Posted by Dr. Jonathan Walker on April 4, 2009 under Back pain, Chiropractic, Research Articles | 
Finally, there’s a treatment to conquer back and leg pain without dangerous medications or painful surgery.My name is Dr. Jonathan Walker D.C., clinic director of Ocala Integrative Medicine. I work with Dr. Anthony Sancetta D.O. to help find pain relief solutions for countless patients. I understand what it feels like to live in pain, because I see it every day.
I’ve seen hundreds of people with disc herniations and sciatica leave the office pain free.
When cushions in your back joints, called discs, get injured or wear out, they begin to degenerate and cause pain. Bulging and herniations begin to form, pressing on the nerve roots.
The most common invasive treatment for disc herniations is surgery. Even with health insurance the patient is left with their own portion of the bill, in excess of $10,000-$15,000, and sometimes more.
In addition, the recovery time and missed work can be anywhere from 3 to 6 months, not to mention the obvious severe risks associated with all surgeries.
Before You Go Under The Knife And Opt For Spinal Surgery…
You should seriously consider a less invasive approach called spinal decompression.
Non-surgical spinal decompression is a new technology that has been proven to help disc herniations. It creates a vacuum effect on the disc, which pulls the disc back into its normal position and brings in a fresh blood supply to promote healing.
The conditions this amazing treatment has proven successful are:
- Herniated and/or bulging discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Back pain
- Sciatica
- A relapse or failure following certain surgeries
- Lumbar Facet syndromes
Proof This Treatment Works
While non-surgical spinal decompression is a rather new treatment, there’s plenty of research to back up its claims. Here’s just a handful of scientific studies…
“We thus submit that decompression therapy should be considered first, before the patient undergoes a surgical procedure which permanently alters the anatomy and function of the affected lumbar spine segment.” – Journal Of Neuroscience Research
“86% of the 219 patients who completed the therapy reported immediate resolution of symptoms” – Orthopedic Technology Review
“vertebral axial [spinal] decompression was successful in 71% of the 778 cases” – Journal of Neurological Research
“good to excellent” relief in 86% patients with Herniated discs” – The American Journal of Pain Management
“decompression therapy reported a 76.5% with complete remission and 19.6% with partial remission of pain and disability” – Rio Grande Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery
Another study presented at the American Academy of Pain Management in 2007 showed…
“Patients reported a mean 88.9% improvement in back pain and better function…No patient required any invasive therapies (e.g. epidural injections, surgery).”
As you can see, spinal decompression has a high success rate . What this means for you is that in just a matter of weeks, you could be back on the golf course, enjoying your love life, or traveling again.
Could This Be Your Sciatica And Back Pain Solution
It’s time for you to find out if spinal decompression will be your sciatic pain solution.
For 10 days only, $47* will get you all the services I normally charge new patients $257 for!
What does this offer include? Everything. Here’s what you’ll get…
- An in-depth consultation about your health and well-being where I will listen…really listen…to the details of your case.
- A complete neuromuscular examination.
- A full set of specialized x-rays to determine if a spinal problem is contributing to your pain or symptoms… (NOTE: These would normally cost you at least $100).
- A thorough analysis of your exam and x-ray findings so we can start mapping out your plan to being pain free.
- You’ll get to see everything first hand. I’ll answer all your questions about spinal decompression. I’ll let you know if this amazing treatment will be your back pain solution, like it has been for so many other patients.
Call today…phone 352-732-5590!
The normal price for this type of evaluation, including x-rays, is $250 so you’re saving a considerable amount by taking me up on this offer.
Call today and we can get you scheduled for your consultation, exam and x-rays as soon as there’s an opening.
Our office is located just east of the downtown square on Silver Springs Blvd, just a few minutes from you. When you call, tell the receptionist you’d like to come in for the Spinal Decompression Evaluation so she get you on the schedule and make sure you receive proper credit for this special offer.
