Robin Vaugan-Parler on how she got her life back

Imagine this, you are in an automobile accident, not once but twice because of a drunk driver. Both accidents are within two years of each other. You go through years of treatment, five surgeries, various techniques to alleviate the pain, sleep sitting straight up for decades, and to top it all beat an addiction to pain medicine. Finally you find a clinic where they are practicing soft tissue mobilization, myofacial release, and craniofacial release therapies. In those words that are as hard to understand as they are to say is where Robin Vaugan-Parler has found relief, thanks to Hima Dalal and Vital Energy.

Robin's story is a pretty amazing one, in and of itself. In 1981, she was riding with her husband, when the car she was in was struck by a drunk driver. It was a rough accident. Her neck was injured so badly, it tore the meniscus in both sides of her jaw. She went through the necessary physical therapy, and was released from doctor's care. Shortly after that, she was hit by another drunk driver, in 1983. At the time of the second accident, her daughters head was in her lap. Just before the impact, the child's head shot straight

As Robins explains it, it was a newer procedure which was not successful. This pianist, teacher, and performer said as the years went on, her named changed. She added a new middle name, “Pain.” She describes it as hallucinatory pain. As time went on, she had the Teflon removed, although it was supposed to be permanent. After that came the cortisone shots. In the head, the neck, and the back, six to eight times. Along with the shots came pain killers, which were simply used to eases some of the pain that had been constant for almost 20 years. Hima points out those narcotics are a temporary bridge to get someone to the next step and they just mask the situation. It was the pain killers that turned the corner for Robin, and lead her to Hima. As she realized her addiction to narcotics was destroying her liver and kidneys. It was to the point that she felt the Lord had told her she was not going to make it to Christmas. In a rain storm, she drove herself to a drug rehab clinic where she found the next ten days to be “grueling” as the detox process commenced. This decision, to drive in the rain, to go through the process of beating the addiction, not only opened her eyes on a personal level to all walks in life, but made the next round of treatment possible.

A year ago, she had her fifth surgery on her jaw. Through all the years of use, treatments and cortisone, her jaw continued to be damaged. The surgeon repaired what he could, but told Robin that the pain would be part of her life. At this very discouraging time, Robin went to Dr. Health Stewart and said “what else do you have?” That’s when she was referred to Hima and Vital Energy.

In January, Robin, in pain, full of scar tissue in her jaw, struggling with simple things like sleeping vertically, after all these years, found relief. Hima’s approach isn’t simply focusing on an injury, or a painful part of the body. Although Robin does point out that some of the treatment is reaching in her mouth and breaking up the scar tissue. Hima describes this myofascial release treatment. Robin describes the bond that the two have created…for Hima to have the confidence to perform the procedure, and for Robin to trust her reaches way beyond the normal relationship between a occupational/physical therapist and patient…as “amazing”.

Hima’s style is to examine how everything in the body is connected, and how every muscle and fiber can impact the operation and wellness of the body. It’s more than simply working painful joints. In order to find the relief that Robin has from Hima, it’s a holistic approach. Each patient is viewed as an individual, who is treated keeping the relationship of mind. What sets Vital Energy apart is that simple approach. Treatment is not on one part of body. It’s the connection. Hima, equates the body to a sweater. When you have a pull, one small thread, it can have an impact in the entire thing. Vital Energy can treat whiplash from accidents, torn ligaments, TMJ cases and other injuries, neck pain, scoliosis, postural instability, migraine or any other type of headache.

Hima has worked with Robin to release the scar tissue and loosen the jaw. She has worked on pain, spasms, tension, and numbness. She has worked on Robin’s ability to have facial expressions, smiling, laughing and even crying. What has the time at Vital Energy meant to Robin? It means she can hear. Something that had been affected for so many years because of injuries. It means she can lay down, rather than a constant vertical view of the world she has lived with for so many years. “I haven’t leaned back in years,” she says, before Hima came into her life. What’s next for Robin? More singing, piano lessons, oh and motorcycles- perhaps.