When Christina came to me in her late 40s, she was tired of the endless cycle of medications and injections for her knee pain. Frustrated and stuck, she felt like nothing was working. But as I began evaluating her, it became clear that her pain wasn't just mechanical—it was fueled by inflammation.

Together, we made bold changes. Christina eliminated gluten, dairy and sugar from her diet. Almost immediately, she felt the difference—her knees began to heal, and her mood lifted. Even more remarkable was the clarity she gained when she reintroduced those foods. She could now see just how much they had been holding her back.

With newfound confidence, Christina made smarter choices, and the results were astonishing. Not only is she now pain-free and moving freely, but she's also shed 50 pounds, feels more energized, and enjoys deeper, more fulfilling relationshps with her family. Christina didn't just relieve her knee pain; she transformed her entire life.

I’ve been a Physical Therapist for over 25 years, primarily helping people with pain—back pain, knee pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain. Over the last 15 years, my work has evolved beyond just treating pain to restoring the health of organs and systems. I’ve helped patients overcome complex health issues like post-concussion symptoms, hormonal imbalances, mood disorders, trauma, gastrointestinal problems, and more.

In the clinic, I’m like a detective—doing precise, hands-on work to identify and restore the organs, nerves, vessels, and tissues that need support. For many of my patients, treatment also includes stress management and awareness, nutrition, exercise, and sleep, all to decrease inflammation and optimize health.

My health journey started early. Since first grade, I’ve struggled with weight, mood swings, and GI issues. I was an overweight child—teased, picked last for teams, and dreaded field day because I always came in last. I remember going to the bathroom at school and just not being able to get clean. I was gassy and so embarrassed!

Growing up, I ate Froot Loops, McDonald's, KFC, white bread, and Kool-Aid. My mom was constantly dieting—following plans like the SetPoint Diet with strict calorie counts. She’d hang 1200, 1400, and 1800 calorie charts on the fridge. I remember the day she decided to help me lose weight—it was the 5th grade. She’d cook skinless chicken breasts, buy Diet Coke, and we’d do Richard Simmons' exercise routines before school.

By seventh grade, I had my “glow-up,” but my mood swings, back pain, and heavy periods didn’t go away. Low-fat eating was all the rage, so I counted calories, avoided fats, and drank diet soda like water. But I was still gassy, uncomfortable, and embarrassed.

In college, things got more complicated. My mood swings worsened, I had knee pain, plantar fasciitis, and my GI issues were worse than ever. My periods were heavier and more painful, and I was still counting calories and fat content in a journal. I noticed milk made my symptoms worse, so I started watching my intake.

Later, during triathlon and Ironman training, I learned more about the power of food. I made healthier choices, but my mood swings and GI issues persisted—worse than ever! Despite going hardcore gluten-free and taking doctor-prescribed supplements, nothing changed. I was training for Ironmans, but still felt awful, and my knee and back pain lingered.

I began to realize that dairy and sugar, especially combined, were huge triggers for my gut issues. Sometimes, though, there wasn’t an obvious cause. I kept food diaries and did my best to limit dairy and sugar. Frustratingly, the symptoms remained.

In 2015 my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Her diagnosis lit a fire in me to learn everything I could about Alzheimer's as I wanted to help her AND I did NOT want that as my destiny. I dove deep into Functional Medicine, learned about my microbiome, SIBO, environmental toxins, liver health, genetics, hormones, and food sensitivities. After testing, I found out that gluten and grains were causing high inflammation in my body. I finally had the evidence to make the life-changing decision to eliminate gluten and grains for good.

Immediately, I felt leaner and more comfortable in my clothes. Though I still enjoyed wine and the occasional ice cream, I focused on staying mostly gluten, grain, dairy, and sugar-free. But my gut issues and post-pregnancy acne still didn’t fully resolve.

I tried diets like Whole 30 (made it to Day 27) and took breaks from alcohol, but didn’t see much difference. In my Functional Medicine studies, the Elimination Diet kept coming up, but I resisted—thinking, “I’ve already given up so much; what’s left—coffee, wine...?”

My mom died in 2022. The following year, after a series of emotional challenges and fluctuating hormones, I hit a low point in my mood and energy. I sought help from a doctor specializing in women’s hormones, and the week before my appointment, I had an emergency appendectomy, and during the surgery, they discovered I had fatty liver disease. It was incredibly frustrating—I thought I had been eating so healthy!

That’s when I knew I had to hit the reset button. The doctor’s office had a $1500 reset/elimination program, and I knew it was time to invest. I also had a good friend who joined me in going alcohol-free for the month and I was held accountable by both my investment and doctor. It was hard, no doubt, but I discovered which foods had been silently fueling inflammation in my body. Finally, I had the clarity I needed to take control of my health.

Today, I’ve pieced together my 'secret sauce'—a combination of clean eating, dry brushing, sauna sessions, exercise and supplements tailored to my genetics. It’s a lot of work sometimes, but the benefits are absolutely worth it. I feel better than I ever have.

I’ve learned that understanding your body takes time and persistence, but the rewards are undeniable. Now, I’m ready to help others find their own 'secret sauce'—a formula for health and vitality that works for them. You don’t have to go it alone.