Charlotte Pain Management Center Celebrates Over 25 Years of Providing Relief
06/19/2025, Port Charlotte, Florida // PRODIGY: Feature Story //
Charlotte Pain Management Center, known for its commitment to personalized pain treatment, celebrates over 25 years of delivering compassionate care and clinical excellence in Southwest Florida. Established in 1997, it has become a cornerstone of hope and healing for those dealing with chronic pain. Dedicated to restoring quality of life, it combines medical expertise, innovation, and patient advocacy.
'It's difficult to put into words what this milestone means to us,' says Nancy Harris, RN, founder and CEO of Charlotte Pain Management Center. 'Personally, this clinic isn't just a business. It's a calling. I grew up believing you help people whether you know them or not, and that principle has guided everything we do here. After so many years, to still be here and still making a difference, we're beyond grateful. Our patients trust us with some of the hardest parts of their lives, and that trust means everything to us.'
Charlotte Pain Management Center was founded on the belief that no one should have to live in persistent pain without access to meaningful relief. Catering to patients suffering from nerve pain, neuropathy, bone and joint issues, and complex chronic conditions, the clinic offers interventional and non-interventional treatment plans that are as individualized as the patients themselves. The center employs a whole-patient approach that blends cutting-edge and compassionate care. This is evident in its services, from spinal cord stimulation and radiofrequency ablation to advanced joint and nerve block injections.
The team at Charlotte Pain Management Center includes experienced physicians, medical professionals, and behavioral health specialists who collaborate to address the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of pain. Besides its team of experts, the clinic is also known for its commitment to accessibility. It works with patients who may lack insurance or resources, ensuring that no one is turned away without options.
'Where others might only offer one-size-fits-all procedures, we build sustainable and personalized care paths,' Harris says. That reputation for providing relief where others couldn't have helped solidified the clinic as a vital resource in the region. However, it's worth noting that it took grit and resilience for Charlotte Pain Management Center to establish itself in the field.
The founder began her career managing home health services and medical practices, where she witnessed firsthand the gap in long-term, effective pain care. Her vision to create a more humane and more effective approach led to the founding of the center. Unfortunately, the founder faced some monumental challenges within her personal life.
Yet, even during the darkest times, Harris never considered closing the doors. Her connection to her patients and the knowledge that many had nowhere else to turn drove her to push forward. 'I couldn't let them down,' she recalls. 'We're often the last stop. Shutting down wasn't an option.'
Emerging from that period with renewed focus, Harris revitalized the clinic. She hired a new physician who brought fresh capabilities and advanced techniques to the team, reestablished essential services like cancer pain treatment, and invested in the latest technologies, including state-of-the-art C-arm imaging equipment. The center expanded its programs to include comprehensive neuropathy protocols and innovative, lesser-known modalities. The outcome was a rebirth both in operations and in mission.
As it celebrates over 25 years of serving the community, Charlotte Pain Management Center remains committed to staying at the forefront of the medical field. Harris remarks: 'Technology and treatments will continue to advance, but our priority will always be to deliver patient-centered care.'
Media Contact
Name: Nancy Harris, RN, BSN
Email: [email protected]
The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk.
