Smith Steve TurkDistribution

Park Avenue DentistryImplant & Cosmetic Dentistry

Florida Retina InstituteOphthalmology/Retina Specialist

Halifax Injury PhysiciansChiropractic

Atlantic Ear, Nose & ThroatEar, Nose & Throat

Coastal Integrative HealthcareRegenerative Medicine

Barr & Associates Physical TherapyPhysical Therapy

Blossom Dental and Facial Aesthetics

Comprehensive Dentistry

Professional Hearing SolutionsAudiology

Injury Health CenterChiropractic

Premier Eye ClinicOphthalmology

215 Bullard ParkwayTemple Terrace, FL 33617

(813) 989-1330

Volusia Health Care News

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

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

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

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

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FOR ALL health care professionals having

articles in this publication: THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON

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

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

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

DISCOUNTED OR REDUCED FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT.

All stock imagery that is not marked otherwise is courtesy of istockphoto.com,

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Implant & CosmetIC DentIstry ear, nose & throat

Timothy Steflik, DC, is a licensed doctor of chiropractic who graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange in 2011 and serves as the clinic director and president of Coastal Integrative Healthcare. He is an adjunct professor at Palmer College of Chiropractic who earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with premed from Brigham Young University in 2008. He is well-versed in the latest technology

and techniques in his field and has been trained in the use of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Physical Impairment. Dr. Steflik is a fit-

ness enthusiast who was featured on American Ninja Warrior as “The Accordion Ninja.” His run can be seen on YouTube.

Greg Salter, MSN, ARNP, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science/premed from the University of Tampa. He also has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Bethune-Cookman University and a master’s degree in nursing from South University in Savannah, GA. He has taken courses in joint injections, trigger point injections and regenerative medicine. Greg is a native Floridian

who was previously a police officer in New Smyrna Beach.

Jessica Cole, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner licensed in Florida. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from West Virginia University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She later received her master’s degree in nursing from the same school, graduating cum laude. Medical treatments

provided by Jessica in the office include: stem cell therapy, platelet rich plasma therapies, trigger point injections, therapeutic joint injections, hyaluronic

acid injections, vitamin supplementation, growth hormone replacement therapy, functional examinations and new patient examinations.

What Conditions Respond to Stem Cell Therapy?

• Knee arthritis and degeneration• Meniscus injury• Partial tear of rotator cu� • Degenerative disc

neck and back• Shoulder pain• Tendonitis and tendinosis • Medial epicondylitis, lateral

epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow)

• Peripheral neuropathy

In-O� ce Procedure

• Takes about 15-30 minutes• No hospital, no ambulances,

no anesthesia• Zero recovery time

(some small limitations)• Expect signi� cant improvement

within 28 days• No adverse e� ects

(93% e� ective)• Fast healing time

At Coastal Integrative Healthcare, we use umbilical cord stem cells donated by healthy mothers at live-birth cesarean sections and � uid processed in a “clean room” environment that exceeds American

Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) standards and are subject to United States Pharmacopeia (USP) testing.

Visit them online at www.coastalintegrativehealthcare.com

To see if stem cell therapy is right for you,

Coastal Integrative Healthcare is happy to off er a free

consultation with one of the doctors.

To schedule an appointment, call or visit Coastal Integrative

Healthcare at:

A Healthier

You

Edgewater315 N. Ridgewood Ave.

(386) 427-8403Palm Coast

145 Cypress Point Pkwy.Suite 208

(386) 445-4455DeBary

75 Fox Ridge Ct., Suite G

(386) 845-3031

JASON SCHULTZ, MDTIMOTHY STEFLIK, DCMELONY THOMAS, DC

GREG SALTER, MSN, ARNPJESSICA COLE, ARNP

Joe has become a fan of stem cell therapy.

Auto Repair ShotIn pain?

Running was once a part of Lee’s regular exercise routine as well, but a few years ago, knee pain forced him to slow down and simply walk at a good pace. In time, even walking became di� cult for Lee, who recently celebrated his 77th birthday.

“The problem was arthritis,” Lee explains. “I had it in both knees, but the left knee was worse than the right. I went to a doctor, who told me the space was closing up in the joint and that I would soon be needing a knee replacement in the left knee.

“I understood exactly what he was saying, because I was de� nitely having prob-lems with that knee, both of them actually. It never got so bad that I had to give up anything that I was doing, but I de� nitely had to make some adjustments.

“Probably the worst thing that happened is that my left knee would occa-sionally buckle, especially if I was walking down a � ight of stairs or down a hill. � at was a bit of a problem, especially on a cruise we went on a couple years ago.

“I’m one of those people who would rather take the stairs instead of the elevator, but on that cruise, my knee buckled on me a couple of times going down the stairs. So, there I was like an old man holding on to the bannister.”

It was after that cruise that Lee decided the time had come to get the replacement surgery. He was all but resigned to it until he spotted an advertisement that altered his thinking.

“� e ad was for a seminar about stem cell therapy. I thought, I should at least look into this before I just go and have a knee replacement like so many people do,” Lee says. “So I went to the seminar, and I found it very interesting.”

� e seminar was sponsored by Coastal Integrative Healthcare, which is dedicated to serving its community by providing pain relief for patients through the use of

advanced medical equipment, tech-nology and stem cell therapy.

Encouraged by what he learned a t t h e

seminar, Lee made an appointment to visit the clinic a few days later. During that visit,

Lee learned he was “a good candidate” for stem cell therapy and decided to give it a try.

would be encouraged to � rst try other options.

Back on Course After researching the modality, Lee tried stem cell therapy in the hope it would alle-viate the need for surgery on his left knee. He received his � rst injection in 2018 and a booster in 2019, and is more than pleased with the results.

