Pain doesn’t go away during a pandemic, but many are ignoring or postponing medical treatments these days because of the anxiety of visiting medical facilities, Dr. Laura Markison, NMD, founder of Mesa Naturopathic, believes.
“We hear stories of people avoiding the emergency department when suffering strokes, heart attacks, or appendicitis. And many are also suffering in pain for fear of visiting a doctor’s office with the threat of COVID-19 still around.” Dr. Markison encourages anyone in an acute situation regarding their health to seek medical attention immediately at their nearest hospital or doctor’s office.
Dr. Markison and Dr. Cynthia Hayes, both graduates of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, are interested in preventative medicine, but also treat acute and chronic illnesses. Dr. Hayes specializes in regenerative medicine for pain in joints and most areas of the body.
To ensure that every patient receives a safe appointment at Mesa Naturopathic, only one patient is seen at a time. Each patient is screened by phone during the scheduling process. Temperatures are taken before entering the office and the patient is then asked screening questions about the coronavirus.
For patients receiving pain injections, their appointment includes a free $100 COVID-19 rapid test. The doctors will perform the fingerstick test from the patient’s car and results take 15 minutes. This ensures the patient’s safety due to the need to be healthy for the injections to work properly.
If patients test negative, their pain issues then are addressed with a variety of treatments that can repair and rejuvenate joint issues or injury trauma, said Dr. Markison, who knows full well how these treatments can work, as she has experienced them herself.
“I had knee pain from an injury, and cartilage damage, as well as osteoarthritis in my lower back. I opted for a biologic treatment of injections and have been pain-free ever since,” she said. “Biologics are a new type of regenerative medicine that can help reduce the inflammation from arthritis or injury and start the healing process. The body knows how to heal. These biologics encourage this healing process. Pain medications mask injuries and may stop the natural healing process.”
The following modalities are offered at Mesa Naturopathic:
Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine promotes healing with growth factors that encourage your body’s natural processes to initiate soft tissue reconstruction and repair, and prevent or reduce the formation of scar tissue while reducing pain and inflammation, Dr. Markison explained.
Prolotherapy and Platelet-Rich Plasma
Prolotherapy injections and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy are used as non-surgical regenerative medicine. It has helped many people feel greater comfort from joint and trigger point pain with no incisions or downtime,
Dr. Hayes said.
“For PRP, a small sample of your own blood is withdrawn similar to a traditional blood draw and is centrifuged for several minutes, separating the red blood cells from plasma, other proteins, and platelets in the blood to create the PRP solution. The PRP is then injected into the targeted areas where joint pain or discomfort may be present. Over time, PRP gradually promotes healing of joint damage and inflammation on a cellular level, although results may vary from person to person,” she said.
Diowave Laser
Diowave Laser, a High Power-Pulsed Laser Therapy (HPPLT) is classified as an actinotherapy, meaning it results in a chemical and metabolic change in living tissue, called photo-biomodulation.
Today, High Power Pulsed Laser Therapy is considered the best and fastest treatment available for nerve pathology. Photo-modulation with HPPLT can promote increased intraneural blood flow and accelerated peripheral nerve regeneration, which can decrease numbness, tingling, pain and balance disturbances, according to Dr. Markison.
Acupuncture
Both doctors are certified acupuncturists. This Chinese method of inserting very thin needles into the skin at various strategic points within the body can improve and balance the body’s natural energy flow. Acupuncture has been used to combat pain for centuries and continues to be popular around the globe. The World Health Organization states that acupuncture can be used to treat more than 40 short-term and ongoing conditions.
For more information on pain-relieving modalities, or to schedule an appointment, call (480) 306-8111, or visit mesadr.com. Mesa Naturopathic is located at 1955 N. Val Vista Drive, Suite 103, in Mesa.