Whole-Health Pain Management and Sports Medicine Center

 (561) 265-1990

Same Day Appointments- Call Now!

At Dr. Ligotti's Pain Mnagement Clinic in Palm Beach County a wholistic approach to the treatment of pain is implemented consistent with our practice philosophy. No one discipline can claim to have the solution to alleviating your pain complaints so a multidisciplinary approach has been adopted. In addition to the conventional approach to pain management utilizing medications, nerve blocks etc., we use less conventional but equally and some times even more effective methods of pain relief including Accupuncture, Massage Therapy, Chiropractic care and Osteopathic Manipulation.

Call us today to arrange a same day appointment and within minutes you will be on your way to pain relief and a more enjoyable life!

Modalities:

1) Physical therapy-

Licensed Massage Therapy Professionals have the misfortune of being frequently confused with those who perform sensual massage, sexual massage and erotic massage.

Aside from the fact that sensual, sexual and erotic massage involve manual manipulation of soft tissue, there's a critical difference in the education and skill level of licensed practitioners.

Professional Massage Therapists are trained in anatomy, physiology and techniques that stimulate blood flow, oxygen intake, nutrient absorption and the elimination of metabolic wastes. Generally, practitioners of sensual massage, sexual massage and erotic massage lack this level of training.

Research has demonstrated that Massage Therapy boosts the immune system and level of endorphins (natural pain killers). What's more, pain and stress-related conditions like depression, anxiety and tension have been shown to decrease at the hands of a Massage Therapist.

Actually, since most diseases are associated with stress, and massage reduces stress, this therapy assists in healing most conditions.

The origin of Massage Therapy can be traced back over 3000 years to ancient Chinese and Indian folk medicine. Later, Greek and Roman physicians brought massage to the West.

Though sensual, sexual and erotic associations have remained with massage for centuries, the science of its healing powers has evolved into a recognized professional discipline. Among the wide variety of therapeutic massage techniques available today, the most common is Swedish (classic) massage.

Massage Therapy treatments begin with a medical case history and an examination of your pain's location. Next, the Massage Therapist performs manipulations designed to stretch and loosen specific connective tissues, reduce pain and improve structural alignment.

In addition to manual manipulation, a Massage Therapist may also use ultrasound, electrical, heat, and cold pain relief.  These treatments are all orchestrated by Michael Ligotti, D.O., Board-Certified in Family Practice and are most often covered under health insurance benefits.  Please call today to see whether your insurance policy offers these benefits!


2) Acupuncture-

Acupuncture Provides Pain Relief for Many Patients

Acupuncture is an ancient practice in which very fine needles are inserted into the skin at strategic points on the body to relieve pain and treat disease. The Chinese developed acupuncture centuries ago in accordance with the theory that energy flows through channels between the surface of the body and internal organs.

Chinese medicine maintains that the more than 2,000 acupuncture points on the human body connect with 12 main and eight secondary “meridians” or channels. Pain and disease are the result of these channels becoming blocked. By placing needles at one end of the channel or the other, healthy energy can be restored.

Western medicine’s view is that the placement of acupuncture needles at specific pain points releases endorphins and opioids, the body’s natural painkillers, and perhaps immune system cells as well as neurotransmitters and neurohormones in the brain. Research has shown that glucose and other bloodstream chemicals become elevated after acupuncture.

According to the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, there is also evidence that stimulating acupuncture points enables electromagnetic signals to be relayed at a greater rate than under normal conditions. This may increase the flow of healing or pain-killing natural chemicals to injured areas.

When pain is relieved, patients feel a greater sense of well-being overall, physically and emotionally. As a result, they may heal faster. Most acupuncture points coincide with the “trigger points” described by Janet G. Travell, MD, whose textbook, Myofascial Pain & Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, is widely used at pain management centers in the Western world.

How is it done?

Acupuncture needles are metallic and sterile, used once and discarded. Needles are solid (not hollow, as are hypodermic or vaccination needles) and are slightly bigger than the width of human hair. Patients can feel the needle pierce the skin, but there is no pain. The puncture site is usually swabbed with a disinfectant beforehand. When the needle locates the trigger point, there may be a “grabbing” sensation, followed by a relaxed, heavy feeling and overall body warmth. Some patients even fall asleep during treatment. Side effects of acupuncture are rare, but there may be some soreness or light headedness following treatment.
There are several acupuncture methods beyond simply inserting needles. Sometimes a low electrical charge is sent through the needles and sometimes the needles are heated with a heat lamp or “moxa stick,” which is an herbal heat source that looks and burns like a cigar. Sometimes two needles are used at one trigger point. Sometimes the needles are twirled or manipulated by hand, and sometimes needles aren’t used at all, but trigger points are massaged instead.