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CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Focus more on strength and mobility and less on weight
Food & health Wellness Chronic diseasesFacebookTweetLink Follow Editor's note: Shift Your Mindset is an occasional series from CNN's Life, But Better team. We talk to experts about how to do things differently to live a better life. Anti-aging aspirations have turned longevity products and services into a wellness-industry gold mine. But who wants to add on years only to spend them struggling to move, dependent on others and unable to enjoy basic activities? What's the point of sticking around longer if you can't actually live life? Building and maintaining strength and mobility helps preserve the independence you need to age with dignity — and the actions you take now make all the difference. In their new book 'The Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan: Help Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis and Arthritis,' dietitian and personal trainer Sydney Nitzkorski and orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein share the strategic diet and exercise choices you can make now to help maintain your quality of life well into your later years. Nitzkorski is a sports dietitian at Marist University in Poughkeepsie, New York, and she runs a private fitness and nutrition practice. Wittstein is an associate professor at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. CNN: What's the biggest misconception about bone and joint health? Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein: Most people don't realize that bone mineral density (BMD) peaks at around age 30. After that, your goal is to maintain your BMD and try to slow down bone loss. For women, bone density decreases about 1% annually until menopause and then accelerates to 2% a year. Men experience a roughly 1% annual decline. The key is to build a strong foundation early and continue supporting your bone and joint health throughout your life. Another misconception is that cardiovascular exercise alone is enough to preserve mobility, but strength training and light impact exercises are critical, too. These activities can elevate the peak bone density of people in their teens and 20s, while people older than 30 need those same exercises to minimize loss. This is important considering that 1 in 4 adults will get osteoarthritis, and anyone older than age 50 has a heightened risk for both arthritis and osteoporosis, women in particular. A full 77% of postmenopausal women reported joint pain in a randomized study. Sydney Nitzkorski: As a dietitian, I find that people don't think enough about how much calcium they're taking in, and most people are not getting enough. Your body can't make the calcium it needs, not just for bones and teeth but also heart, muscle and nerve function. If you're not consuming enough, your body will raid the reserves in your skeleton to meet its requirements. This is why everybody, at every age, needs to get enough calcium. If you have kids, make sure they're consuming enough now, because this is when they're building bone mass. But sufficient calcium is still important even if you're 60 or beyond. Boosting your bone health is incredibly important at every age, and it's never too late to start taking proactive steps. CNN: Are calcium supplements necessary? Nitzkorski: Whole foods are the best sources for calcium, with supplementation as a secondary option. I recommend that people track their intake for a typical week and then adjust accordingly. Adults need 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily. Good sources include milk, fortified plant milks, broccoli and kale, as well as sardines and anchovies because you eat the bones. Wittstein: Plus bok choy, which I consider a superfood. It's the green vegetable with the highest bioavailability of calcium. The calcium your body gets from a food depends on two factors: the total calcium the food contains and the bioavailability of that calcium, or how well the body absorbs and uses the mineral. A cup of milk has 300 milligrams of calcium that is 30% bioavailable, while a cup of bok choy has 160 milligrams that is 55% bioavailable. Yet, each one provides the body with an equivalent amount of calcium: about 87.5 milligrams. Along with bok choy's excellent calcium bioavailability, it also provides fiber and vitamins A and C. I love to prepare this green vegetable superfood with garlic, ginger and olive oil, making it an excellent anti-inflammatory food for joints and overall health. CNN: Pressing question: Can we count the calcium from milk in coffee? Nitzkorski: Yes! In the book, Jocelyn and I share that we both nail our calcium targets by drinking a lot of milk with a little bit of coffee. It's true that consuming more than 300 milligrams per day of caffeine lowers your body's calcium absorption — but that's a high bar when you consider an 8-ounce cup of coffee contains around 100 milligrams and a double shot of espresso contains about 140 milligrams. Wittstein: Milk, whether it's from cows or a plant-based type that's been supplemented, is a good source of vitamin D, too. We know that consuming 2,000 IU of vitamin D a day can benefit bone health and may help decrease joint pain. When it comes to coffee, people are often glad to learn that it is rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants. It contains the polyphenol quercetin, which may help alleviate pain and has anti-inflammatory properties. I like to add cinnamon to my coffee for added anti-inflammatory effect and glucose control. You can also add whey protein — which provides amino acids that your body uses to build muscle — and/or collagen supplements, which can improve both bone density and joint pain, depending