Break Free From Pain At Newton Health and Wellness
By: Laura Deal
Now in its 10th year, Newton Health and Wellness continues to offer local clientele holistic methods that heal chronic pain in many people across Sussex County who had lost hope in their physical abilities to live a normal life.
Dr. Kevin Shaw, chiropractic physician and owner of the center, offers his patients cutting edge methods that generate healing and promote overall wellness.
Cold Laser therapy, for example, which is light energy that penetrates into joints and muscle tissue ultimately jump starting tissue regeneration. The method can be used in conjunction with other therapies for joint conditions such as arthritis, tendonitis, fibromyalgia and muscle tensions.
A probe is simply placed against the skin and patients feel neither heat nor vibration.
"Many professional sports teams use this device," said Shaw. "Lance Armstrong has his own -custom-made - for repetitive injuries.
The center offers a wide variety of holistic alternatives including: chiropractic, massage, pilates, yoga, acupuncture, gyrotonics, IDD Therapy (Intervertebral Differential Dynamics), physical rehabilitation, sauna/steam, aquatic therapy and more.
"I have recently been adding more medical aspects to our practice, such as the IDD Therapy, which isn’t available anywhere else in the county," said Shaw.
The Accu-Spina machine (used for IDD Therapy) is built by North American Medical, a $100,000 plus piece of equipment that has been a genuine godsend to many of Shaw’s patients suffering with sciatica, bulging discs, neck and lower back pain and degenerative joints.
Introduced into his practice last December 2007, out of about 80 patients, many that were scheduled for back surgery and opted to try this method first, only one has gone for surgery.
"And that’s because the patient didn’t complete more than an introduction to the technology," said Shaw.
The technology works via a computer to specifically target problem areas and while using a pumping motion, rehydrates specific discs and joints which ultimately free the nerve. It furthermore increases the height of joint and disc space.
"Most of my patients fall asleep on the table," said Shaw. "It’s that comfortable."
The therapy usually ranges in recommended visits between 6 and 18 sessions, each lasting about 25 minutes. The cost can vary from $800-$4,000.
"If you compare the cost of surgery and the time out of work, it’s remarkably cost effective," said Shaw. "I’ve seen a lot of failed surgeries."
Dr. Shaw recently had a patient with a severe case of spinal stenosis who successfully completed IDD Therapy. Frances Christino had tried many methods to alleviate her chronic pain, all to no avail.
"I went to a pain management doctor who put me on pills," said the 75-year-old Sparta resident. "Temporarily it would relieve the pain but it would always come back and I would have to take another pill."
Christino tried (with unsuccessful results) physical therapy for a year.
"It didn’t work," said Christino. "I also had two epidurals that were a temporary fix, but the pain would always come back."
After visiting Dr. Shaw, in October of last year, Christino has completed 24 sessions of IDD Therapy and is finally pain free.
"It’s wonderful," said Christino. "I can walk without pain."
Christino wants others to know that there is a way to become pain free without pills or surgery.
"This is a remarkable recovery," said Shaw (about Christino). "It’s important that the public learns that stenosis can be treated without surgery. It’s not just about drugs and surgery anymore. Most cases of stenosis are in patients 65 and older who would be challenged in the recovery process of an invasive surgery. To be able to offer those individuals the ability to walk again and live without pain is a huge step in the field of wellness alternatives."
Shaw also practices what he preaches. In terms of lifestyle, he runs, cycles, weight trains, and practices yoga (he is a certified Kundalini instructor). Both he and wife are raising their two boys up with the foundations of this kind of healthy lifestyle as well, including nutritious foods, lots of water and time outside, everyday.
"I try and motivate people to live a healthy life," said Shaw. "The center offers modalities that we use ourselves such as acupuncture, massage, yoga and pilates."
Gyrotonic therapy is yet another cutting edge holistic feather in this center’s cap, a treatment widely used in dance communities and recently featured on Oprah; this unique machine offers up to 500 different exercises using the movements of swimming, yoga and meditation. Basically the movements are spiraling motions that strengthen and lengthen the body.
"It’s very cerebral," said Shaw. "It’s a fast growing trend in health care. You can probably only find about four other centers in New Jersey offering this kind of therapy."
The top floor of Shaw’s meticulously renovated Victorian wellness center offers many options for the frazzled soul. Hydrotherapy using plant oils is one option, along with massage, steam showers and saunas, as well.
"Heat and water are great for approaching detoxification and relaxation," said Shaw.
In the coming year, the center will be expanding and offering additional services in the wellness field. And five years down the road, Shaw sees more involvement in cardiovascular rehabilitation through personal trainers and the like.
"This corner (High Street and Liberty) is going to be a landmark," said Shaw. "We offer a more caring, intimate approach to the patient. Our attention is fully directed to the individual we are treating. There is really nothing else like it in the area." |