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H E A LT H A
marillo is a health care hub not only for the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle, but for the Oklahoma Panhandle, northeast New Mexico, and even parts of Kansas. Our two hospital systems have received national acclaim, and Amarillo is also home to expert health care providers—from optometrists to physical therapists—whose commitment to care continues to improve lives. In this special section, some of the leading lights of the local health care world answer your questions.
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H E A LT H
Northwest Texas Healthcare System
Q:
A common complaint among people is pain when they walk. What are the causes and what treatment options are there?
A:
Leg pain when walking can be a very complex problem. It can be secondary to major nerve damage or compression, neuropathy caused by diabetes, venous problems, or arterial disease—or any combination of the above. One of the major causes, particularly among older adults, is peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which is atherosclerosis of the arteries of the legs. This is a similar disease pattern to what is seen in the heart. Our leg muscles, like our heart, need constant and adequate blood flow to function. PAD leads to narrowing of, or even complete blockage of the blood vessels of the legs. When the leg muscles do not get enough blood flow, they hurt. This can also lead to increased risk for foot wounds which dramatically increases one's risk for amputation. There are many treatment options for peripheral arterial disease. These include medical therapy, minimally invasive endovascular interventions, traditional open surgery, or hybrid surgery, which is a combination of both open and endovascular approaches. It’s important to note that each individual patient is different, and the best therapy course for that patient is dependent upon their unique situations and anatomy. Invasive intervention is not always the answer.
only specialty which can provide comprehensive vascular care to our patients, and can tailor our therapy to each individual patient. Another potential cause of leg pain is venous disease. Veins bring blood from our legs back to our heart. If there is any damage or blockage of these main highways back to our heart, it can lead to leg discoloration, swelling, pain and even non-healing wounds. A thorough workup to identify the problem is warranted and potential treatment options include varicose vein removal or ablation and stenting of the venous system, among others. Vascular surgeons can provide comprehensive care of the venous system. Should you have leg pain when walking, it is important to have a discussion with your primary care doctor or cardiologist on the appropriateness of having a vascular surgeon involved in your care.
This is where a Vascular Surgeon’s role in the treatment of PAD is vital, particularly early in the disease course. Vascular surgeons dedicate their entire training to addressing the full spectrum of vascular health and disease. We are the [ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ]
BRADLEY J. TRINIDAD, MD VASCULAR SURGEON NORTHWEST TEXAS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM Dr. Trinidad specializes in a wide range of vascular surgical procedures, both open and endovascular. Dr. Trinidad graduated from Creighton University School of Medicine. He earned his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University in College Station and completed his Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency at the University of Arizona. He is committed to providing patients with quality care tailored to meet their individual needs.
H E A LT H
Northwest Physicians Group
Q: A:
Why do you need a Primary Care Physician?
The phrase “primary care physician” is one of those vague medical expressions that you’re more likely to encounter on an insurance form than everyday conversation. But don’t ignore the phrase, because primary care physicians are critical to your well-being. A primary care provider—sometimes known as a general practitioner or family doctor—is your first stop when it comes to taking care of your overall health. Nurse practitioners sometimes also fill this role. Some physicians, like a cardiologist, are specialists. But your primary care physician has skill and experience across a variety of conditions. They get to know you and your overall health, learning about your medical history and establishing a baseline to track your health over time. You’ll visit them for an annual physical or routine check-up, to get immunized for the flu, or for other non-emergency reasons. In this role—as someone who knows you and knows your health—primary care doctors help identify problems before they become major health issues. Typically, primary care physicians establish that baseline with a yearly evaluation and health assessment. When you meet with them, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your overall health, including your physical and mental well-being. Sometimes you will talk about disease prevention, or ways to treat chronic conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. Primary care providers often will catch potential health problems early, then devise a plan to address them. If you do need to see a specialist for any reason, your primary care physician will give you a referral and remain in conversation with that specialist to address specific health problems. In this role, like a football coach calling plays, they help coordinate your interaction with the health care system. This ongoing relationship with a doctor who knows and understands your medical history is important. Most importantly, visiting your primary care provider in their office is almost always less expensive than a trip to the ER or a specialist. One study found that six out of every 10 patients’ health problems can be handled at a primary care clinic rather than an ER. Northwest Physicians Group provides this kind of caring, attentive primary care service for local patients in Amarillo and Canyon. From newborns to older adults, we see patients of all ages for checkups, health-risk assessments, immunizations and screening tests, chronic illness management and coordination of care with other specialists. For an in-person or telehealth visit, call or schedule online at nwtpg.com.
