Today we’d like to introduce you to Zev Nevo.
Hi Zev, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My personal journey, like any worthwhile endeavor, has been a transformative one, marked by seemingly insurmountable uphill battles, challenges, many moments of doubt and the penultimate “suffering into truth.” I have had to triumph over my own battle with chronic pain and discover the true power of healing and resilience. I have thus dedicated my life to guiding others on their path to transforming pain into purpose.
I was raised in a first-generation American family in the culturally diverse city of Brooklyn, NY in an Orthodox Jewish home. The presence of my grandmother, a Holocaust survivor living in my home, instilled within me a deep understanding of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of empathy. These early experiences shaped my path toward a life of service and developed my ability to connect with others.
After high school, I embarked on a 15-year journey of education and training to become a double board-certified physician, specializing in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, including subspecialties in non-surgical sports medicine, orthopedics and regenerative medicine. This specialty was established to empower those impacted by injury and illness affecting function to regain and retain functional autonomy and independence and improve quality of life. One of the primary tenets of my medical training as an Osteopathic physician includes the recognition of our bodies and minds to have a natural capacity to heal. As a healthcare provider, my primary role has always been to listen to the patient and facilitate healing by treating the whole person.
My post-medical school training required moving my family from New York to New Jersey and finally to California in 2018. During my fellowship year in Napa, I lived apart from my wife and children, flying to SoCal every weekend to be with my family. After completion of a specialized fellowship, I left determined to open my own practice with a focus on providing patient-centered care.
My medical clinic, NESS – Nevo Sports and Spine provides evidence-based care for orthopedic conditions, treating injuries and conditions that cause pain and impact function. By incorporating a holistic approach, physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors that contribute to health and wellness are addressed at every visit.
Little did I know that the challenges awaiting me were just beginning. Bootstrapping a solo medical practice from the ground up has been a true test of my character, grit and perseverance. Financial struggles, unexpected illness and chronic pain, an unwelcome home invasion, and a global pandemic added indefatigable stress and pressure as I was forced to navigate the vicissitudes of life. But despite these hardships, I remained unwavering in my commitment to my family, my patients and the pursuit of my vision.
As I was about to start booking patients into my practice, the world was hit by the devastating impact of COVID-19. My plans were abruptly put on hold, and I found myself struggling to make ends meet. The practice faced a seemingly endless uphill battle, and I found myself navigating uncharted territory in an effort to keep my dream afloat. But within the depths of adversity, a personal struggle awaited me—a debilitating whiplash injury from a car accident years ago resurfaced with a vengeance, shattering any illusion of stability. It left me in constant agony, robbing me of sleep, strength, and utterly despondent.
After a particularly intense month of computer work during the early months of the COVID-19 lockdown, a simple sneeze caused a disc in my cervical spine to be extruded out of place. I immediately experienced excruciating pain radiating into my arms. An MRI confirmed my fears: a disc was herniated, severely narrowing my spinal canal and compressing a nerve responsible for sensation and muscle control in part of my right arm.
What followed next was a relentless battle with pain, insomnia, anxiety, and rapid loss of strength and functionality in my arm. The pain was relentless and vicious, consuming my every waking moment. Sleep eluded me, my strength diminished, and the ability to perform even the simplest tasks became a distant memory. This felt like rock bottom.
This was my true test. I had to navigate the perspective of a “pain patient,” experiencing firsthand the debilitating effects of pain on both my body and mind. As a physician, I understood the complexities of pain, but now I had to confront it on a deeply personal level. Despite my knowledge and efforts, the pain persisted, threatening not only my career but my identity as well.
Following months of physical therapy, medications, and multiple injections, I underwent spine surgery and was expected to be “fixed”. Instead, I encountered a rude awakening that chronic pain extends beyond physical ailments. I faced numerous challenges—fear of movement, anxiety, insomnia, and the weight of chronic pain’s emotional toll. But it was also the turning point that led me toward a path of profound self-discovery. After months of battling, I refused to let the way I felt define me and steer my life. I embarked on a year-long deep dive into personal transformation, devouring books, seeking wisdom from experts, and embracing the latest therapeutic practices. Through this arduous journey, I discovered the power of resilience, hope and the powerful impact of our attention and thoughts on how we feel in our own bodies.
