Another Happy Surgical Alternative Client! Thanks Pam!
Pam Mann of Surgical Alternative applied deep tissue massage to my shoulder, knee , and worked with my Restless Leg Syndrome during multiple visits. Although Pam did massage on places that were painful, she knew exactly how to make adjustments in the pressure to produce the highest level of results without going beyond my tolerance level. I would highly commend her personable demeanor and her professionalism. She made me feel comfortable and has magic hands! Thanks Pam! Carin
Running towards your goals!
When I first met with Tricia, I knew she had been put through so many different medical procedures that all she wanted was some relieve. The pain was so unbearable, that she had issues walking or even just standing. I knew that not only could we help her release her from the pain, but we would get her to her normal activity level in no time at all. The following is Tricia’s side of the story.
Ten Months Ago, I was diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis on my left foot. In an effort to heal the injury, I pursued the advice and therapies of podiatrists, an orthopedic, a physical therapist and chiropractors. After unsuccessful treatment attempts via Cortisone shots, rounds of ultrasounds and muscle stim, electo-shock therapy, anti-inflammatories, orthotics etc., my final resort seemed to be plantar facial release surgery. I knew that I didn’t want to have surgery. My friend suggested I try Peggy. Approximately 9 weeks ago, I “hobbled” into her office. My goal was to walk with less pain. My dream was to run again. As an avid runner, this injury took away my favorite hobby. On our first visit, I explained to Peggy that my pain level was about a 9 as I tried to walk. I couldn’t even stand on my left foot at that time. Peggy worked on my core muscles as she explained that my hip alignment could be a factor in my injury. At that point, I was hoping anything would work to alleviate my pain. The week following my first session, I had some slight relief. Fast forward about four sessions, I was walking fairly pain free and attempted to run again. At that time, I felt like Peggy’s therapy was like magic! I couldn’t believe my progress. After eight sessions with Peggy, I am walking pain free and running again! It is truly a gift. She has given me an important piece of my life back…running! In fact, I am up to a 60 minute run on any given day. I am now entertaining the thought of doing some racing again. It is truly remarkable. Peggy told me on the first visit that I would run again and she was right! I am truly grateful to her for giving me my life back! She is incredibly knowledgeable, professional and confident. Her confidence that I would improve helped me to commit to the eight sessions. I feel at times that I have to pinch myself…I cannot believe that I am at this point. In my health partnership with her, I am nearly 100%! Tricia (Tarpon Springs, FL)
Surgical Alternative Top 10 treated conditions
As our clientele grows, we have noticed that more and more of our newer clients know less about the different conditions we can help with. Originally, we had two separate blogs showcasing the top ten conditions treated at Surgical Alternative. This made it difficult for some of our clients to find the information. We have decided to combine the two stories for a more cohesive place to find out more information about our top treated aliments.
Over the past few years, I have seen many different injuries treated in Surgical Alternative’s Institute of Alternative Therapy, but many of them have been returning ailments. We have taken a few minutes to create our top ten treated injuries from Surgical Alternative. If you have any further questions, please CONTACT US TODAY for your evaluation and treatment.
Without further adieu, we present our top ten treated injuries by surgical alternative for with alternative therapy, deep tissue massage, energetic therapy, and other methods.
10.) Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a disease that affects the central nervous system causing extreme pain and discomfort and many areas of the body independently and simultaneously. Symptoms may include but are not limited to debilitating fatigue, insomnia, and joint stiffness. Other symptoms include numbness/tingling and trouble swallowing. For more information on fibromyalgia, please continue here, or CONTACT Surgical Alternative today for your evaluation.
9.) Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff in your shoulder is made up of tendons, ligaments and muscle that work in unison to create the range of motion for your arm and upper back. By injuring any of the pieces of the rotator cuff, you are not only causing inflammation and irritation, but you may also be doing further damage by not attending to your injury. For more information of rotator cuff injuries and what surgical alternative can do to help, please continue here, or CONTACT US TODAY for your evaluation.
8.) Plantar Fasciitis
This is the most common cause of heel pain. It is caused when your plantar fascia ligament becomes irritated, weakens, swells or strains. Since it is the tissue that supports your arch, some people call it “fallen arches”. Plantar Fasciitis causes moderate to severe foot pain and should be attended to as soon as possible. If you would like to learn more about your condition, please continue here or CONTACT US today for your evaluation.
7.) Hiatal Hernias / Hiatus Hernia
A hernia is simply described as part of your internal body moving somewhere it does not belong. Your Hiatus is an opening in your diaphragm and acts as a muscular wall between your chest cavity and your abdomen. When your abdomen and stomach bulge up through the opening in your hiatus, this is called a hiatal hernia, or hiatus hernia. There are two types of hiatal hernias : paraesophageal and sliding. Though extremely uncomfortable, surgical alternative can treat these hernias and make your life more comfortable and manageable. If you have a hiatal hernia and would like to learn more, please click here, or CONTACT us today for your evaluation and treatment.
