shot. Packed with all-thingsbut-the-kitchen-sink, one shot each day just may boost your immune and leave you feeling energized. Apple cider vinegar has found its way into many trendy supplemental forms like gummies in recent years though its usage for health has been traced back decades. It is said that a concoction similar to it dated back to grave robbers who wanted to avoid the plague.

Fire cider is packed with antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant ingredients - good for not only boosting the immune system, but also boosting gut health and digestive issues.

The fire cider shown here is a homemade recipe shared by a dear friend. It is packed with all organically sourced goodness and “brewed” for one month. ACV, horseradish, ginger root, turmeric, garlic, onion, cayenne, lemon, rosemary, cinnamon, thyme, black peppercorns and raw honey are all generally used to create this potent cider. In our house, we take a daily shot diluted with a splash of apple juice or water from a glass skull shot glass to lighten things up.

But it is not only good from a shot glass, use it as a marinade, mix it in to create salad dressings, BBQ and other sauces.

Gather and brew or source your own fire cider and start the New Year off right.

DR. SARTOR JOHN SALTER BEFORE

JOHN SALTER SUFFERED FROM SEVERAL ILLNESSES throughout his childhood. Subsequently, he developed a habit of eating chips and other snacks while resting. John’s food choices and sedentary lifestyle led to a lifelong weight battle; however, the 49-year -old ended that battle when he visited Dr. Walter Sartor.

John weighed 420 pounds five months before undergoing weight loss surgery at the Surgery Clinic of Northeast Louisiana. John decided to lose 60 pounds before his surgery. Since his surgery in May of 2021, he has lost an additional 156 pounds.

Dr. Sartor performed John’s gastric sleeve surgery, which left John with a much smaller stomach incapable of holding much food. His new stomach also produces less of the appetite-regulating hormone ghrelin, which decreases his desire to eat.

With a reduced appetite and the inability to consume large portions, John’s relationship with food has changed.

“Sugar doesn’t appeal to me anymore. Instead of consuming an entire pizza, I might have one slice. Instead of fast-food apps, I have fitness apps. I remember a particular moment when I was given fast food, and it made me nauseous,” John said. “The truth is, I don’t think much about food anymore. It’s not the focus of my life. In fact, I often forget to eat because I’m not hungry, so I have to remind myself to eat.”

His daily routine? That has changed, too. John wakes up at 4 a.m. to drink his protein shake and run or walk at least five miles every morning. He has swapped his size 4XL jogging pants for a size large and a 56-inch waist pant for a 32-inch waist pant. He once struggled to pick up a book bag; now, he benches 275 pounds.

“Before the surgery, I would wake up every day with aches and pains due to carrying so much excess weight. My knees would hurt, and my back would hurt. I always rationalized it by saying I was ‘just getting older,’” John said. “Now I wake up with more energy, start the day with running or a long walk, go to the gym, exercise, and work a full day. I still have enough energy at the end of the day that it’s almost hard to get some sleep.”

Most importantly, his overall health has drastically improved. Before weight loss surgery, John underwent multiple knee surgeries due to his excess weight. He also had high blood pressure, diabetes, and eight stent procedures. A cardiologist once told him he had “a year to live.” John had to take insulin and heart medication. He no longer needed any of that medicine within 90 days of his weight loss surgery because his conditions had resolved. The cost of that medication was high.

“People are hesitant to pay for the surgery, but I went from spending over $300 in monthly medications to one $15 multivitamin. Over time, the surgery pays for itself just in medication savings.”

John’s parents offered to pay for his weight loss surgery 15 years ago. John declined the offer because, like so many others, he thought the surgery was “cheating” or the “easy way out.”

He wants to clarify that misconception for others. “The gastric sleeve surgery is not a magic bullet, but an incredible tool that allows you to make a long-lasting change. The surgery is magical if you make the necessary lifestyle modifications.”

John is pleased with another outcome of the surgery: his newfound health has benefitted his relationship. “I know my wife never minded, but I always felt guilty that she would have to take off work to take me to various medical appointments. I didn’t want to cause her any stress. I’m so glad that burden is gone.”

At the height of John’s medical problems, his GP recommended he see Dr. Walter Sartor about gastric sleeve surgery.

