Neilly A. Buckalew

Physiatrist (Physical Medicine) | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Living Oak Integrative Medicine and Rehabilitation Post Falls ID, 83854 Show map

About
Contacts & Locations

About

Dr. Buckalew is a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, or physiatrist. Physiatrists specialize in pain management, muscular skeletal injuries including sports, brain and spinal cord injury, amputee management, as well as neurological conditions such as MS, stroke, or Parkinson’s. Dr. Buckalew is also a Naturopath, acupuncturist, and certified yoga instructor and Thai yoga therapist as well as award winning medical researcher and educator. Her eclectic knowledge allows her to facilitate holistically your health both in preventing and treating dis-ease.

Education and Training

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Dartmouth College BA 1991

Board Certification

American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Provider Details

MaleEnglish 14 years of experience

Neilly A. Buckalew

Neilly A. Buckalew's Expert Contributions

My Latest Posts
My Answers

Yoga – Is it for Me?
The word yoga for many brings to mind a young woman or man in a seemingly impossible gymnastic posture. The postures, called asana in Sanskrit, that have become popular today are a small facet of commercialized modern yoga, and do not reflect the full practices and potential benefits of yoga...

Does acupuncture lower stress about covid-19?
Thank you for your question. It is important to learn to diffuse stress in our lives as it can cause both mental and physical ailments. Acupuncture is but one of many tools that can help with the effects of stress. Treatments are individualized to your unique needs in bringing balance to your wellbeing. I hope that you find what works for you when facing challenging times. Kind Regards, B READ MORE
Is acupuncture good for heel pain?
The theory from the Traditional Chinese Perspective is that through acupuncture the movement of chi is redirected to relieve blockages, and balance your wellbeing. From a Western medicine perspective there are various theories from local effects to influencing the overall nervous system, including releasing endorphins. Most people deeply relax with acupuncture, which can reduce a pain response both the physical and the emotional. READ MORE
Is it true that people suffering from high blood pressure should not try acupuncture?
If you are concerned about side effects the best person to discuss this is with your acupuncturists and medical doctor. I am not aware of any general contraindications for high blood pressure and acupuncture. Always discuss alternative treatments with your medical doctor before hand. READ MORE
How long do the effects of acupuncture last for anxiety?
Thank you for your question. Each patient is unique and the positive effects of acupuncture can vary because they also depend on the cause of the anxiety. You should speak with you acupuncturist regarding the expected effects and the length of time. Ultimately, the goal is to relieve you of your symptoms for as long as possible. Kind Regards, B READ MORE
Can acupuncture treat sweating?
Thank you for your question. I’m not sure what kind of sweating you’re talking about. Axillary versus your palms, etc. In my experience Botox works very well for certain types of excessive sweeting, I can’t say that acupuncture is the best treatment. It also depends on what the cause of your hyperhidrosis is. A medical doctor can help determine this and help you determine the best course of action. READ MORE
Can acupuncture help panic attacks?
Thank you for your question. In general, acupuncture has been shown to be helpful in reducing stress and stress related anxiety. Auricular (ear) acupuncture, pressure and beading can also help and the beading technique can empower you to extend treatment and use it when you feel anxious. The beads are placed on acu points on various parts of the ear and gentle pressure applied. A theoretical western explanation as to why the ear acupuncture/pressure works for anxiety and possibly panic disorder is because the vagal nerve passes through the ear beneath the ear canal. The vagal nerve slows the heart when activated. Slow purposeful breathing dose this as well and lowers blood pressure. Hope this helps, B READ MORE
How long does acupuncture take to work for depression?
Thank you for your question. The length of time for any treatment depends on the imbalance(s), frequency of treatments, and skill of the acupuncturist. Hence, no singular answer. If you do not feel some change or improvement at anytime, discuss with your acupuncturist. For mood difficulties, be sure to use a survey that can track change over time. Another good measure for things like anxiety is heart rate variability. This should improve over time with decreases in anxiety. Be well, B READ MORE
How do you know if acupuncture is working?
Thank you for your question, Well, the simple answer is you feel better. If you’re not feeling better then you should discuss this with your acupuncturist as they may need to change their treatment plan. Or, you may need to find another acupuncturist. Any good healer shares this philosophy, they hope to work themselves out of a job for each patient... Be well, Dr. B READ MORE
Can acupuncture help you to stop smoking?
Thank you for your question! Congratulations on contemplating smoking cessation. In short, looking at acupuncture alone vs combined with counseling with a cessation program, the combination of a program with acupuncture is helpful for long term smoking cessation. Here is a link to the review article if you are interested: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6662782/ "Acupuncture combined with counseling, educational smoking cessation program was more effective than acupuncture as mono therapy (alone) with regard to long-term smoking cessation." Hope this goes well for you, B READ MORE
Can acupuncture prevent the flu?
Thank you for your question. The best prevention for any infection like the flu is to sleep well, eat healthy, decrease stress, be active/exercise regularly, wash your hands and practice good hygiene. If acupuncture can help you decrease stress, then that is a possible way it could help. There are some points we use for general wellness and keeping one’s overall health balanced. But there is no research that specifically indicates acupuncture prevents flu. And as stated above there are many other ways for staying well and not adding the cost of acupuncture. Wearing a mask properly these days despite any misinformation in the media is one of your best protections for both flu and COVID19 along with hand washing. Wearing a mask correctly is key though, not touching your face when it is on and knowing how to take it off, clean, and store it if you have to re-use. A single sneeze is like a mini invisible virus hurricane. Wearing a mask will protect you. Kind regards, B READ MORE
