At Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, we treat our patients holistically, always aware that they are complete, complex human beings. This is why our personalized treatment plans for spinal and musculoskeletal disorders include both traditional and complementary methods. Our complementary medicine program is designed to enhance our more mainstream treatments.
As physiatrists, we are focused on finding precisely the right combination of nonsurgical therapies for each individual patient, knowing that each has unique needs and sensitivities. Above all, we are committed to providing the most effective pain relief and restoration of function possible.
Does Complementary Medicine Really Work?
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), complementary (alternative) medicine factors in many components that our doctors find invaluable, including:
- Partnership between the patient and practitioner in the healing process
- Facilitating the body’s “innate healing process”
- Considering all factors that influence disease, health, and wellness (mind and body)
- Medical practice open to natural, less invasive therapies
The NIH also mentions the fact that cultures all over the world – e.g., Chinese, Pacific Islander, Tibetan, and Native American – have been successfully using varieties of complementary medicine for more than 5,000 years. The government agency also reports that the use of complementary medicine is increasing in the United States. The latest statistics show that more than 40 percent of Americans use complementary medicine as part of their integrated healthcare.
The Benefits of Complementary Medicine
Complementary medicine can bring a variety of health benefits to the person who thoughtfully incorporates it into a treatment plan:
- Holistic Care: Complementary medicine addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health, providing a more comprehensive approach to wellness.
- Patient and Doctor Driven: The nature of complementary medicine is that you partner with your doctor in your healthcare journey, not be a patient who simply swallows what a doctor prescribes. Therefore, this approach can empower you in your healing journey.
- Focus on Prevention: Many complementary practices aim to prevent illness by promoting healthy lifestyle habits and early intervention.
- Reduced Dependency on Medications: As the recent opioid crisis in the United States has proven, an over-dependence on pain-relieving medications is no way to handle a medical issue that causes chronic pain. By using complementary medicine to address the root cause of pain, we take a natural and holistic approach to healing without forcing the patient to rely on addictive pain relievers.
Is Complementary Medicine Right for You?
Whether complementary medicine can be a viable choice for you depends on your unique health needs, goals, and preferences. People who can benefit are those seeking:
- Chronic pain or stress relief
- Chronic condition management support
- Enhanced recovery from an injury or illness
- Preventative care and lifestyle optimization
- A natural approach to health and healing
Your safety and well-being are our top priority. Before starting complementary therapy, you should consult a qualified healthcare provider to ensure it aligns with your overall treatment plan. This is especially important when managing a complex medical condition or taking prescription medications.
Advantages of Complementary Medical Treatment Under the Care of a Physician
Some people are suspicious of new therapies they are unfamiliar with. This is true on both sides of the spectrum. In other words, just as many patients may feel uncertain about medications, treatments, and surgeries offered by traditional doctors as those who question the validity of alternative treatments or supplements.
This is why there is a great advantage to receiving both types of care at one holistic medical center. At any of the offices of Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, you will be treated by highly qualified physicians who have pursued advanced training in acupuncture and complementary medicine at Harvard Medical School. You can have complete confidence in complementary treatments when these options are provided by respected medical doctors in professionally monitored settings.
Complementary Medicine Treatments We Offer Our Patients
At Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, we don’t focus on which category a particular treatment falls into, but rather on how well it works. Though we thoroughly vet all available research concerning any therapy program we offer, we are open to all traditional, innovative, or rediscovered procedures that will help our patients find relief from pain, move more easily, and improve their quality of life.
Acupuncture
Not only does acupuncture have thousands of years of history as a successful medical treatment in Asia, but it has also been in use in this country since 1826 when a U.S. Navy surgeon consulted with an acupuncturist to treat his lower back pain. In the 21st century, millions of Americans are treated with acupuncture for chronic back pain and for pain management, and restored ease of motion throughout the body.
Acupuncture is based on the premise that the body is regulated by an energy known as “Qi” that flows through the body. It is believed that when the smooth flow of Qi is interrupted, disease and/or pain result. Acupuncturists restore fluidity and its health benefits by inserting tiny needles (as slender as hairs) into specific charted points on the body along pathways known as meridians.
Acupuncture treatments are neither painful nor prolonged. Patients relax during the treatments, which usually take under 30 minutes; some fall asleep. A great number of people have found pain relief for back pain and other musculoskeletal problems through acupuncture.
PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) Therapy
PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) therapy is another intriguing tool in the complementary medicine toolbox. Although PEMF may seem to be a brand new treatment option, like acupuncture, it is rooted in therapies thousands of years old, developed in other parts of the world.
Because PEMF is based on the use of natural electromagnetic fields, it is entirely safe. Remember, our bodies are full of electromagnetic energy, which is why EKGS and EEGS can monitor the activities of our brains and hearts.
Research has shown that by targeting the energy-producing parts of our cells, known as mitochondria, we can reap tremendous rewards. Well over a decade ago, several PEMF devices were cleared by the FDA for use in the U.S. PEMF is now used for a broad spectrum of disorders, from wound healing to clinical depression.
Even though PEMF has not yet been FDA-approved to treat all musculoskeletal conditions, like so many other innovative therapies, it is working successfully in the field – among professional athletes and within our own offices.
PEMF has shown remarkable results in providing our patients with relief by:
- Accelerating bone healing and increasing bone density
- Alleviating back, neck, knee, and shoulder pain
- Facilitating sleep by improving Circadian rhythm
- Improving circulation and muscle function
- Improving immune function
- Oxygenating tissue
- Reducing inflammation
- Relieving symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is quickly emerging as a complementary therapy with some promise. This regenerative injection therapy involves injecting a solution—often dextrose—into an area affected by pain and scarring to encourage tissue repair and reduce pain.
Prolotherapy has shown significant benefits for conditions such as:
- Osteoarthritis
- Chronic back pain
- Sports injuries
It is a therapy that targets the root cause of pain—in this case, weakened or damaged connective tissue—and it provides long-term relief without requiring invasive surgery or extended reliance on pain medications (which can contribute to unfortunate addictions).
Contact Us Today to Find Out Whether Complementary Medicine Is Right for You
Complementary medicine often helps when other treatments fail. If other therapies have disappointed you, or if you are considering nonsurgical options, let Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine evaluate your case and provide you with renewed hope.