We do make a difference! An inside perspective.

As with most specialized or advanced therapist I started out as a relaxation/sports massage therapist after a career in my major( Nutrition) didn’t work out. As a former track athlete I understood the importance and benefit of massage in treating muscular aches and pains and I have always been compelled to help others. A few years out of massage school I had a growing business and was doing well, but 911 changed all that. My business died and I had to reaccess my situation. Fortunately, I meet a man, my husband, that allowed me to pursue my passion of helping people who were in constant pain, feel better and return to normal lives. Through my search I was fortunate enough to be introduced to a new therapy that combined deep tissue massages and cranial therapy techniques, finding new ways of helping those in severe and chronic pain called Structural Energetic Therapy. A girlfriend was going thru the training and kept encouraging me to try a workshop and experience the work. After the first weekend of a 2 weekend workshop I immediately signed up for the 2year training. Doing this type of worked completely opened a whole new world of how I could really make a difference in others lives. I have had the luxury of learning and working for the last 9 years next to the creator of the main work I practice, who has helped me hone and perfect my skills. I love what I do, therefore I am constantly looking for ways to educate myself so that I can do the best possible job for my clients. I have even taken a cadaver class to gain a better understanding of the body and how the muscle, bones and organs connect. I know, strange but really cool and highly beneficial. OK,Who didn’t like the bodies’ exhibit! I take my experience and take the time to try to educate my clients during their session and show them that sometimes where the pain is showing up is not always the source of where the pain is coming from. I have been awed and privileged to get the array of clients that have been referred to me. Many of the clients I see have been in pain for a long time, have been told there was nothing that we can do for you, have been told their test came back fine, and or been told here are some medications to help manage your pain…good luck.

If anyone of you have followed my blog in the past, then you know I’m passionate about letting people know there are surgical alternatives. I’m also excited to see the recent positive press about the health benefits of massage(which I have tried to stress with my clients). With the internet, availability and speed of information is more widespread than ever and when Oprah and Dr. Oz are in the discussion at least we gain credibility. I feel fortunate to learn about techniques online that other have used for centuries but because of locate have been inaccessible. Technology has changed accessibility which will continue to evolve the world. I hope we get to a point where we can use massage and other alternative medicines to stay healthier and cure common alignments instead of medication.

I have been helping people cure many conditions associated with whiplash flexion/extension injuries, headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, degenerative disc disease, hiatal hernias, herniated discs or bulging discs, carpal tunnel, nerve entrapment, sciatica (providing sciatic pain relief), low back pain, hip pain, knee pain, or foot pain and tailbone pain – that is usually related to the musculoskeletal structure. By addressing and releasing the core distortion pattern through a combination of techniques including deep tissue massages and cranial release we are able to achieve pain relief, homeostasis, and return to normal function.

Lymph Drainage…What is it? Who needs it??!!.

The lymphatic system is part of the circulatory system. It is a secondary pathway to the heart, parallel to the venous system. It moves fluids through the body and returns it to the circulatory system. The lymphatic circulation has a slow rhythm, as compared to blood circulation. The lymphatic system is the body’s waste disposal. It clears away bacteria, cell debris, excess water, proteins and wastes from the connective tissue and returns it to the bloodstream for ultimate removal by the kidneys. Lymph drainage massage increases lymphatic circulation and helps detoxify the body. It drains sluggish lymph nodes. The purpose of lymphatic drainage is to cleanse and regenerate tissues and organs, and to promote balance of chemistry. It stimulates the movement of lymph and encourages the formation of lymphocytes that produce antibodies, increasing the body’s resistance to infection. If tissue has been damaged, Lymphatic drainage helps to stimulate the lymphatic system to remove wastes more rapidly from around these inflamed tissues sending it back to the lymphatic system for removal and cleansing. Manual Lymphatic Drainage is safe and indicated for most people with a few notable exceptions. If you are frequently ill or just sluggish, MLD can help overcome this burden if the primary cause is an overtaxed lymphatic system. Minor edemas can be helped with basic lymphatic techniques. The lymphatic flow can stagnate for many reasons, such as swelling, chronic inflammation, lack of physical activity, stress, fatigue, emotional shock, age, poorly fitted brassieres, or brassieres worn for an excessive amount of time. When lymphatic circulation slows down, the regeneration of cells becomes less effective. This condition allows toxins and proteins to accumulate around the cells, causing cellular oxygenation to decrease and tissue regeneration to diminish.

As an advanced practitioner of Lymph Drainage Therapy I’m trained to interact with the fluids at different levels, from the superficial cutaneous circulation to the mucosa, muscles, tendons, periosteum and viscera. We also perform Manual Lymphatic Mapping to assess the direction of lymph flow before, during and after treatment to see if the location of lymph stagnation has improved.

Why live with back pain? Alternative therapy benefits

Weekend warriors and people living an active lifestyle that has recently been disrupted by pain as well as those of you that have jobs / hobbies that have you doing repetitive actions for extended periods of time fall in this category too.  Why are you putting up with these pains?  Now it’s affecting activities you love and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.  Does this sound like you? Adding regular bodywork as part of your health and fitness/ training regimen is preventative for injuries.   Which by the way helps you stay on your game?  SET bodywork is so much more than a deep tissue massage; this therapy incorporates cranial work, body logic, and deep tissue massage to focus on the source of where your symptoms are coming from.  Let me help you get back to feeling like yourself and resume normal life activities.
Having been in this industry for 13 years, I have always believed the benefits of massage especially the more specialized work like I do, have been undervalued.  So it was great to see an article on NPR discussing the benefits and the great results.  They compared the effectiveness of treatments for lower back pain using three different groups, full body relaxation massage, deep tissue massage and medication and physical therapy.  The study found good improvement with those who used either relaxation or deep tissue massage therapy over conventional types of treatment.  You can check out the full article at http://www.npr.org/2011/07/04/137609072/got-low-back-pain-massage-therapy-may-rub-it-out?sc=emaf.
Although massage has been around for hundreds of years we are still discovering the power the body and mind having in the healing process.  I have seen and lived this process with many of my clients, that is why I feel very fortunate and excited to do what I love to do, help others that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain.  At www.surgicalalternative.com we can help!