“Dr. Sartor does the most valuable thing a physician can do, he listens. You feel comfortable laying out what you’re thinking. Dr. Sartor does his research, and he provides you with answers. He never lectures. There’s no judgment, just sincere interest in helping you. That’s invaluable.”

In addition to Dr. Sartor, Marci Parker, a dietitian who provides nutritional counseling, helped John throughout his journey.

“I must have called Marci half a dozen times. She’d call me back on her cell phone with all my answers. And, she gave me her full attention. The only thing on her plate was answering whatever questions I had. Dr. Sartor and Marci were my pit crew that helped me through the races.”

To learn more about the bariatric program at the Surgery Clinic of Northeast Louisiana, visit surgeryclinicnela.com/bariatric. Losing excess weight will reduce your risk of high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, infertility, depression, and more.

The Surgery Clinic of Northeast Louisiana, home of Delta Vein Care, houses surgeons Dr. Walter Sartor, Dr. Bart Liles, Dr. Patrick Smith, and Dr. Mohamed Bakeer, who also performs bariatric surgery. Contact the clinic with questions about weight loss surgery, vein care procedures, and general surgery.

BY DARIAN ATKINS

THE NEW YEAR CAN SIGNAL MANY THINGS. For some, it’s the relief of getting through the holiday season. It can also signal hope for something new, something different. Yet, for some, there’s frustration, anxiety, or disappointment because of the absence of hope for something new…different.

After the celebrations come to a close on New Year’s Eve, a common practice commences…re-evaluation. Many people across cultures, classes, and systems begin to evaluate their lives to determine what changes need to be made and what should stay the same and strategize to accomplish the difference.

Along these same lines, people consider the value of their time and attention, considering and reconsidering commitments and even careers. One career that literally changes society is that of teaching. Consequently, it’s also a career with a grave shortage. Teachers can impact economic systems, drive innovation, break barriers, improve self-esteem, and provide quality gatekeepers of our society. Much like parenting, it can be a thankless profession. That happens because no one pays attention to their impact on students, families, and communities until we face challenges (national shortages) like we’re facing today.

Wendy Comfort, an adult education instructor for Louisiana Delta Community College in Farmerville understands how critical it is to have quality instructors in the classroom and the difference it can make. As a student herself, Wendy recalls, “I came into an adult education center not knowing whether I had any potential, not believing in myself, being a single mother, and needing somebody to help me in some way, somehow.” She found the help that changed the trajectory of her life. Comfort says, “Now, I can return that favor back to the community.” She encourages students to give their best so that by working together, students’ lives can be changed, and the students can help others do the same.

It takes unique individuals to be effective in the classroom. Some teachers are gifted in bringing learning material to life and relevance. For those reasons, Joe Lane, an instructor in the Business and Technology Department at LDCC, is consistently a student favorite on the Monroe campus, he connects with his students. The same can be said for many others like Robert Jordan, an automotive technology instructor, whose classes have more than doubled since he started and whose program is garnering national attention. Allison Gault, Jerome Wheeler, and Stacey Andrews were recognized, as many others previously have, for outstanding innovative efforts in the classroom. The common thread that weaves through all of LDCC’s excellent instructors is their love for teaching and their desire to see students succeed.

“We’re constantly looking for talented individuals to join our team,” shares Kendra Clement, HR director for LDCC. “Effective instructors are the backbone of our institution.” Change is constant within the walls of a community college because the community college must meet the dynamic, changing needs of the community it serves. “LDCC’s mission focuses on serving our students and industry partners. We do that by equipping our instructors with the latest technology, which aligns directly with our industry partner’s needs,” explains Wendi Tostenson, Vice Chancellor of Education and Student Success Services. The programs offered at LDCC are a diverse mix of what business and industry have requested that the college meets. “Our instructors are at the forefront of driving innovation in our classrooms and, ultimately, our communities. They’re producing quality students with skills ready for the marketplace,” says Tostenson.

Teaching in higher education or kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) is an exciting field in which to work. If you aspire to teach students in K-12, LDCC has strong partnerships with the University of Louisiana – Monroe (ULM) and Grambling State University (GSU). “We have a 2+2 agreement where students would complete the first two years of study at LDCC and the next two at GSU or ULM,” explains Ashley Ellis, Teacher Education Program Director. “We’re growing our program to impact the teacher shortage right here in the state’s northeast corner. Stay tuned, as there is a lot more to come!”