6.) Tight Muscles / Stiffened Joints
We all get older and we all get LESS mobile each day. Even with an active lifestyle and proper stretching, we cannot always be that “21 year old” that we all remember was invincible. We have many clients that have been unable to do some of the things that they love due to aging muscles and joints. Many include hunters, golfers, fisherman/fisherwomen, and other active oriented people. With our treatment most of them are able to return to what they love. Whether its casting a rod, climbing into a tree stand, or any other activity, we can help you return to the things in life that you have worked so hard to enjoy. If you would like to learn more about joint stiffness or muscle tightness, please click here, or CONTACT us for your evaluation.
5.) TMJ Dysfunction
Known as Temporamandibular Joint Dysfunction, this painful ailment usually has symptoms such as tenderness, or pain in the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. This is the joint that allows you to chew, talk and yawn amongst other things. TMJ disorders can be caused by many different things such as grinding your teeth, an accident involving your jaw, or even arthritis. If you have any pain in your jaw area and would like to find out more, you can CLICK HERE, or you can CONTACT US today for your evaluation!
4.) Sciatica Pain
Your sciatica nerve is a large nerve extending down your lower back, and down to the backs of your legs. When damage or wear occurs, discomfort and chronic pain are common symptoms to the damage of this nerve. Some symptoms of sciatica damage may include burning or tingling down your leg, weakness or numbness, constant pain, or even shooting pains that incapacitate you and not allow you to get up from a sitting position. While usually only affecting one side of the body, sciatica some patients show symptoms on both sides of their bodies. If you have sciatica pain and would like to relieve yourself from the discomfort, please CONTACT US today for your evaluation, or you can READ MORE ABOUT sciatica pain here.
3.) Bulging/Herniated Disks
Also called a ruptured or slipped disk, this refers to when the soft tissue between your vertebrae called disks encounters a problem. When you have a herniated disk, it can irritate nearby nerve passages resulting in pain, numbness, and even weakness in an arm or a leg. Some people do not experience symptoms of a herniated disk, making it a very hard injury to diagnose. If you are experiencing back pain and believe you may have a herniated disk, please CONTACT US today for your evaluation or READ MORE HERE about your condition.
2.) Migraine Headaches
Though the exact cause of migraine headaches cannot be established, no one can deny the severity of these “showstoppers”. Migraines tend to be quickly onset with severe pain and debilitating symptoms including numbness, tingling, temporary blindness, and other sensory warnings. In some cases, medication is prescribed with hopes of treatment, but in many of those situations the medication does little or no good at all. If you suffer from migraine headaches, please CONTACT US today for an evaluation, or you can READ MORE ABOUT these headaches here.
The number one condition that we treat at surgical alternative institute is an elusive yet simple condition causing a spectrum of further symptoms that affect your entire body. Some people get this condition by being in high speed accidents, while others can get this condition by just sleeping. Some patients live with chronic pain and others come and go.
THE NUMBER ONE TREATED CONDITION OF SURGICAL ALTERNATIVE IS………
1.) Neck Pain
Neck pain can be caused by a host of issues ranging from trauma (car accidents, etc.) to just poor posture. There are some degenerative diseases that will cause the neck pain, but it can also be just a simple muscle strain. In some cases, the pain can work its way down to the shoulders and even the middle and lower back over time. With proper treatment, most neck pain can be resolved in little time with little or no effort by the patient. If you suffer from neck pain and would like relief, please CONTACT US today for your evaluation orREAD MORE HERE about your condition.
Yoga for the Holidays!
During the busy times of the year, we tend to disregard our bodies and what our bodies are telling us. One of the best preventative things you can do while busy this holiday season is Yoga. We have aligned with one of Tampa Bays Premier Yoga Studios- Sun Yoga!
Some of the primary benefits of yoga include:
- Increased range of motion
- Increased flexibility
- Increased blood flow
- Overall relaxing feeling
- Low impact – great for rehab and elderly!
Yoga has many more benefits that range from better heart health to better overall psychological awareness and attitude.
We recommend yoga to any and all of our clients on various skill levels. By engaging in yoga sessions, we can all feel the benefits and prevent further or future damage!
If you have any questions or would like to speak about yoga, please feel free to CONTACT us today for more information, or you can CONTACT SUN YOGA here!
Post War Veterans invited for FREE PTSD Treatment
With July 4th passing last week, I was reminded of all of the veterans that have protected our rights as citizens of the United States. During this month, I will be offering FREE therapy to veterans diagnosed with PTSD. During your sessions we will be working to help issues such as insomnia, cramping, muscle pain, and other possible injuries due to service. If you are interested in your FREE treatment, please CONTACT US today to schedule your appointment.
Summertime Swimming – Be Careful of Injury
As the summertime continues to heat up the temperatures nationwide, many of us are retreating to our pools for our fun in the sun. Many of us swim as we have our entire lives and believe that we are immune to injury while in the pool. THIS IS NOT TRUE! Even though swimming is among the most popular low-impact exercises available, there are a few injuries that can and do occur while swimming. We will be discussing two of the most common in this blog.
