Pain and injury treatment in St. Petersburg, FL
Acupuncture, trigger point therapy, and neuromuscular therapy for chronic pain, sports injuries, and TMJ, focused on root cause, not just where it hurts.
Holistic Primary Care treats acute and chronic pain, sports injuries, and soft tissue dysfunction in St. Petersburg, FL, using acupuncture, trigger point therapy, and neuromuscular therapy to address the root cause of pain, not just its location.
Dr. Donald M. Eisenman, DAOM, AP, has treated pain and soft tissue dysfunction for more than 20 years, including herniated discs, sports injuries, TMJ and TMD, arthritis, and Bell's palsy. His TMJ/TMD treatment protocol was the subject of his doctoral capstone project, the research project required to complete his professional doctorate.
Sports injuries and recovery
For athletes and active people, care goes beyond treating the injury in front of you. The goal is to help you recover more effectively, get back to performing at your best, and lower the chance of getting hurt the same way again. That means finding why the injury happened, not just where it hurts.
How pain actually starts
Dr. Eisenman's approach identifies root cause rather than just addressing an injury directly. If a sports injury happened from rolling an ankle, the root cause is often not the roll itself, but a prior imbalance, like a lengthened or shortened muscle. That imbalance causes trigger points to form, which creates ischemia (reduced blood flow) to muscles and tissue. The result is weakness and a higher chance of future injury. Myofascial restrictions and adhesions add to this by decreasing range of motion and further weakening muscles.
Nutrition plays a role too. Muscles need proper nourishment, which depends on digestion and nutrient absorption, one of the main focuses of functional medicine. Gut health affects every system in the body, including the musculoskeletal system, so treatment often combines acupuncture, neuromuscular therapy, and functional medicine to address imbalances at the source rather than just the symptom.
TMJ and jaw pain
Jaw pain, jaw popping, teeth clenching or grinding, and even headaches or ear pain are common symptoms of TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and TMD (temporomandibular disorder). Dr. Eisenman developed a specific protocol for treating TMD symptoms, the subject of his doctoral capstone project, and has used it to help many patients find relief and correction. You can see how it works in the TMJ treatment video, or read more about TMJ and jaw pain treatment.
Myofascial and trigger point release
This technique targets pain that originates in myofascial tissue, the tough membranes that wrap, connect, and support muscles throughout the body. See how fascia and trigger points are treated.
Neuromuscular therapy
Neuromuscular therapy corrects soft tissue dysfunction to alleviate pain, working alongside acupuncture and trigger point release as part of a combined treatment plan. Read more about neuromuscular therapy.
What conditions does this cover?
Sports-related injuries, acute and chronic pain, herniated or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, arthritis, degenerative disc disease, sciatic pain, numbness and tingling, low back and hip pain, muscle weakness, joint pain, frozen shoulder, neck pain, reduced range of motion, wrist pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, headache and migraine, TMJ and jaw pain, post-operative and post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and traumatic injury.
Common questions
How is Holistic Primary Care's approach to pain different?
Dr. Eisenman combines acupuncture, specialized massage, therapeutic stretching, active release techniques, and functional medicine, focusing on root cause. Pain often comes from a trigger point or myofascial restriction rather than the area that hurts, and over-stretching that area can sometimes make things worse.
What if I'm considering surgery, or recovering from it?
Many patients have avoided surgery and returned to daily activities through treatment here. The practice also works alongside surgeons pre- and post-surgery to increase circulation, reduce pain, and support recovery sleep.
Can anything help with scar tissue?
Yes. Scar tissue can adhere to muscles and other structures and create further dysfunction. Acupuncture and other therapeutic techniques help release these adhesions.