“I would say that my right knee is 100 percent,” Lee reports. “I still get a little pain here and there, but nothing that really bothers me. As for my left knee, which was the worst of the two, it doesn’t buckle anymore, so I’m � ne. I can play golf and do anything I want.

“In fact, I was so pleased with how the injections in my knees came out that I’ve been back to Coastal Integrative Healthcare several times this past year for treatment on my shoulders. I had a knot in my clavicle. It was hurting like crazy, and they did some massage and ultrasound on it, and now it’s feeling like normal again. So I really couldn’t be more pleased with the care I’ve received there.

“Coastal Integrative Healthcare is a very well-run organization, very professional and the people are great. Everyone is very friendly, and I like them very much. I absolutely recommend them, and I recommend stem cell therapy. It’s worked very well for me.”

“It’s only got 36,000 original miles on it, which is kind of neat,” Joe says of the classic pickup. “I also have a couple of motorcy-cles and some other stu� , so pretty much anything mechanical, I enjoy tinkering with.

“I’ve always been that way. I’ve worked on cars all my life, and I love my � eld

of work. I’ve always been on the repair side

of the business, but I’ve also owned gas stations, repair shops and towing businesses.

“My towing company towed cars for the police department for 35

years. My father did the same thing, and now my sons have taken over and they’re doing it. We’ve done that through three generations now, and you don’t see that too much these days.”

At 65, Joe considers himself only “semi-retired.” His passion for cars and working on them is so great that he’d like to maintain that status for years to come. A recent procedure to correct a lingering back problem will help make that possible.

“I started experiencing back problems when I was about 30,” Joe explains. “I was never a stand-behind-the-counter kind of guy, and because of that and my line of work, my back problems got progressively worse over the years.

“It was all that wrenching and lifting and working in weird positions – hovering over cars or working under them – that took a toll. My lower back, down by the tailbone, is where most of the damage was done, and it really made life di� cult. I would say that on most days, by 3 o’clock in the afternoon, I was totally wiped out from dealing with the pain. It was exhausting, and by the time I got home, all I wanted to do was sit down. And even then, I’d spend the night just moaning.

“Even walking was a problem, because if I had a day where I had to do a lot of walking, the next day would be terrible. I’d be in so much pain that I could barely move, and I always had this grinding-like feeling inside my back.”

Joe’s pain became virtually unbearable a few years ago. At that time, he brie� y contem-plated laser spine surgery, but doctors could not guarantee the surgery would provide a long-term solution, so he passed.

A New Jersey resident who spends his winters in Florida, Joe began researching other options. One possibility he discovered was stem cell therapy, and he soon attended a seminar to learn whether it might provide some relief.

“I learned at the seminar that stem cell therapy was mostly being used to repair knees and shoulders,” Joe remembers. “� ey

really weren’t touching the back yet because they had no statistics to prove it would do anything for the back.

“My wife has a cousin who is an orthopedic surgeon in Tennessee, and he’s been practicing with stem cells for the past 10 years, so I started keeping in touch with him to see how the concept was progressing.

“I also kept an eye on it myself, and in 2019, I found this place called Coastal Integrative Healthcare and called them to see if they were doing stem cell therapy for the back yet. � ey told me they were, so I made an appointment.”

“It’s incredible, because for so long I was extremely limited. I couldn’t walk very long or very far without having a lot of pain the next day. Now I can walk as far as I want and for as long as I want and not feel a thing.”

Joe says the grinding-like feeling he used to get has disappeared, allowing him to resume the active lifestyle he prefers.

“I’m being smart about what I do,” Joe con� rms. “I’m not running around doing things like I’m a bionic man or anything. But I can do all my normal daily activities and all the activities I like to do without pain. You can’t ask for much more than that.”

Joe is not just a fan of stem cell therapy, he’s also become a fan of Dr. Ste� ik and the entire sta� at Coastal Integrative Healthcare.

He lauds them for their thorough-ness and professionalism.

“They’re great people,” Joe expounds. “� ey discuss

everything with you and answer all your questions. � ey

tell you all the pros and cons of the therapy, so you have all the information you need to make

an informed decision.“I like that they’re very realistic about

the therapy. � ey don’t give you false hopes or anything like that. � ey tell you if this should work really well for you, but they allow you to make the decision based on the information you receive.

“Because of all that, I’ve already recommended other people to them. My son-in-law is a young guy in his 40s with a lot of damage from di� erent things, and just like I’ve told others, I told him, Go see them. What have you got to lose?”

FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Joe’s photo by Jordan Pysz.

Lee’s photo courtesy of Lee Figliuolo. mkb

Stem cell injections stimulate body’s own healing process

O ver the course of the past 20 years, more people have m ove d o u t of California than in. As Lee

Figliuolo will tell you, the high cost of living in the Golden State is one of the biggest reasons for the exodus.

“It’s ridiculously expensive to live in California, and it’s only getting worse,” says Lee, who left California for Florida in 2003. “I had a good position and a great income there, but it’s a lot easier living here.”

Lee’s move to Florida came in the wake of his retirement from a career in telecom-munications and data processing. � at career began in New York and took him across the country, but a move to Florida had been in the works for years.

“I’m an East Coast person to begin with – born and raised in New York,” Lee says. “For about 10 years before I retired, my wife and I talked about where we should retire. We’d visited Palm Coast several times and liked it, so that became the spot.

“Now I keep busy staying in shape by biking, exercising regularly and playing golf. I’m just mediocre at golf but enjoy playing it, so I get out as often as I can two or three times a week, if possible.”

Walking 10 Miles A Day Joe’s � rst visit to Coastal Integrative Healthcare came in August 2019. During that visit, he was given a thorough examination and had x-rays of his back taken that showed damage in the lower back and a lack of proper spacing between discs in other areas of the spine.

