1300 Hospital Dr #220
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Could you imagine going through life every day with near-debilitating, chronic back pain? Back pain is one of the most common ailments in America - it's estimated that 8% of all adults, or 16 million people, suffer from chronic back pain in the U.S. every year. If you've never experienced a back injury or pain, be thankful. Chronic back pain affects every aspect of a person's life, from participating in sports to limitations with everyday activities, like cooking dinner. In fact, many people with chronic back pain can't even make a reliable living and put food on the table. Almost 83 million workdays are lost every year due to choric back pain.
The inability to work and provide isn't just a physical issue - it can become an emotional one too. Many people suffering from chronic back pain also suffer from depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, in the past, chronic back pain sufferers wanting to avoid addictive medications and invasive surgeries had few viable relief options. However, if you're suffering from a chronic back issue like sciatica, a pinched nerve, or a bulging disc, pain relief may be closer than you think.
Modern chiropractic care and, more specifically, a spinal decompression chiropractor in Pawley's Island, SC, may be the long-term solution you need for chronic back pain.
A common misconception is that chiropractors only adjust your back and neck when, in fact, they treat the whole body with all-natural treatments. Here at Elite Healthcare, our doctors focus on your overall health, not just pain. We want to find and address the underlying causes of your symptoms. If you're unfamiliar with an integrative approach to medicine, this strategy may seem new. Our chiropractic care is less about putting a band-aid on the problem and more about finding a natural, long-term solution to your pain.
Fortunately, our experienced chiropractors provide the best in natural pain relief. Prescription and over-the-counter pain medications mask the symptoms you're experiencing versus getting to the cause of your pain. Pain is often the result of your spine being out of alignment, which leads to nerve issues. Once your spine is back in alignment, the nerves function correctly again.
Because our chiropractic center offers a combination of different therapies and non-surgical treatments, we provide a comprehensive approach to healing. Depending on the extent of your back problems, spinal decompression therapy may be the answer to your chronic pain problems.
Initially developed in 1985 by Dr. Allan Dyer, spinal decompression has been used by chiropractors for years. Unfortunately, spinal decompression is often passed over as a viable treatment, despite its numerous benefits.
In the past, patients suffering from chronic back pain issues like herniated discs were usually prescribed powerful medications. They were instructed to refrain from physical activities, referred to a physical therapist, and sent on their way. While physical therapy has an important role in back pain recovery, some back conditions need a more comprehensive treatment approach. For those patients, surgery seemed like the only option.
Today, patients with chronic back pain have many more options to consider. One of the most effective treatments for serious back pain is spinal decompression. This proven therapy, provided by Elite Healthcare, has been shown to significantly reduce pain and help patients live a normal, even active lifestyle once again.
Spinal decompression, also called Lumbar Cervical Decompression Therapy (LCD Therapy), is a very effective non-surgical solution to chronic back pain problems. If you're like most patients, your back pain is caused by disc issues related to your spine. This type of therapy uses computer technology and a spinal decompression machine in cityname, state, to stretch your spinal column slowly and gently, relieving abnormal pressure on the discs in your back, which sit in between your vertebrae.
This precise stretching action causes negative pressure to form inside the discs in your back, making them retract. With time, this negative pressure causes a reverse vacuum of sorts that actually draws your protruding discs into place. When pressure is removed from the disc segments in your spine, you experience much-needed pain relief.
The primary purpose of spinal decompression therapy is to provide you with immediate pain relief while creating a healthy environment to heal your spinal disc condition. Some of the most common conditions that spinal decompression therapy treats include:
This happens when spinal discs in your back are pushed outside of the spinal canal. When pushed outside of their usual space, these discs can put pressure on the nerves in your spine, resulting in localized pain and pain throughout your body. If a bulging disc is left untreated, it has a high chance of rupturing, which can necessitate surgery and longer recovery time.
Herniated discs are discs in your back that fracture or crack and leak fluid. The fluid or gel that leaks from a herniated disc may irritate the nerves in your back. When this happens, you may experience an intense burning sensation that shoots up and down your lower back and legs.