Swimmer’s Shoulder
Swimmer’s Shoulder Causes and Symptoms
Swimmer’s Shoulder is caused primarily by overuse or lack of stretching. Swimmer’s Shoulder includes more than one actual injury. The first is in your rotator cuff and its impingement. Impingement is the pressure that the rotator cuff that separates it from the other parts of the shoulder such as your scapula or shoulder blade while the arm is lifted. This creates incredible discomfort and shoulder instability. The second injury is located in the bicep, specifically in the tendon where it becomes inflamed and uncomfortable while also creating discomfort below the arm and inside of the shoulder. Symptoms are burning and pain in the shoulder region wrapping around the arm and seemingly inside the shoulder.
Swimmer’s Shoulder Treatment
At Surgical Alternative, we offer many types of therapy for nerve entrapment, tendon damage, and inflamed tendons. By using our Structural Energetic Therapy along with our deep tissue massage, we can calm the inflamed tendons and nerves allowing you to relax while your body heals itself from this incredibly painful combination of bicep tendinitis and rotator cuff injury. If you believe that you suffer from Swimmer’s Shoulder, please contact us today for your evaluation!
Breaststroker’s Knee
Breaststroker’s Knee Causes and Symptoms
Breaststoker’s Knee is caused again by the overuse of tendons and ligaments in the motion of a breaststroker. By using the motion involved in the breaststroke, or even treading water for that matter put great stress on your knees and hips due to the tension of kicking in the water. Over time this can evolve into more serious pelvic injuries and even knee and hip replacements. Symptoms for Breaststroker’s knee and other lower body injuries are apparent in pain in those areas.
Breaststroker’s Knee Treatement
Surgical Alternative can also use our deep tissue massage to relieve some of the inflamed areas and over time, we can allow your body to heal naturally. With the use of our Structural Energetic Therapy we can also work with you to improve function and mobility of chronically injured joints! If you believe that you would benefit from pain relief, please CONTACT US today for your evaluation!
Plantar Fasciitis tips and tricks by Surgical Alternative
Plantar Fascitis Tips and Tricks for treatment
We have been encountering more people each day that are complaining of the accompanying symptoms of plantar fasciitis. This is an injury that occurs when the plantar fascia tendon becomes inflamed or damaged due to wear and tear. Since this tendon acts as a shock absorber for each and every step that you take, there is a great deal of pain involved when suffering from plantar fasciitis. Our first suggestion would always be to CONTACT US for more information regarding your injury and how to treat it, but in the mean time, we figured we would give you some things you can do at home to help on a temporary basis. Please See Below:
Ice The Area of the Plantar Fascia tendon
By applying ice for 20 to 30 minute increments to the Plantar Fascia tendon, you can alleviate many of the painful symptoms while relaxing or sitting. This may help reduce the swelling and pain after hard workouts or active walking or standing.
Support the Plantar Fascia tendon (Plantar Fasciitis)
By supporting the arch of the foot where the Plantar Fascia tendon is located may relieve some pain. You can either get additional supports for your shoes, or you can even use athletic tape around your ankle and under the foot to support your arch as well. By adding additional support, it takes some of the stress off of the damaged tendon. NOTE: This is acceptable with proper exercise and stress on the foot. By using additional support over time, you will weaken the tendon.
Exercise and Stretch the Area (Plantar Fascia Tendon)
By working daily to stretch and exercise the Plantar Fascia tendon in regulated and safe increments you can increase the strength of the tendon while also allowing it to not become as painful. Most of the stretching exercises focus on the calf muscles, since most of the stress that causes Plantar Fascitis comes from the lower leg. Foot and Ankle stretching can also help to alleviate the foot pain of Plantar Fasciitis. You can achieve this by grabbing a soft material such as a sheet or towel between your toes.
Surgical Alternative to Plantar Fasciitis Treatments
By using our proven methods of alternative therapy, Surgical Alternative can give you relief from the foot pain caused by Plantar Fasciitis. With our deep tissue massage, reflexology and other methods you will be able to function without the pain and discomfort of Plantar Fasciitis.
Why Use Surgical Alternative – Testimonials and Reviews (Part 2)
In our next installment, we will be hearing from Barbara in Tampa. She writes of our Pam Mann. In the second part, we will be hearing from another anonymous patient of Surgical Alternative Institute.
Barbara writes:
Before I started seeing Pam, I had to ice my neck and shoulder twice daily. Many daily tasks caused me pain. After one year of massage therapy, I no longer have any restrictions and am even able to work out at the gym.
Anonymous writes:
Top Ten Treated Conditions by Surgical Alternative (Part 2 of 2)
In this section we will be discussing the top 5 conditions treated by Surgical Alternative. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of these conditions, please CONTACT US for more information, or you can SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT through our website, surgicalalternative.com.
Here are the top 5:
5.) TMJ Dysfunction
Known as Temporamandibular Joint Dysfunction, this painful ailment usually has symptoms such as tenderness, or pain in the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. This is the joint that allows you to chew, talk and yawn amongst other things. TMJ disorders can be caused by many different things such as grinding your teeth, an accident involving your jaw, or even arthritis. If you have any pain in your jaw area and would like to find out more, you can CLICK HERE, or you can CONTACT US today for your evaluation!