*Not applicable to Medicaid, Medicare or Medicare replacement policies. BUT HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS! An evaluation with Dr. Sancetta is covered by Medicare, and can help determine if you’re a candidate for treatment! 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 the free, discounted or reduced fee services, examination or treatment.
Posted by Dr. Jonathan Walker on March 29, 2009 under Uncategorized |
Have you been searching for a chiropractor in Ocala? Having a hard time telling the difference from one to the next? I don’t blame you! A quick scan of the yellow pages shows dozens of qualified chiropractors who all treat back pain, neck pain, sciatica, headaches, disc injuries, auto injuries, and a host of other conditions.
Some might have spinal decompression, others might offer acupuncture, but at the end of the day, there’s not a whole lot of difference. Marketing guru Seth Godin wrote a must-read business book called “The Purple Cow”. Godin writes that driving through the countryside can be an exciting experience for a city dweller. The first cow you see reminds you that you’re no longer in the concrete jungle with it’s noise and chaos. However, as the trip goes on each cow becomes less and less interesting, and by the end of the journey you don’t even notice them as you whiz by.
But a purple cow? That’s an animal you’d never forget. Once you saw a purple cow you’d watch every other cow intently searching for the rare purple one.
What does any of this have to do with choosing a chiropractor? Seth Godin believes every business should have a purple cow, or at least one feature that makes it unique and exciting.
At Ocala Chiropractic Center, we are proud to introduce Dr. Anthony Sancetta, our resident purple cow! Dr. Sancetta is a medical physician, more specifically a D.O., who brings an entirely new skillset to the practice. Dr. Sancetta specializes in the field of natural medicine, working to help our patients balance their body chemistry and hormones. He’s also able to assist in the treatment of patients with severe pain, such as those who have been in auto accidents, with medication and trigger point injections.
If you’re looking for a truly unique experience, then Ocala Chiropractic Center is for you. We are the only clinic in Marion County with a chiropractor and medical physician working together. Let us find the solution to your health problems with our purple cow!
Posted by Dr. Jonathan Walker on March 4, 2009 under Hormone Replacement Therapy |
| Why Hormone replacement? |
For years Doctors have been treating women for menopause by giving them estrogen and progesterone then why do we neglect the other crucial hormones such as Natural thyroid hormone, DHEA  (Dehydroepiandrosterone), Melatonin, Human Growth Hormone (HGH)?At Ocala Integrative Medicine, we realize the value of natural hormone replacement therapy. In addition to alleviating the symptoms of menopause and reducing risk of osteoporosis, hormone replacement can also aid in the anti-aging process, improve your memory and mood, and create an overall sense of well-being.We specialize in Bioidentical hormone replacement hormone therapy. After a thorough examination and the necessary lab tests, Dr. Tony Sancetta will prescribe for you the proper natural hormones that will have you looking and feeling better than you have in years. |
|
| What are bioidentical hormones? |
| Bioidentical hormones are exactly the same hormones, molecule by molecule that your body produces. They are modified in a lab derived mostly from plant sources but are still considered natural to your body because they are identical. Body does not consider then a foreign substance and so does not cause any adverse reactions.Synthetic hormones are also made in a lab, but most importantly are not identical to your body. Bioidentical hormones are superior to types of synthetic hormones commonly prescribed. |
|
| Why do I need to test for hormone levels? |
| Hormones are powerful substances that control multiple functions through out the body. Hormone levels should be sufficient and balanced. Too little or too much of them is not conducive to long-term emotional, mental and bodily health. Simple saliva test can accurately measure your hormone levels- no blood work required! |
|
| What are “normal’ hormone levels? |
| Hormoen levels from woman to woman can vary from 200-1500%! Just as you cannot balance your bank account without numbers on your bank statements, hormones testing provide both a basis for treatment and proximity to your goal. One can then customize natural hormone dosing to meet individual needs. In other words Optimize hormone levels for minimum dose to relieve symptoms and avoid overdosing.We may choose to prescribe various different hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid, Cortisol, DHEA, Melatonin, or growth hormone, depending on what your symptoms are and which hormone(s) your body needs. This is done on a gradient scale so as to let the body adjust itself naturally. |