CRYSTAL STEWART, MD
TARYN MCGILVERY, MD
SUSAN GOETZ, MD
SETH WILHELM, MD
Northwest Physicians Group has offices in Amarillo, Canyon and Panhandle, providing telehealth appointments; ear, nose and throat care; family medicine; orthopedic surgery; palliative care; psychiatry; urgent care; vascular surgery and more.
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H E A LT H
Broome Optical
Q: A:
I live in the Texas Panhandle. Do I have to just endure dry eyes?
No, you don’t. Although the Panhandle is known for lots of wind, dust and drastic weather changes, there are ways we can alleviate the discomfort of dry eyes. But first we must understand that Dry Eye Disease is actually a medical condition, and it doesn’t show up overnight. There are three different types of Dry Eye Disease: • Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye—the eyes don’t produce enough tears. • Evaporative Dry Eye—there are enough tears produced but they evaporate faster than normal. • Combination Dry Eye—a combination of the above. By far the most common type of dry eye in our area of the country is evaporative dry eye. Several factors can contribute to this: • Environmental and weather conditions • Decreased blinking while on digital devices, including computers • Inefficient oil glands along the eyelids that normally produce oil in tears to decrease evaporation. If there is an imbalance between the liquid component of the tears and the oily component of the tears, an individual may experience some or all of the symptoms of dry eye, which include watery eyes, redness, itching, burning, fluctuating vision, gritty feeling and other symptoms.
Serving Amarillo and the surrounding community for over 92 years, Broome Optical is locally owned and operated. Broome Optical offers in-depth eye exams to test vision accuracy and screen for various eye issues. Using the latest in diagnostic technology, Broome Optical’s eye doctors diagnose and develop treatment plans for macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic eye disease (retinopathy) as well as other eye diseases and disorders.
There are various treatments to relieve the symptoms of dry eye disease, but it is important to know the type of dry eye you have. At Broome Optical we utilize LipiView, a diagnostic instrument that analyzes your tears, evaluates your blink rate, allows our doctors to customize a dry eye treatment for your eyes and, most importantly, gives you relief from your dry eye symptoms! We’ve helped thousands of Panhandle people with dry eyes. So call our office for your own personal dry eye evaluation. 3 4 0 8 O L S E N B LV D. 806.355.5633 EYECAREAMARILLO.COM
H E A LT H
iPOW Physical Therapy & Wellness
Q: A:
Are there effective, natural care options for those suffering with pain and/or mobility issues?
Yes! Unfortunately, many who suffer with pain and/ or mobility issues mistakenly believe that effective treatment for these conditions entails prescription drugs, injections or surgery. While these invasive care options certainly have their place in health care, the simple truth is most pain and mobility problems respond favorably to conservative, or natural, care options. The primary benefits of natural care include:
Our most popular therapy programs include Pelvic Floor Therapy, Laser Therapy, Redcord Therapy, and our KneeHab Program (for those who wish to avoid—or postpone— knee replacement surgery). If you are frustrated with a painful condition, unable to enjoy being active, or limited in any way by a physical problem and wish to get better without drugs or surgery, we can help!