4.) Sciatica Pain
Your sciatica nerve is a large nerve extending down your lower back, and down to the backs of your legs. When damage or wear occurs, discomfort and chronic pain are common symptoms to the damage of this nerve. Some symptoms of sciatica damage may include burning or tingling down your leg, weakness or numbness, constant pain, or even shooting pains that incapacitate you and not allow you to get up from a sitting position. While usually only affecting one side of the body, sciatica some patients show symptoms on both sides of their bodies. If you have sciatica pain and would like to relieve yourself from the discomfort, please CONTACT US today for your evaluation, or you can READ MORE ABOUT sciatica pain here.
3.) Bulging/Herniated Disks
Also called a ruptured or slipped disk, this refers to when the soft tissue between your vertebrae called disks encounters a problem. When you have a herniated disk, it can irritate nearby nerve passages resulting in pain, numbness, and even weakness in an arm or a leg. Some people do not experience symptoms of a herniated disk, making it a very hard injury to diagnose. If you are experiencing back pain and believe you may have a herniated disk, please CONTACT US today for your evaluation or READ MORE HERE about your condition.
2.) Migraine Headaches
Though the exact cause of migraine headaches cannot be established, no one can deny the severity of these “showstoppers”. Migraines tend to be quickly onset with severe pain and debilitating symptoms including numbness, tingling, temporary blindness, and other sensory warnings. In some cases, medication is prescribed with hopes of treatment, but in many of those situations the medication does little or no good at all. If you suffer from migraine headaches, please CONTACT US today for an evaluation, or you can READ MORE ABOUT these headaches here.
The number one condition that we treat at surgical alternative institute is an elusive yet simple condition causing a spectrum of further symptoms that affect your entire body. Some people get this condition by being in high speed accidents, while others can get this condition by just sleeping. Some patients live with chronic pain and others come and go.
THE NUMBER ONE TREATED CONDITION OF SURGICAL ALTERNATIVE IS………
1.) Neck Pain
Neck pain can be caused by a host of issues ranging from trauma (car accidents, etc.) to just poor posture. There are some degenerative diseases that will cause the neck pain, but it can also be just a simple muscle strain. In some cases, the pain can work its way down to the shoulders and even the middle and lower back over time. With proper treatment, most neck pain can be resolved in little time with little or no effort by the patient. If you suffer from neck pain and would like relief, please CONTACT US today for your evaluation orREAD MORE HERE about your condition.
Why Use Surgical Alternative – Testimonials and Reviews (Part 1)
In the past months, we have not only grown as an institution, but also have touched many of the lives here in the tampa florida area by our methods of set bodywork, deep tissue massage, and other services. Once a patient is affected by our services, they in many cases become advocates for those services. In the next few weeks, we will be releasing testimonials from many of our existing clients so that new or upcoming patients can gain a grasp on what to expect when visiting our offices.
The first Testimonial is Adam Hayes in New Tampa, Florida. Adam writes:
Surgical Altnernative – Top 10 treated conditions (Part 1)
Over the past few years, I have seen many different injuries treated in Surgical Alternative’s Institute of Alternative Therapy, but many of them have been returning ailments. We have taken a few minutes to create our top ten treated injuries from Surgical Alternative. If you have any further questions, please CONTACT US TODAY for your evaluation and treatment.
Without further adieu, we present our top ten treated injuries by surgical alternative for with alternative therapy, deep tissue massage, energetic therapy, and other methods.
10.) Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a disease that affects the central nervous system causing extreme pain and discomfort and many areas of the body independently and simultaneously. Symptoms may include but are not limited to debilitating fatigue, insomnia, and joint stiffness. Other symptoms include numbness/tingling and trouble swallowing. For more information on fibromyalgia, please continue here, or CONTACT Surgical Alternative today for your evaluation.
9.) Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff in your shoulder is made up of tendons, ligaments and muscle that work in unison to create the range of motion for your arm and upper back. By injuring any of the pieces of the rotator cuff, you are not only causing inflammation and irritation, but you may also be doing further damage by not attending to your injury. For more information of rotator cuff injuries and what surgical alternative can do to help, please continue here, or CONTACT US TODAY for your evaluation.
8.) Plantar Fasciitis
This is the most common cause of heel pain. It is caused when your plantar fascia ligament becomes irritated, weakens, swells or strains. Since it is the tissue that supports your arch, some people call it “fallen arches”. Plantar Fasciitis causes moderate to severe foot pain and should be attended to as soon as possible. If you would like to learn more about your condition, please continue here or CONTACT US today for your evaluation.
7.) Hiatal Hernias / Hiatus Hernia
A hernia is simply described as part of your internal body moving somewhere it does not belong. Your Hiatus is an opening in your diaphragm and acts as a muscular wall between your chest cavity and your abdomen. When your abdomen and stomach bulge up through the opening in your hiatus, this is called a hiatal hernia, or hiatus hernia. There are two types of hiatal hernias : paraesophageal and sliding. Though extremely uncomfortable, surgical alternative can treat these hernias and make your life more comfortable and manageable. If you have a hiatal hernia and would like to learn more, please click here, or CONTACT us today for your evaluation and treatment.
