Patient Testimonials

"In October 2021, I started developing hives out of no where. They lasted about a month, all allergy tests came back negative, and my dermatologist and allergist both agreed to a lengthy round of oral steroids and chalked it up to "chronic urticaria (hives)". I was also told it was "safe" to go up to 4 daily antihistamines a day….and sometimes that didn't even change the severity of the hives. Once the hives were gone, I was told to keep taking a daily antihistamine preventatively.

A few months later, the hives came back. I met with a different doctor who did some new blood work and thought it might have been my diet which happened to be a lot of relatively high-histamine foods. Changed up my diet, and the hives went away. Until they came back, again a few months later. It stayed in this pattern of seemingly random occurrences, but I was always so baffled as to why my body just seemed to be reacting to something, and I didn't know what it was. Then, fast forward to earl April of this year, when my hives started back up, this time with a vengeance that lasted 2 1/2 months.

In June, I was going to see a different allergist for new bloodwork in hopes of finding what was going on. Prior to getting the blood work done, I couldn't take any antihistamines for a week. By day 5, I was not only completely covered in hives that felt like fire ants, but my lips were swollen to a point of being very painful. I had to cave and take antihistamines. I started searching for holistic doctors that may have a different approach to finding out what was going on, came across Elevate Life in Annapolis, and had an appointment a couple days later.

I first met with Liz (FNP), who listened to my medical history and mentioned a few routes she wanted to explore of possible causes + treatment options. She sent in a lab order that ended up requiring 10 tubes of blood, but hey, anything to find answers! She also recommended I see Dr. Johns at the same practice, who would go over the NAET system of testing + treating what my body was (clearly) having some kind of a reaction to. After a quick Google search of NAET, I was more than skeptic. The actual testing technique "utilizes neuromuscular sensitivity testing which indicates the kinetic imbalance in the body caused by allergens". I can't explain it in detail without it sounding so bizarre, but Elevate's FB page has helpful videos and goes more in depth.

Dr. Johns tested me for a bunch of food allergens/sensitivities and I passed most but failed a few. This pass-or-fail process is the wackiest thing I have ever seen, and I thought it was all fake…until I "failed". When I was holding a vile of something I was sensitive to, my other arm (the one being tested) lost almost all strength. It felt like he was just pushing harder than before, so I told him that, and his response was "nope, I could do the same with just using 1 finger", at which point he did (push my raised arm down with just his index finger), and my mind was blown. This entire time over multiple appointments and treatments, my hives were disappearing by the day, with zero medications, creams, etc. I thought I was in the clear after we had tested + treated all of the food allergens, until we got to testing for mold, which turned out to be my biggest fail of them all. And after seeing my blood work results with an elevated c4a level of more than double what it should be, it became obvious what the problem had likely been from a year and a half of "random" hives: mold toxicity. After speaking with the team at Elevate and doing my own research, it made me furious that this had never even been mentioned as a potential cause from any of my other previous doctors. It wasn't "chronic", and I am SO glad I listened to my body to know that something was genuinely at the root cause of this all. So now, after treatment with Dr. Johns, and supplements Liz recommended to help detox my body from the mold toxicity, I am finally on the mend. I'm hive-free, and on zero meds."

- Melanie


"I have been struggling 16 years with a combination of several autoimmune diseases, Lyme disease, and mold toxicity. I have been to one holistic provider after another and have spent tens of thousands of dollars in pursuit of health, and yet the downward progression of ill-health continued. However, when I came to the Elevate Life clinic and met Dr. Johns, I felt like someone finally saw my situation clearly and had hopeful interventions at hand. No one - including medical and holistic practitioners - had recognized I was struggling from a combination of autoimmune diseases AND Lyme AND mold toxicity, so only a part of my problem had been treated for 16 years. When I began treatment at Elevate Life, I was in so much pain, I could understand how a person becomes a recluse, even though I am usually an outgoing person. It just hurt too much to get out and be with people, with low energy struggles on top of the pain. I was walking with a cane everywhere I went and had been for 2 years. After 4 months at Elevate Life under the care of Dr. Johns and Liz, his nurse practitioner (an incredible team,) I am walking without a cane many places and feel a zest for life again. I am sleeping better, in less pain, and have more energy. It is amazing what a difference those 3 things can make! I still have further to go, but I am encouraged to now feel I am on a "healing journey" rather than just management of symptoms. THANK YOU to all the wonderful folks at Elevate Life. I look forward to more healing with you!"

