Paul Pancoe was winding down an accomplished career in supply chain management. At 65, he was ready for his second act…acting, swimming and maybe a little supply chain consulting. But, chronic foot pain kept him in the wings.
When Pancoe was 18, a forklift ran over the right foot, dislocating three toes, blocking blood flow, and leading to a gangrene infection. Doctors surgically removed the gangrenous tissue, but the foot was permanently damaged. That damage affected how he walked and led to other health issues over the years, including weight gain.
The chronic pain, however, was relatively new. He’d lived with it for about year. On his worst days, he couldn’t walk for more than five minutes.
Treatment at a major sports medicine institute failed to achieve the pain relief he needed to take the stage. He tried a local physician, also to no avail. The physician suggested he consider acupuncture at the UCI Health Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute.
His first visit was with licensed acupuncturist Milim Jeon, PhD, LAc. That experience became a springboard for exploring the evidence-informed team care that distinguishes the integrative health institute from others.
Paul came in with multiple issues that could not be addressed by only one provider. It required the support of a team that could truly address mind, body and spirit and was complemented by Paul taking responsibility for his health as well.
Dr. Kim Hecht, DO, medical director
In 2021, Pancoe had his first appointment with Dr. Kim Hecht, a board-certified specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and the institute’s medical director.
“Paul came in with multiple issues that could not be addressed by only one provider,” said Dr. Hecht. “It required the support of a team that could truly address mind, body and spirit and was complemented by Paul taking responsibility for his health as well.”
Dr. Hecht suggested that Pancoe meet with April Reilly, physical therapist, for integrative physical therapy techniques. Reilly combined manual therapy with mindfulness to address memories and emotions linked to the pain. After six visits, he was walking about three-quarters of a mile and reporting 80 percent relief of his foot pain.
“People want to feel like they matter. They don’t want to feel like they are part of a system,” said Pancoe. “I’ve never once felt that with anyone at the institute — particularly not with April. She goes the extra step. Her approach is not transactional; it’s transformative. She changes the way you look at your body and your pain.”
When Pancoe’s left foot began to hurt without any physical injury to cause the discomfort, Dr. Hecht introduced him to pain reprocessing therapy (PRT), an evidence-informed approach that has been shown to be effective in treating chronic pain. PRT uses psychological techniques to retrain the brain to interpret and respond to signals from the body in ways that break the cycle of chronic pain. And, it worked for him.
Pancoe visited with Dr. Bavani Nadeswaran, an internal medicine physician who specializes in bariatric medicine, for weight management. As part of her comprehensive approach, she proposed neurofeedback, a form of biofeedback which would use brainwaves to teach him new ways to respond to underlying issues related to weight and pain.
Dr. Christine Kraus, a clinical neuropsychologist, administered the neurofeedback.
“The treatments that Paul received allowed him to become more aware of his pain and the emotions related to it,” Dr. Kraus said. “He learned relaxation techniques and listened to positive affirmations. He became able to prioritize his behaviors to address his physical health, such as swimming more, eating healthier.”
“I still want chips,” said Pancoe. “But, I used to be like a bear in a campground. I used to stand in front of the fridge for no reason,” he said. “Now, I want to nourish my body. I love going to the farmers market.”
Pancoe swims with the Mission Viejo Nadadores Masters Swimming Club, benefiting from the instruction of U.S. Masters certified swim coach Robert Mitchell. His feet are pain-free. And, although his weight fluctuates, he continues his weight loss journey with the support of institute resources. He is also exploring ways the institute can help him improve his heart health.
“The biggest thing for me is that it’s not an assembly line,” said Pancoe. “They’re not looking at a chart, spending 10 minutes with you and going on to the next thing. They look at me and tell me what’s best for me, not just ‘you need to weigh 190.’ I get good information; I can make more informed decisions.”
The level of care I have received is amazing. It’s a very caring community.
Paul Pancoe, retired supply chain manager and SSIHI patient
As for the acting, he’s moving forward. This year, Pancoe appeared on stage at Grand Central Arts Center in Santa Ana for JU1CE, a festival of one-act plays co-produced by The Wayward Artist and the Orange County Playwrights Alliance in January. In July, theatergoers enjoyed his performance of detective Joe Mamet in “Murder Me Always” at another local playhouse.
He reflects on the whole-person approach to health that helped him release the pain interfering with life’s second act.
“The level of care I have received is amazing. It’s a very caring community,” he said. “You ultimately have to do it yourself, but there’s a village to help.”
