Has your quality of life been affected because of back pain? You're not alone - Harvard Health tells us that almost 85% of people in the US have back pain so severe that they see a doctor at least once in their lifetime. Unfortunately, these problems often start small but end up becoming severe issues like sciatica. For active people and athletes, dealing with back pain isn't just compromising; it's life-changing.
And while many people will tell you that having a "back problem" is something you'll have to deal with for the rest of your life, that's far from the case. The good news is that seeing a chiropractor in Hazlet can provide you with the relief needed to live a healthy, active life without giving up the things you love most, like sports and spending time with your family.
Of the millions of Americans who suffer from back pain daily, many have found long-lasting relief through the same chiropractic care offered at NJ Sports Spine & Wellness. But what exactly is chiropractic care, and how does it help?
Chiropractic care is a drug-free, non-invasive approach to overall wellness and healing that focuses on correcting issues with your musculoskeletal system. When performed by a licensed chiropractor, it can alleviate and even eliminate common problems such as:
To treat your conditions and help reduce your pain, chiropractors use time-tested, hands-on techniques to adjust your spine, neck, back, and other joints throughout your body to restore proper function, mobility, and alignment. Once your body is in proper alignment, it functions optimally, leading to improved overall wellness and health.
Unlike some sports rehab clinics in The Garden State, chiropractors from NJ Sports Spine & Wellness work with you one-on-one to develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses your specific goals and needs relating to your pain and ability to live a normal life. Because our team takes a holistic approach to healthcare, we cover all aspects of your health and wellness when developing your chiropractic treatment plan. That way, we increase your chances of living a fulfilling life free of pain and worry about throwing your back out.
Seeing a chiropractor can quite literally change your life for the better. According to the American Chiropractic Association, in general, chiropractic therapy is a more effective solution for back pain than other treatments like addictive pain pills, surgeries, and yoga. When combined with services like physical therapy, occupational therapy, and acupuncture, chiropractic care may be the key you need to open the door to a pain-free life.
Shedule An AppointmentSome of the many benefits of seeing a reliable, licensed chiropractor include the following:
Perhaps the most obvious reason to make an appointment with a chiropractor is for back pain relief. Some people only need to see a chiropractor when they have occasional back pain, such as when they wake up in the morning. Others, such as those who have been in serious car accidents, need regular chiropractic adjustments and therapies, which are often supplemented with techniques like physical therapy and acupuncture.
There are many causes of back pain that range from advanced conditions like having sciatica and herniated discs to everyday issues like poor posture and sleeping in a harmful position. Your chiropractor's job is to pinpoint the cause(s) of your back pain and build a customized plan to address your musculoskeletal conditions. Once that happens, pain relief follows shortly after.
At New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness, we craft personalized chiropractic plans for every patient we treat, with the goal of avoiding harmful surgeries and addictive medicines.
If you've never experienced a headache in your life, you're exceedingly rare. Just about every American will suffer from a headache at some point or another. For some, headaches only happen occasionally and are not much more than an annoyance. For others, headaches evolve into crippling migraines that can affect quality of life, ability to work, and much more.
If you find yourself digging into a bottle of Aspirin or something stronger when you have a headache, it might be time to visit an NJSSW chiropractor.
Do you wake up in the morning feeling like you didn't sleep a wink the previous night? Do you have to take sleep aides like Ambien in order to drift off to dreamland? If you have chronic back pain, getting a full night's rest is easier said than done. From misaligned spines to improper sleeping posture, your chiropractor in Hazlet can use manipulation therapy and other techniques to boost blood flow and align your vertebrae, so your body can heal itself and help you rest better.
One of the best things about seeing your chiropractor is that when your session is over, you often feel great. The pain relief feels phenomenal. When you're not in pain, you have a more positive outlook on life, and often enjoy better sleep, blood pressure, and even sexual relations. It makes sense, then, that chiropractic care has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety, which promotes relaxation and improved mental health.
At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, we work with a long list of athletes who suffer from sports injuries and other problems that can manifest from being active. For professional athletes, having a trustworthy chiropractor to care for them is needed for their careers. But you don't have to be a pro athlete to benefit from chiropractic care. Ordinary people that enjoy active lifestyles can reap tremendous rewards through chiropractic care, such as improved range of motion and relief from compressed discs.
