Dee, 50
As one of Gina Betancourt-Calderone's early Physical Therapy patients in 2004, I sought her guidance and support to achieve greater flexibility through Pilates based Physical Therapy. This was the baseline of my health that Gina used in assessing my overall health decline, which started in 2008.
In October 2008, I experienced my first flare-up of sciatica, which was excruciating. In addition to the sciatica, I also started to develop Dupuytren's Contracture in both hands along with continual pain in my neck, right scapula and right arm. After the initial sciatica flare-up and the ensuing Worker's Compensation Claim and Ergonomic Study, I settled into the prescribed physical therapy, narcotic pain relief and sleep medications and finally, lumbar and cervical steroid epidural injections. After 12 months, there was still no relief from the chronic pain. My body was slowly declining and I felt helpless to stop it.
In October 2009, I came back to Gina to again try Pilates based Physical Therapy which I hoped might alleviate the chronic daily pain I was still experiencing since that fateful day in October 2008. It was during this initial session that Gina realized that my chronic pain might be related to underlying emotional disturbances and work-related stress rather than just a physical cause. Worse, Gina had seen a great decline in my vitality and health in a very short amount of time and was concerned for my future health. At the conclusion of the 10 Pilates Physical Therapy Sessions, my condition was still no better.
In December 2009, Gina suggested that we try a different tack using Energy work with subtle physical manipulation. In the 10 sessions of Energy work, Gina was able to help me see the path I needed to take with respect to my health, career, and finances. More importantly, she was able to convince me to take 2 months of much needed medical leave to stop this death spiral. This was achieved through the journaling assignments, the study of archetypes and discussions with clear and concise self-discovery questions.
Now in September 2010 and as a result of the Energy work sessions, I have accomplished the following:
- I no longer have chronic daily pain
- I no longer take narcotic pain relief medications
- I no longer take sleep medications
- My Dupuytren's Contracture progression has halted in both hands
- I have a renewed vitality for life
More importantly, Gina helped me to see the dysfunctions in my life that I had created that caused my self-imposed death spiral. Better still, she helped quiet my anxiety so that I could see the clear path I needed to follow to accomplish the goals I had set forth. My life is forever changed as a result of the intuitive medical healing that Gina gave so generously of her heart. Gina has empowered me by providing the self-healing tools needed to prevent the recurrence of this debilitating condition. I no longer feel as though I am waiting for the announcement of a disease that will steal my vitality (and perhaps my life).
Gina saved my life!