As you grow older, joints in your body, like your knees and hips, begin to wear away with time. The same thing can happen to the discs in your back. Often caused by heavy lifting or a family history of spine problems, degenerative discs are painful and can lead to serious situations. In advanced cases, bone spurs can form and affect the nerves of your spine.
When a herniated disc or bone spur begins to put pressure on the nerves in your back, it often causes sciatica. Sciatica is a common back problem that causes pain to radiate from your lower back down your legs via your sciatic nerve. Sometimes, this pain is only felt in one of your legs.
This condition is similar to arthritis of your spine, where the cartilage inside your facet joint breaks down and becomes inflamed. The result is often intense neck and back pain. It's most often caused by degenerative changes in the joints located between the bones of your spine.
This painful condition manifests when the space in your backbone is too small. When this happens, pressure impacts your spinal cord and the nerves that travel through it. Like other conditions treated by a spinal decompression therapy cityname, state, stenosis is caused by wear-and-tear in your back, which forms arthritis.
This term is often used to classify a range of back problems, most often caused by a pinched nerve root in your spinal column. This pinched nerve root may occur in different locations down your spine, like the lumbar or thoracic areas. Usually caused by a narrowing of the space where your nerve root leaves the spine, symptoms of this condition include pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness.
If you're looking for a safe way to relieve your chronic back pain, spinal decompression should be on your list of treatments to consider. This painless procedure is backed by research showing higher success rates in many patients when compared to spinal surgery. Unlike many medications, spinal decompression from Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine is designed to correct the condition you're facing while also minimizing costs and eliminating recovery and downtime.
Some of the most popular reasons why patients choose spinal decompression over surgery and other treatments include:
Invasive procedures, like back surgeries, often leave the patient racked with pain, long recovery times, and complications. Sometimes, the surgery doesn't work as intended, leaving the patient responsible for a therapy that didn't work correctly. As a non-invasive treatment, spinal decompression therapy can treat back and neck pain without needles, incisions, or harmful manipulations of the spine.
Getting back pain relief from surgery is far from guaranteed. However, because spinal decompression targets the underlying causes of your back pain, it's a much more effective long-term treatment. Spinal decompression is not a quick fix. When coupled with positive lifestyle changes like losing weight, you can maximize the pain-relieving benefits of spinal decompression.
Surgery of the back and spine requires the patient to be bedridden and uncomfortable for days and even weeks. Recovering from back surgery is no easy feat and often requires strong pain medications to help. Sometimes, back surgeries don't go as planned, causing complications and worse scenarios. Spinal decompression, on the other hand, is very effective and doesn't require much recovery time at all. Once your spinal decompression session is over, you'll probably be able to drive yourself home from our office.
One of the least talked about issues with back pain medications is that they only treat the pain, not the underlying causes. For many patients, relying on meds to relieve back pain fosters dependency on pain pills. Pain pill addiction is a very serious issue in the U.S., often leading patients down a dark path. With spinal decompression, you won't have to worry about taking pills for pain relief. That's because the root causes of your back pain are addressed, not just the symptoms.
If you were to look at the cost of surgery and subsequent years of prescription medication, you might be shocked. When compared to spinal decompression, surgery is a much more expensive treatment to consider. You've got to take the cost of surgery into account, but also the fact that you'll be forced to take time off work. By choosing spinal decompression therapy, you're choosing a safe, non-surgical treatment that doesn't require any time off work.
Spinal decompression relieves pressure on disrupted discs, causing them to retract back into place. This revolutionary treatment also lets oxygen, fluids, and nutrients re-enter your spinal discs, which provides additional healing.
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By now, you probably have a better idea of how spinal decompression can help rid your life of back pain. But spinal decompression treatment does more than help with bulging discs, herniated discs, arthritis, and more. It has also been shown to provide patients with important quality-of-life benefits.
