HEALTH PAGES Provider Profile
Dayton Haigney, MD
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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ayton Haigney, MD, always wanted to be a doctor. And he’s always loved fly fishing. But it took time for him to discover how the two intersected. Dr. Haigney joined the Physical and Integrative Medicine practice in Searsport at Waldo County General Hospital (WCGH) earlier this year. As a physiatrist, he has spent more than 40 years treating a wide variety of chronic pain conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons. Before joining WCGH, Dr. Haigney served as chief of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Togus Veterans Administration Medical Center. For more information about Dr. Haigney, contact his office at 5482475. To learn how fly fishing keeps his medical skills sharp, read on. #
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What inspired you to go to medical school? There was no family member or anything like that pushing me into a career in medicine, and yet I wanted to be involved in health care in some way, shape or form from an early age. We had a family physician who was a good role model, but otherwise I was self-motivated to pursue this career. Do you recall a moment when you said to yourself, “This is why I went into medicine”? Part of what attracted me to physiatry was the fact that it takes an integrated, holistic approach. We don’t just look at the abnormalities that might be revealed by an x-ray but at other factors that might be contributing to a person’s chronic pain, like sleep patterns and diet. So when I got exposed to physiatry, I realized that, “Oh, this is something that makes a lot of sense to me. This is the way I want to practice.” I’ve been very happy with my decision. I’ve been out of medical school for 41 years. Every day since then I’ve had an experience that has confirmed that I made the right decision. What will a patient experience when they meet with you for the first time? They will quickly realize that I ask a lot of questions about their life in general, what’s working, what’s not working, what other factors
could be contributing to their pain, everything from diet to mental health issues. In chronic care, there are all these other contributing factors that we have to unearth. For instance, is there stress at work or at home? Do you get a good night’s sleep? What’s your diet like? Is there depression, anxiety, mood swings? Then we talk about functional improvement in terms of the patient’s ability to perform their job or their functions as a husband, wife, a parent. When I address chronic pain, I address the whole person to help them get back to doing the things that are most important in their lives. What are your interests outside of the office? My wife and I are birdwatchers, and I like to fly fish. I tie my own flies. Being out in nature is important to me. It’s the way I recharge my batteries. We relocated from southern Maine to Midcoast Maine about four and a half years ago, and it’s a delightful place to be, I think. We like the four seasons. We like the people here, so we’re content. Where do you fish? I have pretty much fished all over Maine, from the Rangeley area, the Androscoggin River area, Moosehead Lake, the Moose River, the Kennebec River. I fish the St. George River over in Hope and Appleton. And I’ve done a lot of saltwater fly fishing in southern Maine. Sure, I like catching fish but really it’s about getting outside and just trying to be aware of all that you’re seeing. That’s the reward. Do you find any lessons in fly fishing that you use in your exam room, or vice versa? When I’m out in nature, from birdwatching or watching the seasons change, it’s just being aware of all of the subtleties because they add up to the big picture. I try to be very observant with my patients and actively listen to them. If they know they’ve been heard, then I’ve succeeded. After your stint at Togus, why did you chose to remain in Maine? We’ve been here since 1985. We love the geography. We love the seasons. We love the lifestyle. I think that the pace is appealing. I don’t think we ever considered leaving Maine. This is where I wanted to be from a very early age. I had an uncle that lived on Peaks Island. I’ve been coming to Maine my whole life.
PBMC Offers New Treatment To Help Those Suffering Chronic Pain
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en Bay Medical Center (PBMC) has added a new treatment to help patients manage pain without resorting to prescription opioids. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure in which electrical current produced by a radio wave is used to heat up a small area of nerve tissue, thereby decreasing pain signals from that nerve. One benefit of this treatment option is that it is very precise and can target specific nerves without damaging surrounding tissue. Mario Serafini, DO, an interventional pain specialist, performed the first radiofrequency ablation at PBMC earlier this year. The patient had been enduring ongoing pain in the lower region of the back, and Dr. Serafini used RFA to ablate – or burn – specific nerve endings surrounding the joints on either side of the spine without any incisions being made. This prevents the nerves from transmitting pain signals to the brain. The patient was awake during the procedure and went home the same day. “RFA can have a dramatic effect on the quality of life of our patients,” said Dr. Serafini. “Chronic pain often robs from people the activities they’re most passionate about, like gardening or caring for a loved one. When we ease the pain, we help people return to the activities that matter most to them.” Before PBMC acquired the equipment necessary to provide RFA treatments, Dr. Serafini probably would have offered the above patient a cortisone shot. “The challenge with that is that the pain relief would have lasted just several months at best,” he said. RFA treatments, on the other hand, typically provide pain relief for much longer – anywhere from three to 15 months until the nerve regenerates enough to transmit pain to
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the brain once again, Serafini said. Moreover, unlike cortisone shots, which can further damage a joint if given too often, RFA treatments can be administered whenever pain reappears. RFA treatments are typically used for pain in the lower back and the knee. Interventional pain management doctors strive to write fewer prescriptions for opioid painkillers and instead provide patients with pain relief through alternative treatments. Those treatments include cortisone injections, epidural infusion and facet joint blocks, spinal cord stimulation, acupuncture, specific diet plans, exercise regimens and
physical therapy. Common causes of chronic pain include arthritis, myofascial pain, lower-back pain, pinched nerves, sciatica and spinal disk ruptures, among others. In addition to RFA, the Interventional Pain Management practice at PBMC offers a number of other treatment options, including cortisone injections, epidural infusion and facet joint blocks. To learn more about radiofrequency ablation and all the services provided by the Physical Medicine and Interventional Pain Management practice, call Dr. Serafini’s office at 301-3600.
Virtual 5k Run Honors Those Affected by Cancer
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n an effort to encourage physical activity and protect the health of our community, Journey to Health is excited to host our first-ever virtual 5k. The Strides for Support virtual benefit 5k will honor those affected by cancer and provide support to the oncology patient assistance funds at Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital. Although we will not be gathering in person, we are thrilled about the opportunity to celebrate, virtually, with cancer survivors, supporters, friends and families across Knox and Waldo counties. After weeks of being cooped up, we are all eager to get outside and move. What better reason to do so than to support our community? We invite you to walk, jog or run
wherever you are to honor family members, friends and neighbors whose lives have been affected by cancer. As a virtual participant, you can choose a time and place to walk, run or be active (while social distancing) between July 19 and July 31, 2020. Simply send us a photo from your personal 5k to share your success and join our virtual gallery. There is a $30 registration fee for the 5k. Proceeds from the event and all additional contributions will directly benefit our oncology patients. If you would like to make an additional contribution, please call 301-3950. You can visit journeytohealth.coursestorm.com to register.
While our services may look different, MaineHealth remains committed to providing safe, exceptional care — close to home. Protecting patients and care team members is our top priority as we resume time-sensitive care across the MaineHealth system. To learn more about the safety measures now in place at all care locations, please visit: www.mainehealth.org/coronavirus-covid-19/safe-appointments