What does acupuncture for the head do?
Thank you for you question. I have to be honest, though, I do not understand your question. Head meaning mood? Meaning pain management? Sleep? There are many possibilities here regarding your question. Acupuncture is all encompassing and can be a safe addition to all types of medical care helping with relaxation, pain management, and sleep. Hope this helps, Dr. Buckalew READ MORE
Can acupuncture help with knee problems?
Thank you for your question. Without knowing the cause of your knee pain, it is difficult to answer your question. The first step would be an evaluation of your knee. I recommend by a physiatrist a medical doctor specially trained in muscular skeletal pain. And, then if appropriate working with an acupuncturist. I am physiatrist that uses acupuncture quite often for certain types of knee pain, and acupuncture has been well researched and supported for osteoarthritis pain. But, as stated, the first step is to find out what causing it to make sure that acupuncture is a correct modality to use. Kind regards, Dr. B READ MORE
Can acupuncture help with sleep problems?
Thank you for your question, Without knowing more about your teen’s medical history and the reasons for the insomnia, this is not an easy question nor appropriate to answer in a general sense. There are a number of reasons both medical and psychological why a teenager would not be sleeping. The first step is always to have a thorough evaluation by a qualified physician, in your teen’s case a pediatrician that can determine why they have insomnia. It is possible that acupuncture can be a helpful addition to treating whatever the cause is for their insomnia. But, do not forgo a medical evaluation by a medical doctor and jump to acupuncture alone. Kind Regards, B READ MORE
Can insomnia be cured by acupuncture?
Thank you for your question. Not knowing the cause of your insomnia or your medical history, a general reply only has the potential to help. Consulting a medical doctor to rule out any serious medical causes or possible medications is the first step and then consulting an acupuncturist. Be well, Dr. Buckalew READ MORE
Is acupuncture good for bronchitis?
You do not state whether you have acute or chronic bronchitis. At 22, that would be awfully young to have chronic bronchitis. My concern is if you have acute bronchitis that you have a correct diagnosis that has been fully assessed given the COVID-19 crisis. I would first recommend you see a physician, that’s a medical doctor, not an advanced practitioner, regarding your symptoms. I hope that you seek and find the proper care. Dr. Buckalew READ MORE
How does acupuncture help anxiety?
Thank you for your question, If you are interested in treating your anxiety with acupuncture, your first step will be to consult your medical doctor. It is also important that you receive these services from a licensed acupuncturist. Professional acupuncturist can be located through websites, including the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. The use of acupuncture to treat medical and mental health conditions continues to rise, making it more readily available. Since it has been evaluated for effectiveness and is available at some medical practices, some insurance policies may cover your acupuncture treatments if you have health insurance. Clinical trials examining acupuncture for anxiety has shown positive results. However, this research has some limitations, including small sample sizes and limited measures to asses outcomes. Western science cannot explain exactly how acupuncture helps anxiety, but scientific research has shown that acupuncture has a calming effect. The explanation from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective would depend on what imbalances an acupuncturist would find in your general health. They should be able to explain what they feel the imbalances are, and why they’re treating the points that they use. Be Well, Dr. Buckalew READ MORE
Is acupuncture good for stress?
Thank you for your question. Yes, acupuncture can be helpful for stress, is the short answer. The question is, whether it is a safe time for a new treatment with a new provider. Versus at home yoga, breathing, meditation, or plain old exercise or walking. Hope you find the support you deserve and need. Kind regards, Dr. Buckalew READ MORE
How long does facial acupuncture last?
Good day, I am trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine so I cannot answer your question. At this time a process that places needles specifically in your face should be postponed until COVID19 is under control. This procedure is non-essential at this time. Take care, B Someone has asked you a question Click here to view this request online Dr. Buckalew Question Alert You Have A New Question Simply reply to this email with your answer. How long does facial acupuncture last? I am a 23 year old female and I will have facial acupuncture. How long does facial acupuncture last? Reply to this email to answer, or Login to see all questions. If you don't want to receive patient questions, click here IT IS SAFE TO PARTICIPATE. Answering this question does not constitute medical advice or establish a doctor-patient relationship. All questions and answers are for informational purpose only. All question submitters are advised to seek the care of their local medical provider. Find A Top Doc 1350 Ave of the Americas New York, NY. 10019 United States (866) 664-DOCS Copyright 2020 FINDATOPDOC. All Rights Reserved. READ MORE
Can acupuncture loosen tight muscles in neck?
Thank you for your message, Yes, it’s possible that acupuncture can help with tight muscles. However, given the current national emergency with COVID-19, this is not the time to seek new care such as acupuncture. Myofascial self massage techniques and yoga at home would be a preferred option now. Stay safe, be well, stay home! Dr. B READ MORE
Is it safe to do acupuncture every week?
Thank you for your question. Yes. Most treatments require more than once a week and over a period of several weeks. There are other considerations right now with the coronavirus and whether you want to risk additional puncturing of the skin. You should discuss with your acupuncturist and your primary care physician. Thank you so much, Dr. Buckalew READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