Whether you enjoy impromptu games of tag football or simply want to play with your kids, seeing a chiropractor can help you be healthy and active without fighting back, neck, and joint pain. That's especially true when chiropractic therapy is used in conjunction with acupuncture, physical therapy, or occupational therapy.ies and addictive medicines.
Your NJ Sports Spine & Wellness chiropractor in Hazlet may use a range of techniques to restore function and alignment in your body. Some of the most common techniques our chiropractors use include:
Life has a habit of being unexpected. Sure, some surprises only hurt your bank account, like last-minute renovations in your home. But severe incidents, like car accidents, can inflict physical injuries that cause you long-term pain. These problems, like neck and back injuries, affect many Americans daily. Even worse, many hardworking people turn to risky surgeries and addictive pain medications, only to find themselves deep in a hole that seems impossible to get out of.
If you suffer from serious range-of-motion issues or you're in chronic pain, it's important to know that you have treatment choices. You don't have to put your health at risk to relieve your pain. One of the most successful non-invasive treatments offered for pain is physical therapy. The main goal of physical therapy is to restore movement and function to patients affected by illness, injury, or disability.
Physical therapists work with patients of all ages and abilities, from children to elderly adults, to help them overcome physical limitations and improve their quality of life. At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, our physical therapists help treat a wide range of conditions, from neck pain and spinal cord injuries to back pain and arthritis.
Once our PTs have made headway, they will often use our chiropractic therapy to provide the patient with more relief. Having the option of both chiropractic and physical therapy is often very effective, because your chiropractor in Hazlet can address nerve irritation and joint dysfunction while your physical therapist helps retrain your musculoskeletal system, allowing your body to heal faster.
Some of the biggest benefits of using physical therapy along with chiropractic care include:
Occupational therapy, or OT, is to help patients of all ages and abilities engage in activities of daily living, or ADL. Often, that means helping patients reclaim the ability to continue working, going to school, accomplishing day-to-day tasks, or other activities common to daily living.
Occupational therapy can benefit individuals going through many conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, strokes, spinal cord injuries, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, and chronic pain. The end goal of occupational therapy is to help patients achieve the maximum level of independence and participation in their daily lives. If pain, discomfort, weakness, fatigue, or fear prevent you from participating in activities you love, an OT from NJ Sports Spine & Wellness could become the MVP of your wellness journey.
To give our patients the most complete pain relief and recovery options, our doctors and practitioners will often lean on the expertise of both a physical therapist and a chiropractor in Hazlet. By working together, your PT, OT, and chiropractor can provide you with a comprehensive approach to total-body functionality, from your spine and joints to your mind and range of motion.
Some of the most common benefits of using OT with chiropractic care include:
Acupuncture boosts your body's functions and helps improve its ability to heal through anatomic site stimulation - usually called acupuncture points or acupoints. To stimulate these points, acupuncturists at NJ Sports Spine & Wellness insert fine, sterile needles into your skin. Most patients don't feel any pain as needles are applied. Typically, needles are left in the skin up to 30 minutes. After your session, it's normal to feel incredibly relaxed.
While some practitioners still adhere to traditional philosophies, modern acupuncturists take an integrative approach to the therapy. Today, professional acupuncturists use these techniques to stimulate your body's natural healing and pain-fighting processes. When coupled with personalized care from a chiropractor in Hazlet as well as physical or occupational therapy, you can find real relief from the physical and emotional roadblocks holding you back. Some of the most reported benefits of acupuncture treatment include:
During an acupuncture session, you may feel a slight sensation of warmth or tingling at the needle's site of insertion. Generally speaking, acupuncture is painless and perfectly safe for you to consider. In fact, many practitioners and doctors recommend combining acupuncture with other treatment options like chiropractic adjustments.
Though acupuncture and chiropractic therapies come from different origins, both include non-invasive, holistic, and gentle approaches that don't require drugs to work. They also both facilitate total-body healing by addressing the underlying causes of your symptoms - not just the symptoms themselves.
Because acupuncture is known to release endorphins and improve blood flow, having a session prior to a chiropractic adjustment can be very beneficial. That's because, after acupuncture, your muscles are less stiff, more relaxed, and easier to adjust effectively. Over time, as you combine acupuncture and chiropractic therapy, you'll benefit from less inflammation and less pain as you heal from injuries or musculoskeletal conditions. That same truth applies to patients who undergo serious chiropractic adjustments.