Scoliosis! A painful but treatable condition

Scoliosis! A painful but treatable condition

I see clients suffer from all kinds of pain and my passion keeps me working and training on alternative techniques that I can integrate to help my clients. One of my clients had been suffering for a while and this is their story.

“I was diagnosed almost 3 years ago with Scoliosis. This gave me some relief knowing what was causing all my pain. My knees hurt, my neck would sometimes lock and my lower back was in constant pain. I had to roll out of bed as I could not sit straight up in the mornings. According to the orthopedic doctor, the outlook was not bright. They wanted to put me on pain medication, a body brace and possible surgery. None of this was me. I have always lived a healthy lifestyle and I had no intentions of changing, but what could I do? I started to do some research on the internet on alternatives to help with my Scoliosis, with no real success. One day, by chance, I was speaking to a co-worker concerning my plight and she said, “My daughter is now practicing massage. Let me ask her if she knows anything that could help you”. Her daughter recommended I call Peggy Boyd at Surgical Alternative. That was one of the best phones call I ever made. Peggy changed my life for the best. I have been going to Peggy Boyd for two and a half years now and thanks to her, I am back to doing all that I used to do, and more importantly, without Pain! If you have Scoliosis, this is where you need to be! No drugs, no body brace, no surgery. Peggy gave me my active life back and I am forever in her debt. “

I feel very fortunate and excited to do what I love to do, help others return to a normal pain free life. I have been dealing with clients in severe pain in Tampa Bay, for almost 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain. If you know someone who is living in pain we can help at www.surgicalalternative.com

Living in severe pain for 20 years and how relief was found

I once had a client say,”I’d like to say to each of you, please don’t give up on health or give into your pain.”  They had been in chronic and acute pain for over 20 years due to accidents and health issues. They have tried all the conventional treatments- medication, nerve blocks, physical therapy and alternative as well; chiropractor, massage, acupuncture, etc.  Then they found my practice, I thought this presented as very difficult case but I knew that I could help alleviate some of their pain.  I explainedthe therapy process,.......

Why People Come to Surgical Alternative

Why People Come to Surgical Alternative
People come see me for many different reasons. A lot of times, I’m the last option because they’ve done all the traditional western medicine they know to do.  When their condition first started they stretched, they iced and took it easy for a little while, but still things persisted.  They saw their doctor, were evaluated, had x-rays, MRIs, or cat scans and were told nothing was evident. They were just given a prescription for pain meds and anti-inflammatory and sent on their way.  Some were even offered steroid injections that temporarily fixed the situation but did not offer long term relief.  Many were not satisfied with their fix and felt that they should not feel this way at their age or were told it was all in their head because their films came back clean but yet they were still in pain.  Most people come here because they were told by a friend, family member, neighbor or stranger that they knew of someone that could help.  I often call our office the “place of last resort”.  People have often given up hope by the time they make it here.  When they come for their appointment armed with their reports, films, and evaluations, they are so relieved to hear that their strange aches and pains that have been limiting their lives does not sound strange to me.  As a matter of fact they are the same symptoms that are common place and seen routinely at this office.  There is a combination of hesitancy, disbelief, and relief that I see them experience.  After all, many of them have gone through exhausting efforts and treatment to try and feel better.  It really hurts me to hear what they have been living/existing with and how they are suffering just to make it day to day.  After explaining what I do and how it can help, I begin to see a glimmer hope and relief washes over them.  It’s not uncommon for tears of relief to be shed or for them to have an emotional release because of what they have been living with and going though. I explain how the body can manifest pain, the underlying conditions for this pain and why I think I can help.  I do what I do because of the compassion I have for what these people are suffering or existing with.  Our work is able to help so many get out of pain and return to a normal life. I’m not talking about managing but truly rehabilitating their pain. Over the course of your life, the body goes through many traumas while playing sports, working, car accidents, or other daily activities. I think everyone can remember all the things we did to our bodies as children and growing up.  As we get older some of these traumas manifest themselves through the body and can cause severe pain.  A good example is my husband, who played football, basketball and soccer the majority of his life and as he got older his back and ankle muscles would cause intense pain.  Thankfully I knew how to fix himJ I am one of the lucky ones, I love what I do and I enjoy restoring hope. I have been dealing with clients in severe pain for almost 14 years now, that are suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, hiatal hernias, peripheral nerve damage, nerve entrapments, pinched sciatic nerve issues and many more symptoms that people think they either have to have surgery for or are told they just have to deal with the pain.  The reason I started blogging was so that I could reach and help some of those people that suffer from these and many other painful conditions.  At www.surgicalalternative.com we can help!http://surgicalalternative.com/people-surgical-alternative/

Conclusion of Alaska Family and hiatal hernia surgical alternative

The family arrived safely and stayed for 3 weeks. The wife’s case was more severe than the husband. The tightness of her musclesfrom her hiatal hernia was causing here severe abdominal pain and a stomachdisorder including acid reflux.  I saweach of them every 3 days and we managed to make great headway with thehusband.  The wife saw good progress butadditional sessions were needed to completely release the restrictions. I would ........