6.) Tight Muscles / Stiffened Joints
We all get older and we all get LESS mobile each day. Even with an active lifestyle and proper stretching, we cannot always be that “21 year old” that we all remember was invincible. We have many clients that have been unable to do some of the things that they love due to aging muscles and joints. Many include hunters, golfers, fisherman/fisherwomen, and other active oriented people. With our treatment most of them are able to return to what they love. Whether its casting a rod, climbing into a tree stand, or any other activity, we can help you return to the things in life that you have worked so hard to enjoy. If you would like to learn more about joint stiffness or muscle tightness, please click here, or CONTACT us for your evaluation.
Surgical Alternative specializes in alternative therapy for many conditions and ailments. If you would like to learn more about our services, or symptoms that we treat, please CONTACT US, or VISIT OUR WEBSITE to begin feeling better soon.
Whiplash – Symptoms and Facts
Heading into the summer holiday season, many of us will be traveling busy roads and highways, creating opportunity for more accidents. One of the most common injuries from auto accidents is whiplash. Though also possible in sporting and contact activities, the majority of these injuries are caused by automobile accidents.
Whiplash is caused by damage to the soft tissues in your neck like tendons, muscle and ligaments because of movement beyond your neck’s normal range of motion. When these tissues are strained, they become inflamed which not only causes moderate to severe pain but also a limitation to your necks range of motion. Doctor’s may also use terms such as cervical sprain, hyperextension injury, or cervical strain.
Symptoms of Whiplash include but are not limited to:
- Upper back/Thoracic Pain
- Head feeling too heavy to hold up.
- Swelling in the neck area.
- Tenderness around the neck region.
- Difficulty moving your neck.
- Headache
- Neck pain
- Shooting pains into your shoulders or back.
- Muscle spasms (In the neck area)
If ANY of these symptoms become unbearable, SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY! If you are involved in an accident, remember that even if you have some of these symptoms, there may be a risk that there could be orthopedic damage meaning that you have skeletal or bone damage, and need to see a surgeon immediately.
If you have been diagnosed with whiplash, Surgical Alternative can aide you in a speedy recovery while working with you to regain your range of motion through our SET bodywork sessions, as well as deep tissue massage and other methods adopted by our organization. If you have any questions regarding your whiplash, please CONTACT US today to discuss your options!
NFL Draft Breakdown by Surgical Alternative: Part 1 – Andrew Luck
On Thursday April 26th the NFL draft was held in Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The event was a culmination of every team in the NFL and every qualified and desired NCAA football player. By the end of the first night, the top 32 picks had been chosen and we were all ready for day 2. In the following days and weeks we will be breaking down a number of the top draft picks to analyze what potential injuries that each of them are going to be prone to suffering in the NFL. Our first installment is going to be Andrew Luck, now with the Indianapolis Colts, and formally with the Stanford Cardinals.
Andrew Luck stands 6’3” tall and weighs in somewhere around 210lbs. Ironically enough, most analysts compare him to Peyton Manning, who stands only 2 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier. This would immediately bring to surface the neck injuries that Peyton has been known for lately. For more information on the neck issues that Peyton has, please CLICK HERE.
The primary issues that I see with Andrew Luck lie in the coaching and the actual transition to the NFL. Most NFL teams take time to “re-teach” players how to throw, evident with Tim Tebow in Denver. This creates major issues, as most of these quarterbacks are used to throwing a certain way all of their lives and now they have to use the same muscles in a different manor, creating the opportunity for injury.
Repetitive motion injuries in my opinion are the greatest risk to any new NFL quarterback. In college, players have to go to class, and some have jobs as well as being an athlete. In the NFL, you are a football player, which are your classes, job and your sport. This creates a great strain on the bodies of these players as they constantly work, rather than having a break, regardless of physical shape entering the league.
Primarily, I fear that there may be tendon and muscle damage to the shoulder of Andrew Luck in the first few years of being in the league. When Indianapolis drafted Peyton Manning in 1998, they pretty much redesigned the offense around him, which I seriously doubt will happen in Luck’s case. This means that he will have to work harder to make the throws to the receivers that Manning has already groomed to his liking. This will cause Luck to make throws that he is not accustomed to making due to the sheer speed and precision in which the NFL game moves.
Our approach at Surgical Alternative would be to place Luck on a regimen of SET bodywork, deep tissue massage, and energetic release therapy as preventative maintenance to alleviate the stresses that he will endure throughout his career. This would involve focus on his throwing shoulder, his legs and his torso to make sure that all is working properly and that his tendons, muscles and bones all work as a finely tuned machine.
If you are an athlete and have questions or concerns about your durability or “pains”, please CONTACT
US today for your evaluation.
CALLING ALL VETERANS! Surgical Alternative is now performing PTSD therapy for FREE!
The team at Surgical Alternative hold our nations service members near and dear to our hearts, but have not yet to date figured out a way to make a difference. We recently agreed to begin a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder study on Post War Veterans in Tampa Florida. If you are an active or past service member and would like some relief with your PTSD, please CONTACT US today to discuss what we can do to help ease your pain. Thank you again to ALL of our service members!