As mentioned above, harsh surgeries leave you bedridden and unable to work for long periods of time. Spinal decompression allows you to jump right back into the workforce, so you can continue providing for your family. Plus, reducing your back pain naturally increases your mobility since you won't be stressing about hurting yourself while moving. Instead, you'll be living in the moment.
One of the worst symptoms affecting people with back pain is the inability to sleep well. Sleeping with back pain can be horrible, causing you to toss and turn to find a comfortable spot. As soon as you find one and get settled, your back starts to hurt again. It's a vicious cycle, but adjusting your spine and relieving pressure with spinal decompression will help you get a good night's rest.
Did you know that when your spine is decompressed, it helps fluids circulate throughout your body? These fluids actually flush your lymphatic system, which helps support your overall immune system. Better circulation also benefits your brain and can help boost concentration and memory. The improved circulation from spinal decompression may also distribute oxygen and nutrients to your skin, creating a multi-benefit effect.
We are happy to answer your questions, and help you find the services you need. Please message us to get started.
At Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, we practice an integrated approach to pain relief and chiropractic care. Our goal is to restore your spine to its proper alignment, which speeds up your recovery time and prevents additional injuries. If chronic back pain has taken over your life, it's time to visit our chiropractic office for a thorough evaluation.
Ask yourself this: Have you been suffering from headaches and sleepless nights due to muscle strain? Is your ability to work and put food on the table compromised due to a pinched nerve? No amount of over-the-counter pain medication can provide a long-term fix for such an issue. Thankfully, our chiropractors have years of experience providing relief to patients just like yourself.
After a comprehensive exam, our doctor will create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your body. That way, we can address the full scope of your symptoms by correcting any root causes of your back pain.
From minor chiropractic adjustments to spinal decompression treatment, we'll find the solution that your back and body need to heal correctly. If you're ready to get back on the road to better health, we're here to help every step of the way. Contact our Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine today to get started.
(843) 936-6238
PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WPDE/CNN) - The owner of dog lost three years ago in the Myrtle Beach area will finally be reunited with his pet thanks to a Pawleys Island rescue group and social media.Roscoe was brought in to the All4Paws Animal Rescue on Pawley’s Island after someone found him near Highway 17 with an injured leg.Rescue spokesperson Peyton Kennedy says they typically do not take in strays, but she felt like something was different about Roscoe.“He had a chip, so I immediately called the chip company 2...
PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WPDE/CNN) - The owner of dog lost three years ago in the Myrtle Beach area will finally be reunited with his pet thanks to a Pawleys Island rescue group and social media.
Roscoe was brought in to the All4Paws Animal Rescue on Pawley’s Island after someone found him near Highway 17 with an injured leg.
Rescue spokesperson Peyton Kennedy says they typically do not take in strays, but she felt like something was different about Roscoe.
“He had a chip, so I immediately called the chip company 24 Hour Pet Watch and they gave me all the info I needed,” Kennedy says. “And I called the phone number and the phone number was disconnected. So I was like oh no it’s a lost cause.”
On top of that, the address registered was in West Virginia.
As a last resort, Peyton went on social media to help find Roscoe’s home.
“In my heart, I was like, ‘You know what? I’m just going to post it to Facebook. I’m not going to put the name of the dog, the gender, nothing.’ And two hours later, someone commented, Oh my gosh, that’s Roscoe. That’s my dog missing from West Virginia.’ I was like, ‘What?’ And they were like, ‘He’s been missing for three years.’”
Rachel Day, the one who commented on the post, says Roscoe belongs to her brother, Calvin, but got lost when they were in Myrtle Beach in September of 2020.
“They were inseparable. Everywhere they went together,” Day says. “It was heartbreaking. And he just continued to continuously try and find the dog. He would call me and say can you look on this page on Facebook, can you do this, can you look for him. And I helped, but I could never find anything.”
When Kennedy contacted the chip company, it emailed Calvin to let him know his dog had been found.
In disbelief, he asked his sister to check social media to see if anyone posted about him.