� e damage wasn’t so terrible, though, that it could not be alleviated through stem cell therapy. When Joe was told it could reduce his pain by as much as 50 percent, he decided to go for it. He received four injections of stem cells into his back and shortly after began a physical therapy regimen back home in New Jersey. � e � rst test of the treatment came in November, when Joe and his wife visited Italy.

“I was already starting to feel better by then, but I knew I was going to be walking a lot on that trip,” Joe says. “As it turns out, we probably walked about 10 miles a day, and they were tough miles. In Italy, you’re walking on a lot of cobblestone streets and sidewalks, you’re walking up and down hills, but I had no problems at all. In fact, it turns out that was probably the best physical therapy I could have had.

“That’s what the doctors at Coastal Integrative Healthcare told me when I returned a few months later for my follow-up visit. � ey said all that walking was actually good for me, and I can’t disagree because I have absolutely no pain in my back now.

Body’s Building BlocksStem cells are the foundation cells that grow body tissue. When stem cells are injected into damaged tissue, they support the natural healing process by regenerating that tissue and stimulating the body’s repair mechanisms.

Many in the medical community, including those at the National Institutes of Health and the Institute of Medicine, consider stem cell therapy, or regenerative medicine, the future of medicine.

“It’s de� nitely on the leading edge of medical technology,” states Timothy Ste� ik, DC, of Coastal Integrative Healthcare. “It’s a great alternative to surgery. It regenerates the body instead of trying to � x it or cover up a problem with surgery.

“The real beauty of it is that it is a one-and-done, in-office procedure that takes about 15 minutes to complete and needs no anesthesia. It’s a simple injection of the cells that are cryo-preserved in our office. For some patients, we do a color ultrasound to guide the injection, because we need to be very specific where the cells are placed. Once the cells are injected, patients need time to heal, but they can return to normal activities right away.”

Stem cell therapy can be used to treat arthritis, muscle or tendon tears, and even peripheral neuropathy almost anywhere in the body, including knees and shoulders, ankles and wrists, hips, back and neck, Dr. Ste� ik educates.

However, not all patients are good candidates. For example, patients with a tear of more than 50 percent of the rotator cu� or complete meniscus tears in the knee

The Road BackEver since he was old enough to get behind the wheel, Joe Ocello has been a car guy. A master mechanic, he repairs vehicles, tinkers with them and has even collected a few, including a 1951 Ford pickup he cherishes above all others.

Page 6 | Volusia Health Care News | Winter 2021 | East Volusia County Edition East Volusia County Edition | Winter 2021 | Volusia Health Care News | Page 7regeneratIve meDICIne

BARR & ASSOCIATESPHYSICAL THERAPY

JACOB BARR, PT, DPT, MTC, CEAS, CHT

Jacob Barr, PT, DPT, MTC, CEAS, CHT, is a licensed physical therapist. He earned his master’s degree and

doctorate in physical therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Dr. Barr has a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science

from the University of Florida. He spe-cializes in the treatment of orthopedic

issues, osteoporosis, and balance and gait disorders. Dr. Barr is certified

in manual therapy, ergonomic assessment, osteoporosis treat-ment utilizing the Meeks Method.

Keeping You Moving in the Right Direction

The staff at Barr & Associates Physical Therapy wants to help you return to prior levels of functioning following injury or surgery and to maintain a healthy and productive lifestyle. The offi ce is in Ormond Beach at:

1425 Hand Ave., Suite H

(386) 673-3535Visit Barr & Associates Physical Therapy online at www.barrandassociatesphysicaltherapy.com

Following physical therapy for a torn Achilles tendon, Jordan is back to kicking a soccer ball.

Physical therapy is a branch of health care that uses physical approaches, including exercises,

massage and machines instead of medi-cations or surgery to treat diseases and injuries. It is often used to help patients preserve, enhance and restore their physical abilities after an injury or surgery.

In addition to restoring people’s physical function, there are other bene� ts of physical therapy. For one, therapy is very e� ective for managing long-term pain and helping patients reduce or avoid the use of dangerous and addictive opioid pain medications.

In many cases, physical therapy can be used as a conservative treat-ment for injuries and to help patients circumvent surgical intervention. It also helps patients who do require surgery, because if performed in advance of the surgery, physical therapy can make patients stronger, which can result in quicker recoveries.

Another bene� t of physical therapy is that it improves balance and helps prevent falls. Physical therapists can teach patients exercises that improve

their coordination and challenge their balance in common, real-life situations. � erapists can also provide assistive devices, such as canes and walkers, that help make walking safer.

Patients often arrive at Barr & Associates Physical Therapy already using walkers or canes. � e therapists want the patients to progress to walking without those devices as quickly and safely as possible. � ey use exercises and techniques that focus on the patients’ gait and balance.

Physical therapy also helps patients manage many chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. In addition, it aids in keeping patients’ joints healthy and delaying the need for joint replacement surgery.

� e therapists at Barr & Associates Physical � erapy recognize that each person who walks through their door is di� erent. � ey each have their own impairments, needs and goals for rehab. During a lengthy evaluation, the therapists take time to learn those facts so they can tailor individualized treatment plans.

One-On-One TherapyThe therapists at Barr & Associates provide one-on-one physical therapy, which is proven e� ective at improving patient outcomes.

“� e one-on-one approach allows the patient and therapist to build a strong rapport, so the patient feels more comfortable and con� dent in the therapist,” explains physical therapy assistant Brock Lawson, PTA. “This rapport draws the patients out of their personal comfort zone, making them more compliant with the therapy, and that leads to better results.”

In taking that approach with Jordan, Brock started with manual tech-niques such as range of motion exercises and massage. He also performed stretching exercises to loosen up tissue, reduce pain and improve movement in Jordan’s ankle.