Looking back, I feel fortunate to have experienced this unique perspective which allowed me to truly comprehend both the challenges faced by chronic pain patients and the transformative power of effective care. As I navigated my own journey through pain, I realized that there was a significant gap in the way pain was treated and understood. People who continue to experience pain after they are “expected” to be cured are often told they will need to learn to live with their pain and give up on any aspirations of pursuing activities which increase their symptoms. Many patients are left to haphazardly seek out healing modalities across the wild west of unregulated treatments or become a victim of numbing the pain away through ever-increasing dosing of pain medications such as opioids. I was determined to bridge that gap and provide a more compassionate and holistic approach harnessing the latest research in pain neuroscience from both medical and social science evidence.
My transformation motivated me to pay it forward somehow. The question I had was: “How do I incorporate my experience and the skills I have learned into a rigid medical practice?” The truth is the most successful ideas come from disrupting an industry and breaking out of our collective trance of what is expected in a given medical setting.
I continued to educate myself on mind-body medicine and received certification in pain and trauma-informed psychotherapy, recognizing the deep enmeshment of physical and emotional pain. I then embarked on a mission to combine my medical expertise with a deep understanding of mind-body medicine.
My vision now includes the endeavor to create an ecosystem of wellness to supplement our medical clinic. This includes an adjacent wellness clinic called Regenness: Regenerative Mind and Body Wellness which features a multidisciplinary team of empathetic expert practitioners offering a multitude of holistic health and wellness services from yoga, meditation and massage to coaching, psychotherapy, herbal medicine and medical aesthetics.
My team and I are also cultivating an independent online community called Wellness Warriors, offering a safe space to interact with leading experts in health and wellness, like-minded local businesses and other patients, clients and community members. Here, we offer support and resources, educational content, as well as planned live, local and virtual events to connect, inspire and support each other.
Too many people suffering with chronic pain are made to feel like they are serving a life sentence of a condition needing to be managed and coped with. This creates a devastating sense of fatalism which extinguishes hope and is the antithesis to what is needed: an opportunity to foster connection, support, and resources to empower those individuals to rediscover optimism and a path forward to a life without pain.
Through my podcast, “Mind Your Body,” I share my personal and professional insights, discuss regenerative medicine, and provide valuable mind-body psychoeducation to inspire positive change.
My journey has taught me that healing is a comprehensive process. I combine my medical expertise, pain and trauma-informed psychotherapy, and a deep understanding of the mind-body connection to create customized care plans for each patient. My goal is to restore functional movement, optimize what we expose our bodies to (externally and internally), reducing stress, and resolving pain-promoting emotions and behaviors.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My road has been fraught with numerous obstacles that constantly tested my resolve and placed my tenacity into question. Building my practice from the ground up has been a true labor of love and I faced numerous challenges, both personally and professionally. Professionally, starting a practice from scratch proved to be a demanding task.
Bootstrapping my way since 2019, I encountered the common pain point of marketing and putting out content to reach a wider audience. Personally, I experienced physical and emotional pain, severe financial hardship, loneliness, overwhelm, burnout, poor self-compassion skills all played a role in my life. The chronic pain I experienced became an indomitable force, threatening my career and casting a shadow of doubt and deep uncertainty over my future and that of my family. Yet, these obstacles only strengthened my resolve to build a practice that could truly make a difference. My commitment to making a difference in the lives of my patients and my unwavering and stubborn passion for my work have been the driving forces that kept me going. In fact, I realized that dedicating my life to this work enables me to live most authentically and brings me a tremendous sense of contentment.
I was driven by an unwavering determination to rise above my own suffering and find a path forward. Following a year of intense therapy, self-reflection, and a deep dive into the field of mind-body medicine, I found a path forward and my newfound purpose was crystal clear.