“I was surprised, pleasantly surprised, to find out that he was still around,” she said. “We had talked about it and I said, ‘I’m surprised he’s alive.’”
The two are now waiting to be reunited.
“He said, ‘I never thought I was going to see him again,’” Day says.
All4Paws also treated Roscoe for his leg injury at no charge.
Copyright 2023 WPDE/CNN. All rights reserved.
PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WPDE) — The workshop where Thomas Williams spends countless hours sculpting one-of-a-kind pieces of art has pieces of wood laying dormant in a pile.“I let the wood speak to me and every stick I touch I’m telling you it’s prayed for. Now I ain't gonna tell you it’ll open the red sea but I can tell you all of my sticks are blessed," explained Mr. Williams.In Pawleys Island, he’s known as the ‘Stick Man’ well, because he sells sticks. Not just any sticks th...
PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WPDE) — The workshop where Thomas Williams spends countless hours sculpting one-of-a-kind pieces of art has pieces of wood laying dormant in a pile.
“I let the wood speak to me and every stick I touch I’m telling you it’s prayed for. Now I ain't gonna tell you it’ll open the red sea but I can tell you all of my sticks are blessed," explained Mr. Williams.
In Pawleys Island, he’s known as the ‘Stick Man’ well, because he sells sticks. Not just any sticks though, they're custom hand-carved walking sticks made from quality wood he finds in the forest.
“You’re just like, 'oh my gosh this man is a special man' and his carvings are just so unique. It’s an old tradition the way he carves them and he hand selects each stick, there's not much of that anymore where people are making things by hand," said Michelle Volk, Owner of Carolina Nature Nook.
For the past 30 years, those driving Ocean Highway would see Mr. Williams selling his sticks on the side of the road to provide for his family of 14, so you could imagine the concern residents had when they didn’t see him for days.
“When he went missing at his stand, I went, 'gosh I have to check on him' and it turns out he was still at MUSC. I called his personal phone and he was in the burn center the day that I called," said Tom Bishop, a friend of Thomas Williams.
Williams was burning debris in his yard to keep mosquitos away, and as he added more lighter fluid to the pile, he tripped and fell sending flames up the entire right side of his body.
“I thought it wasn’t gonna go boom boom and it went boom and boom and burnt me all the way from here to down here," said Williams.
His injuries were so severe, he spent weeks in the hospital and had multiple surgeries.
All of which kept him from doing what he does best, making sticks.
“It’s killing me because I’m an active person and doing something," said Williams.
When Tom Bishop learned of the accident, he knew he had to help.
“I’m not that good with technology but my wife told me about a website called neighborhood and that’s how all of this got started. I started a GoFundMe for him," explained Bishop.
The fundraiser quickly met its goal of $6,000 but the community didn’t stop there.
Michelle Volk is the owner of the Carolina Nature Nook in the Hammock Shops Village.
When she saw the GoFundMe, she remembered an offer she made Williams years ago.
“If you ever want to leave them in our shop and people like them, we’ll sell them for you. We don’t want commission or anything, he’s a great guy and I’d be honored to have his products in my shop honestly because people know him and it helps us too," explained Volk.
Williams agreed, giving the shop 10 sticks that would quickly sell out.
“I didn’t know that much people loved me and I’m thanking god every day because let me tell you," said Williams.
It will be months before Williams can go back to work so he’s grateful for everything the Pawleys Island community has done to support him and his family.
“That’s Mr. Williams, he’s just a quality guy and I love checking up on him and I love seeing him out there. He’s part of the community, it’s part of what makes this area what it is," said Bishop.
If you'd like to purchase any of Mr. Williams' work, you can visit the Carolina Nature Nook at 10880 Ocean Hwy, Pawleys Island, SC 29585.