If you’re already an instructor or have the requirements to teach and your philosophy aligns with LDCC’s mission of serving our students and businesses, we invite you to apply! Open positions can be found on LDCC’s website at www.ladelta.edu/ faculty-and-staff/humanresources/employment-opportunities/.

At LDCC, we believe in empowering our instructors because our students must be empowered to effect change in our communities today and in the future.

Chancellor Randy Esters commented, “LDCC is more than buildings. We are a group of people who appreciate the impact we have every day, embrace the challenges we face, and empower those around us to reach their next level of success. For me, that is the reason we all do what we do.”

WHEN JONATHAN PERRY first saw an old photograph of his grandfather grilling outdoors, he immediately thought it would make a compelling statement piece for a restaurant. In the picture, Jay Pappa, as he was affectionately called, grins toward the camera—shirt off, drink in hand, straw hat tilted to the side, tending to the grill donning a forest green apron with black and white checkered trim. Little did Perry know that this same image would be his entryway into what has become Jay Pappa’s, a new restaurant specializing in great steaks, seafood, and spirits.

Both of Perry’s grandparents were incredibly influential in his life. On his mother’s side, his grandfather started CenturyLink, so working at the company had always been a goal. After graduating from the University of Louisiana at Monroe with a degree in marketing and business management, he began working in the telecommunications company. After fifteen years of service, he realized that following in his grandfather’s footsteps really meant that he should pave his own path. Around 2020, he opened up his own marketing company, a dizzying two weeks before COVID hit. “Obviously, that didn’t last. So I started looking at other options of what I could possibly do.”

Cooking and entertaining have been a family staple for years, so when he saw the picture of his grandfather grilling, he started looking for restaurants for sale. One of the properties that stood out was curled up between Levee Drive, River Landing, and Bayou Desiard. Not only was the location optimal for a favorable flow of clientele, but its potential was the most alluring. Though he purchased the building, which consisted of Chauvin Market and Levee Grill, his dream of creating a restaurant was still unrealized. When the owner of Levee Grill pursued another career, Perry was able to conceptualize a space that would make his grandparents proud.

One need only glance around Jay Pappa’s to know that family is first. Lining the main walls of the elegant interior are large black and white family photos. Most of the photos are from his father’s parents who are from Perryville, Louisiana. “I grew up there,” he says, pointing to a replica of a painting salvaged by his grandmother. A white, two-story, colonial-style home is shaded by tall trees and lined with flourishing bushes. It was built in 1903, but in 1985 it caught on fire. “It burned to the ground in forty-five minutes, and my grandmother got up, and she grabbed her silverware and she was able to grab this,” says Perry, referring to the painting and adding, “They had it over their fireplace.” Perry takes a moment to look around, closing his gaze on a black and white photo mounted close to the bar saying, “And that is actually all of the grandkids on the steps of the house that Christmas before it burned.” Clearly, Perry’s use of his family history is indicative of an individual who values his rural past and understands how it has informed his present.

Initially, the interior design plans went through a few revisions, but it was clear from the get-go that simplicity was key. “We wanted something that was really clean,” he says, referring to the assistance he received from Michael Jordan, founder of Lore Creative. The pair began with the color, opting to mimic the visual memories on the walls. In the main dining space, matte black and crisp white walls compliment the wood floor, and dark wooden tables and seating. The bar stands out with a warm gray tone and bright lighting. The more the space developed, the more Perry noticed the “New Orleans-style feel,” which is why jazzy rhythms emanate from the restaurant’s speakers come dinner service. “The whole room comes together at night,” enthuses Perry.

Jay Pappa’s menu is the product of a joint effort between Perry and Vada Perry, a chef that has worked in the area for years and last worked at Levee Grill. “She claims she comes with the building, so if you get the building you get Vada,” he laughs. Her vast restaurant experience and training in New Orleans-style dishes helped narrow down the restaurant’s menu. “We wanted really good steaks. We

wanted really good seafood,” informs Perry. Of all the items on the menu, the most sumptuous is arguably the 20-ounce ribeye. “That’s the thing, Chauvin, the market side, is known for having the best steaks in town. I’m just gonna name it and claim it,” enthuses Perry, who sources the restaurant’s meat from next door. Top any of Jay Pappa’s steaks with their selection of sauces and toppings like the lump crab and Béarnaise sauce, peppercorn with red wine sauce, or shrimp étouffée. Dinner favorites extend all over the menu. The Seared Duck Pasta is seared duck over bowtie pasta with wine sauce and capers. Another pasta dish comes from Chauvin Market, as indicated in the name. The Chauvin Lasagna Rolls are the famous Chauvin lasagna rolled and baked in a ceramic dish. “We sell tons of the Monterey Grilled Chicken,” says Perry, referring to their grilled chicken breast topped with Monterey Jack cheese, seared vegetables, and veggie rice.