on the type. CNN: What's the connection between inflammation and joint health? Wittstein: Inflammation can break down cartilage and contribute to joint pain. Chronic inflammation accelerates joint deterioration. Anti-inflammatory nutrition taken in through diet and supplements like omega-3 fatty acids and curcumin, for example, can help ease symptoms like pain and swelling. CNN: What does an anti-inflammatory diet look like? Nitzkorski: What I love about recommending anti-inflammatory foods is that they provide so many other benefits, too, such as decreasing heart attack risk, increasing longevity, improving digestion and giving you more energy. An anti-inflammatory diet is rich in lean proteins, which could be animal-based — such as non- or low-fat dairy, eggs, fish, chicken or turkey — or plant-based like beans, lentils and soy as well as pea proteins, which are found in a lot of protein powders. An anti-inflammatory diet also includes healthy fats, such as olive oil and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids like fish as well as walnuts and flax, chia and basil seeds. Alliums — including garlic, onion, leeks and shallots — are flavorful plants that have multiple anti-inflammatory properties. And there's a whole spectrum of spices including turmeric, cayenne, black pepper and ginger. Wittstein: Also important is dietary fiber from fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains that provides short-chain fatty acids, higher levels of which are associated with lower levels of inflammation. Fruits and vegetables also contain myriad anti-inflammatory phytochemicals — naturally occurring compounds that provide an array of health benefits. Avoiding or limiting inflammatory ingredients like processed meats, red meat, fried foods, saturated fats and processed carbohydrates is also important. CNN: What types of exercise promote bone and joint health? Wittstein: It's critical to incorporate resistance training and impact exercises. The goal is to work into your 150 minutes of weekly activity a combination of the following: three days of weight-bearing aerobic exercise, two days of resistance training, and two days of balance work and light-impact exercises. That might sound like a lot, but these don't have to be long, intense sessions, and several of these types of conditioning can be combined. Standing on one leg and doing an overhead press counts as resistance training as well as balance work, for example. There are multiple things we want you to do to stimulate your bones and your muscles in different ways, but some of these activities can count as two. Nitzkorski: You can also integrate little exercises into your daily life. Just as we lose muscle and bone mass with age, we also lose our ability to balance. Practice intentionally throwing yourself off balance a little bit so your body must work to find its equilibrium again. Stand on one foot while brushing your teeth. Instead of sitting while watching TV, stand on one leg. Pretend a paintbrush is strapped to your toe and try to write your name or the alphabet. Write A through M on your right leg, and then switch and do N through Z on your left. To work on muscular endurance, do little arm circles. These start out super easy, but if you do them for two or three minutes it becomes exhausting. CNN: What do you mean by light-impact exercises? Wittstein: These include small jumps, jumping jacks or jumping rope. Studies show that doing 10 to 50 jumps three times a week is enough to stimulate your bone density. I encourage people to weave them into their day. By doing a little bit of hopping while you're waiting for the bus, you're getting your heart rate up and getting in some light-impact conditioning. CNN: Do you recommend jumping if it causes knee pain? Nitzkorski: No, people should listen to their joint pain! If jumping hurts your knees, focus on other kinds of conditioning like shallow squats, for example. You can also spread out your jumps over the course of the day or a week so you are not doing too many in a row. Or you can modify jumping exercises by using the back of a chair, or something else, for balance. Wittstein: Or try modifications like pool jumping, which adds resistance and partly reduces impact. Water-based exercises are not as effective as land-based jumping exercises, but they are definitely beneficial for bone mineral density. Although the gains from some of these exercise-based interventions may seem small, they actually translate to big risk reductions. We know from studies of pharmaceutical interventions that a 2% increase in lumbar-spine-bone density reduces spine fracture risk by 28%. A 4% improvement in hip-bone density decreases hip fracture risk by 32%. So even small improvements matter significantly. CNN: Is it ever too late to start boosting your bone and joint health? Nitzkorski: Absolutely not. While it's ideal to start early, you can always benefit from improving your diet and exercise routine. Start small — even 10 minutes of activity is better than nothing. Over time, small dietary changes can become a habit that sticks. The goal is consistency and gradual improvement so you can enjoy the life you live for that much longer. Editor's note: Sign up for CNN's Fitness, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide will help you ease into a healthy routine, backed by experts. Jessica DuLong is a Brooklyn, New York-based journalist, book collaborator, writing coach and the author of 'Saved at the Seawall: Stories From the September 11 Boat Lift' and 'My River Chronicles: Rediscovering the Work That Built America.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
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My 94-Year-Old Father Dropped A Bomb During A Zoom Call. The Explosion Changed Everything.