GEORGETOWN — Residents of a traditionally African American community near Pawleys Island are taking Georgetown County to court for the second time in three months over the county council’s approval of housing on the site of a never-developed technology park.The lawsuit surrounds approval of a development in Parkersville, west of U.S. 17 between Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island, that includes a commercial and residential mix with 90 housing units, 27 of them to be rented below market rate.In addition to the mixed ...
GEORGETOWN — Residents of a traditionally African American community near Pawleys Island are taking Georgetown County to court for the second time in three months over the county council’s approval of housing on the site of a never-developed technology park.
The lawsuit surrounds approval of a development in Parkersville, west of U.S. 17 between Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island, that includes a commercial and residential mix with 90 housing units, 27 of them to be rented below market rate.
In addition to the mixed land use, the council voted Nov. 8 to reclassify the Petigru Drive parcel as high-density residential instead of commercial.
The lawsuit alleges the zoning change approved by the council violates state law because it does not comply with the county’s comprehensive plan. It further alleges conflicts of interest by three county councilmembers who voted in the project’s favor.
Seven Parkersville-area residents and the Parkersville Planning and Development Alliance, Keep It Green and Preserve Murrells Inlet filed the lawsuit against Georgetown County and the Alliance for Economic Development for Georgetown County.
A small, heavily tree-lined neighborhood of about two square miles, Parkersville has become the recipient of “undesirable county land use decisions, commercial encroachment, predatory development of heirs’ property, and gentrification” as the Waccamaw Neck has developed, the lawsuit argues.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare that planned development districts in the county, like the one preceding the Parkersville development, should revert to their original zoning if construction does not start within two years. The technology park was originally zoned for forest agriculture, according to the lawsuit.
“The common denominator is that the comprehensive plan is just that, it’s the plan that’s supposed to be followed,” said Cynthia Ranck Person, executive director and chief legal counsel of Keep It Green, a nonprofit law firm based out of Pawleys Island. “And the zoning and land use decisions are supposed to be in compliance with the comprehensive plan. And they simply aren’t.”
Georgetown County spokeswoman Jackie Broach said the county does not comment on ongoing litigation.
Maya Morant, the county’s marketing director for economic development, did not respond to a request for comment.
The Alliance for Economic Development for Georgetown County has been a nonprofit separate from the county since about 2016, Broach said, though Council Chairman Louis Morant and Councilman Raymond Newton serve on both the county council and the Alliance’s board.
The development’s parcel was purchased by the Alliance in 2016. Morant and Newton each voted in favor of the project on Nov. 8, though both denied the transaction could benefit them economically.
The lawsuit also states that now-former Councilman Steve Goggans had a conflict of interest in voting on the project, as he was the architect for the technology park that never came to fruition.
Like Morant and Newton, Goggans voted in favor of the project Nov. 8.
The lawsuit is the third filed against the county by Keep It Green since January 2022. Person and members of her firm’s advisory council have made frequent appearances in recent county meetings at which housing in Parkersville has been on the agenda.
Another of Keep It Green’s two suits also involves a housing development in Parkersville. That lawsuit, filed in October, seeks to nullify the council’s approval of site plans for two townhouse developments.
The plaintiffs in that case, seven of them Parkersville residents, seek a mandate for county zoning ordinances to conform to the county’s comprehensive plan.
The county is also facing a lawsuit in U.S. District Court over a failed 2021 rezoning request for affordable housing near Wedgefield Plantation. The plaintiffs in that case, which include the South Carolina and Georgetown County chapters of the NAACP, allege that “racism and classism” played a role in the request’s denial.
Was your New Year resolution this year to prioritize your health, promote healthier habits or include certain fitness aspects into your current lifestyle?Although the state of South Carolina has a vast variety of health-focused smoothie spots and eateries, some stood out to a certain publication.Whether you are actively pursuing a healthier lifestyle or are a fruit fanatic looking for the next best smoothie, Best Things South Carolina ranked the e...
Was your New Year resolution this year to prioritize your health, promote healthier habits or include certain fitness aspects into your current lifestyle?
Although the state of South Carolina has a vast variety of health-focused smoothie spots and eateries, some stood out to a certain publication.