At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, our staff consists of licensed and highly-trained professionals, including specialists focusing on:
Every member of our team believes that the path to wellness and a pain-free life begins with customized treatment plans that cater to your needs and body. Unlike some chiropractors in Hazlet, we do not treat on-the-surface symptoms with one-size-fits-all therapies. We do not rely on powerful pain medications to mask your pain or invasive surgeries that require weeks of recovery. Instead, we address the root causes of your pain so that we can help you live the happy, healthy life you're craving.
To achieve that goal, we'll conduct an in-depth evaluation to learn about your medical history. We'll also perform diagnostic tests and speak with you one-on-one to get a better sense of your needs. From there, we'll recommend the therapies that can give you a new lease on life and be there for every milestone you hit.
If you're fed up of living with the limits of pain and lack of mobility, we're here to help you break free. Contact our office today to get started.
By Jeanne Wall PublishedJuly 18, 2023 at 2:22 AMHAZLET, NJ: This year marks Hazlet's 175th anniversary and the celebrations will be BIG! Save the date for one of the best events in town! Saturday, September 9, 2023 is Hazlet Day! This is a community event that has something for everyone! Hazlet Day has plenty of activities for the children, including a petting zoo, inflatables, Touch-a-Truck, market and crafting vendors, and more! Hazlet Day will be held from 11am-4pm at Veter...
By Jeanne Wall
PublishedJuly 18, 2023 at 2:22 AM
HAZLET, NJ: This year marks Hazlet's 175th anniversary and the celebrations will be BIG! Save the date for one of the best events in town! Saturday, September 9, 2023 is Hazlet Day! This is a community event that has something for everyone! Hazlet Day has plenty of activities for the children, including a petting zoo, inflatables, Touch-a-Truck, market and crafting vendors, and more! Hazlet Day will be held from 11am-4pm at Veterans Park, 1776 Union Avenue, Hazlet.
There will be constant live entertainment, including excellent bands and dancing....and of course there's the food! Many delicious food trucks and vendors will be on site!
Bring the family and enjoy an outdoor friendly festival with neighbors. There will be plenty of promotional and informational booths and unique shopping opportunities! Come on out and meet Hazet First Responders, community leaders and nonprofit organizations.
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You can learn about charitable organizations serving the community and connect with civic organizations.
Hazlet Day offers great community relations opportunities for local businesses and organizations. You can apply to host an information booth HERE. Would you like to showcase and sell your merchandise/craft items? You can apply here.
Thank you for reading TAPinto Hazlet and Keyport, covering the Bayshore and more. Don't miss your daily news, sign up free today here. Have a news tip or story idea, text Jeanne Wall at 732.492.2500. This publication has thousands of local readers every day and is a fantastic way to provide unique marketing opportunities for your business or organization. Text Jeanne Wall 732.492.2500 for more information or email jwall@tapinto.net Interested in franchising TAPinto in Monmouth County? Text or email Jeanne Wall. Have a great day!
Jeanne Wall, Owner/Publisher of TAPinto Holmdel and Colts Neck, TAPinto Middletown, TAPinto Hazlet and Keyport. Delivering Daily Community News for Monmouth County, while providing unique Marketing, Branding, PR and Community Relations for local businesses and organizations.
By Jeanne Wall PublishedAugust 13, 2023 at 3:07 AMLast UpdatedAugust 13, 2023 at 3:19 AMJersey Shore Work Camp nonprofit is dedicated to providing home improvements to those who have a need in the Bayshore.HAZLET, NJ: The Jersey Shore Work Camp celebrated its 12th season of service to the Bayshore community in July. Held every other year, the work camp consists of Christian youth groups from c...
By Jeanne Wall
PublishedAugust 13, 2023 at 3:07 AM
Last UpdatedAugust 13, 2023 at 3:19 AM
Jersey Shore Work Camp nonprofit is dedicated to providing home improvements to those who have a need in the Bayshore.
HAZLET, NJ: The Jersey Shore Work Camp celebrated its 12th season of service to the Bayshore community in July. Held every other year, the work camp consists of Christian youth groups from churches across the country. The teens come together to provide complimentary home improvement projects for those living in the Bayshore, who could really benefit from a good deed. Their work is all done to honor God's words: "Love One Another."