|
|
| What is menopause? |
| Literally, menopause means the cessation of the monthly menstrual cycle and signals the end of a woman’s natural childbearing years. Menopause is neither a disease nor an illness; it is a natural and usually gradual change in glandular function, when major hormonal shifts occur as a result of ovaries not producing estrogen and progesterone. On average, this occurs at age 52, but can occur much earlier or later. |
|
| What is perimenopause? |
As a woman approaches menopause, her hormone production may fluctuate wildly, causing hot flashes, moodiness, depression, loss of libido, sleep problems, and more. Some women experience symptoms early – in some cases 10-15 years before clinical menopause.Fluctuating levels of hormones can cause one or more of the following:
| Hot flashes |
Fatigue |
| Night sweats |
Irregular Periods |
| Insomnia |
Breast tenderness |
| Memory loss |
Weight Gain |
| Mood swings |
Anxiety |
| Low sex drive |
Increased skin wrinkling |
|
|
| What can be done? |
| The right balance of hormones is important to long-term emotional, mental and bodily health.We recommend a natural hormone replacement therapy (often called BHRT, Bioidentical HRT) that can provide relief from menopause symptoms, and may also help minimize the risks of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, and some types of cancer. It also Increases sense of well being by removing underlying hormone deficit and imbalances.We treat and correct symptoms using natural hormones with testing before and after treatment. |
|
| But I already take hormones? Or I tried hormones already and they didn’t work? |
| For last 50 or so years women in this country have been prescribed Premarin and Provera. Premarin is a synthetic form of estrogen and is made from the urine of pregnant mares. Provera is synthetic progesterone and does not have the same functions as natural progesterone. Most women get the same dose of medication and usually do not have their hormone levels checked.At Angel Longevity Medical Center, we take a different approach. We carefully measure your entire hormone panel, not just female hormones such as estrogen, so that we can tailor a replacement program specifically for you. In this way, we bring all of your hormones into balance, allowing you to feel years younger. We use only bioidentical hormones. Hormones are available from some large pharmaceutical companies in predetermined doses, but they are also available through compounding pharmacies in a more custom hormone dose formulation. |
|
| What are the benefits of estrogen therapy? |
Estrogens promote youthful cell growth in organs of the body.The benefits of estrogens include:
- Enhanced skin smoothness, firmness and elasticity
- Enhanced moistness of mucus membranes
- Enhanced muscle tone
- Enhanced sex drive
- Reduced risk of osteoporosis
- Reduced risk of colon cancer
- Improved memory and neurological function
- Greater feeling of well being.
|
|
| Are you estrogen dominant?
|
The increasingly popular term Estrogen dominant does not mean you have too much estrogen but that you have too little progesterone in relation to your estrogen even if the estrogen level is actually also low. There is an ideal ration between the two (Pg/E2). You can actually have normal or even low levels of estrogen, but when you have diminished levels of progesterone levels, estrogen dominance results. Because estrogen is a proliferative (cell growing) hormone, too much of it without progesterone to balance it will cause problems such as
| Fibrocystic disease |
Water Retention |
| Heavy/Irregular periods |
Low Thyroid Symptoms |
| Migraines |
Belly weight gain |
| Bone/mineral loss |
Tearfulness |
|
|
| Are there any other hormones I should take? |
| Many women are also deficient in testosterone. While testosterone is often considered a male hormone, it is a critical hormone in women as well. Replacement therapy with natural testosterone can increase sexual desire and improve feelings of emotional well-being.Besides bioidentical hormones we also provide nutritional supplements tailored for you, recommendation for life style changes, whole foods, diet, exercise and relaxation and enjoyment of life. |
Call Ocala Integrative Medicine today at 352-732-5590 to schedule a consultation and find out if bioidentical hormone replacement could be right for you!
