Author: D. Bents

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

Paragon Orthopedic Center would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of you who made us your source for orthopedic care in 2021.  As part of what makes America great, you have a choice for your healthcare needs, and you chose us.  Thank you!  We have been able to keep our doors open through one the most challenging years we have ever seen.  Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigated the ever-changing OHSHA rules and tighter insurance regulations for your care.  Dr. Bents and Dr. Van Horne will continue making you their priority in 2022, going to bat for you when insurance companies make coverage difficult, and we are always striving to do what we do better.  Wishing you a happy New Year Southern Oregon!

At this time of year, people are consuming foods at parties they might not usually eat and sometimes in larger quantities…and sometimes this causes bodily issues.  With food allergies on the rise in our country, Paragon Orthopedic Center wants to help you distinguish between what might be a food allergy and a food intolerance.  The Mayo Clinic article goes over the finer details, but the big distinguishing factor is that a food allergy elicits an immune system reaction that affects numerous organs and not just your digestive tract.  Either way, if you react to a certain food, seek out your healthcare professional because food allergies can be fatal.

Food allergy vs. food intolerance: What’s the difference? – Mayo Clinic

We take your orthopedic concerns seriously, but sometimes we can get a little silly.  Merry Christmas Southern Oregon from Paragon Orthopedic Center!

If you have the ability, Paragon Orthopedic Center would encourage you to donate to a local food bank this holiday season.  Nobody should go hungry at Christmas.  Two that are at the ready to take your donations in Josephine County are: the Josephine County Food Bank on Upper River Road, and the ROC Food Bank on Foundry Street.  The pantries have certain foods they would most like to see donated.  Here is an article from Taste of Home that lists 20 preferred foods, like a pantry wish-list, and tells you about some they’d rather not see.  Three keys to follow are: 1-Non-perishable, 2-low sugar, and 3-high fiber/multigrain when possible.  They like to give people food with the biggest nutritional punch.  Read here to begin making your shopping list for the pantry:

20 Items Your Food Bank Needs the Most | Taste of Home