Patient Testimonials

*I started seeing Dawn Balusik in November 2005 for chronic neck pain. I suffered from whiplash: I had neck pain during the day, and a hard time getting comfortable to sleep.

*After a laparoscopy to treat endometriosis, my menstrual cramps actually got worse. Much worse. Every month, I would experience crippling pain that was so bad, I’d be bedridden for days and had to take prescription-strength painkillers.

*I was diagnosed with stage four metastatic melanoma on September 28, 2007 and was told the average life expectancy for this level of disease is about 8 months.

*After going through many miscarriages, we went to an infertility specialist. All the numerous tests we did were inconclusive and they couldn’t find out what had been causing the early miscarriages. 

*In October of 2006, I was in a car accident and suffered 2 herniated discs in my lower lumbar region. I had been trying for years to get rid of the lower back pain that I was suffering from but to no avail.

*If you are anything like us you’re probably not sure about this whole acupuncture and holistic medicine thing. If so, I ask that you read our story and hopefully it will help you make up your mind.

*One year after having total knee replacement I was still experiencing pain. This was affecting my sleep and my ability to carry out day to day activities. I had followed all of the recommended rehabilitation therapy and drug treatment and still not received any relief.

At this point is when I reached out to Dawn to see what options could be afforded by acupuncture. After 4 weeks I was seeing improvements in mobility, reduction in pain, reduction in anxiety related to the pain and improved sleep. I continue to receive treatment once a month. I have drastic improvement.

There has been drastic improvement in my lifestyle, allowing me to return to my normal activities.

Kim B., Dunedin, FL

*Individual results may vary.

*Several years ago I had a  severe back injury to my middle back, that also affected my lower back and neck. I could not even stand up straight. My general practitioner prescribed muscle relaxers and pain meds but those did not fix the problem, but only masked the real issue.

*Dr. Dawn,
Thank you so much for the excellent treatment for my upper back pain. As we discussed, I have disc issues at C-6 and C-7. One doctor, a few years back, said surgery was the only cure. I was not too keen on that. My flare up this summer caused me to do some research into some other options. I had decided I would try acupuncture as a last ditch effort prior to any surgical procedures. I found you on the internet and, once I fully understood all of your certifications, decided to give you a try.

*I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in August of 2010. I lived with the symptoms of this terrible disease for a year and two months until I decided I needed to take my health into my own hands. My doctor told me I would never be cured but would be able to mask the symptoms with different medications. My quality of life was terrible!

*Our journey to conceiving our daughter was kind of a long one. Our story isn’t the worst story I’ve heard but it also wasn’t the easiest.

After trying a little over a year to conceive, I decided to seek medical help to see what was going on.  In December 2014, I started seeing a reproductive medicine doctor. After an enormous amount of testing and money I was diagnosed with stage three endometriosis.

Hello Dawn,

*I would like to tell you that your acupuncture worked for me!! I strongly believe the treatments you did helped me conceive my daughter who is now 16 months old. Just when we thought that we couldn’t be happier, we conceived again,

*When I walked into Dawn’s office last February, I had just undergone a second round of IUI which, I would find out a week later, did not work.

I have been diagnosed with severe endometriosis. It took 7 years to be diagnosed, and it was only after an ultrasound showed a tumor on my ovary. I had been told for months by the doctor that it was only a cyst and to not worry. I was in excruciating pain. The day after my ultrasound, the doctor operated. I had two tumors, and lost my left ovary and tube.

*When I stopped taking the birth control pill in preparation for trying to conceive I experienced amenorrhea, or absence of menstruation.  My gynecologist did an ultrasound which showed that my ovaries had the string of pearls appearance which is the hallmark of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

*When I first went to see Dawn Balusik in December 2007 I was suffering from a recently diagnosed case of Ulcerative Colitis. My doctor had me taking numerous medications, including corticosteroids, which were masking my symptoms. I also was suffering from numerous side effects.

*After suffering with recurring severe wrist pain (tendinitis) for approximately seven years, I enlisted the help of Dawn Balusik in the Spring of 2008 and began a series of acupuncture treatments.

My tendinitis developed from a sports injury, and had only gotten worse through the years.

*I started treatment with Dawn Balusik, AP, DOM, LMT on October 5, 2005. I had tendinitis in my right wrist, shortly after my Carpal Tunnel surgery. My doctor said I would need another surgery to take care of it. I did not want to have another surgery. I had the problem for about a month before I came to see Dawn Balusik.

*I am writing this to tell what I have experienced with the treatments that Dr. Dawn has given me. I had heard of acupuncture before, but I was never sure I would want to go with that kind of treatment. I have had a lot of stiffness and discomfort in my neck for about a year. It just seemed to get worse as time went on.