“� e therapists performed a lot of muscle work, a lot of stretching on my leg,” Jordan con� rms. “� ey stretched everything from my hip to my quads to my hamstring and calf. My ankle was super weak because it had been in a cast and boot for a couple of months. � ey were able to isolate the weaker muscles, and worked to strengthen them.”

During their hour-long therapy sessions, Brock increased the intensity of the therapies he used with Jordan. � is approach had a positive e� ect on Jordan’s recovery.

Bene� ts of Physical Therapy

J ordan Bowling has been a broker in the group benefits division of a Daytona Beach insurance company since his graduation

from Stetson University 2½ years ago. Jordan’s job involves matching clients with health care and bene� ts packages for their employees.

“It’s been very interesting learning about our health care system across the board,” Jordan shares. “I had an opportunity to experience that system firsthand after I was injured playing soccer in early March.

“I was running back to defend my goal and stuck one leg behind the other. In the time it took to turn and shift my body weight to run in the other direction, my toe caught in the turf with the studs of my cleats. All my body weight shifted onto my back leg and my Achilles tendon ruptured.”

Within days, Jordan underwent surgery to repair the torn tendon. Afterward, he knew he would need weeks of physical therapy just to get back to walking normally, but Jordan wanted to go beyond that. He wanted to play soccer again, and he knew exactly where to go to get the care he required.

“My parents grew up with Jacob Barr at Barr & Associates Physical Therapy, and I’ve known Dr. Barr my entire life,” Jordan relates. “There was never a doubt in my mind that I was going to his clinic because they do great work, I went to Barr & Associates the day after I was released to physical therapy.”

On The BallPhysical therapy helps injured soccer player

return to pitch

“As Jordan advanced, we took advantage of our anti-gravity treadmill, the AlterG®,” Brock relates. “Using this treadmill was a good way for Jordan to work on his gait mechanics while taking away the bulk of his body weight. He started out walking and progressed to light jogging. By the end of his treatment, Jordan was running.

“As part of Jordan’s therapy, we had him dribble a soccer ball through the gym and take shots on goal into a large net that we have in our clinic. � is way, we can simulate in-game scenarios. � is is part of the sports-speci� c therapy we used to help Jordan return to playing soccer.”

“� e anti-gravity treadmill is one of the coolest things they have at Barr & Associates,” Jordan recounts. “It took away my body weight, so when I ran, it was like running on the moon. I started out low, at about 50 percent of my body weight, and worked my way up to 100 percent.”

Jordan responded well to his one-on-one physical therapy sessions and he’s happy with the results he’s achieved thus far.

“I’m more than seven months removed from my surgery, and I’m doing very well,” he reports. “I’ve been running under my own power for a little less than a month, but my leg isn’t full strength yet. It’s about 70 to 75 percent, so if I wasn’t trying to play a sport, it would probably be fine.

“It will take time to restore my ankle to where it was before the injury, but I’ve been going to the soccer field and kicking the ball around, shooting and passing with my brothers and my dad. I wouldn’t be where I am now without physical therapy from Barr & Associates Physical Therapy.” FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Nerissa Johnson.

Graphic from Freepik. nj

“I wouldn’t be where I am now without

physical therapy from Barr & Associates

Physical Therapy.” - Jordan

S hortly after relocating to Florida, Richard Remer began searching for a source of income and found a position with a

local grocer. Richard remained with that employer for 20 years and eventually became a manager over the dairy and frozen foods departments.

“The job wasn’t just strong back work,” Richard, 50, asserts. “I � lled orders and managed inventory, activities that kept me mentally engaged. � ere were also times when I zoned out and let my body go through the motions of doing the physical tasks. I enjoyed the job, and it worked out well for me because I was raised with a strong work ethic.”

Today, Richard is semi-retired and self-employed. He spends his days doing research and writing. He has multiple manuscripts in various stages of the writing process.

“If I organized my notes and put them together in a publishable form, I’d probably have six or seven nonfiction books covering topics from philosophy and psychology to mythological studies,” Richard shares. “I have two or three � ction books as well that I’ve been working on since time immemorial. Working on the books is easy. It’s � nishing and getting paid for them that’s di� cult.”

Something else di� cult for Richard was breathing, especially at night when trying to sleep. Years of smoking contributed to the problem, which progressed over time.

“I began smoking when I was 15, and it finally caught up with me,” Richard elaborates. “When I was 38, I noticed changes. I had shortness of breath, a buildup of phlegm and other symptoms. At the time, the problem was noticeable but not debilitating. I could still do my job.

“� en, around 2012, I could feel myself starting to run out of breath and I became very tired and lethargic. After only a little physical exertion, I had to take a breath and rest. In 2014, I � nally went to a primary care doctor who referred me to a pulmonologist. He told me that I have COPD.”

COPD is chronic obs truct ive pulmonary disease. � e most common conditions associated with it are emphy-sema and chronic bronchitis. COPD

damages the lungs and causes shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pressure and chronic cough.

“� e pulmonologist told me I had only about 30 percent of my lung func-tion and that if I didn’t quit smoking I was looking at three years to live, tops,” Richard reports. “He also diagnosed sleep apnea because my sleep was very shallow and I was constantly waking up. � e doctor performed a sleep study and recommended a CPAP.”

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder i n w h i c h b r e a t h i n g repeatedly stops and starts. Sleep apnea is often treated using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP, therapy.

“� e CPAP machine was an abso-lute nightmare,” Richard admits. “It was like the Spanish Inquisition except the Spanish Inquisition was better, because after they tortured you all night you didn’t have to clean the torture chamber so you wouldn’t get an infection when they tortured you next.

“It got to the point where I didn’t sleep with the CPAP, and that missed the whole point of the machine – to open up my airway so I don’t have an apnea. � en the pulmonologist explained that there was an alternative to the CPAP, an oral appliance that I could get. I was inter-ested, so he referred me to Dr. Aljonaidy.”

