Grande Ronde Hospital | Life & Health | Summer 2020

—Continued from front page Answers for your orthopedic concerns If you have been putting off consulting one of these specialists in the past few months, they have a simple message: Please don’t wait any longer. Your good health and quality of life is a priority. Call 541-663-3100 . platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injec- tions are a treatment for pain and an increased healing benefit used successfully at the Specialty Clinic. PRP is a concentrate of plasma protein centrifuged to remove red blood cells. Whole blood is drawn from the patient by the Clinic’s lab staff, centrifuged in the Clinic lab, and injected directly into the location of the pain by the provider. The cost per injection across the U.S. ranges between $500 and $2,000, according to the latest numbers from 2019. As a privately owned, indepen- dent care system, GRH has been able to make it cost accessible for patients interested in trying the therapy. “Patients do need to understand that this therapy has not yet been approved by many insurance compa- nies, so it is usually an out-of-pocket expense. However, I have patients who say it’s worth every penny for the relief. And when you consider that the average cost nationwide is around $900 and our fee is approximately a third of that, we have provided a valu- able treatment for our patients here at Grande Ronde,” Dr. Heisinger says. Although the new treatment is not the answer for every patient, Dr. Heisinger and his physician assistant, Aaron Cooper, have used it with great success on their patients as an anti-inflammatory and an increased healing therapy. Dr. Heisinger says an orthopedic consult for chronic pain is a great opportunity to discuss the benefits and risks of PRP injections. Do try this at home For other patients, conventional home treatments for non-chronic pain from injuries like sprains may be the best option. As a surgical podiatrist, Stacy Iles, DPM, often works with athletes within the sports medicine context as a foot and ankle surgeon. A competitive runner throughout high school and college, Dr. Iles is no stranger to personal sports injuries, sprains and self-care. She advises her patients to take the proper time to rest and heal after a sprain, tendon injury or fracture to avoid prolonging the healing process. Dr. Iles explains that the foot has 26 bones and 33 joints, all of which must function properly for pain-free movement. The foot and ankle joints are also replete with nerves that allow muscles, tendons and liga- ments to properly function together. Overuse injuries may be remedied with rest and anti-inflammatories or activity modifications. “Ankle sprains, for example, really take about three weeks of consistent rest followed by aggressive range of motion. I advise the RICE (Rest, Icing, Compression, Elevation) therapy, but consistency is key. Then you can begin to strengthen the area and improve your flexibility and proprio- ception (the perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body) to prevent reinjury,” Dr. Iles explains. We are here for you “When in doubt, I hope our patients feel free to call us to help determine whether an injury can be self-treated or requires more intervention,” she adds. If you have been putting off consulting one of these specialists during the past few months, this care team has a simple message: Please don’t wait any longer. Your good health and quality of life is a priority. Grande Ronde Hospital 900 Sunset Drive La Grande, OR 97850 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Walla Walla, WA Permit No. 44 What is RICE?