IN a hospital room at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, Thomas Hennerty of Wantagh lay on his back with his eyes closed while Elizabeth Valenzuela massaged his chest.

"There are no words to describe how calming and soothing this feels," Mr. Hennerty, an emphysema patient, said. "When she hits certain spots it's like she's pushing something out of me. I can feel her opening my chest. This morning I was having a tremendous mucous problem, and now I can breathe."

Ms. Valenzuela, an advanced student at the New Center for Wholistic Health, Education and Research in Syosset, continued manipulating the neck and shoulders, using techniques based on Asian principles to evaluate imbalances in the body's energy system.

"The massage helps open the airways and changes the rate of respiration," Ms. Valenzuela explained. "As the patient becomes more relaxed and comfortable you can see his facial features change." 'Amazed at What a Difference'

Mr. Hennerty, who has been in the hospital for almost four months, said a nurse had recommended massage therapy. When he saw what it had done for his roommate, he said, "Why not?"

In the next bed Kenneth Heiss of Valley Stream was resting after his massage. Mr. Heiss, who was being treated for circulatory problems in the legs, said the therapy had made him feel more relaxed and comfortable. "I never had a massage before," he said, "and I was amazed at what a difference this made."

Mr. Hennerty and Mr. Heiss are among 150 patients at South Nassau who have had therapeutic massages from students of the New Center. The massages are part of a joint effort between the pain-management program of the hospital and the School for Massage Therapy at the holistic center. The project, which began in November, is the first of its kind on Long Island and one of 50 nationwide.

Massage therapy is part of a growing trend in holistic medicine, a philosophy taken from ancient Chinese medicine based on total care, according to Dr. Neil Kirschen, chief of pain management in the anesthesiology department at South Nassau. Holistic health, he said, aims not just at the absence of symptoms and disease but rather developing good health.

Advanced students from the holistic center, under instructors' supervision, give one-hour massages to hospital patients referred by nurses or doctors for problems with chronic pain. The patients are not charged.

The Pain Management Center of Long Island (PMCLI) has recently opened its second location.

The new office, located in Port Jefferson will serve patients from Suffolk County. Port Jefferson, NY September 7, 2010- Led by Dr. Neil B. Kirschen, MD, The Pain Management Center of Long Island has opened a new office in Port Jefferson, NY, to better serve its Long Island patients located in Suffolk County.

After receiving an invitation from the administrator of Mather Hospital, also located in Port Jefferson, to add to their pain management service offerings, the move seemed a natural extension to the practice’s efforts to help the Long Island community with its pain management needs. PMCLI offers a multidisciplinary approach to pain management incorporating conventional Western medicine and what they call “time-honored Eastern medicine practices.”

The new Port Jefferson office, located at 75 North Country Road expands the reach of the practice’s flagship office, opened seventeen ago at 77 North Centre Ave, Suite 202 in Rockville Centre to Suffolk County. “We believe you are in pain, and we believe in our ability to treat that pain,” says Dr. Kirschen, who adds that the practice is currently accepting new patients at both locations.

The Pain Management Center of Long Island (PMCLI) has recently begun using the minimally invasive lumbar decompression (mild®) procedure to treat patients experiencing lumbar spinal stenosis.

Port Jefferson, NY October 25, 2010- Led by Dr. Robert Iadevaio, MD, The Pain Management Center of Long Island has recently introduced a new procedure for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis to its patients. Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a degenerative, age-related narrowing of the lower spinal canal that causes pressure on the nerves, leading to pain and immobility. LSS is a common condition, with more than 1.2 million Americans diagnosed and treated each year.Onset generally occurs after age 50. 

A less invasive alternative to open or endoscopic surgery, mild is an image-guided, device-enabled procedure that safely and therapeutically reduces pain and improves mobility while maintaining the spine’s structural stability. mild provides relief for patients by addressing a primary cause of LSS. During the procedure, the physician uses mild devices to remove small pieces of bone and the tissue causing pressure on the nerves. Many patients report immediate relief, and most go home the same day.

The mild procedure is being offered to Dr. Iadevaio’s patients in all PMCLI offices, and he will be one of only four physicians on Long Island to be trained in the procedure.

• Maintain a healthy weight. Staying fit is one of the most important recommendations for avoiding back pain, says Santiago Figuereo, MD, neurological surgeon and founder and medical director of the Miami Neurological Institute. Extra pounds stress your back and can cause pain. Eating a healthy diet filled with fruits and vegetables and low on processed foods can keep your weight in a healthy range and your back healthy.
   