Compliance ImportanceHuda Aljonaidy, DDS, of Blossom Dental and Facial Aesthetics in Ormond Beach,

creates oral appliances for patients to wear at night to treat sleep apnea and increase the � ow of air into their lungs.

“When I � rst met Richard, he was struggling with sleep apnea along with breathing issues, primarily emphysema,” Dr. Aljonaidy reports. “With emphysema, the lungs are not fully capable of using the oxygen in the air. When emphysema is combined with sleep apnea, the risk for

complications is high. Richard’s d o c t o r h a d prescr ibed a CPAP machine.

“CPAP is the gold stan-dard for treating sleep apnea and it is effective, but only when patients use it.

Failure to comply and adhere to CPAP therapy are factors that prohibit its success. Oral appliances have been in use for 20 years and are also e� ective, and compliance and adherence to using them are much higher than CPAP.”

The oral appliances Dr. Aljonaidy creates for her patients are about the size of a mouthguard. � ey’re designed digitally by the dentist in her o� ce and fabricated at a specialty dental laboratory.

“Each oral appliance is custom-made to the patient’s anatomy,” Dr. Aljonaidy informs. “We scan their teeth digitally using a camera about the size of a marker that is placed inside the mouth. And although I have CT technology at my disposal in the office, I work with FDA-approved labs that actually make the appliances.

“� ere are a variety of materials used for oral appliances. � e most common

is polymethyl methacrylate, or PMMA. � at’s a common material in dentistry, often used for sports guards and dentures. Another material that’s becoming popular is nylon. It’s changing the game plan because it’s thinner and feels less like a foreign object to the patient.”

After meeting with Dr. Aljonaidy, Richard agreed to move forward with an oral appliance.

“After using the appliance for a few weeks, Richard returned very excited,” Dr. Aljonaidy reports. “He said he was sleeping better and was not tired. Best of all, he was breathing better. His lungs still require treatment, but he’s getting more air. He’s no longer dealing with lungs that are 100 percent compromised.”

Improved Lung FunctionBefore visiting Blossom Dental and Facial Aesthetics, Richard’s sleep was consistently disturbed due to his sleep apnea. His sleep wasn’t any better after being prescribed a CPAP. It was only after he received his oral appliance from Dr. Aljonaidy that his situation improved.

“Prior to getting the appliance, I woke up constantly at night,” Richard remembers. “I would be semi-conscious, knowing that it’s nighttime, then I would go back to sleep. � e only time I slept with the CPAP was out of sheer exhaustion.

“But with my oral appliance, I sleep continuously through the night until I wake up in the morning. And I feel refreshed. And when I last saw my pulmonologist and had a breathing test, my lung function was up to 40 percent. So it’s increased by 10 percent just by using the appliance. � at’s pretty good.”

Richard approves of the appliance’s provider as well.

“Dr. Aljonaidy is brilliant, very detailed and precise,” he describes. “I was impressed with her from the get-go, particularly the depth of her knowledge and her ability to communicate. She was exact in explaining, � is is what’s happening, this is what we’re going to do and this is why it works. She’s very impressive as a professional, and she’s a great person as well.

“I look forward to my appointments at Blossom Dental and Facial Aesthetics.” FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo courtesy of Richard

Remer. nj

At Blossom Dental and Facial Aesthetics, Dr. Huda Aljonaidy and her staff go beyond conventional

dentistry and provide patients with a smile that refl ects their own

personality. To learn more about the practice or to schedule an

appointment or consultation, call or visit their offi ce in Ormond Beach at:

900 W. Granada Blvd. Suite 5

(386) 947-7603

Huda Aljonaidy, DDS, has been practicing dentistry in Volusia County since 2011. She studied dental medicine and graduated second in her class from the University of Jordan in 2005. She later completed her residency in advanced education general dentistry (AEGD) for geriatric and special needs and complex dental cases at Nova Southeastern University in 2011. She has completed two

years of advanced prosthodontics training and digital smile design training at New York University College of Dentistry. In 2019, she was named one

of the Top 40 Dentists Under 40 in the US by Incisal Edge magazine.

ComfortDentistry

Comprehensive CareI n addit ion to qual it y and emergency dental care, Blossom Dental and Facial Aesthetics off ers an array of services designed to enhance your oral health and make you look your best. They include:

• Invisalign• BOTOX Cosmetic• Teeth whitening• Fillers• Oral cancer screening• Sleep medicine

Visit Dr. Aljonaidy on the web at www.blossom.dental and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HudaAljonaidydds

Good Night,Good Night, Sleep TightSleep TightHate your CPAP? Oral appliance relieves apnea, improves lung function

“With my “With my oral appliance, oral appliance,

I sleep continuously I sleep continuously through the night.” through the night.”

Page 8 | Volusia Health Care News | Winter 2021 | East Volusia County Edition East Volusia County Edition | Winter 2021 | Volusia Health Care News | Page 9physICal therapy ComprehensIve DentIstry

Modern devices can help manage e� ects of tinnitus

Comprehensive Hearing Care

Hearing loss is diff erent for everybody. At Professional Hearing

Solutions, the staff gets to know patients on a personal level and

works with them to develop a treatment plan to

improve their lifestyle. To schedule an appointment, call or

visit the offi ce in Port Orange at:4550 Clyde Morris Blvd., Suite B

(386) 265-4769

Dana Jickell, AuD, has provided hearing health care for more than 25 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree and

Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Florida and obtained her master’s degree from the University of Central Florida.

Raegan Jickell, C-AA, is an audiology assistant who earned her bachelor’s

degree from the University of Central Florida in 2014. She is working toward her hearing instrument specialist license.

A fter working for 40 years as a legal secretary in the Big Apple, New York native Joyce Stark was beginning to settle into retirement at her home near West Point when her daughter convinced her to move south.