Posted by Dr. Jonathan Walker on February 17, 2009 under Foot Pain, Orthotics |
On almost a daily basis we have patients complaining of foot, ankle, and knee pain. Most people do not realize that there are simple, non-invasive treatment options for foot pain. At Ocala Chiropractic Center we utilize a cutting-edge technology called the Orthotic Group Gait Scan. Our GaitScan™ System is a revolutionary diagnostic tool for assessing our patient’s biomechanics. GaitScan™ has an industry high 4096 sensors and scans at an industry high 300Hz (scans per second). These measurements provide us with a sophisticated exp
lanation of foot mechanics and assists us with orthotic and/or shoe solutions.
First of all, it’s important to understand exactly what an orthotic is. Orthotics are simply supportive inserts that fit in the sole of your shoes. They can range from a $5 pair of Dr. Scholls purchased at the drugstore to a custom fitted pair prescribed by a physician.
Lack of proper care, ill-fitting shoes and general foot neglect are responsible for the majority of foot problems. Custom orthotics can be made to help support the areas of the feet that are not properly functioning. It’s important to understand your feet have direct impact on the rest of your body and support you with each step. A small abnormality in foot function can have a large impact on joints higher up in the body, causing pain and discomfort.
When you are running, the pressure on your feet can be three or four times your body weight. Even walking can produce more pressure than the sum of your body weight. The American Podiatric Medical Association says that the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. That adds up to about 115,000 miles in a lifetime or more than four times the circumference of the globe. That is a lot of walking with ill-fitting shoes or painful feet!!
In some cases foot ailments can be an early signal of more serious medical problems like arthritis or diabetes. Women have four times as many foot problems as men because they have a long history of wearing high heels and/or pointy toe shoes.
Orthotics can be cast to fit virtually any shoe, and in many cases are covered by your health insurance if medically necessary. The Orthotic Group brand orthotics we use at Ocala Chiropractic Center have a lifetime guarantee! A wide variety of custom shoes are also available with orthotics built right into them!
Remember if you are experiencing pain or discomfort in your ankles, knees or hip joints ….the direct cause may be the function of your feet or ill-fitting shoes. Don’t spend another day in pain- call us at 352-732-5590 to see if you can put an end to your foot pain!
Posted by Dr. Jonathan Walker on November 17, 2008 under Acupuncture, Back pain, Research Articles |
This is the blog of Dr. Jonathan Walker, clinic director of Ocala Chiropractic Center in Ocala, FL. My goal is to provide solutions to problems such as back pain, neck pain, and headaches that countless people in Marion County are needlessly suffering from. I also hope to inform you about some of the most cutting edge information on health and nutrition.
Today’s post will cover one of the more popular “alternative” treatments for a host of ailments- acupuncture. Does it really work? How can it help your problem? Read on to learn more…
Acupuncture is one of the oldest healing disciplines in the world. Most of the acupuncture treatments in the United States are using a system known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). However, just as the cuisine of China, Japan, Thailand, and virtually every other Asian country all very distinct, each country has it’s own system of acupuncture. Even more interesting, there is evidence of acupuncture being practiced in ancient Egypt as well as in bush tribes in South Africa.
The most common acupuncture treatment method is inserting tiny steel needles into various points in the body which run along paths called meridians. Ancient acupuncture theory states that these needles are affecting the flow of energy, or “chi” along these meridians. Modern science has shed light on at least three methods by which acupuncture helps treat certain conditions:
- Chemical- the release of pain blocking hormones called endorphins is triggered when specific points are stimulated.
- Cellular- cells called fibroblasts, which aid in the healing reponse of tissue move to the area where an acupuncture needle is inserted.
- Electrical- conduction of signals in the nervous system is affected during acupuncture treatments.
If you are in pain, this information may be interesting (hopefully!) but your primary concern is whether or not acupuncture can help you. A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine compared acupuncture for low back pain to traditional medical treatments. The acupuncture treatments were 50% MORE effective in relieving low pain than the conventional approach of medication and rehab exercises.
If you’re interested in trying acupuncture for yourself you can call my office or visit our website at www.ocalachiropracticcenter.com for more information. Stay tuned for more information…