- J


 

Chronic Pain Annapolis IN Christina Testimonial

"STOP SEARCHING for the best Chiropractic Care in the region!!! You have arrived and Elevate Life is it! Suffered from massive chronic pain in my rib cage area/stomach and lower back for over a year and had gone from my family doctor to gastroenterologist back to family Dr., to a pain clinic/specialist, back to gastroenterologists with absolutely no definitive diagnosis. All these specialists wanted to throw pain medication at the problem. That is not the answer. Multiple MRIs, x-rays, and other procedures with still no answers all while dealing with 8-10 pain 24x7. Absolutely miserable constantly and a pain in the ass to be around as a person. Constant pain sucks and ruins your life.

I was truly at the end of the tracks with nowhere to turn. Friends suggested chiropractic care, but I was skeptical. I am a big fan of holistic medicine and treatment, but I thought my condition was beyond these types of treatments and not related to muscles and alignment.

Enter Dr. John's and the skilled, professional staff at Elevate Life. I am a research freak and believe me I did the research 8 ways to Sunday to determine if Elevate Life was the best and if Dr. Johns could be the answer. I went into my first treatment feeling like sh-t and in massive pain and after 2 appointments the pain was down to a 6-7 and then after another session was down to a 4-6 and by my 6th session was at a 2-3. I am now totally pain-free. Like night and day!

BIG THANK YOU to Dr. Johns and his staff. They treated the symptoms and resolved the pain through a variety of chiropractic techniques and therapies. Don't hesitate, call these nice folks and beat a path to Elevate Life to get on the road to recovery and a pain free life. Thank you! I am a believer."

- David C.


"I have been experiencing lower back pain intermittently for the better part of 20 years. The last five years I have had an escalation in pain intensity and frequency. I have gone to several orthopedic doctors and surgeons. For me and my condition, the story is the same. Not bad enough for surgery, and a standing prescription for muscle relaxants. I travel weekly. Lifting luggage, cramped airplane seats. There have been times the pain was so bad, I could not get out of the hotel bed and where I used an office chair as a walker. I thought I was doing the right thing going to back surgeons. I wasn't getting better. I had drugs which would knock me out or leaving me so incoherent that I couldn't function in my job, or worse, be a mess in front of my kids.

Recently a colleague saw me while I was experiencing one of the lower back 'episodes'. He suggested I make an appointment with his doctor, a chiropractor, from whom he had achieved excellent results. I decided to give it a try since I had nothing to lose.

I hadn't thought about chiropractic care. I didn't know what it was and I didn't invest the time to learn. That was my mistake. I made the appointment. My mindset quickly shifted from I have nothing to lose to I have everything to gain.

My experience being a patient of Dr. Johns for the last several months has been great. I have learned more about how the spine and muscles work together, how the body reacts when pain starts. While the condition is permanent, the treatment is focused on activating muscles that have been locked in defense mode for years. I think the learning point is critical and a differentiator for Dr. Johns. Dr. Johns takes the time to listen, ask questions, answer my questions, explain what is happening in the body and what the treatment does. All this in a safe, clean, welcoming, calming environment.

I would recommend Dr. Johns to anybody with lower back pain. I would feel comfortable knowing that the person is going to get personal attention. They would have an honest conversation about their condition and what treatment if any would be appropriate.

I recently switched luggage for my business travel. I realized after the second trip, I didn't pack the medications for my back. That was a moment where it got real for me. The meds have stayed home. I don't need them anymore."

- Mike


"I cannot express enough gratitude for the relief that Dr. Johns’s treatment brought me! I sit at a desk all day and began seeing Dr. Johns for the constant tension that I carry in my shoulders and neck. The relief was noticeable after just one visit and got increasingly better each time I saw him. It was apparent from my first interaction with him that he truly cares about his patients and is knowledgeable about and willing to suggest a multitude of different techniques to get them the comfort they need. Dr. Johns is professional, knowledgeable, thorough, and friendly, and I highly recommend him!"

- Lauren


 

Integrative Medicine Annapolis MD Lauren Testimonial
Integrative Medicine Annapolis MD Brittany Testimonial
Integrative Medicine Annapolis MD Rebecca Testimonial
Integrative Medicine Annapolis MD Michelle Testimonial
Integrative Medicine Annapolis MD Testimonial

OFFICE HOURS


Monday
8:00am - 6:00pm


Tuesday
8:00am - 6:00pm


Wednesday
8:00am - 5:00pm


Thursday
8:00am - 6:00pm


Friday
8:00am - 6:00pm


Saturday & Sunday
Closed

Elevate Life

1730 West St #105
Annapolis, MD 21401

(410) 268-3333