According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 1 out of 3 people in the United States will develop shingles during their lifetime. Shingles is a painful viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the very same virus that causes chickenpox. The reason for this is that the virus never completely leaves the body, instead, it remains inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain and years later it may reactivate as shingles.
What do you need to know?
Most cases of shingles occur in people who are over 50 and the risk continues to increase as you get older.
A weakened immune system may also put you at higher risk.
Shingles can cause severe pain. The most common symptom is a painful skin rash that usually appears on either side of your torso or can affect the trigeminal nerve around and over the eye. The rash and accompanying symptoms can last anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks and unfortunately for some, the pain can last for months, or even years, after the rash goes away. Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of shingles, affecting approximately 10-15% of shingles cases. Integrative treatments that can help ease the pain of PHN include acupuncture, medications, stress reduction techniques, and IV therapy.
In 2017, the Food & Drug Administration approved a new, more effective vaccine called Shingrix. This new vaccine is reported to be more than 90% effective when taken as recommended according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This is a far higher effectiveness rate than the old vaccine, Zostavax. For maximum effectiveness, the vaccine is given in two shots, 2-6 months apart.
Who should get the vaccine?
Adults over 50 years old who:
have had chickenpox or can’t remember if they have had chickenpox
have already had shingles
have already been vaccinated with the Zostavax vaccine
If you meet the criteria above or have questions about the vaccine, talk to your primary care physician right away.
Getting vaccinated will significantly reduce your risk of getting shingles and the complications that it may cause.
If you have questions about the Shingrix vaccine or if you are not sure if you are a good candidate, ask them if it’s right for you. You can also visit https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/index.html for more information from the CDC.
If you currently have shingles and would like to talk to a nurse about our treatment protocol, call us today at 703-532-4892.
It is estimated that up to 15% of married couples either have no sex or have sex less than 10 times per year. While some couples claim to still have a close, fulfilling relationship without sex, the majority of one or both partners in a couple are unhappy with the state of affairs.
There are many reasons why sex can decline in a relationship. The demands of being a parent, financial stress, medications, illness and declining hormone levels resulting in a decrease in desire and increase in painful intercourse, are a few causes of declining sexual activity.
Now, a new treatment is available at our clinic called the O-Shot® that uses Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) to revitalize tissue so sex can be more enjoyable.
What are the benefits of the O-Shot® for women?
Women who have received the O-Shot® injection report an increase in vaginal sensitivity and enhanced orgasm, as well as more frequent and more intense orgasms! Other benefits include improvements in vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, and urinary control.
O-Shot® Benefits:
Increased sensitivity and sexual desire
The O-Shot® can increase your desire and sensitivity for sexual activity, helping you restore the intimacy that you and your partner have missed out on.
Enhanced orgasm
After receiving the O-Shot® women report improved ability and stronger, more frequent orgasms.
Improved lubrication and urinary control
By stimulating tissue growth, natural lubrication is improved which in turn makes intercourse less painful. Rejuvenation of your genital tissue also results in improvements in urinary control.
A safe, effective, non-surgical, and drug-free procedure with no recovery time
The O-Shot® injection is a safe, effective, drug-free, and non-surgical procedure. What’s even better is that there is NO recovery time and results can last a year or more!
What is Platelet Rich Plasma and what does it have to do with sex?
Platelet Rich Plasma is a substance in your own blood that contains a tremendous amount of growth factors. It has been used for years in the orthopedic world to repair cartilage, ligaments, and tendons and now it is available for many other uses, including improving vaginal and sexual health.
After a blood draw, the patient’s own PRP is separated from white blood cells. After receiving a local anesthetic, the PRP is then injected to the genital tissue and the natural growth factors in the PRP begin to work right away, stimulating tissue repair and rejuvenation. The O-Shot® is a safe and relatively painless procedure, even though the thought of a needle down there can seem scary!
How can the O-Shot® change my life?