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Founders of the Jersey Shore Work Camp are Bayshore locals; Bill and Gail Bechtoldt. The couple is known to many locally as the successful owners of Koch Florists in Middletown.
The Bechtoldt's do not want attention for their good work, but instead prefer to shine a light on the hundreds of teens, and adult supervisors who make up the Jersey Shore Work Camp. The couple passionately and quietly orchestrates a movement like no other, that brings hundreds of teens from across the country to deliver good deeds, and improve the living condition for many of the Bayshore's elderly, families in need, veterans, and those who are disabled.
The owner of this TAPinto publication was invited to attend a gathering with the youth participants in the work camp, at Raritan High School, a host partner for the organization. It was a uniquely inspiring experience to watch hundreds of teens, after a long hot day of working to help others, now moving and cheering and singing and dancing together, with a palpable joyful spirit. A tagline of the camp is "Character Produces Hope" and that is certainly true when you witness the character of the teens working together to do good for others.
It was moving.
It wasn't about scrolling on phones and disconnecting from one another. It was time-travel back to the days when teens were connected to one another, and there was real excitement about the simple things and about working together to do good.
VIDEO: Watch a brief video here of the Work Camp teens during mission week last month in the Bayshore:
The dates this year for the work camp, were July 10-14, and the teens performed a variety of projects… everything from pulling weeds to rebuilding a retainer wall to painting inside and outside, to repairing and painting decks, repairing a handicap ramp… and more! The teens are supervised and guided in their work, and it was hard not to catch them smiling and laughing with one another as they worked on the projects together.
So, how did the Bechtoldt's become involved in founding this movement?
It was in 1998, while on a mission trip with youth from St. John's United Methodist Church in Hazlet, when the Bechtoldt's were inspired. They had been doing mission work with youth from St. John’s United Methodist Church in Hazlet for many years. On one trip they got their inspiration from the Group Work Camps in Loveland, Colorado in 1998. Gail said, “let’s do that in NJ” and they were off and running, launching it the following year. They have partnered with the Group Work Camps headquartered in Loveland, Colorado, since 1999.
The Bechtoldt’s grandson, Kyle Johnson, and their daughter, Karrie Johnson, are active participants in the work. When asked what he enjoys most about the program, Kyle Johnson answered “It’s wonderful to meet new people, work along with them and make a difference in people’s lives. I told my grandfather I couldn’t wait to do it again this year.”
All participants receive three meals a day prepared by the staff at the Hazlet Middle School. School staff are retained for security, cleaning, and food preparation. The camp is held every two years as it takes that long to do the planning and raise the funds needed to house, feed and transport the workers during their time in New Jersey. The budget for one week exceeds $50,000 and participating youth also pay a small fee to be a part of the project.
This year there were 225 student participants who arrived on Sunday July 9, and were served a nice meal at the Hazlet Middle School by the Holmdel and Keyport Kiwanis Clubs. They received their lodging assignments and met later that afternoon for their work assignments.
In the evening, after dinner, they had an evening devotional and then off to bed with temporary boys’ and girls’ dormitory facilities set up at the Hazlet Middle school. Each day they rose by 6:30 a.m., had breakfast and then went with their supervisors to their assigned projects. They were provided with food and beverages for the day and usually worked from 9:30 to 3:30, returning to their lodging in time for dinner and, as on the first night, an evening devotional and feedback on the day’s activities.
Sylvia Allen, a Holmdel resident who runs Sylvia’s Children and Allen Consulting, was one of the recipients of the work done by these students. “I was THRILLED with the work they did and … with such gusto, enthusiasm and ’can do’ attitude! They painted my 1720 house, the carriage house and even the garage! I told these kids that if they ever needed reference letters, I should be the first one they called! THEY WERE GREAT!”
The response from the students was just as enthusiastic as they expressed how they felt about the experience including how much they learned, what a great opportunity to meet others from the United States and other churches, and how rewarding it was to be a part of a team. When asked if they would do it again, they unanimously and energetically answered, “ Yes!!!”
For more information on the Jersey Shore Work Camp if willing to donate time, Call Bill at 908-692-2039. Donations can be sent to Jersey Shore Work Camp at 1870 Route 35, Middletown, NJ 07748 (Koch Florist) or drop off during business hours. You can also follow them on the Jersey Shore Work Camp Facebook page.
