Kirk Waldron APRN
I started my Journey with Advantage Medical Center in July 2019. I was initially part time while I continued to work full time in my position with the Utah National Guard. I made a very deliberate transition over the course of the next year and a half, and in November switched to full time here at Advantage Medical Center. I still maintain part time obligation with the military doing one weekend a month and two weeks a year as well as additional duties as required.
What I do here at Advantage Medical Center
Trigger Point Injections (TPI) are a technique used to resolve pain caused by taught bands of skeletal muscle that are more persistent than normal muscle tightness. Pain caused by normal muscle tightness can often be relieved with NSAIDs, massage, or myofascial release techniques. The most common answer to muscle pain in most medical offices is to go directly to a steroid when NSAIDs fail. There can be negative side effects to using steroids, and when possible, less extreme measures ought to be considered. TPI is one way to relieve significant pain and tightness without resorting to steroid use. I am not against steroids but I think they are over used in the medical industry and ought to be used more discriminately. Studies have shown that steroids can have an atrophy effect on the target tissue and pain can be worsened in the long run by weakened muscles, tendons, ligaments, or cartilage. Also, Steroids knock out inflammation which can be an important part of the body’s healing process. Steroids are sometimes used to cover up a problem rather than fix it at its source. In integrative medicine, we follow a model of solving the issue at the core rather than look for interventions that minimize or hide the problem.
Neuro-muscular reeducation is another intervention that we use to help patients avoid surgery. Sometimes when muscles sustain damage or become inflamed, some of the myofibrils (one of the smallest functional parts of the muscle fiber) inactivate to protect themselves during the healing process. Sometimes they don’t reactivate when they should, or if they do, they are out of sync with the rest of the muscle and innervating nerves. Neuro-muscular reeducation is a method we use to help restore optimal muscle function by applying specific electro-harmonic frequencies in conjunction with a vitamin serum that helps muscles and nerves become activated and synchronized. This system has an excellent track record of improving range of motion, decreasing pain, and increasing strength in areas of pain and weakness.
Neuropathy is a condition of nerve dysfunction that is generally caused by impaired circulation. The most common risk factors for this condition are diabetes, obesity, and smoking, but there are others as well. Neuropathy treatment options are limited. The most common answer to neuropathic pain is increasing doses of gabapentin which is not a good answer for most people. Neuro-muscular reeducation can reduce pain associated with neuropathy as well as improve symptoms of numbness, tingling, and sensations of impaired range of motion. It has been extremely rewarding to provide relief to a patient population that is looking for something besides increasing doses of gabapentin to treat their nerve dysfunction. The results have been truly impressive. When I first learned of this treatment method I was skeptical, and generally I don’t put much stock in anything that doesn’t have a significant body of peer-reviewed research to back it up, but I thought “nothing else is really helping people, so let’s give it a shot.” Thus far, I have not been disappointed.
Here’s what some of my patients had to say:
I was suffering severe pain from tendonitis in my right knee. I attempted several natural remedies for inflammation for 3 months without feeling any relief. Ibuprofen did not give any relief either. I decided to try Neuro-muscular reeducation treatment at Advanced medical center. Lots of relief at about 10 treatments. The treatment with Dr. Kirk Waldron really worked. I would Highly Recommend it as a remedy for pain Issues. I paid for the treatment out of pocket and I am really happy with the results. I am now pain free. Neuro-muscular reeducation is worth every penny!
-J.C.
My Values
The Army Values are some of the standards that I use to define my character; loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. In short summary they can be described in this way:
- Loyalty – To patients and co-workers, I will never abandon
- Duty – To provide the best possible care to all patients
- Respect – For each individual’s value and needs
- Selfless-service – To work hard, independent of compensation
- Honor – Bound by principles of character
- Integrity – Honest and true in all my dealings
- Personal-courage – Advocate for best practice in the face of harsh criticism and popular opinion
I bring these values to every experience throughout my life on a personal and professional level. These values are essential to fair and comprehensive treatment for my future patients.