Acupuncture typically consists of inserting needles in the body and points on the ear that correspond with body trigger points. Trigger points are determined by the location of pain. For example, trigger points for treating headaches include locations on the thumb, knee and wrist. Knee pain may be treated with needles inserted into the toe, face and arm.
The pain management center in Palm Beach County has used acupuncture with success in treating conditions such as fibromyalgia (a chronic pain condition affecting muscles and connective tissues), chronic headaches, neck pain from whiplash, knee and hip pain from arthritis, chronic abdominal pain, asthma, pain caused by sickle-cell anemia and even shingles (a painful rash caused by a virus).

According to a National Institutes of Health panel, convened in November of 1997, clinical studies have shown that acupuncture is helpful in treating nausea caused by surgical anesthesia and cancer chemotherapy, dental pain after surgery, addiction, headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial (connective tissue) pain, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, and to assist in stroke rehabilitation. The World Health Organization lists more than 40 conditions for which acupuncture may be used.

More and more, acupuncture is being used to supplement other forms of treatment, which is one reason patients often turn to a physician who has training in both Western medicine and acupuncture. Organizations such as the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance. and American Association of Oriental Medicine provide lists of credentialed acupuncture practitioners.

Acupuncture at Whole-Health is performed by Michael Marshall, D.C., A.P., who has been practicing acupuncture for over 20 years in the community and functions as chairman of the board at the Ft. Lauderdale school for acupuncture.  Many times medical insurance pays for acupuncture treatments for approved conditions.  More than one treatment is typically required for results, although some patients feel better after one session.

Please call today to see whether your insurance policy offers this benefit!


3) Joint and soft tissue injections-

Dr. Ligotti is well-trained in the aspiration of pain-causing inflammatory fluid from joints, and in the injection of anti-inflammatory substances into injured joints and soft tissue structures.  The procedures are relatively painless and are all performed using the strictest in sterile preparation and technique

4) Medication management-

Dr. Ligotti is licensed to treat pain using all available medications approved by the FDA.  Medication for short-term pain relief are typically handled entirely by Dr. Ligotti.  If you are already being treated with pain medicine you WILL BE ASKED FOR the name and information of your prior treating physician as well as DOCUMENTATION as to why you require powerful pain medicine.  Documentation might include notes from your prior physician, x-ray or MRI results, or the actual films themselves.  Remember- DOCTOR SHOPPPING IS A FELONY- you must be 100% honest regarding the physicians you have been seeing for your pain medicine and agree that ONLY DR. LIGOTTI will prescribe you this medicine while you are under his care.  Failure to follow this guideline may result in legal action taken to your detriment.  This is not meant to frighten or threaten patients, but only to ensure that powerful medicine is being used appropriately for its intended purpose for the intended patient.  Sometimes when patients are being treated for long periods of time with large amounts of pain medicine Dr. Ligotti will request that you visit a doctor specializing only in pain management for support and further recommendations.  In this manner all parties involved can be assured that the patient is receiving adequate pain medicine in a completely safe atmosphere.

5) Chiropractic-  When it comes to pain management and relief, Chiropractic is the most widely known form of licensed alternative medicine.

Chiropractic is derived from Greek words meaning "done by hand." In practice, this translates to Chiropractic manipulation of the spine and joints to help relieve pain and stiffness, improving the function of the associated nerves, joints and muscles.

Dr. Daniel David (D.D.) Palmer, founded Chiropractic in 1895 after tracing nearly all disease to pinched nerves which were caused by misalignments of the vertebrae. Chiropractors call vertebrae which don't move properly subluxations.

Subluxations can cause inflammation and ultimately pain in nerves, joints and muscles. By manually adjusting bones, chiropractors correct subluxations, restoring the nervous system to its optimal level.

There are two types of Chiropractor. Straight chiropractors closely follow D.D.Palmer's teachings and focus strictly on spinal adjustments. Mixer chiropractors provide pain management by combining adjustments with massage, rehabilitative exercises, nutritional counseling, heat and ice therapies.

Chiropractic treatments begin with a medical case history, orthopedic and neurological evaluation and might conclude with adjustments to help realign the spine.

Dr. Michael Marshall is the Chiropractic Physician at Whole-Health and has been practicing Chiropractic medicine for over 20 years- he is gentle, thorough, and effective!