If one or both partners want a change, starting with communication is key. Expressing one’s desire to be more intimate can begin to improve the relationship right away. Planning date time together without distractions is also essential, resulting in the space to talk and share feelings.
The O-Shot® procedure has helped countless women strengthen their sexual relationships while boosting confidence and self-esteem. Being proactive in your sexual and urinary health is a big step, but well worth the effort.
If the desire to change and be more intimate is there but there are physical issues, working with a doctor to test hormones and to rule out other conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease is important.
If you are interested in learning more about the O-Shot®, please contact us for more information.
Are you currently using a mouth guard, or have you been told that you may eventually need one?
Do you experience ringing in the ears, either constant or intermittent?
If you grind or clench your teeth you may also experience pain with chewing or hear a popping noise when your mouth opens or closes. Often, headaches, neck, and shoulder pain can occur.
CranioSacral therapy is a very effective, light-touch therapy that supports the body’s own healing resources to release physical imbalances and restrictions, as well as residual emotional trauma, that has been stored in the body’s membranes and connective tissue. This frees the central nervous system to perform optimally — allowing patients to experience pain relief, stronger immune function and an enhanced sense of well-being.
CranioSacral therapy helps reduce the sympathetic response in the body and helps it return to a place of balance.
CranioSacral therapy follows the osteopathic premise that if structure is normalized, function will follow. The gentle manipulation and adjusting of the cranial bones help balance the body’s system. Dr. John Upledger DO, O.M.M stated: “The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome may be primary or it may be just the tip of the iceberg. The syndrome is part of the whole person and it is the whole person that must be evaluated and treated.” Stress factors of TMJ can be physical, physiological, psycho-emotional or environmental.
CranioSacral treatment can be effective for treating hypertonicity (continual increase in the muscle tension) in the soft tissue which directly impacts the position of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) or malocclusion (misalignment of teeth when jaws are closed). More and more dentists are realizing CranioSacral therapy can be a missing piece to a successful dental procedure.
Teeth or jaw clenching is a natural response to increased stress, chronically compressing the temporomandibular joints. If you are having pain and would like to schedule an appointment, please call 703-532-4892, Ext. 2.
Why You Should Get Your Shingles Vaccine
/in Treatments/by Lisa Lilienfield, MDAccording to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 1 out of 3 people in the United States will develop shingles during their lifetime. Shingles is a painful viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the very same virus that causes chickenpox. The reason for this is that the virus never completely leaves the body, instead, it remains inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain and years later it may reactivate as shingles.
What do you need to know?
Who should get the vaccine?
Adults over 50 years old who:
If you meet the criteria above or have questions about the vaccine, talk to your primary care physician right away.
Getting vaccinated will significantly reduce your risk of getting shingles and the complications that it may cause.
If you have questions about the Shingrix vaccine or if you are not sure if you are a good candidate, ask them if it’s right for you. You can also visit https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/index.html for more information from the CDC.
If you currently have shingles and would like to talk to a nurse about our treatment protocol, call us today at 703-532-4892.
Let’s Talk Sex, Let’s Talk O-Shot®!
/in Treatments, Women's Health/by Lisa Lilienfield, MDIt is estimated that up to 15% of married couples either have no sex or have sex less than 10 times per year. While some couples claim to still have a close, fulfilling relationship without sex, the majority of one or both partners in a couple are unhappy with the state of affairs.
There are many reasons why sex can decline in a relationship. The demands of being a parent, financial stress, medications, illness and declining hormone levels resulting in a decrease in desire and increase in painful intercourse, are a few causes of declining sexual activity.
Now, a new treatment is available at our clinic called the O-Shot® that uses Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) to revitalize tissue so sex can be more enjoyable.
What are the benefits of the O-Shot® for women?
Women who have received the O-Shot® injection report an increase in vaginal sensitivity and enhanced orgasm, as well as more frequent and more intense orgasms! Other benefits include improvements in vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, and urinary control.