Whether you are actively pursuing a healthier lifestyle or are a fruit fanatic looking for the next best smoothie, Best Things South Carolina ranked the eight ‘best spots for smoothies in South Carolina.’
Here are the eight best smoothie locations in South Carolina, according to bestthingssc.com.
Health in Hand is located in Spartanburg at 201-A Wall Street with a second location recently opened last year in the Tyger River area. Open every day of the week, this smoothie spot is locally owned and operated in the downtown Spartanburg area since 2015 and “is Spartanburg’s go-to wellness cafe, serving organic acai bowls, smoothies, healthy food, green juice and more,” according to Health in Hand’s website.
The website even offers to create juice cleanses for your chosen amount of time for anyone new to beginning a cleanse or a juice cleanse professional. There are three options for you to choose from. As for their overall menu, “the first and only plant based restaurant in town” also serves a variety of juices, smoothies, bowls and food.
TReats Smoothie & Juice Bar, now called Sunset Slush of Travelers Rest with TReats Smoothies, can be found in Travelers Rest at 305 S Main Street. This location offers a variety of healthy, fruity smoothie options for you to choose from. If smoothies aren’t your thing, Italian ice options are also available. This smoothie spot is Travelers Rest’s first and only Smoothie & Juice Bar, according to the company’s Facebook page.
Fusion Smoothie & Juice Bar was founded in Summerville. This smoothie spot offered smoothies, juices, smoothie bowls, juice shots and a limited food menu. It is now reported to have closed and there was no response for comment, but Summerville has several smoothie locations such as Planet Smoothie and Tropical smoothie, which are chain locations, for smoothie lovers to choose from as well as several locations for health teas and shakes.
For those into health teas and shakes, locations such as 843 Nutrition, Holy City Nutrition, Recharge Nutrition and Pure Nutrition are all located in Summerville.
Kuka Juice can be found in Greenville at 580 Perry Avenue. This smoothie spot is “South Carolina’s finest cold-pressed juicery,” according to their website. Kuka Juice offers cold-pressed juices and plant-based food to help support your body and maximize your health. The name “Kuka” (Kuka Juice) comes from “Kukamama,” who is the Incan goddess of health and joy.
The smoothie company uses its name to promote its stance on healthy living and that “good nutrition fuels good health, and good health fuels joy.” Kuka Juice offers several juice cleanse options, juice shots, individual juices, smoothie bowls, smoothies, food options as well as a small market within their location.
Smooth can be found on Hilton Head Island at 11 Palmetto Bay Road in Suite 107A. This smoothie spot, which is on the south end of the island, offers a variety of smoothie options to choose from, such as acai bowls, bottles, smoothies, juices and juice shots.
“Fans flock to Smooth for three reasons: First, they feature the best-tasting smoothies on the island. Second, their prices are low enough to fit every budget. And most importantly, the staff here knows all things juices and can help you get the most benefits out of every drop. No matter what your ailments, you’ll find a juice that can make you feel good,” according to bestthingssc.com.
Anything Froz can be found in Pawleys Island at 13088 Ocean Highway Unit 2. This smoothie spot has an assortment of brightly colored and healthy acai bowls, smoothies, espresso, cold brew coffee, fresh organic juice and frozen yogurt. Anything Froz is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Diners of the smoothie spot can stay up-to-date on anything related to Anything Froz on their Facebook or Instagram pages.
Johnny’s Garden can be found in Sumter at 504 Miller Road. This smoothie location has a variety of juice options, juice shots and fresh smoothies and claims to specialize in energy foods. They are open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. every day other than Saturdays when they close at 4 p.m.
“This boutique juice bar was inspired by a family illness that was cured by the powers of juicing. The family now shares the benefits of juices and smoothies with others, offering them all the best ingredients that will have them banishing bad foods for good,” described bestthingssc.com about Johnny’s Garden.