*My name is Hazmin F. I have been [getting acupuncture] for about 2 years now. I have been going to Dawn Balusik for probably the last 8 months. I have RSD. For me that only means pain. Pain in my arm. Pain in my hand. In my shoulders. In my back. I injured my right wrist and arm in 2003. I saw a physical therapist for a year, had 2 cortisone shots and then had surgery.

*My name is Erica B, and as of March 2010 I have been treated by Dawn Balusik for migraines for 7 months. I have had migraines since childhood that gradually worsened and became unbearable after the birth of my second child 5 years ago. At that time I was experiencing 10-13 migraines per month. My symptoms included excruciating pulsatile head pain, neck rigidity, sensitivity to noise and light, and nausea.

*I started acupuncture in October 2007, after my second epileptic seizure, which resulted in post-concussion syndrome with migraine headaches. The headaches would start mildly each morning and progressively get worse until they became excruciating by evening. The doctors increased medication that only created lethargy, diminished my appetite, and created an ability to sleep 16 hours daily.

*September 2006 was when I decided to try acupuncture for hearing loss due to Meniere’s disease.

In May 2005, I started to experience significant hearing loss and thought it was earwax build-up or some kind of infection. Seeking treatment through my primary healthcare provider, she referred me to an ear specialist. They diagnosed it as Meniere’s disease and recommended steroids to help with the inflammation.

*What was the condition I had: Knee pain, possibly arthritis.
How long did I have it before seeing Dawn: 2 months.
How severe was it? Did it limit me from any activities: Very painful. Yes, even walking was difficult.

*My name is Lynn. I had bursitis in both hips for several months after doing a lot of walking on a vacation. Ouch! It hurt to sit, stand, walk, lie in bed at night – all the things I took for granted. Aleve didn’t provide me much relief and I didn’t want a steroid injection,

*In August I decided to try acupuncture on my hands, which were swollen and painful, with little movement.

*I have gone to several acupuncturists not achieving the results I have with Dawn. She certainly has a gift for assessing conditions and appropriately treating.  She has made a big difference in my well-being and in general my life.

* I didn’t know that acupuncture and Oriental medicine was an ideal way to treat my hives outbreak. After trying my luck with a dermatologist, I found Dawn’s acupuncture treatments and Oriental medicine to be the most effective in relieving and ultimately curing my problem.

*Dawn helped me with neuropathy in my left foot and severe aches & pains in my legs. I had this problem for approximately 4-6 months steadily before seeing Dawn. It was quite severe. I could not stand on my feet for more than 2-3 minutes. Before seeing Dawn I had tried physical therapy which had helped for a little while. I also tried medication.

*I went to Dr. Dawn Balusik about 9 months ago. The bottoms of my feet, especially the front ½ of them, were very sore to walk on, almost to the point of limping. She took a thorough history and listened to what I said. She proceeded to treat me with acupuncture and herbal supplements.

*Dr. Dawn, I would like to give testimony for whatever purpose you can use it, to encourage others who may be suffering from the pain I was dealing with before coming to see you.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia several years ago, and also osteoarthritis.

*My name is Emily.
I started seeing Dawn about 5 to 6 weeks ago. I chose to see her because at age 48 I had been extremely ill for about 1 year. My physical conditions included hemorrhaging…which caused me to have two seizures from blood loss, extreme anemia, racing heart, extreme weight loss, memory loss, and extreme weakness.

*I began seeing Dr. Dawn when I decided to stop using synthetic hormones to control my endometriosis. After over 15 years manipulating my own hormones with western medicine, my body had had enough and I had basically run out of options other than more surgery.

*I am a 2x breast cancer survivor, 1999 and 2004. I’ve had episodes of severe dizziness in 1996 and again in 2003. In 2003 the symptoms were somewhat resolved with a long-term detox program. In early summer 2005 I had significant episodes of dizziness.

I went to a general practice MD who was stumped after a brain MRI, blood tests, etc. I asked the MD what she thought of acupuncture and if it was worth a try.

*Dear Dr. Dawn, you saved my trip! As you know, I had been fighting severe intestinal problems for two weeks when I came to you. My doctor’s advise was to “eat what you want, you’re going to be miserable for quite a while, your system will eventually get back to normal, but I don’t recommend you get on a plane this week!”

*I am a leukemia and stem cell transplant survivor. I have had a lot of issues since then from all the medicines post-treatment and during.

