‘Back’ to a normal life with minimally-invasive spine surgery

For Dr. James Paraiso of Central Florida Spine Institute, there’s no greater reward than seeing patients go from debilitating pain to no pain. By utilizing a technique known as minimally invasive lumbar surgery, he helps patients suffering from back and/or leg pain lead a healthy, painfree life. Since he is one of only 20 percent of spine surgeons in the country who perform minimally invasive lumbar surgery, residents of The Villages seeking state-of-the-art spine care no longer need to travel to larger cities.

What does this technique entail? Rather than stripping and dissecting muscles, which is the norm with traditional open spine surgery, he makes a small incision then operates through a tubular retractor with the diameter of a quarter. As a result, muscle is preserved and soft tissue trauma is minimized.

He uses this technique for multiple spine surgeries, including discectomies, laminectomies, fusions and kyphoplasty for compression fractures. He teaches it to orthopedic surgeons and orthopedic residents around the country.

“With minimally invasive lumbar surgery, patients experience less blood loss and less postoperative pain,” he says. “They also have immediate mobility.”

Having been in practice for 10 years, Dr. Paraiso’s reputation and results speak for themselves. He has maintained a complication rate of less than one percent. Furthermore, he has performed surgeries on people far away as Michigan because satisfied patients from The Villages return to their native state and recommend him to family members and friends. Also, doctors throughout Florida routinely refer patients to Dr. Paraiso.

Of course, his meticulous surgical skill is not the only reason he is an outstanding physician. Honesty, integrity and open communication is the foundation of his practice’s success. He never recommends surgery unless it is necessary and openly encourages patients to seek alternative treatments such as chiropractic, physical therapy and acupuncture.

“For me, it is important to do the right thing for each patient and treat them like a member of my own family.”

Dr. Paraiso grew up in Ocala and is a 1988 graduate of St. John Lutheran School. He later graduated from the University of Florida with bachelor degrees in biology and religion and then attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency at Michigan State University and his spine fellowship at Florida Orthopedic Institute.

“I chose to specialize in spine surgery because it’s challenging,” he says. “I think it is fascinating that a condition so debilitating can be fi xed. I love seeing residents of The Villages become free of back and leg pain and getting to enjoy the activities they love again. That’s why I’m so passionate about my job and why I wake up excited to go to work each and every day.”

Vision is such an inherent part of our interpretation and enjoyment of the world that we often take it for granted. Over time, vision can become so subtly impaired that it goes largely unnoticed until simple tasks like reading, driving or making your way through a dark room become problematic. This is the time most people seek optical care, but for the long-term health of your eyes, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association recommend eye exams in children starting at 6 months old, and regularly thereafter as the eyes develop. Barring noticeable eye or vision problems, most people ages 20 – 39 can cut appointments back to every five years, and then from 40 – 64, when eyesight typically begins to change more rapidly, people should have a comprehensive eye exam every two to four years to check for eye disease and vision problems. People 65 and older should have a full exam every one to two years to catch any signs of macular degeneration, a torn or detached retina, cataracts or glaucoma, which, when caught early, can be arrested or repaired.

The doctors and professional staff of Lake Eye Associates want to see patients treat their eyes with a focus on preventing vision loss, instead of just correcting it after the loss occurs. “People don’t hesitate to get their teeth checked regularly,” says Lake Eye’s Mark Vocci, MD. “I’d like them to be as conscientious about their eyes. An eye exam is quick and painless, and can save people’s vision.” Interestingly, Dr.

Vocci’s history treating patients with itchy, watery eyes led him to add another specialty to his general eye care services: allergy immunotherapy. “Allergy drops are a safe, convenient substitute for painful allergy shots and, when taken under the tongue at home over the course of four years, can permanently rid people of airborne allergy symptoms.”

Lake Eye has three locations, in Leesburg, Tavares and an office in The Villages, which is also home to the Santa Fe Surgery Center, a state-ofthe-art outpatient surgical facility owned by a team of doctors including two of Lake Eye’s board certified ophthalmologists, Drs. Scott Wehrly and Scot Holman. There, Drs. Wehrly and Holman perform advanced eye surgeries, including the LensX® refractive laser surgical system. “LensX® is the fastest, safest, most accurate and technologically-advanced cataract surgery system in the world,” says Dr. Wehrly, “and we were the first in the area to perform it.”

Adds Dr. Holman, “It is a perfect compliment to ReStor® and Toric® multi-focal intraocular lens implantation, which can correct both close and distance vision during the same quick surgery.”

Lake Eye also offers blepharoplasty to correct excessively baggy, drooping or outward- or inward-turning eyelids, performed by Comprehensive Ophthalmologist, Shelby Terpstra, DO. “Eyelids can cause vision and cosmetic problems,” says Dr. Terpstra. “What I