“My daughter and son-in-law moved to Florida about � ve years ago,” Joyce explains. “After I retired, my daughter said, Mom, there’s no need to stay up there anymore. Sell the house, lighten the load and come on down.”

Joyce arrived in Florida this past year just in time to enjoy � anksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s with her family. It was during those holiday gath-erings that Joyce’s daughter expressed concern about her mother’s hearing.

“I knew I had some hearing loss because I had seen an audiologist up in New York a couple of years earlier who told me about it,” Joyce explains. “When my daughter suggested I should have my hearing checked again, we started looking for an audiologist around here.”

� e audiologist that Joyce decided to see is Dana Jickell, AuD, the new proprietor of Professional Hearing Solutions in Port Orange. Dr. Jickell, who is in her 25th year of providing care for patients with hearing loss, purchased the practice in January.

“Something our patients will notice is that we strive to maintain a family-like atmosphere here,” says Dr. Jickell, who has her daughter, Raegan Jickell, working as an audiology assistant. Dr. Jickell and Raegan � rst saw Joyce in May.

Restoring Quality of LifeA decrease in hearing can often aff ect quality of life. The

person may avoid social situations so as not to let on that they don’t understand what’s being said or may stop participating in activities they once enjoyed.

There are options to restore hearing, including surgery, medications and hearing aids. Hearing aids are most useful to those with sensorineural hearing loss.

If your hearing isn’t what it used to be, contact an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) or audiologist for a hearing evaluation.

WHEN SHOULD

YOUR HEARING BE EVALUATED?

� at’s when Dr. Jickell discovered that, in addition to a loss of high-frequency hearing – which can prevent someone

from hearing a doorbell, a child’s voice or a person talking to them in a crowded environment – Joyce also su� ers from tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a symptom asso-ciated with age-related hearing loss that presents itself as a

ringing or buzzing in the ears. In Joyce’s case, it created a constant cricket-like sound. There is no cure for tinnitus,but it can be managed.

The most common tinnitus management i s found with hearing aids. These devices include a digital program that produces a more soothing sound to the brain. One device is the ReSound LiNX Quattro, which Dr. Jickell recommended for Joyce.

“I � rst wanted to see if simply � tting Joyce with hearing aids and bringing back the high frequencies would help her manage her tinnitus, because that does do it sometimes,” Dr. Jickell explains. “But after two weeks, her tinnitus had not improved.

“She still needed a little more help, so that’s when I set up what is called the tinnitus sound generator. What that does is present a more soothing sound that the brain can focus on instead of the sound that is actually presented by the tinnitus.”

For Joyce, the doctor created a subtle sound that covers up the high-pitched cricket sound. It made an immediate impact on Joyce, who says she now hears things she hasn’t heard in years, such as birds and even the turn signal in her car.

“I’m also a lot more engaged in conversations,” Joyce says. “I’m very thankful I found Dr. Jickell. She’s very professional and did a great job explaining everything to me. I really appreciated that and the fact she was never pushy. I de� nitely recommend her.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Photo by Jordan Pysz. nj

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing

Association, the following questions can help

determine if you have a hearing loss.

ü Do you have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time?

ü Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?

ü Do you have a problem hearing over the phone?

ü Do you have to strain to understand conversation?

ü Do you have trouble hearing in a noisy background?

ü Do you fi nd yourself asking people to repeat themselves?

ü Do many people you talk to seem to mumble (or not speak clearly)?

ü Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?

ü Do you have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?

ü Do people get annoyed because you misunderstand what they say?

If you answered “yes” to three or more of these

questions, it may be time to have your hearing evaluated

by a medical professional.

Visit them on the web at professionalhearingsolutions� .com

Stacy Hudock Proscia, DC, is a chiropractor with more than 20 years of experience who specializes in acoustic compression therapy, kiniseotaping and spinal decom-pression. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Excelsior University in Albany, NY, and earned her doctorate degree from Life West Chiropractic, a leading chiropractic

and holistic medicine institution in Hayward, CA. She is a member of the Florida Chiropractic Association.

Amber-Veta Ball, DC, was born and raised in Port St. Lucie and went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange. In addition to her chiropractic license, Dr. Ball also holds a personal trainer certifi cation. She is a member of the Florida Chiropractic Association, the International Chiropractic Association and the American Black Chiropractic Association. She is also active in the Daytona Beach and Port Orange community through various service projects.

The Center Treats• Muscular aches and pains• Acute and chronic injuries• Headaches• Weight loss• Personal injury• Rehabilitation

STACY HUDOCK PROSCIA, DCAMBER-VETA BALL, DC

Touch of ClassNonsurgical, pain-free laser therapy alleviates pain, restores mobility

W hen the school day ends in Florida, more than 65,000 c h i l d r e n t a k e advantage of after-

school programs to avoid the dangers associated with returning to an empty house or unsupervised environment.

Supporting SPINAL HEALTH

Injury Health Center’s team of medical professionals is committed to providing chiropractic solutions to address each patient’s needs, whether you are dealing with back pain, neck pain, headaches, muscle tightness or tension. Even if you’re just looking to improve overall health, the center’s chiropractors can help you attain your everyday w e l l n e s s g o a l s . To m a k e a n appointment, call or visit one of these locations:

Daytona Beach701 Beville Rd.

(386) 788-2855Sanford

344 W. Lake Mary Blvd.

(407) 261-4442Orlando

1850 N. Alafaya Trail, Bldg. 1B

(407) 658-8595Visit them online at www.injuryhealthcenter.com

Karen Calestini, 54, is among those who makes afterschool programs work for the families that need them.

“I was a school aide when I lived in New York, and it’s almost three years now that I’ve worked in afterschool programs in Florida,” Karen explains. “I’m currently working with kindergartners and � rst-graders, and I really enjoy it.