1. Avoidance of risks associated with invasive treatment (i.e., addiction, infection, complications) 2. Significantly more affordable than invasive care 3. Equips the patient to self-manage his or her issue 4. Address the cause of pain, not the symptoms The natural care experts at iPOW Physical Therapy & Wellness strongly believe that optimal recovery is achieved by promoting the body’s own inherent capacity for healing through education, manual therapy, and corrective exercise. In essence, we help create the conditions that allow the body to heal itself! Our team of doctorate-level physical therapists specialize in the conservative treatment of: • Sports injuries • Joint pain • Mobility impairment of • Physical impairment any kind • Neuromuscular • Arthritic conditions disorders • Neck/back pain • Pelvic floor dysfunction
No referral is needed to see an iPOW Physical Therapist and immediate appointments are available. To schedule an appointment, or simply learn more about our approach to natural healing, call us today at 806-803-9165 or visit us online at ipowpt.com.
3501 S. SONCY ROAD, SUITE 137 806 .803. 9165 | IPOWPT.COM
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H E A LT H
Re-Form
Q: A:
What is Pilates-based physical therapy?
Pilates-based physical therapy is no different than traditional physical therapy, it just utilizes a different modality to achieve the same goals. Often, people have a misunderstanding of physical therapy in general. Most would say, “Physical therapy is something you do after a major surgery or to help alleviate pain.” Or “Physical therapists fix people.” Physical therapy encompasses so much more than that. Physical therapists are board certified professionals who are experts in the musculoskeletal system—we take the same Gross Anatomy class as medical students and receive extensive training in all the body systems including the nervous system and cardiovascular system. We extensively study biomechanics of the human body, which is a fancy word for movement and everything that goes into movement. Pilates began as a type of rehabilitation. Joseph Pilates created this movement program during the first World War to rehabilitate injured soldiers. Much of his equipment resembled a “bed” that incorporated vertical poles with springs attached, so that patients were able to perform resistance training while lying down in order to be supported. After the war, Joseph and his wife emigrated to New York City, where they opened their first Pilates Studio in the early 1920s, and began utilizing Pilates as more of a fitness approach rather than a rehabilitative one. Through the years the Pilates Method has gradually evolved and integrated current bio-mechanical thinking, including utilizing modern pieces of equipment. However, the roots of the technique are steeped in the philosophy and movement patterns designed by Joseph Pilates more than 100 years ago. Today, his core method is still taught, as well as an evolved form integrating modern anatomical and biomechanical thinking. The STOTT Pilates program works closely with physical therapists and sports medicine professionals to keep the method in line with today’s medical and fitness research. So to answer the question, “What is Pilates based Physical Therapy?” it is an approach to physical therapy that focuses on the whole person. Every patient I see will be instructed on the anatomy of the core and how it integrates with the whole body, breathing techniques, and proper alignment.
When there is a disruption to the musculoskeletal system that results in pain or injury, it is typically coming from an alignment issue somewhere else that creates stress in a specific area. Repeated stress to a region results in chronic injury. The Pilates equipment allows me to work with a patient in a supported environment so that I can focus on proper alignment to facilitate muscle balance in a joint. Joint congruency is important to decrease stress to a region and in turn, results in less pain and improved stability overall. I work with a variety of patients, from those with spinal cord injury and chronic pain, to balance and movement disorders and elite athletes. All of the physical therapists at Re-form are trained through the STOTT Pilates program. We provide all patients one-on-one treatment in a private treatment setting to allow you to get the most out of each visit and achieve your goals faster. The state of Texas allows direct access to physical therapy, which means you do not have to have a physician referral to make an appointment. At Re-form, we understand the value of an interdisciplinary approach to health care and will communicate with your physician or health care provider regardless of the duration of your therapy needs. JENTRY WILLIAMS, PT, DPT Jentry is the owner and founder of Re-Form. She graduated from Spearman High School in 2004, and earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2011 following completion of her BGS with concentrations in Psychology, Business and Biology from Texas Tech University in 2008. After working in several specialty areas, Jentry founded Re-form in 2015. Jentry is a fully certified STOTT Pilates instructor and has studied pilates in Plano, Texas, and in Atlanta, Georgia. She currently serves on the Turn Center Medical Advisory Board, the Turn Center Board, the Amarillo College Foundation Board, and the St. Andrews Episcopal School Board.
1916 S. CAROLINA ST. 8 0 6 . 8 0 3 . 9 51 7 | R E - F O R M P T.C O M