• Keep your back muscles strong. The most common back problems happen because people who aren’t in shape start doing heavy lifting or hard work and stress their back, Dr. Figuereo says. Back pain usually happens when there’s degeneration of the spine because the spine is working too hard. But when you build up enough muscle strength in your back with exercise, the muscles give your spine the support it needs to keep it healthy. That’s why physical therapy is standard back pain treatment, but being in shape can help you avoid back pain to begin with.
   
• Stretch your muscles. In addition to exercise, stretching is important for staying flexible and avoiding back problems. It’s also a key part of recovering from a back injury. Stretch before doing heavy lifting or exercise and make a habit of doing it before bed. Stretches can be as simple as bending forward, bending back, and bending side to side, says Neil Kirschen, MD, chief of pain management in the department of anesthesiology at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, N.Y. The ultimate stretching exercise: yoga.
• Focus on good posture. Poor posture is another major contributor of back pain. Standing up straight with your ears over your shoulders, your shoulders over your hip joints, and your hip joints over your ankles will help keep your healthy pain-free. When you’re sitting, getting a chair that’s designed to keep your back straight will help.
   
• Lift properly. When you do pick up a heavy object, bend at the knees and keep the item close to your body. Also, take care not to twist your body when you lift, and wear a brace if you have a job that requires heavy lifting.
   
• Leave your purse at home. If you can, stash a few dollars and your identification in your pocket when you leave the house rather than carrying around a heavy purse. Carrying a bag changes your balance and can change the curve of your spine, Dr. Kirschen says. Even a wallet packed full of cards and receipts in your back pocket can affect your back because it puts pressure on your sciatic nerve, he says.
   
• Practice stress relief for back pain relief. Stress tends to make back pain worse. That may be another good reason to practice yoga. Other ways to reduce stress include treating yourself well, avoiding over-scheduling your days, and taking time to enjoy life.
   
• Sleep well. Soft mattresses push your back out of alignment, so it’s best to choose a mattress that’s in the range of medium to firm for back pain relief, Figuereo says.

Living a healthy lifestyle that’s full of exercise and taking some care to have a healthy back can help you live free of chronic back pain.

Neil Kirschen of Rockville Centre was honored last month by the Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre at its Cinco de Mayo celebration based on his service and dedication to providing patients with the highest level of care. Kirschen is founder of the Pain Management Center of Long Island in Rockville Centre and is chief of pain management in the Department of Anesthesiology at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside. He also volunteers his services to the Rockville Centre Police Department and the Rockville Centre Fire Department.

Thank You AAOM!
For the 2009 AAOM Mexico Prolotherapy Workshop

By Mark Chan, MBBS

Traveling to Mexico and participating in the AAOM Prolotherapy Workshop was an unforgettable experience indeed. While we all made certain sacrifices in order to join the trip, it is all worth the effort. I want thank Neil Kirschen, Jon Trister, Tom Ravin, and David Wang for the great teaching and learning experience.

It was great to meet new colleagues; a full week in Mexico gave me more chance to talk and get to know so many new friends. While working in Mexico, the 16 physician students were divided into four teams of four. I worked with the greatest team, Topher Stephenson, Paco Lee and JT Narula. Working together, we all thought of the best treatment possible for the benefit of the patient first while taking best care to learn more and perfect our skills. Through this experience, I received hands on training in Prolotherapy and I received the side bonus of getting to know the great hospitality of the Mexican people. This was one of the best learning experiences for me, and it will definitely benefit my patients in Hong Kong.

I'd like to thank AAOM for organizing and sponsoring the workshop and most important, I'd like to thank Patricia Kirschen (Neil's wife) and her family for doing all of the ground work in Guadalajara and Ciudad Guzman. I can imagine all the necessary work needed to get every piece to fit together to arrange such a trip. Please accept our thanks; the workshop was priceless for all of us from Hong Kong.

While our 'Karma' may not bring us together again, we will remember this trip always. I wish you all good health and wealth in your family and career.

Thanks for a truly an unforgettable experience.

Dr. Kirschen Provides Care and Training in Mexico

Dr. Neil Kirschen of Pain Management Center of Long Island (PMCLI) recently traveled to Cuidad Guzman, Mexico to provide medical care to patients and education about prolotherapy to physicians. The annual November trip is coordinated by AAOM (American Association of Orthopaedic Medicine).

Three AAOM teachers, including Dr. Kirschen, provided lecture instruction to 14 physicians each morning and cared for patients each afternoon. Over the course of 5 days the team treated over 500 Mexican patients with therapies that were heretofore unavailable in the small town. The team trained Mexican physicians in prolotherapy so they can now carry on the necessary treatments.

Overall the trip was a success for all participants. Future trips will be announced as they are scheduled.