Peyton Manning : Was Another Neck Surgery the Right Decision?
If you are at all a sports fan which many of us are, you have undoubtedly heard about the “Peyton Manning” effect and all of the fanfare that surrounds it. In the past weeks, he has been cleared to return to regular play, been involved in one of the most prolific free agency releases of all time, and pushed out an up and coming star in Tim Tebow to New York into a seemingly backup position. All of these events stem from the neck surgery that kept Manning out all of last season while his beloved colts were battered by opponents all over the league. I am here to talk about that surgery, its effects, and its risks.
The reward for the surgery is quite simple: use of your neck for the remaining years of your life while maintaining a relative range of motion. My first question lies here. I am sure that Peyton Manning could afford only the best treatment, so why were so many surgeries needed? (3 separate surgeries) The answer lies in the root of the problem, a pinched nerve. Years of wear and tear taking hits from 285 pound monsters had taken its toll. By undergoing two unsuccessful surgeries, not only was he living in pain, but also causing further damage by not allowing for full recovery.
The risks are not as simple as the reward. Peyton Manning underwent what is called a single level anterior fusion, which involves removing an entire disk in your spine, and replacing it with a bone graft. The surgery is performed through an incision in the front of the neck, while a surgeon carefully works around every muscle to get to the disk. There also runs a great risk by going under with anesthesia and creating a dependency on the pain medications after the surgery itself.
We would like to offer our surgical alternative to this surgery. By using our proprietary brand of therapy, we can ease your pinched nerves removing the need for surgery, down time, pain, and risks that come along with them.
If you have any questions regarding pinched nerves, or any other pain that you would like to overcome, please CONTACT US today or go to www.surgicalalternative.com for more information.
Carpal Tunnel Surgery : Is it really necessary?
The over 27 bones in your hand and wrist that enable almost miraculous dexterity for one of the most
used parts of our body. Naturally over years of misuse and abuse, there is a risk that:
-Ligaments may loosen
-Meniscus may deteriorate causing bones to rub against one another
-Nerves may begin to become highly sensitive
These factors are causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and are often felt for day, weeks, or even
chronically over years. When chronically diagnosed, many patients opt for surgery to either repair,
or release pressure on the nerves of the wrist. Though this particular surgery is quite common in the
circumstances, it runs the LOWEST SUCCESS RATE of any non-fatal injury. I would like to take a few
moments to discuss the RISKS and the surgical alternative to carpal tunnel surgery.
RISKS:
- The Surgery Itself – while under carpal tunnel release surgery, you will be administered twilight
- anesthesia. The drugs in this concoction cause amnesia while the patient is knocked out.
- Risks with the anesthesia can be found here. (http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/tc/anesthesia-risks-and-complications)
- Cost of Surgery – The cost of the surgeries run anywhere from $5,000 USD all the way up to
- $10,000 USD
- Success Rate of Surgery – there is a full recovery rate hovering around 60%, making your odds
- fair at best for success.
- Damage during surgery – Not only is it common for people recovering to experience loss of
- grip, but it is also common for this loss of grip to be permanent! This damage is caused by the
- severing of the carpal ligament in the wrist to relieve the tension.
- Surgery is NOT A PERMANENT FIX!
By using our Alternative methods for Surgery, we can work with you to relieve the stress and pressure
from the carpal ligament without surgery. If you are considering carpal tunnel release surgery, please
CONTACT US today to discuss the surgical alternative. By allowing our therapists to naturally fix your
body, you will enjoy the following advantages:
- No anesthesia or surgery to worry about
- Cost effective – Our therapy is much more cost effective and full of impact
- Success Rate – Since we are doing this naturally, the success rate is 100% with time
- No Downtime – we will continue to work with you to relieve your stress, but there will be no
- downtime due to surgery.
If you have any interest in learning more about the natural surgical alternative to carpal tunnel
surgery, please CONTACT US today for more information.
Shin Splints Treatment
The past couple of weeks I’ve seen an increase in people seeking treatment for their shins splints. This time of year is when the weather is great for spring sports. It’s also a time when the weekend warriors doing marathons, half marathons, and 5k’s are in full force.
Shin splints are one of those things that I ideally try to take care of in the off season when the athlete is rested and the irritation to the area is not so painful. I rarely get to see athletes at that phase. More of the norm is to see the person as they are being hindered from completing their workouts or see them at the point when every step hurts, even when just walking. Treating shin splints and becoming pain free is a multi step approach along with time to heal. It involves everything from stretching, icing, and bandaging, all the way to wearing proper shoes, evaluating the surface you are exercising on, and rest. Many of the people we see are actively in their season and have urgency in needing to resolve the matter. They do not have the luxury of waiting the 4 to 6 month period it can take to heal from doing the above mentioned treatment approach. Let me also mention that some of the people we have helped with shin splints have not been athletes at all. Some have been those whom put long hours on their feet on hard surfaces. We usually get a person who can only give us a 1- 2 day window of not working out in their sport.