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'Oh my God,' I barely managed to reply. 'Yes, they had been searching for me — well, not for me at that point, but for their father,' he said. 'They found each other on one of the DNA websites, shared their stories, did some research, and narrowed it down to me.' My father was a highly renowned OBGYN and researcher. He was a brilliant man, capable of great charm and humor, who, even at the age of 94, remained astute and worldly. His children were thrilled to have discovered him, and he soon found himself the object of fascination of these newly acquainted offspring. My father reveled in these relationships, basking in the loving light they cast. He held Zoom meetings with them, corresponded with some over email, and met others in person. I learned this had been going on for almost a year before he had his Zoom call with me, and that he had become particularly close to one of my new half-sisters. She adored my father. 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Her love for him and their open discussions about her recovery resonated deeply with him. In one of our conversations, he sheepishly disclosed that he had begun attending a 12-step program with her. My parents had always denigrated my involvement in self-help and therapy, and I had learned to keep my recovery hidden so as not to face their disdain. Now he was speaking my language! He talked with me about believing in a higher power and beginning to work the 12 steps of recovery, which included taking an honest self-inventory and making amends. Rather than a wedge between us, itbecame a foothold for a spiritual place of healing and union. We could actually talk with each other. Dollie also began telling my father how close she and I were becoming and that we supported him in his relationships with both of us. Hearing this profoundly touched him. His anxiety about how my presence might undermine his new relationships seemed to disappear. This progress was amazing, but there was more. 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We begin and end each phone call with 'I love you,' and that feels like the most important thing. This story could have ended so differently. Though I was still trying, my connection with my father had been degraded to the point that I had little expectation or hope for a reconciliation. My father and I had become accustomed to the coldness. I thought there would be nothing more for us to learn or gain. The sudden arrival of — and his quick attachment to — 16 new, charming, loving adult children felt like one more mortal threat to my years-long efforts to find a loving place with him. The miracle is that we all played our parts and dared to stay open to one another. I will always be grateful for that. Dollie and I continue to call each other. We update each other about our lives. We reflect on our remarkable journey. And we talk about our father. My father passed away as this article was being edited. As his condition worsened and he could barely speak, he would open his eyes and tell me that he loved me. In the days before his death, I was in touch with everyone to let them know he didn't have much time left. His loving family — including my brother, two of my new half-sisters and two of my new half-brothers — gathered at his bedside. What good fortune it is that I have so many more people in my life to love and with whom to share my sorrow. My grief has been complicated. I never expected to cry as much as I have. I'm surprised at my utter desolation. I wish I had had more time with my 'new' father. I forgive him — this flawed man whom I love — but what I hope for most is that he was able to forgive and love himself. Meryl Ruth has gained international recognition for achievement of high-quality, intricately detailed and imaginative ceramic and fiber art. Her work is on display on her website Meryl lives with her husband on a small lake in Maine, where she also has her art studio. She and her husband are currently collaborating on her memoir, from which this essay is drawn. When Meryl is not working in her studio, she is spending time with her children and grandchildren, practicing yoga, kayaking on the lake and cultivating orchids. She has a small Chihuahua, who is a certified therapy dog and accompanies her to hospice where she has volunteered on a weekly basis for the past ten years. She would like to acknowledge her husband, Fred Wolff, 'for helping me put my thoughts and feelings into words.' Do you have a compelling personal story you'd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we're looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@ My Husband And I Assumed We Would Have Kids. Then Something Incredible Happened That Changed Our Minds. My Patient Invited Me To Her Home To Watch Her Die. What I Saw When I Arrived Gave Me Goosebumps. People See Me And Think I'm Pregnant. They're Shocked When I Tell Them The Heartbreaking Truth.


CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
How Much Water Do You Actually Need to Drink This Summer? Your Daily Hydration Guide
These hot summer months mean more outdoors activities, but it's also a time when you have to be more aware of your water bottle. In the hot weather, you're more likely to sweat, which means your body's water levels are more likely to be depleted. But exactly how much water should you be drinking? Should you follow the "eight glasses a day" advice or is that a hydration myth? To get to the bottom of what our water consumption should look like this summer, we talked with a registered dietitian. "The 8x8 rule can be a bit oversimplified for some but it's also not necessarily dangerous," says Renee Fitton, registered dietitian and director of education at L-Nutra, a nutrition technology company. Rather than using specific guidelines across the board, you can instead focus on straightforward habits that can help you get more water into your daily routine. How much water should you drink every day? Fitton says various factors affect how much water one needs daily, including body size, medications, gender, physical activity, climate, health status and altitude. Most of us are also familiar with the old adage: Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. The eight-by-eight rule guides us to drink 64 ounces (about 1.9 liters) of water each day. Many of us have blindly followed this advice for our entire