Thank you for reading TAPinto Hazlet and Keyport, covering the Bayshore and more. Don't miss your daily news, sign up free today here. Have a news tip or story idea, text Jeanne Wall at 732.492.2500. This publication has thousands of local readers every day and is a fantastic way to provide unique marketing opportunities for your business or organization. Text Jeanne Wall 732.492.2500 for more information or email jwall@tapinto.net Interested in franchising TAPinto in Monmouth County? Text or email Jeanne Wall. Have a great day!
Jeanne Wall, Owner/Publisher of TAPinto Holmdel and Colts Neck, TAPinto Middletown, TAPinto Hazlet and Keyport. Delivering Daily Community News for Monmouth County, while providing unique Marketing, Branding, PR and Community Relations for local businesses and organizations.
Four-minute readAsbury Park PressThe deliveries come to the Lupo family home in Hazlet twice a week around dinnertime. On Mondays, it’s pizzas. On Thursdays, the smorgasbord includes chicken parmigiana, buffalo wings, subs and salads.A local Italian place, Giuseppe Pizza & Restaurant, sends the goods gratis. It’s a kind gesture to make life a bit easier for 17-year-old Jack Lupo, his parents and three siblings. Jack has been undergoing chemotherapy for Ewing sarcoma — a rare cancer ...
Asbury Park Press
The deliveries come to the Lupo family home in Hazlet twice a week around dinnertime. On Mondays, it’s pizzas. On Thursdays, the smorgasbord includes chicken parmigiana, buffalo wings, subs and salads.
A local Italian place, Giuseppe Pizza & Restaurant, sends the goods gratis. It’s a kind gesture to make life a bit easier for 17-year-old Jack Lupo, his parents and three siblings. Jack has been undergoing chemotherapy for Ewing sarcoma — a rare cancer found in his right ankle — and is facing a 16-hour surgery Sept. 6.
Childhood cancer is a gut punch for any family. Adding to the Lupos’ hardship, both of Jack’s parents are out of work. His mother Sarah took leave from her job in radiology to be at Jack’s side through the endless appointments and hospital stays at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. His father Mike is a painter who’s been largely sidelined by injuries incurred from a fall off a ladder in 2020.
“It’s been rough,” Sarah Lupo said, “but people have been so incredibly generous.”
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A community is rallying behind them, from multiple local charities to the alumni of his high school hockey team to the guy delivering chicken parm (Jack’s favorite) on Thursdays. The material help makes a difference, and so does the moral support.
“I can’t even explain how much it’s meant to me,” Jack said. “I’m really thankful for what everyone is doing.”
Through three years as a student at St. John Vianney High School, Jack Lupo was living the dream. He’s posted a 3.9 grade-point average while playing varsity ice hockey and lacrosse and holding a job at Grana Pizza Café in Matawan. In May, right after the Lancers’ final lacrosse game, he experienced ankle pain. At first he chalked it up to soreness from the sport. But later, imaging revealed the bad news: It was Ewing sarcoma, a cancer that begins in a bone or joint and typically occurs in children and young adults.
Jack spent the summer undergoing chemotherapy — three cycles of three weeks apiece. Unable to play hockey or lacrosse, he took up the gentler sport of golf to stay active.
“I’m feeling pretty good right now, just taking it day by day,” he said. “I get a little nauseous now and then.”
Right after his diagnosis, Sarah said, Jack told his family members, “God gave me this because He knew I was strong enough.” He’s handled the numerous challenges — fatigue, nausea, isolation (his immune system is compromised during the chemo cycle) and uncertainty — without complaint.
“He’s always smiling and so positive," Sarah said. “If he had hair, you’d never know there was anything wrong.”
A critical step in Jack’s treatment comes Sept. 6, when he'll undergo a 16-hour bone regeneration surgery to remove and replace his right tibia (the main bone between the knee and ankle) with a metal rod that will help regrow the bone over time. Two follow-up surgeries will be needed, plus 10 more rounds of chemotherapy.
“Once we’re done with this, God willing, he can do whatever he did before,” Sarah said.
As with many families in their position, it bothers the Lupos that less than 5% of federal spending on cancer research is devoted to the pediatric forms of the disease. The good news is that goodwill groups are doing their best to fill the gap.