My collective experiences helped me create a comprehensive care model that not only diagnoses and treats the structural source of pain but also addresses the deleterious and perpetuating effects of an ever-sensitized brain caused by pain-promoting conditioned emotions and behaviors, personality traits, lack of self-compassion and unresolved trauma.
We’ve been impressed with NESS – Nevo Sports and Spine; Regenness: Regenerative Mind & Body Wellness, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I like to say that I treat human beings, not symptoms. Many times, patients have not previously been given a reason to feel hopeful or optimistic that they can actually experience a life again without pain. The field of pain “management” is inherently fatalistic. Classic pain psychotherapy approaches, while effective in the short-term, often focus on coping with pain with little room for resolution of symptoms in the long term. Furthermore, given the time constraints and demands that many doctors face to see a large volume of patients in ever-diminishing time slots, the absolute necessity for the provision of nurturing care suffers immensely. In fact, these three components – hope, optimism, and nurturing care – are some of the major determinants of whether any intervention will succeed.
What sets our clinic apart is the primary focus on patient-centered outcomes as a measure of success. Beyond diagnosis and treatment of the localized symptoms contributing to pain, the whole individual is assessed, including the various factors that perpetuate pain. Customized functional restoration rehabilitation plans and our novel mind-body rehabilitation plans aim to optimize authenticity in all life domains. I believe in treating the whole person, acknowledging the mind-body connection and incorporating evidence-based rehabilitation programs, optimized nutrition, stress reduction, and sleep optimization into our treatment plans.
Our medical clinic, NESS – Nevo Sports and Spine, offers cutting-edge, evidence-based interventional sports and spine treatments, including shockwave therapy and regenerative medicine procedures such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow medicinal signaling cells (BMAC). These procedures, combined with customized regenerative rehabilitation programs and remote therapeutic monitoring, ensure that our patients receive the most effective and tailored care possible.
I help patients reduce structural impairments using a hands-on treatment modality called Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy. I have received advanced certification in diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound and board certification in regenerative medicine. Our patients range from fitness-oriented adults to occupational and formal athletes, weekend warriors, hardworking parents trying to balance work and life demands, to retired individuals focused on preserving joint health while maintaining an active lifestyle. I frequently treat those impacted by chronic pelvic pain syndromes as well as headaches and shoulder pain, which are common areas of tension impacted by chronic stress and unresolved traumas.
I have repeatedly been humbled by my work as a community provider for the Veteran’s Association (VA). Working with the veteran community has taught me countless valuable lessons of courage and overcoming adversity. I have also partnered with a non-profit organization called Veterans In Pain (V.I.P.) to offer free or reduced-cost regenerative medicine procedures for veterans with financial hardships.
As a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation specialist, I was trained to work closely as part of an interdisciplinary team. However, I found that patients often find healing and recovery with other modalities such as energy healing and adapting meditation or yoga practices which are not typically embraced within a traditional medical clinic setting. The mind-body connection is at the core of my approach, allowing patients to address the emotional, mental, and physical effects of pain and disease.
My commitment is to create an “ecosystem of wellness” which includes our adjacent multidisciplinary wellness clinic called Regenness: Regenerative Mind & Body Wellness. This clinic offers a wide range of mental health, lifestyle, aesthetic/beauty, and mindful health and wellness services under one roof. Regenness provides a nurturing and supportive environment where patients can find holistic care and connect with skilled practitioners from various disciplines. Our novel Mind-Body Rehabilitation program combines cutting-edge neuroscience research with pain and trauma-informed psychotherapy. This program helps patients identify, transform, and resolve pain-promoting conditioned emotions, behaviors, and traumas.
An online wellness community called The Wellness Warriors was established to serve as a safe space for individuals to connect, share their struggles and victories, access valuable resources, and learn from leading experts in the field of wellness. We aim to bridge the gap between online and offline experiences by organizing both virtual and local events for our members.