Our approach to healing is a more direct one. As part of our sessions, through body reading we visually assess how the body may be collapsing or compensating and contributing to the emphasis of stress to the shins. Sometimes what we find is that the hips are out of balance or the arch has collapsed. If this has been going on for a while we find that they are also suffering of other sports injuries or pain underneath the feet like plantar fasciitis. We work to release the tightened muscles that are restricting the pelvis and hips from being balanced. This helps the body come out of its collapse and helps the body go more into balance and allows for better body mechanics. The calves and front of the lower leg musculature is a significant contributor in shin splints when tight. This is can be due to a lack of stretching, hydration, but more often repetitive use. We also release scar tissue that can be felt along the front shin area and address all the muscles of the lower leg and foot. It is through our direct approach that our clients are able to recover in HALF the time of what other therapies currently offer!!!!! If you are suffering with shin splints, plantar fasciitis, or other sports injuries and don’t have the time to wait to get better, give our approach a try.
Improper Running- How much pain can it cause?
In one of our previous blogs, we discussed collapse arches and how shoes can play a major part in causing the injury. Another big culprit is running. I’m not trying to say that running is bad; it has been a big part of my life and many others as well. Injuries from running can vary and can be caused by many different reasons. They can range anywhere from not having the proper footwear to improper stretching to not knowing how to run properly. When we run the force and impact exerted on the body is great. Improper running can cause the body to be out of balance leading to tight and pulled muscles or in some cases permanent damage. We have all seen people running down the street that look as if their body was in some type of convulsion, arms and legs flailing everywhere. As a therapist that has been working with athletes, muscles and structural balancing for over 15 years, I know the importance of proper techniques and how the body reacts when things are imbalanced. As our body ages, the trauma and injuries we incurred throughout the years tends to come back with a vengeance. I guess that’s why a lot of our clients are in the 35+ age group. In our bodywork sessions, we use cranial structural rebalancing which involved releasing the restrictions through pressure point in the cranium allowing the body to return to normal. We then use several advanced techniques including deep tissue massage to loosen the muscles around the restriction allowing the skeletal structure to remain in balance. Think of it like this, if you have two teams playing tug-o-war that are constantly pulling on each other, it is almost impossible to keep the rope in the same place. Well, that is also what your muscles are doing to your skeletal structural. No matter how many times you realign your skeletal structural if your muscles around the restrictions are pulling everything back out of alignments then the pain will continue. Running can be a fun and enjoyable way to exercise, just make sure you do it properly. In our upcoming blogs we will be discussing the treatments and successes we have had with professional and amateur athletes such as golf and tennis players.
At Surgical Alternative, we have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 15 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, collapsed arches and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Hiatal Hernia Treatments
I often get asked, “Can you do anything for Hiatal Hernias?” The short answer is yes. To understand how our advanced deep tissue massage and bodywork sessions fix hiatal hernias, we must first examine the causes and what exactly a hiatal hernia is. A hiatal hernia is the protrusion (or herniation) of the upper part of the stomach into the thorax through a tear or weakness in the diaphragm. There are many different causes for hiatal hernias ranging from heavy lifting or bending over, obesity, stress, heredity or even straining with constipation. In many cases people don’t even realize they have one. Some of the symptoms include acid reflux or severe abdominal pain.
So how do we fix it? Some of the most severe cases sometimes require surgery but most can be fix without it. Using our advanced bodywork techniques, we are able to go into the area of the protrusion and begin working the tight muscles around the bulge to allow the muscles to loosen and return to normal. By loosening the tight muscles that cause the hiatal hernias, we allow the protrusion to return back to its normal alignment alleviating the pain.
At Surgical Alternative, we have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, collapsed arches and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. We use a combination of deep tissues massages and cranial structural techniques to balance and align the body. The reason we started blogging was so that we could reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Collapsed Arches- What cause them? Shoes!
If you have ever had a collapse arch then you know the pain that can cause. In a lot of cases it pulls on the other muscles in the foot causing it to feel like you got a sprained ankle. One of the main reasons this happens is due to improper footwear. Improper shoes can cause all types of problem with your body, from lower back pain or even a pinched sciatic nerve. If you are like a lot of my clients, you work in the corporate world where you have to wear heels or dress shoes that in most cases provide little support. Many seek insoles and other types of shoes inserts to help resolve the issue. There is a reason there are so many types of shoes, because everyone’s feet are different. One of my clients had been having the same problem for a month or so. He would come in and I would perform our bodywork session that involves advanced deep tissue massage and cranial structural techniques that rebalance and realign the body. He felt great after he left and within days his body would revert back to the same painful problem. After further consulting, we had determined that the shoes he was wearing was causing his body to go back out of alignment every time he wore them for a long period of time. I am happy to say once he got a new pair of shoes that we tested to make sure his body was supported and stabile the pain went aware. In short, proper footwear can make a big difference in your posture and the way you feel, just be sure to change them periodically once the arch support has worn out. Prevention and proper education can save you a lot of pain and discomfort, that why we at Surgical Alternative take the time to understand the underlying problem so that we can properly address the issues.