O-Shot® Benefits:
The O-Shot® can increase your desire and sensitivity for sexual activity, helping you restore the intimacy that you and your partner have missed out on.
After receiving the O-Shot® women report improved ability and stronger, more frequent orgasms.
By stimulating tissue growth, natural lubrication is improved which in turn makes intercourse less painful. Rejuvenation of your genital tissue also results in improvements in urinary control.
The O-Shot® injection is a safe, effective, drug-free, and non-surgical procedure. What’s even better is that there is NO recovery time and results can last a year or more!
What is Platelet Rich Plasma and what does it have to do with sex?
Platelet Rich Plasma is a substance in your own blood that contains a tremendous amount of growth factors. It has been used for years in the orthopedic world to repair cartilage, ligaments, and tendons and now it is available for many other uses, including improving vaginal and sexual health.
Questions? Give Us a Call!
703-532-4892 x2
What can I expect from the O-Shot® procedure?
After a blood draw, the patient’s own PRP is separated from white blood cells. After receiving a local anesthetic, the PRP is then injected to the genital tissue and the natural growth factors in the PRP begin to work right away, stimulating tissue repair and rejuvenation. The O-Shot® is a safe and relatively painless procedure, even though the thought of a needle down there can seem scary!
How can the O-Shot® change my life?
If one or both partners want a change, starting with communication is key. Expressing one’s desire to be more intimate can begin to improve the relationship right away. Planning date time together without distractions is also essential, resulting in the space to talk and share feelings.
The O-Shot® procedure has helped countless women strengthen their sexual relationships while boosting confidence and self-esteem. Being proactive in your sexual and urinary health is a big step, but well worth the effort.
If the desire to change and be more intimate is there but there are physical issues, working with a doctor to test hormones and to rule out other conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease is important.
If you are interested in learning more about the O-Shot®, please contact us for more information.
Lisa Lilienfield, M.D.
Certified provider of the O-Shot®
Call Today: 703-532-4892, ext. 2
Craniosacral Therapy for TMJ | Say Goodbye to the Daily Grind
/in Conditions, Treatments/by Patricia Alomar, M.S., P.T.Do you grind or clench your teeth at night?
Are you currently using a mouth guard, or have you been told that you may eventually need one?
Do you experience ringing in the ears, either constant or intermittent?
If you grind or clench your teeth you may also experience pain with chewing or hear a popping noise when your mouth opens or closes. Often, headaches, neck, and shoulder pain can occur.
CranioSacral therapy is a very effective, light-touch therapy that supports the body’s own healing resources to release physical imbalances and restrictions, as well as residual emotional trauma, that has been stored in the body’s membranes and connective tissue. This frees the central nervous system to perform optimally — allowing patients to experience pain relief, stronger immune function and an enhanced sense of well-being.
CranioSacral therapy helps reduce the sympathetic response in the body and helps it return to a place of balance.
CranioSacral therapy follows the osteopathic premise that if structure is normalized, function will follow. The gentle manipulation and adjusting of the cranial bones help balance the body’s system. Dr. John Upledger DO, O.M.M stated: “The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome may be primary or it may be just the tip of the iceberg. The syndrome is part of the whole person and it is the whole person that must be evaluated and treated.” Stress factors of TMJ can be physical, physiological, psycho-emotional or environmental.
CranioSacral treatment can be effective for treating hypertonicity (continual increase in the muscle tension) in the soft tissue which directly impacts the position of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) or malocclusion (misalignment of teeth when jaws are closed). More and more dentists are realizing CranioSacral therapy can be a missing piece to a successful dental procedure.
Teeth or jaw clenching is a natural response to increased stress, chronically compressing the temporomandibular joints. If you are having pain and would like to schedule an appointment, please call 703-532-4892, Ext. 2.
Be Well, Do Good Work,
Pat Alomar, M.S., P.T.