In 2004, Army paratrooper Eric Sifford fell about 30 feet after a tree blocked his jump, injuring his spine. He has lived with incredible pain ever since.
Facing a bleak outlook, including the possibility of multiple surgeries, Sifford felt she had exhausted her options for pain relief. However, recently things have changed. After nearly 30 years of service in the Marine Corps and Army, the veteran attributes his better health to successful whole health treatments.
Whole Health is an approach to care that aims to empower and prepare individuals to live their lives to the fullest, often using traditional medical methods as a non-conventional approach. It incorporates complementary and integrative protocols that complement and promote health. This process addresses health holistically and works with medicines to prevent disease when necessary.
Where possible, whole health keeps the body strong and when faced with illness, it is important to understand that there is not just one answer but many factors that contribute to health, and to utilize the healing that the body already has. Use your abilities to fight the disease.
Sifford credits her recent joy and energetic demeanor to acupuncture. In this procedure, disposable sterile needles are inserted to different depths at strategic points along the body’s meridians to stimulate the flow of energy to restore balance.
Thanks to acupuncture treatment, the numbness is gone.
The practitioner then gently moves or rotates the needle or applies heat or weak electrical pulses to the needle after placement. In most cases, the needle will remain in place for 25 to 40 minutes until he is comfortable. For Sifford, small tweaks and turns accomplished what traditional medicine couldn’t.
Veterans Eric Sifford and Dr. Paras Mehta
“Since that fall, I have been suffering from chronic numbness in some parts of my body. Thanks to Dr. Mehta’s acupuncture treatment, the numbness has almost disappeared.”
Dr. Paras Mehta is a board-certified veteran physician in physical therapy, rehabilitation, and integrative medicine in Salisbury, Virginia. His training spans the specialties of integrative medicine, regenerative medicine, allopathic medicine, mind-body medicine, functional medicine, five different styles of acupuncture, and an even wider range of tools used regularly in the clinic. ”
Amazing instant and lasting relief
As with any treatment plan, longevity, continuity, and regularity play important roles in success. Mehta said the aim is to use a series of acupuncture treatments to reduce pain so that it does not significantly impact the patient’s quality of life. But Mr. Sifford received a bonus, which probably fueled his passion and motivated him to continue his subsequent visits, he added.
“Remarkably, his pain, which had been present for over 15 years, improved dramatically after just one treatment,” Mehta said. Immediate and lasting relief from old symptoms is not expected, but “we do see these symptoms in our clinic from time to time.”
After experiencing early results, the effects of acupuncture for Sifford continued to gain momentum. And he stuck to it.
The results were good enough that Sifford was able to apply the success of acupuncture to other forms of whole health care. He also participates in Tai Chi and Whole Health Coaching.
Successful acupuncture treatment for complex patients
Mehta acknowledged Sifford’s excitement. “He was truly surprised that the results were correct and even believes that his treatment changed his life. He has just turned 60 and is once again hopeful for the season ahead of him. Masu.”
Mehta doesn’t take that success lightly. Reminiscing about his early days as a medical resident, he said: These included stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and pain patients in the ICU. ”
In addition to its numerous benefits, acupuncture can relieve discomfort associated with chemotherapy-induced and post-surgical illnesses, tooth pain, tension headaches and migraines, labor pains, lower back pain, osteoarthritis, and menstrual pain. It is well proven that it can be done. , respiratory diseases such as allergic rhinitis.
“Whole health and integrative medicine are most effective as part of, rather than a replacement for, conventional treatment,” Mehta said, adding that the medical community must continue to evolve and collaborate toward the most effective strategies. He added that it depends on “We have an incredible opportunity to reduce the pain medication burden and leverage a toolkit that incorporates evidence-based practices from treatments that have historically been overlooked or even marginalized.
“A great example of how the two systems work together to improve patient outcomes is oncology in cancer care. At major cancer centers, acupuncture is now standard of care to help patients minimize side effects from their treatment plans. ”
Many VA facilities offer acupuncture along with other complementary and integrative medical protocols that complement traditional medical methods and promote health. Check with your primary care team and visit VA’s Live Whole Health app for more information.
