Revolutionizing Pain Relief: The Power of Stem Cell Therapy for Neuropathy

Jordan Pysz / iFoundMyDoctor.com
Stem cell and LED light therapy have alleviated Dorie’s neuropathy.

A wreath hung on the front door of a home has long been one of the staples of Christmas decor. At Dorie Kent’s home in New Smyrna Beach, however, you’re likely to see a wreath on the door no matter what holiday is celebrated. “I enjoy doing just about anything crafty, and I especially enjoy making wreaths,” Dorie says. “I mostly do Christmas wreaths, but I make wreaths for all holidays, all occasions, even some that you might not think of having a wreath for. “I suppose the oddest holiday I ever made a wreath for was maybe St. Patrick’s Day. That’s not really a holiday you think of as having a wreath, but I made one with shamrocks, leprechauns and all kinds of greenery. It had a little orange in it, too.” A native of Elgin, North Dakota, Dorie slowly migrated south after she met her future husband while in college. They first moved to Minneapolis, then Ohio and finally Florida. Now, says Dorie, “We have sand in our shoes, and we’re not leaving.” With their daughter, grandchildren and granddogs nearby, Dorie and her husband have little reason to leave. It wasn’t that long ago, though, that Dorie feared neuropathy might rob her of the enjoyment she gets from being in Florida near her family. A common condition that affects more than 3 million people a year in the United States, neuropathy often presents itself in the form of numbness, weakness or tingling in the hands and feet, and Dorie is no stranger to it. Her older brother and sister suffered greatly with the condition, which can be caused by diabetes or anything that compromises the normal flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the nerves. So when Dorie began developing symptoms, she had reason to be concerned. “My sister had it so bad she couldn’t walk without help, and with my brother, his feet turned numb and he had a hard time walking as well,” Dorie says. “My symptoms weren’t that bad, but they were bad enough. “My feet started to tingle and burn. It was especially bad when I was in bed at night. My feet burned so much I had to stick them out from under the covers. I was really worried I might end up like my brother and sister, but then I got really lucky. “I was on Facebook one day and saw where this doctor was going to conduct a seminar about neuropathy in Daytona Beach. I thought to myself, I should go and listen to this man and see what he has to say. I’m so glad I did.”

Body’s Building Blocks

The doctor who conducted the seminar is Timothy Steflik, DC, of Coastal Integrative Healthcare, which is dedicated to serving its community and providing pain relief for patients through the use of advanced chiropractic equipment, technology and stem cell therapy. After listening to Dr. Steflik’s seminar, Dorie made an appointment to see him a few days later. During that appointment, the staff at Coastal Integrative Healthcare conducted some tests that revealed Dorie was indeed suffering from neuropathy. Neuropathy of the foot is typically treated with pain relievers, topical treatments or anti-seizure medications that also relieve nerve pain. Surgery to decompress the nerves is another option. But those approaches only mask the symptoms of neuropathy. That’s why Coastal Integrative Healthcare treats neuropathy with all-natural regenerative therapies that can resolve the underlying problems. Chief among them is stem cell therapy. Also known as regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy can be administered in the doctor’s office through a series of injections designed to restore damaged tissue.

“I can’t tell you just how fortunate I am to have found Dr. Steflik and Coastal Integrative Healthcare.” – Dorie

As the basic foundation cells that grow tissue throughout the body, stem cells carry this regenerative trait. When injected into damaged tissue, they stimulate the body’s repair mechanisms and support the natural healing process by regenerating that tissue. Many in the medical community, including those at the National Institutes of Health and the Institute of Medicine, consider stem cell therapy the future of medicine, a belief shared by Dr. Steflik. “This treatment is definitely on the leading edge of medical technology,” Dr. Steflik says. “It’s a great alternative to surgery, because it regenerates the body instead of trying to fix it or cover up a problem. The real beauty of it is that it is a one-and-done, in-office procedure that takes about 15 minutes to complete and needs no anesthesia. It’s a simple injection of the cells that are cryopreserved right in our office. “For some patients, we do a color ultrasound to guide the injection because we need to be very specific where the cells are placed. Once the cells are injected, the patient needs time to heal, but they can return to normal activities right away.” In addition to neuropathy, stem cell therapy can be used to treat arthritis as well as muscle or tendon tears almost anywhere in the body, including knees and shoulders, hamstrings, ankles and wrists. Not all patients are good candidates. For example, patients who have suffered a tear of more than 50 percent of the rotator cuff or have no cartilage remaining in their knee would be encouraged to try other options first. Dorie was deemed a perfect candidate for the treatment, which was performed in January. She says she was “pleasantly surprised” it was so simple and painless.

Amazing Results

“I was willing to go through this even if it was painful, but it wasn’t at all,” she says. “And I’m one of those who doesn’t like needles. But this was no big deal. They used a very tiny needle that you really don’t feel at all.” In addition to receiving the stem cell injection, Dorie was also treated with LED light therapy. Administered through a boot that contains red and infrared LED lights, LED light therapy is designed to increase blood flow. “They started that immediately after I got the stem cell injection, and the combination really did the trick,” Dorie says. “I started feeling relief about two weeks later. After a month or six weeks, my pain was gone, and I am thrilled. “Pain is not fun, so I can’t tell you just how fortunate I am to have found Dr. Steflik and Coastal Integrative Healthcare. My brother and sister didn’t have anything like this to help them, and they just suffered so much because of it.” More than six months after her injection, Dorie remains pain-free. She’s so impressed with the results that she’s shared her experience with several friends with similar issues. “I took an entire centerfold article about Coastal Integrative Healthcare from your paper, Volusia Health Care News, and sent it to some friends down in Jensen Beach and told them all about Dr. Steflik and the treatment I had,” Dorie says. “In fact, I gladly share my story with anybody who complains about neuropathy pain, because the stem cell treatment certainly helped me, and I think it’s worth it for anybody who has that problem to give it a try. “You won’t find a better place to have the treatment than Coastal Integrative Healthcare. I love them. Everyone there is so friendly and helpful, and they always have time for you. They never rush you. It’s a wonderful place to go.”