Even the lunch menu has a staunch following, particularly their Wednesday lunch special, Thin Fried Pork Chops. “There’s always a line out the door,” he says. Diners also can’t go wrong giving the Steakhouse Burger a try, as it is made from 75% chuck and 25% steak trimmings. A novel item on both the lunch and dinner menus is the specialty pizzas, which boast delectable ingredients. Take the Chauvin Special (filet mignon, feta cheese crumbles, topped with arugula tossed with Chauvin lemon vinaigrette and parmesan cheese) or the down-south favorite, Gumbeaux (smoked sausage, fire-roasted chicken, and trinity vegetables).

The symbiotic relationship between Jay Pappa’s and Chauvin Market is not only beneficial to both spaces, but also to restaurant diners. If you don’t find a wine selection on Jay Pappa’s wine list, customers are encouraged to walk next door, select a bottle, and return with it to enhance their dining experience. Multiple shelves of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and more, await wine enthusiasts. Favoring Cabernets, Perry enjoys the 2019 Desire Cabernet Sauvignon from Second Line Wines based in Napa. Even then, he admits that choosing a favorite is impossible: “It’s hard for me to really pick out one because I’m a huge wine guy. So if you see it in here I’ve had it.”

Chauvin Market was built in 1992 and has provided the Northeast Louisiana region with an outstanding selection of wine and spirits, delectable hand-cut steaks, twice-baked potatoes, and homemade casseroles, soups, and their famous lasagna, all readymade in their grab-and-go freezers. Their use of “age-old” family recipes is not only indicative of the timelessness of comfort food but also their effort in employing some of the best cooks in the area. A quick browse through their organized shelves reveals some intriguing items like Laffitte’s Gourmet Cajun Pickles, Big Curt’s Salsa, and an array of Sugarlands Shine. “Amazing market and jewel in our town,” raves one satisfied customer.

Ultimately, Perry’s vision for Jay Pappa’s was simple. He wanted to create a space with an atmosphere that would inspire guests to unwind with family and friends, just like his grandparents enjoyed so much. He credits his crew with helping realize his vision. He mentions Vada, Chris Lewis (his “phenomenal grill cook”), Lewis’ mother Paulette Lewis who has taught Perry “so much” and treats him like her own son, and his manager, Hayley Hays. “I am blessed with a work family,” he says, adding, “I’m just a guy with an idea.” His strengths have been informed by the “talented, hardworking people” he has gravitated toward. “And I’ve been fortunate to have plenty of them around here,” he says.

Simply elegant and boasting a stunning view, Jay Pappa’s calls to those seeking dining that intersects good food, a plethora of spirits, and a space dedicated to family.

MUCH HAS CHANGED FOR THE LOUISIANA CAMPUS OF The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) since it first opened its doors to students in July 2020. VCOM-Louisiana now hosts more than 450 current students in three classes, with the inaugural class set to graduate in the spring of 2024. Next July, when a fourth class of students matriculates, the campus will finally reach capacity with more than 600 active students. The large number of medical students at the College is a sign that significant changes are coming in terms of healthcare access for the citizens of Louisiana and the Delta region. Currently, Louisiana has more than 2.5 million people living in Designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in October 2022. Many of these people live in small towns in rural areas of the state where they have little to no access to quality healthcare. Often, even basic primary care, such as family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics, is in short supply in rural areas of the state, meaning people must drive further and wait longer to seek care. This leads to chronic health conditions, like diabetes and hypertension, becoming more prevalent. Patients are also often sicker when they do see a doctor, leading to less desirable outcomes. As the only osteopathic medical school in Louisiana, VCOM is in a unique position to address these problems directly. VCOM-Louisiana students earn the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, as do students on the other three VCOM campuses, which are located in Virginia, South Carolina and Alabama. DOs are licensed in every state to practice the full scope of medicine: performing examinations, diagnosing a wide variety of health conditions, writing prescriptions, performing surgery and providing musculoskeletal manipulation. Osteopathic physicians provide care in every field of medicine from family practice to neurosurgery. However, the majority of DOs practice primary care, with approximately one-fourth providing care in small communities and rural areas. It is with these medically underserved communities in mind that VCOM chose Monroe, Louisiana, for its fourth and newest campus. In line with the College’s overarching mission to prepare globally-minded, community-focused physicians to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations, VCOM-Louisiana recruits students from these same areas where the need is greatest. As a result, these future physicians have a better understanding of the needs of these communities, and many of them will return to improve healthcare in their hometowns. Louisiana native Austin Bordelon is a third-year medical student at VCOM, and he understands the challenges of access to healthcare in the region. “Growing up and working in Marksville, Louisiana, I saw the struggle and frustration of the limited access to healthcare, as more physicians in my area stopped taking new patients or stopped taking Medicaid,” he said. “Seeing VCOM’s mission statement include community care and rural medicine demonstrates that these underserved communities are a priority and not an afterthought.”