I have had several surgeries for my leg veins for edema in my feet and remained with edema in my feet and peripheral neuropathy. I was told by several doctors that there wasn’t anything more they could do for me. I was given intermittent leg pressure equipment that didn’t help anything.

*My name is Nicole B., I am 31 years old. On July 12, 2009 I woke up to the right side of my face feeling tingly, by noon it was paralyzed. I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy. The doctor told me it could take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a year to heal. They gave me a prescription for Valtrex and a steroid.

I looked like I’d had a stroke. I had to sleep with a patch over my eye because it could not close on its own. After a week of no results and researching alternative cures, I decided to try acupuncture.

*I began treatment with Dr. Dawn Balusik in Oct 2004. I had been suffering from sciatica since May, and had been to my doctor, was taking the maximum amount of Motrin daily, and going to physical therapy, with no results. I was unable to sleep in my bed, unable to shave my legs or cut my toenails, and woke up most mornings in great pain.

*Treatment for my condition began 10-17-07 after having had moderate to severe pain in my right leg since early July. The pain was caused by a pinched sciatic nerve. I initially sought treatment from my primary care physician. My daily routine consisted of a 12 hr. work schedule which caused significant pain followed by pain relievers at bedtime and starting the cycle over again the next day.

*The condition that Dawn Balusik helped me with: Intense sciatic pain, including pain from the hip to calf and numbness in the left foot. Secondary pain in both knees from torn meniscus and osteoarthritis.

*When I first met Dawn I was in severe whole body pain from head to toe. Dawn listened intently to all of my concerns and began immediate treatment for my biggest concern at the time.

*I am a 39 year old firefighter paramedic and I have a herniated disc at the L5/S1 level of my spine.(low back) I injured my back and saw several traditional doctors looking for solutions. My pain lingered for over a year. I tried physical therapy, medications, spine injections, chiropractic, and massage. NOTHING helped.

*In July, 2010 I hit rock bottom. I was in tremendous pain, using a walker to sit in and push myself around.  I was taking so much medicine that I was forgetting things, had gained over 50 lbs, and was extremely depressed. I was under a doctor’s care but the pain had consumed my life and I was scared I was dying.

*I started seeing Dr. Dawn for my personal health (allergies, back pain). She has been a wonderful doctor for me – kind, compassionate and, most importantly, effective. But Dawn has offered me and my family so much more.

If you are a parent seeking a way to help your child who may have developmental issues or nervous system issues (ADHD, sensory issues), Dr. Dawn’s knowledge and expertise may give you the help, support and answers for which you have been searching.

*My name is Melissa J and today is 2/26/13. I want to share with you how Dr. Dawn Balusik changed my life. I struggled with foot ailments since 2004, but they hit their peak in 2010. I had severe pain in both heels, Achilles tendon, big toe and and extremely swollen left ankle.

*I came to see Dr. Dawn in July of 2008 I was in pretty bad shape physically and mentally. I have been treated by medical doctors for 15 years without improvements and certain aspects were regressing. I have problems with my lungs, kidneys, prostate and circulation. The doctors keep prescribing medicine which have not improved any of my conditions.

*I have been trying to conceive for about 6 months, but because of suffering from severe ovarian cyst, I had become worried about my fertility, which brought me to Dawn Balusik. For the last year, I would have an extremely painful and large cyst every month. Neither my doctor nor my OB/GYN could help with the cause or fix them from getting so large, so, I would suffer from pain for about 2 weeks out of each month.

*For the last 20+ years, I have been suffering from allergies and severe sinus infections, pressure and headaches. These would routinely flair up in the spring and fall months. When I moved to Florida 7 years ago, I was having flair ups almost year round, which at times were so debilitating that I had to miss days at work and avoid enjoying the beautiful outdoor activities in Florida like golf, swimming and picnics.

*I sought Dr. Dawn’s help for acupuncture after my husband and I spent nearly six frustrating and emotionally draining years trying to have another child. Our first child was conceived naturally and was born at full term when I was 38 years old. About six months after that, due to my age, we began trying to conceive again but were unsuccessful.

*My husband and I had been trying to get pregnant for about four years. I am an extremely healthy individual and found this extremely frustrating. After the doctors ran tests on us and I had a laparoscopy, we determined that there was, in fact, nothing medically wrong with us.

*Dear Dawn,

I’ve been wanting to send you this thank you for a while, but got caught up with moving into a house and trips up north for baby showers!

*After suffering multiple miscarriages (between 7-9 weeks) and dealing with the pain of endometriosis, I decided to take the advice of an OB/GYN family friend and try acupuncture. She had used acupuncture during her IVF treatment and given birth to healthy twin boys.