lives, not knowing where it came from or why we need eight glasses of water. Getty Images Apparently, the eight-by-eight rule came out of a void, because there's no scientific evidence to back it up. It's just another of those long-standing myths people believe because that's what everyone believes. Drinking 64 ounces of water daily isn't bad but it could be too much or not enough for some people. "For some people, simple rules like these help them stay on track. If drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day helps someone hit their hydration goals, then it's a fine starting point. But I wouldn't call it the gold standard," says Fitton. Other guidelines exist but there's still no true consensus. There's no formal recommendation for how much water people should drink daily, perhaps because everyone needs different amounts of water. An "adequate intake" of water for adult men and women does exist but it can vary from person to person. This adequate intake includes water from non-water beverages, such as milk, sports drinks, tea and yes, even coffee. It also includes water from fruits, vegetables and other foods (think of how much water goes into a bowl of oats or soup). The adequate intake is 15.5 cups (3.7 liters or 125 ounces) for average men and 11.5 cups (2.7 liters or 91 ounces) for average women. How you choose to consume these 125 or 91 ounces of fluid is up to you. Although this is the closest figure we have to a recommended daily intake, even these numbers differ for each person based on their health condition. Reasons why you may need to drink more water Getty Images You have an active job: Those on the go all day (especially folks who work outdoors) may need more water than most people. The more you move, the more you sweat, and you should replace lost water (and electrolytes) through fluid intake. If you are working outside during a heat wave, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends drinking 8 ounces (1 cup) of water every 15 to 20 minutes during work. Drinking water before and after work can help prevent dehydration. You exercise often: If you don't have an active job but you do exercise a lot -- whether in the gym or through recreational activities -- you also need more water than most. Even if you don't realize it, you lose a lot of fluids during physical activity (even in cold weather). Up your water intake to account for activity (especially travel activity). You live in a hot climate: Hot weather means increased sweating and replacing the lost fluid is important. Dryness compounds fluid loss in hot weather -- people in desert climates may need more water than those in tropical climates. You're pregnant or breastfeeding: Pregnant women need more water to encourage improved circulation, increased calorie intake and other physiological processes that support their baby's growth. Breastfeeding women need extra water to support breast milk production. Your urine is dark in color: The color of your urine can tell you a lot about your hydration levels. "The color of your urine is the best and most personalized, consistent and immediate way to measure hydration throughout the day. We want to look for light yellow pee, not fully clear (over-hydrated) but also not deep yellow or amber (under-hydrated)," says Fitton. You have a dry mouth, chapped lips or muscle cramps: Yep, when you are dehydrated your body will let you know. "Water is such a critical substance for life so when we're lacking, our body will no longer work at its peak capacity and this can persist in many ways and uniquely from one person to another," Fitton says. Hydration hacks to help you drink more water Getty Images Different people follow different rules for hydrating. These four common guidelines can help you stay hydrated no matter your lifestyle. Drink when you're thirsty There's some controversy surrounding this method. Some health professionals say you shouldn't overcomplicate hydration and your body tells you when it needs water. Others say waiting until you're thirsty is waiting too long -- that you're already dehydrated when you feel thirsty. Some people seem to have stronger thirst mechanisms than others so this method may not work for you. Drink a glass before meals and between meals This isn't bad advice. Structuring water intake around a ritual like mealtime can ingrain hydration as a habit. Your total water intake will vary depending on how many meals you eat. If you eat three meals, you'll drink five glasses of water according to this rule, which may not be enough (unless they're big glasses). This rule probably won't work for you if you don't have a routine eating pattern. Drink eight glasses daily Generic health advice rarely works for everyone. If you feel adequately hydrated on 64 ounces of water each day, then that amount is likely sufficient to keep you hydrated. If you feel overly hydrated (clear urine, very frequent urination or swelling), cut back slightly. If you feel dehydrated (dark urine, headaches, infrequent urination, lightheaded or fatigue), eight glasses may not be enough for you. Drink half your body weight in ounces This is a simple guideline that's easy to remember and usually easy to achieve. If you weigh 150 pounds, aim to drink 75 ounces of water each day. This is the only rule of thumb that accounts for different body sizes but it doesn't account for thirst, climate, activity level or other factors. Make water visible and accessible Fitton says that keeping your water accessible at all times provides a visual reminder to drink water. She also recommends using an app like WaterMinder that sends daily reminders to drink water. Pair your water intake with your daily habits Another great way to get your daily water intake is to make drinking water part of your daily habits. This can look like drinking water right when you wake up, after eating a meal or right before you leave the house. "These mini habits build on things you already do, so you're not trying to remember to do something new. The more you tie hydration into your daily routine, the easier it becomes," says Fitton. Experiment with hydration techniques to find what works for you. As long as you're not battling chronic fatigue, lightheadedness, headaches or other signs of dehydration, you are probably doing a pretty good job. As a failsafe, you can always determine whether you are under or overhydrated based on the color of your urine.