Fresh Vibes Juice Bar & Cafe can be found in Rock Hill at 1675 Ebenezer Road. This location is open on weekdays and offers cold-pressed juices, hot and iced drinks, pure juices, smoothie blends, meatless sandwich wraps and salads. They offer several vegan options including burgers, cheeses and more as well as healthy smoothies and drinks to choose from.
After hours of standing in the breaking surf, the end of Pawleys Pier settled with a shrug into the waves. Like a tired swimmer, it floated away. It was just after 1 p.m.The tattered American flag still snapped above the gazebo that had shaded generations of anglers.Howard Bond captured the scene on video. He was standing in the stairwell outside a friend’s condo at Pawleys Pier Village as Hurricane Ian struck last week.“I just happened to look up,” he said. “The waves were cresting against the bo...
After hours of standing in the breaking surf, the end of Pawleys Pier settled with a shrug into the waves. Like a tired swimmer, it floated away. It was just after 1 p.m.
The tattered American flag still snapped above the gazebo that had shaded generations of anglers.
Howard Bond captured the scene on video. He was standing in the stairwell outside a friend’s condo at Pawleys Pier Village as Hurricane Ian struck last week.
“I just happened to look up,” he said. “The waves were cresting against the bottom of the pier. It was getting hammered.”
Free of its pilings, the deck followed the contour of the ocean, “almost like a Mexican wave,” Bond said.
The 820-foot pier is now half its original length, said Ted Levering, the president of the homeowners association at Pawleys Pier Village.
“We’re all terribly sad,” he said. “To look out and see half a pier, it’s very depressing.”
As property owners clean up after the Category 1 storm that made landfall over North Island at the southern tip of the Waccamaw Neck, the pier will stand as a reminder of the storm surge that not only battered the beachfront, but filled the creeks and flooded homes from DeBordieu to Garden City.
The Pawleys Pier Village property owners are now at work on plans to rebuild. The structure was insured for $5.5 million. An insurance adjuster was scheduled to inspect it today.
The damaged pier provided the backdrop for a visit by Gov. Henry McMaster the day after the storm.
The pier was the third to jut from the beach at the north end of Pawleys Island. The first was opened in July 1954. It was destroyed by Hurricane Hazel three months later. The second pier was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo in September 1989.
Fran Oxner, whose family has owned a house south of the pier for generations, looked over the wreckage from Ian on Friday afternoon with a sense of déja vu.
The broken pilings, once 60 feet long, had taken out nearby walkways. After Hugo, they had destroyed houses, she recalled.
Eddie Wilder had watched the surf pound the pier through the midday high tide. He estimated the waves were over 20 feet high. They broke over the end of the pier, he said.
When his wife, Renee, told him that a dock was floating past their house, Wilder realized it was actually the pier.
Bond watched until the portion with the gazebo and flag pole capsized. He has a house on the southern tip of the island.
“There were big sections floating in front of our house Sunday,” he said.
Pilings washed up south of the public parking lot. Other sections remain in the surf zone. The town of Pawleys Island will have to remove the storm debris the beach, said Mayor Brian Henry. It’s unclear who is responsible from removing debris from the ocean, he said.
“That’s navigable water,” he said.
The Pawleys Pier Village association will have the remaining structure evaluated for safety, Levering said. It may remove some damaged wood from the end to prevent further damage from winter storms.
The evaluation will determine if the entire pier needs to be rebuilt, he added.
Since the pier was rebuilt in 1990, pilings and timbers have been replaced periodically. Cape Romain Contractors, which built the pier, has already been out to talk with the association about their options.
“We want the pier back. That’s the main thing,” Levering said.
Georgetown County Board of Education: First and third Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., Beck Education Center. For details, go to gcsd.k12.sc.us. Georgetown County Council: Second and fourth Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers, 129 Screven St., Georgetown. For details, go to georgetowncountysc.org. Pawleys Island Town Council: Second Mondays, 5 p.m. Town Hall, 323 Myrtle Ave. For details, go to townofpawleysisland.com. , .
(843) 936-6238