Month: January 2022

You go to the paint store and are happy to find many choices of colors.  You shop for groceries and can seek the deals by choosing a store.  We like choices, and you have a choice for the place you have surgery.  The hospital might be the place most people think of first, but a smaller surgery center like the Grants Pass Surgery Center is able to offer the people of Southern Oregon a personalized experience with surgeons who do surgeries at both.  Both Dr. Bents and Dr. Van Horne perform surgeries at both the surgery center and the hospital.  Paragon’s own Dr. Bents is the Chairman of the Board at the GPSC.   Want to learn more?  The Grants Pass Surgery Center website has an informational video that is less than 2 minutes and some facts that will help you understand more about it.  Check that out here:

What is an Ambulatory Surgery Center? – Grants Pass Surgery Center (gpsurgerycenter.com)

If you wake up with back pain, it is worth trying another position and using pillows to alleviate those morning aches.  The best position for sleeping is a neutral position that keeps your spine in neutral alignment.   Lying on your back does just this, distributing your weight evenly and reducing pressure points.  This position won’t work for everyone, especially if you snore, have sleep apnea, or are pregnant.  If you sleep on your side, adding a pillow between your legs can help keep good alignment.  Stomach sleeping in known to put stress on your neck and spine, so if you are experiencing back pain and usually sleep on your stomach, you should try another position.  Since changing sleep positions can prove to be challenging, a tip for stomach sleepers who can’t seem to switch is to try is putting a pillow under your abdomen to support your pelvis.  This helps relieve some of the stress on your back.  Here is an article from Heathline.com that recommends other ways to use pillows in various sleeping positions and tells you specifically what parts of your back are benefitted.

5 Best Sleeping Positions for Lower Back Pain (healthline.com)

Dr. Bents and his new Physician Assistant Gordon Hart perfecting techniques on the new Velys robot at Grants Pass Surgery Center. This is the first robotic assisted total knee system in Grants Pass!

Welcome to Gordon Hart, PA-C, our newest Physician Assistant who joins Dr. Bents. He comes to us from the prestigious Steadman Clinic in Vail, CO and has over 20 years experience in orthopedics and sports medicine.

With certain informational resources changing advice about the vaccines and some news sources reporting outdated news, there seems to be some confusion over what vaccines are safe and what to do if you’re exposed.  Harvard Health came out with an informational article today that goes through the most up to date facts, such as which vaccines are approved and why, breakthrough infection facts, the dangerous symptoms that have been noted for those who have had the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, what is recommended for children, who should get a booster, what is known about the Omicron variant, and much more. This is a very thorough article that likely covers any COVID question you have.  Even though recent studies are showing the vaccines offer less protection of the Omicron variant, getting the vaccine could be the difference between a mild flu and getting severe symptoms that require hospitalization.  As far as the booster goes, it will increase your body’s defense in fighting infection and illness, so if you are eligible, get the booster.  Research is ongoing, so keep yourself informed and only read from reputable sources.

COVID-19 vaccines – Harvard Health