A day after Bob Heugle got a phone call about Jack’s illness, he was at the Lupo home. Heugle never had met them before, but his Frances Foundation, a Holmdel-based nonprofit that assists local pediatric cancer patients and their families, provided gift cards and offers of further financial assistance.
Heugle has seen it all, but even he was taken aback by the Lupos’ reaction.
“They already, at their very first meeting with me, were telling me about how they want to give back to the Frances Foundation,” Heugle said. “The very first meeting, when their kid is just starting the cycles of chemo. That’s what really struck me.”
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Jack will be among the honorees at the Frances Foundation’s annual gala Oct. 21. His whole family will be guests as well.
“Even in the best of times, it’s hard,” Heugle said of the financial strain on pediatric cancer families. “All the parents' priorities go to getting that kid well. They put everything aside — that includes jobs.”
Another local charity, Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer, launched an online fundraiser for the Lupos that has raised $42,000 of the $75,000 goal so far. Infinite Love was founded by Middletown resident Andrea Verdone Gorsegner, whose daughter Natalie was diagnosed with leukemia in 2012 (Natalie is now 13 and is considered cured).
Earlier this month, participants in the annual St. John Vianney ice hockey alumni charity game dedicated the event to the Lupo family, bringing a big crowd together with Jack in attendance.
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“I want Jack to know how much support he has and how much he inspires other people,” Sarah Lupo said. “I’ll be the first to admit — he is holding us all up.”
The well-worn phrase “it takes a village” certainly applies here. Jack Lupo knows better than anyone. Reflecting on the support from strangers, neighbors, siblings and especially his parents — who set aside everything to help him fight — Jack summarized three brutal months in four wonderful words.
“I truly feel loved.”
You can support the Lupo family fundraiser online at www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTg0MzE4 or by mailing a donation to Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer, c/o "Jack Strong" at P.O. Box 4064, Middletown, NJ 07748.
Jerry Carino is community columnist for the Asbury Park Press, focusing on the Jersey Shore’s interesting people, inspiring stories and pressing issues. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.
School bus driver Linda Shorafa, a 66-year-old from Hazlet, New Jersey, was experiencing abdominal pain in winter 2021, when she saw her primary care physician Vijay Saaraswat. M.D., for a routine check-in. When Linda got the news from Dr. Saaraswat that her blood test showed there may be something going on with her kidneys, she was scared. She’d seen her mother go through dialysis and swore to herself that she&rs...
School bus driver Linda Shorafa, a 66-year-old from Hazlet, New Jersey, was experiencing abdominal pain in winter 2021, when she saw her primary care physician Vijay Saaraswat. M.D., for a routine check-in. When Linda got the news from Dr. Saaraswat that her blood test showed there may be something going on with her kidneys, she was scared. She’d seen her mother go through dialysis and swore to herself that she’d never do it.
“I saw what my mother went through, what she felt and how she looked, and I told this to Dr. Saaraswat because I was scared,” she says. But dialysis wasn’t going to be her fate.
Dr. Saaraswat referred Linda to urologist Emad R. Rizkala, M.D., director of robotic surgery at Bayshore Medical Center, who ordered an abdominal MRI. The MRI showed a small mass inside one of her kidneys. Linda had kidney cancer, but the good news was that the mass—just over half an inch in size—was small enough that Dr. Rizkala believed it could be removed surgically with no need for any other further treatment and without risk of dialysis.
He explained to Linda he could do a robotic partial nephrectomy, a minimally invasive surgery in which robotic tools are inserted through three or four small incisions to remove a portion of the kidney that is involved with the tumor.
Some advantages of robotic surgery:
Since this would be Linda’s first major surgery, she was hesitant. “I had the nerve to ask him, ‘How much experience do you have doing this?’” Linda says. Dr. Rizkala wasn’t offended by her inquiry. He told her what she wanted to know without any defensiveness on his part. Linda was impressed. “He respected me as a patient, and that is what gave me confidence to have the surgery with Dr. Rizkala,” she says.
Linda’s small tumor was unusual in that it was completely within her kidney. Because it couldn’t be seen just by looking at the surface of the kidney, Dr. Rizkala used an ultrasound probe placed on the kidney’s surface through small surgical incision.
The ultrasound probe allowed him to see where the tumor was in the kidney as well as its extent, so he could remove the tumor precisely without removing too much healthy tissue. “Having the ultrasound technology available was key,” he says, because with its guidance, he was able to remove the small tumor in one piece. That way, there was no worry of cancer cells left behind, and the kidney was left intact and functioning normally.