Clinical ResearchPhysical Medicine and RehabilitationYoga Therapy

Faculty Titles & Positions

Integrative Medicine Area of Concentration, UPSOM -

Awards

Charles Watson Humanism Honor Society and the Gold Humanism Honor Society, 2008
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society
Dean Merit Scholarship, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
James Cheehan/Laird Cheke Memorial Prize for Understanding Healing Power of a Patient
DCM Award, Academic Excellence in Geriatric Medicine, 2009
Charles Lindbergh Foundation Merit Award for Environmental Education work with the Zuni Tribe

Professional Memberships

American Pain Society
Alpha Omega Alpha
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Fellowships

Institute for the Study of World Politics, Native American Environmental Law Fellow, National Institutes of Health National Institute of Aging pre-doc and Post-doc Fellow

Professional Society Memberships

American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabiliation, American College of Physicians, Allegheny County Medical Society, International Association of Yoga Therapists

Articles and Publications

Chronic Pain is Associated with Brain Volume Loss in Older Adults: Preliminary Evidence, co-author
Brain Morphology in Older Adults with Disabling Chronic Low Back Pain- Co-Author

What do you attribute your success to?

Opportunities, Support, Friends, Colleagues, Mentors

Areas of research

Integrative Medicine, Yoga and Yoga Therapy, Healthy Aging, Chronic Pain

Philanthropic Initiatives

National Sports Center for the Disabled Fans of the Field Fundraiser, World Run Day for Muscular Dystrophy, Riding for the Handicapped of Western Pennsylvania, The Prouty Coming Together to Fight Cancer, AIDS Life Cycle

Teaching and speaking

Acquired/Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke Recovery, Yoga and Yoga Therapy, Integrative Pain Management, Living and Aging Well, Caretaker Health, Understanding Living Wills, How to facilitate home hospice for loved ones