At Surgical Alternative, we have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, collapsed arches and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. We use a combination of deep tissues massages and cranial structural techniques to balance and align the body. The reason we started blogging was so that we could reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Plantar Fascitis Treatments
Effective plantar fascitis treatments! Didn’t enjoy holiday shopping because your feet just won’t let you? Is your foot pain robbing the joy out what should be an enjoyable time? Whether or not you find shopping this time of year enjoyable you should be able to shop pain free. It’s no fun trying to concentrate on the best gift for those on your list or other daily tasks when every step you take is painful! The worst part is that all the shopping is most likely contributing to the irritation. It has been reported by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons that plantar fasciitis occurs in two million Americans a year and 10% of the population over a lifetime. The pain is usually felt on the underside of the heel and is often most intense with the first steps of the day. Another symptom is that the sufferer has difficulty bending the foot so that the toes are brought toward the shin (decreased dorsiflexion of the ankle). Things that will put you at a higher risk are new or increased activity, sudden weight gain or obesity, very high arches, and tight calves . A symptom commonly recognized among sufferers of plantar fasciitis is increased probability of knee pains, especially among runners. Through our cranial/structural and deep tissues techniques we are able to provide effective plantar fascitis treatments! We not only address the area that is in pain but more importantly we focus on the area’s that are the source of the pain.
At Surgical Alternative, we have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, Plantar Fascitis and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. We use a combination of deep tissues massages and cranial structural techniques to balance and align the body. The reason we started blogging was so that we could reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Carpal Tunnel Treatment-Unneeded Surgery?
Having worked with clients for many years that have been suffering from carpal tunnel, I’m still amazed that people are willing to do damage by cutting nerves and muscles. Carpal Tunnel syndrome can be caused by a number of factors including age, medical conditions, or as many have experienced from of use and relative motions in the wrists and fingers most commonly associated with typing.
Symptoms start gradually, sometimes causing frequent burning, tingling, or itching numbness in the palm and the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers. Some who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome say their fingers feel useless and swollen, even though little or no swelling is apparent. A person with carpal tunnel syndrome may wake up feeling the need to “shake out” the hand or wrist. As symptoms worsen, people might feel tingling during the day. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. In chronic and/or untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away.
There are many cures for carpel tunnel that don’t require surgery. The main issue I have is that even after surgery it is common for carpal tunnel to reoccur; therefore you just did damage to muscles through surgery that will probably have to be done again in the future. A Surgical Alternative we have had great success curing carpal tunnel syndrome without surgery. Before you have surgery please give us call. We really can help.
We feel very fortunate and excited to do what we love to do, help others. We have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, degenerative disk disease and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. We use a combination of deep tissues massages and cranial structural techniques to balance and align the body. The reason we started blogging was so that we could reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
1) http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm
Where’s Your Head At? Part 2
In the last post I discussed how our lives tend to lead us to position our head in front of our body, which overtime can cause neck strains, herniated discs, nerve entrapment, and other related conditions. If we have been injured in an accident, this pathway to pain can accelerate rapidly.
With our approach here at Surgical Alternative with SET Bodywork, we know how to address the key areas causing pain, even if they are not the places where our clients are feeling their pain. It wasn’t until I learned this specialized therapeutic approach to structural bodywork in SET that I realized how much the front of the neck plays a key role in back and shoulder pain.
The muscles in the front of your neck and chest are often very tight when you are experiencing neck pain, but not every massage therapist knows to release them, or how to do this effectively. Now that I practice SET Bodywork, I have seen dramatic changes in my clients. Often after just one session.
As one client who was experiencing chronic pain in her neck noted, “I never had that much of a shift from just one session before.” That was last Spring. I haven’t seen her since because she still feels great. What are you waiting for?
We feel very fortunate and excited to do what we love to do, help others. We have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, degenerative disk disease and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. We use a combination of deep tissues massages and cranial structural techniques to balance and align the body. The reason we started blogging was so that we could reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
Where’s Your Head At? Part 1
Really, right now, where is your head at? Wherever you are, without much adjustment, just take this moment and notice where your head is resting. Is it supported on top of your torso or cradled by your hand propped up by an elbow on the table? More importantly, when you look straight down, what do you see? Your stomach, your lap?
We live extremely forward driven lives. Almost everything we do pulls our head forward in front of our body. Since the “body loves repetition,” as my teacher, would say, our necks remember the habit of pulling our head forward and will start to keep it there. The thing is, our vertebraes are not designed to maintain this imbalanced posture and our comfort so in time, something has got to give.
At Surgical Alternative we take all this into account when treating clients with neck and shoulder issues. When we help our clients rehabilitate from bad postural habits and injuries, we also are preventing the development of buldging/herniated discs, pinched nerves, chronic headaches and migraines, whiplash and more.
Check back for part two for when our technique distinguishes us from other massage therapists. We don’t do massage, we provide therapy.
We feel very fortunate and excited to do what we love to do, help others. We have been dealing with clients in severe pain for over 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues, degenerative disk disease and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. We use a combination of deep tissues massages and cranial structural techniques to balance and align the body. The reason we started blogging was so that we could reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions. Surgical Alternative is now located in Lutz near New Tampa. We proudly service Tampa, St. Petersburg, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Trinity and all surrounding areas. Please call today, or schedule your appointment online!