Linda was ecstatic that she wouldn’t need any further treatment or dialysis. An added bonus was that she had minimal pain after the surgery. She went home the day after the procedure and never needed prescription pain medication or even over-the-counter pain relievers.
Two weeks after surgery, Linda was back at work. While the children riding her school bus didn’t understand why she’d been gone, they were happy to have her back. One child, upon seeing Linda back, excitedly called out, “We miss Linda!”
“Little kids love you,” Linda says with a smile.
Nearly a year after her surgery, Linda still feels good, and her follow-up scans are clear. “From the second I walked into Dr. Rizkala’s office, he had my best interests at heart,” she says.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
Hazlet resident Ruth Alvarez's backyard view after developer clear-cut the trees. Photo Credit: File PhotoThis was Hazlet resident Ruth Alvarez's backyard view before the clear-cutting. Photo Credit: File PhotoPhoto Credit: File PhotoThis was Hazlet resident Ruth Alvarez's backyard view before the clear-cutting. Photo Credit: File Photo By Jeanne WallPublishedMarch 19, 2023 at 9:20 PMHazl...
Hazlet resident Ruth Alvarez's backyard view after developer clear-cut the trees. Photo Credit: File Photo
This was Hazlet resident Ruth Alvarez's backyard view before the clear-cutting. Photo Credit: File Photo
Photo Credit: File Photo
This was Hazlet resident Ruth Alvarez's backyard view before the clear-cutting. Photo Credit: File Photo
By Jeanne Wall
PublishedMarch 19, 2023 at 9:20 PM
Hazlet resident Ruth Alvarez shared before and after pictures at last week's Hazlet Township Committee meeting. Above is a picture of Alvarez's new view after the developer clear-cut the trees behind her fence.
HAZLET, NJ - When the local Land Use Board in Hazlet
an eight home subdivision, Rolling Hills Estates, back in 2016, an adjacent neighbor, Ruth Alvarez, was very concerned. She was upset about the land sale the township made to a private developer those seven years ago, and the resulting housing development approval. Her concern was clear-cutting of the wooded area between the properties that provided her a buffer and quality of life. The developer is Len Rubenstein.
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During the testimony back then, the land use board engineer, Mr. Otto of CME, stated that there should be a conservation easement to provide that protection both for Alvarez and other adjacent properties. Attorney Greg Vella disagreed.
According to the minutes (attached), Mr. Otto explained that the initial application had called for clear-cutting of the site. He met with the applicant, and they resubmitted a proposed landscape plan that called for a 20-foot buffer from the cul-de-sac north, a tree save area along the mobile home park, 20 foot and 30 foot buffers along the westerly property line, and a 30-foot tree save area on the southerly property line.
The applicant's attorney Fred Neimann agreed with it and also stated that he wanted homeowners to still be able to cut down the trees after they purchase the property if need be. Otto recommended a conservation easement for the trees to be in a deed restricted area, which would not allow anyone to cut them down. That's where Vella stepped in to disagree.
Vella said that "imposing a conservation easement would restrict the homeowners with being able to use their property, he said there is no need to buffer a residential reuse from another residential use and puts a burden on residents."
Fast-forward to 2023 where a denuded property is causing that very concern with Ruth Alvarez. She shared photos with TAPinto Hazlet to illustrate the result of the board's approval.
After witnessing the clear-cutting, Alvarez went directly to the board last week, on March 14, at the Hazlet Township Committee meeting, to share her concerns.
"My primary concern walking into that meeting was the fact that lots of people benefited from this development, the township, the landowners, and the builders. I stated that I felt my home would be de-valued as a result of this development, which it has." stated Alvarez.
She presented various photos to the board. "The majority of all trees have been cut down including the buffers along the mobile home park. I am asking for a commitment from the town and the builder to have very large trees such as Leland Cyprus or Green Giant Arborvitae’s put behind my house. Planting 5’ trees is not an option that would solve my privacy issues. I’m not sure what the intention is for the tree buffers along the mobile home, but that is also an issue. These were very mature trees that were over 80’ high, those are not replaceable." Alvarez stated.
For his part, according to an email shared by Alvarez, Rubenstein is still planning to plant in the spring.
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