To supplement our clinical services and community, I am excited to be launching a podcast called “Mind Your Body.” Through this platform, I will be sharing the lessons I’ve learned, discussing various medical topics related to regenerative medicine and exciting treatments, and providing education on mind-body psychoeducation.
Overall, I want our readers to know that NESS and its affiliated wellness entities are not just about treating symptoms but about empowering individuals to experience relief, find peace, and cultivate a life of contentment. We understand the deep impact of chronic pain, stress, and trauma on one’s overall well-being, and we are here to support and guide our patients through their healing journey.
Collectively, our clinics are a haven for those seeking comprehensive, compassionate care with a provider who will actually listen to them without bias or judgment. My diverse personal and professional experience and expertise allow me to offer a truly one-of-a-kind approach to patient care.
As a solo practitioner, I am not bound by the constraints that so many medical practices and institutions face. This allows me to innovate and find creative solutions for each and every patient. By integrating regenerative medicine, rehabilitation programs, optimized nutrition, stress reduction, and mind-body techniques and addressing the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of pain, I can empower patients to take control of their well-being and discover a life beyond pain.
Following my own harrowing experience with chronic pain and surgery, I have expanded my scope to include pain and trauma-informed psychotherapy.
Regenness: Regenerative Mind & Body Wellness provides an array of mental health, lifestyle, aesthetic/beauty, and mindful health and wellness services.
I offer a modern, humanistic, and person-centered approach to treating injuries and conditions that cause pain and impact function. My practice is built on the foundations of hope, optimism, and nurturing care. Patients are approached with an individualized understanding of the impact of pain. A personalized care plan that transcends traditional or outdated methods is established with accountability from the entire care team. My goal is to guide patients toward a future where pain is no longer a limiting factor, fostering lasting and meaningful relief, peace, and contentment.
I believe in addressing the root causes of pain and providing integrative care that encompasses the mind and body. A focus on the full biopsychosocial model of care enables patients to achieve optimal health outcomes.
Our commitment to seeing pain through our patients’ eyes enables me and my staff to understand the unique impact of our patient’s pain and symptoms. We create a strong foundation of trust and rapport by taking the time to really listen and understand the nuances of their pain and to learn about the specific impacts it has had on their lives, allowing us to create a truly impactful and thought-out personalized care plans that address their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.
My practice goes beyond simply diagnosing and treating symptoms. Our team takes the time to truly understand our patients, their experiences, and the impact of pain on their lives. This allows us to develop comprehensive care plans that address the underlying causes of their symptoms, incorporating evidence-based rehabilitation programs, optimized nutrition, stress reduction techniques, and trauma-informed care.
We have an integrative and holistic health and wellness movement. Our mission is to empower individuals struggling with chronic pain to achieve optimal health outcomes and quality of life. Our wellness clinic provides comprehensive services from empathetic and nurturing experts who prioritize the whole person.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up as an early millennial (pre-internet), I enjoyed playing pick-up games in the street or at the park with the neighborhood kids. I love horror and psychologic thriller books (Stephen King, Dean Koontz). Music has always been therapeutic for me and I dabbled in composing back in the day. I played guitar and piano by ear and was an avid karaoke participant (shout out to Village Ma in NYC), where I met my future wife, Amy. My go-to playlist is “90’s alternative”.
Currently, I am listening to about 3-5 different self-improvement audiobooks on a given day. I incorporate a yoga practice into my life and enjoy meeting new people.
I have five kids and three dogs. My kids roll their eyes at my dad’s jokes and I am determined to get them to laugh one day…
Contact Info:
- Website: Medical: www.nessmed.com | Wellness: www.regenness.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regenness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenessmed |
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zev-nevo-804a363/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/regenness
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Regenness
- Yelp: Medical: https://www.yelp.com/biz/zev-nevo-do-dabpmr-dabrm-rmsk-nevo-sports-and-spine-sherman-oaks-2 | Wellness: https://www.yelp.com/biz/regenness-sherman-oaks
- Other: Wellness Warriors Community: https://wellnesswarriors.circle.so | Linktree: https://linktr.ee/regenness