“We always spend a little time outside with the kids if the weather’s nice, but we also help them with their homework and things like that. We keep them busy until about 5 o’clock each day. � at’s when the parents start coming to pick them up.”

A Brooklyn native, Karen made the move to Florida about four years ago after her husband retired. She was eager to live in a warmer climate, and since they had previously purchased a home here, Port Orange became the destination.

About three years after the couple’s arrival, a problem with Karen’s right hand rendered it virtually useless. Due to crip-pling pain near her thumb, she couldn’t carry out some of the simplest of tasks.

“I couldn’t turn my hand or make a fist without it really hurting, so I couldn’t open a jar or hold on to a lot of things with that hand,” Karen laments. “That was bad enough, but then I fell one day and broke my left wrist. I had a cast put on the wrist, so for the longest time I couldn’t do much of anything for myself. For example, I couldn’t make anything to eat because I couldn’t cook anything. It was like that for about three weeks.”

After � nally seeking medical attention for her right hand, Karen was diagnosed with tendonitis, or inflammation of a tendon. Her doctor suggested treating her with steroid injections, but Karen wasn’t comfortable with that option and chose instead to look elsewhere for help.

One-Stop Shop The first place she turned to in that search was Injury Health Center. With o� ces in Daytona Beach, Sanford and Orlando, Injury Health Center provides chiropractic care as well as an assortment of pain-relief services.

“We do standard chiropractic adjustments, of course, but we also offer our patients a great number of other modalities that complement those adjustments,” says Stacy Hudock Proscia, DC, of Injury Health Center. “The chiropractic adjustment and getting the nervous system back on track is at the heart of what we do, but we also treat muscles, tendons and liga-ments, which the bones are connected to. So, we’re pretty much a full-scope, one-stop shop.”

It’s a one-stop shop that Karen became familiar with shortly after leaving Brooklyn.

“Not long after I first moved to Florida, I began getting these bad head-aches,” Karen reports. “I got an MRI, but that didn’t show anything, so I started looking for natural ways to get rid of the headaches. That’s how I found Injury Health Center.

“When I � rst went there they spent two or three hours talking to me and doing tests on my neck, back, legs and arms. After that, they eventually adjusted my neck, and it was as though they were miracle workers because after that my headaches went away.

“I was so impressed with them that a couple years later, when this pain in my right hand wouldn’t go away, I decided to

go back and see if they could do anything to help me. This time, they suggested doing a laser treatment and I said, OK, let’s do it.”

“Great Results” � e treatment calls for the use of the Class IV deep tissue therapeutic laser, a pain-relief tool that uses speci� c wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to stimulate the body’s natural ability to heal cells.

“Class IV laser therapy stimulates the metabolic process at the cellular level,” says Amber-Veta Ball, DC, of Injury Health Center. “It bypasses the skin and goes right down into the cell and into the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. It’s what gives us energy, helps us move and helps cells regenerate. So, the laser therapy bypasses the skin and goes right into the mitochondria and helps that area heal faster and create new cells faster.”

� e noninvasive, painless treatments work by prompting the release of nitric oxide, which reduces swelling, promotes rapid healing and alleviates discomfort while increasing blood circulation.

“In addition to tendonitis, we use the Class IV laser to treat muscle sprains and strains,” Dr. Ball adds. “We’ve also seen great results using it on patients with plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. It does very well with some of the in� am-matory processes.

“We also see a lot of car accident patients who come in with whiplash, which is basically a tearing of the tendons and muscles, and we use the Class IV laser on those patients as well. We usually see them about three times a week, and we get great results.”

Karen got great results from her Class IV laser therapy. After about a half-dozen treatments – each lasting about three to 10 minutes – the pain in her right hand diminished, and mobility and function returned.

� e treatment worked so well that Karen opted to have the therapy done on her left hand as well. She says her left hand was still a bit sti� due to the surgery.

“The laser treatments helped me tremendously, and they were absolutely painless” Karen remarks. “All I felt was a warmth on my hands that was quite soothing.

“� e best thing is that I started to feel a di� erence after just one or two treatments.

Now both hands are � ne, so I am thril led with the results. And I want to add that all of the people at Injury Health Center are just great. I knew that if

I went there for help with this problem that they would have a solution, and they did. Like I said before, they’re miracle workers, and I definitely recommend them to anybody suffering with any kind of pain.”FHCN article by Roy Cummings. Laser graphic courtesy of

Injury Health Center. mkb

Class IV deep tissue laser therapy bypasses the skin and treats the

body at the cellular level.

Page 10 | Volusia Health Care News | Winter 2021 | East Volusia County Edition East Volusia County Edition | Winter 2021 | Volusia Health Care News | Page 11auDIology ChIropraCtIC

Q. Jocelyn Ge, MD, PhD, received her medical degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and a doctoral degree in neurophysiology from UCLA. She completed her internship at the University of Tennessee Medical Center and then her ophthalmol-ogy residency at Tulane University Hospital and Clinics in New Orleans. In 2005, Dr. Ge was one of 10 American ophthalmologists who received the prestigious American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery foundation research grant. She has published multiple peer-reviewed journals internationally and presented many research works nationally. Dr. Ge is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She is certifi ed by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

The doctors and staff of Premier Eye Clinic look forward to meeting

readers of Volusia Health Care News.

Port Orange 3641 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Suite 500

(386) 788-6198Ormond Beach

1425 Hand Ave., Suite N

(386) 673-3344Visit Premier Eye Clinic on the web at www.PremierEyeClinic.com

Q. JOCELYN GE, MD, PHDASHLEY ROYCE, OD

KYLE BETTIS, OD

Committed to Your Vision

Just What The Doctor OrderedAn easy adjustment: no more glasses after surgery for glaucoma, cataracts

I n 1978, Long Island native Michael Rodriguez, DC, was just graduating from New York Chiropractic College when his father-in-law made him an o� er he couldn’t refuse.

“He put a down payment on a house for me and my family in Florida,” Dr. Rodriguez recounts. “Our second child was just 1 month old when we moved, and we’ve been very happy here. � e entire Central Florida region, especially Volusia County and Ormond Beach, has been a wonderful place to live and grow up.”

Dr. Rodriguez has always been interested in natural health, so chiropractic was a logical choice for him as a profession. He was also intrigued by Eastern medi-cine and philosophy as it relates to health care, which made acupuncture a natural adjunct to his chiropractic services. He added it to his practice in 1989.

“At the same time, I was interested in offering a full-service approach to health,” Dr. Rodriguez relates. “� e clinic where I work, Ormond Medical Center, is a multi-disciplinary clinic. We have medical doctors, chiropractors and acupuncturists all working together to provide a greater variety of treatment options for our patients.”

At age 71 and in his 42nd year of practice, Dr. Rodriguez shows no signs of slowing down. However, he recently experienced some changes in his vision due to a condition common in older adults.

“As a natural part of the aging process, the lenses in my eyes developed a cloudiness, known as cataracts,” he describes. “Mine progressed to the point that I was having di� culty seeing, even though I wore glasses 24/7. I was having trouble with my � eld of vision as well as depth of vision. My cellphone is black, and if it was laying on something black, I couldn’t see it until it lit up with a call.

“The onset of the visual disturbances caused by cataracts is insidious. It’s like watching your kids grow; you don’t see it because you’re with them every day. But if you visit your nieces and nephews that you haven’t seen

in six months or a year, they seem to be growing quickly. It’s like

that with your vision. You don’t notice as it

slowly deteriorates because you acclimate to the changes.”In addition to cataracts, Dr. Rodriguez lives with

glaucoma, a disease that damages the optic nerve usually caused by high pressure in the eye. Treatment for glaucoma includes prescription eye drops to control the pressure.

“My mother had glaucoma and my grandmother lost her vision to glaucoma,” Dr. Rodriguez re� ects. “I’ve been taking eye drops for my glaucoma for the past 15 years.”

For most of that time, Dr. Rodriguez has had his glaucoma treated at Premier Eye Clinic. When he began having trouble with cataracts, he was placed under the specialized care of board-certified ophthalmologist Q. Jocelyn Ge, MD, PhD.

“Dr. Rodriguez came to me with cataracts and open-angle glaucoma,” Dr. Ge recalls. “With this second condition, the � uid drainage area in the eye, called the trabecular meshwork, is not functioning properly, which causes � uid to build up in the eye and increases the eye pressure.

“� e dual diagnosis of cataracts and open-angle glaucoma made Dr. Rodriguez an excellent candidate for combined cataract surgery and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, or MIGS, using the iStent inject®, a tiny titanium stent that assists with � uid drainage and lowers eye pressure.”

“Perfectly Normal”“We performed the combined cataract surgery and MIGS on Dr. Rodriguez’s right eye in October 2019. He had astigmatism in his right eye, so a toric lens implant was placed in that eye to correct the astigmatism and eliminate the need for prescription glasses.”

Subsequently, Dr. Rodriguez underwent successful combined cataract surgery with lens implant and the iStent inject® procedure on his left eye in June of this year.

“To reduce Dr. Rodriguez’s dependence on glasses, we gave him ‘mini-monovision.’ His one eye was corrected for sharp 20/20 distance vision without glasses; and the other eye was corrected to be slightly nearsighted, so he can see his computer clearly without glasses,” Dr. Ge educates. “� is strategy preserves his depth perception with greatly reduced need for glasses or contact lenses.”

MIGS is a brief add-on procedure performed at the same time as cataract surgery. It adds minimal risk

to cataract surgery. During both of Dr. Rodriguez’s MIGS procedures, Dr. Ge implanted two iStent

inject stents, which further increased the ability to bypass the extra � uid in his eyes.

“When I examined Dr. Rodriguez recently, his eye pressure was sitting at

10 in each eye without any glaucoma eye drops,” Dr. Ge reports. “� e

normal eye pressure ranges between 10 and 23, although every patient has their own targeted pressure, and this is determined based on multiple parameters. At 10, however, Dr. Rodriguez’s eye pressure is considered well-controlled.”

Startling Diff erence“Implanting the stent was a simple procedure in Dr. Ge’s hands,” Dr. Rodriguez says. “I didn’t even know it was being done; it’s that quick. And it was successful. Now, my glaucoma numbers are perfectly normal, and I no longer need to use glaucoma medicine.”

The changes to Dr. Rodriguez’s vision from the cataracts and glaucoma developed slowly. But the improvement following cataract surgery with MIGS had an immediate impact.

“� e di� erence in my vision after surgery was startling, and it made a huge di� erence in my life,” he a� rms. “I use my eyes a lot in the course of my work, and these days I don’t wear glasses anymore. I use low-grade magni� ers for up-close reading, but anything that’s eight to 10 inches away or farther, I can see with no problem at all.

“It’s a very unique feeling to not wear glasses after wearing them full time for 25 years. It makes me feel empowered.”

Dr. Rodriguez is not only delighted by the results of his surgeries, he’s also quite pleased with the surgeon.

“Dr. Ge is extremely pro� cient and very profes-sional,” he describes. “She does a wonderful work-up and gives a great explanation of what has to be done and how she does it using the latest technology and procedures in modern ophthalmology. � e di� erent technology and equipment she uses for these operations are amazing.

“When it comes to my eyes, I’m very keen on taking care of them. I highly recommend that people with eye conditions get under the care of a good ophthalmologist. And in my book, there’s none better than Dr. Ge!”FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photo by Nerissa Johnson. mkb

Page 12 | Volusia Health Care News | Winter 2021 | East Volusia County Edition ophthalmology