As part of the College’s mission, medical education at VCOM provides experiences for future physicians to become national and international leaders through exemplary field experiences, academic preparation and a deep commitment to healthy communities. VCOM seeks to train medical students to be caring, practical, capable and well-rounded physicians, with the goal of creating national and international healthcare leaders for the future, all while providing students with rewarding, service-based learning opportunities.

In fact, dedication to community is part of the fabric of life at VCOM. From the time they begin their medical education, VCOM students are actively involved in local area health fairs, free clinics, community education and other service-based learning opportunities to engage with the community, all while receiving instruction from experienced faculty and staff.

Throughout their second year of medical school, VCOM students participate in weekly Interprofessional Early Clinical Experiences, or IECEs. During these experiences, students work alongside faculty mentors and allied healthcare professionals including nurses, pharmacists, EMS personnel, athletic trainers and others. This practical experience helps to prepare second-year medical students for the team approach to medical care, which they will see in action during their clinical experiences in their third and fourth years.

With such a focus on community health, it is no wonder that across its four campuses, 48% of VCOM students are from rural communities with populations under 30,000 and 66% of VCOM graduates practice in states with medically underserved counties and parishes where primary care is most needed.

Prior to VCOM’s first campus opening in Blacksburg, Virginia, in 2003, the state of Virginia was ranked as one of the lowest states in the country for number of active primary care providers. By 2020, when VCOM-Virginia had graduated 2391 DOs, the state was ranked toward the top of the list. In 2020, when VCOM-Louisiana opened, the state had similarly challenging numbers of active primary care physicians, ranking as one of the lowest in the country. As it did in Virginia, VCOM is committed to reversing that trend in Louisiana so that all citizens of the state can experience quality health care provided by excellently trained physicians who understand their needs and their communities.

AS MANAGING PARTNER OF HEARD, MCELROY & Vestal, LLC (HMV), a Louisiana CPA firm, I am excited to announce that Curtis Blakely & Co., PC, a Longview-based Texas CPA firm, joined HMV on January 1, 2023. And just like that, the HMV family grew and everything got bigger in Texas!

Heard, McElroy & Vestal, LLC is a regional professional services and business advisory firm with offices in Shreveport and Monroe, Louisiana and now, in Longview, Texas. Celebrating over 76 years of client service, our firm provides a wide range of services for both businesses and individuals, including tax planning and preparation, audit and assurance, business valuation, and retirement plan services. HMV’s strategic associations include Aliign Mineral Management, LLC, Business Valuation Consultants, LLC and HMV Wealth Advisors, LLC. Aliign Mineral Management, LLC provides top level services to businesses and individuals with oil and gas holdings by effectively and efficiently monitor mineral interests. Business Valuation Consultants, LLC provides valuation analysis to clients by determining value through credible valuation analysis. Convincing valuation judgments require competence, credibility, and confidence, which our consultants continually strive to infuse into every business relationship. HMV Wealth Advisors, LLC is dedicated to helping businesses and individuals reach their full wealth potential. Our advisors’ general approach to investing focuses on the things that can be controlled: expenses and taxes, rather than the things that can’t be controlled: the market. With efforts in keeping investment fees and taxes as low as possible, our advisors aim to bring risk-adjusted, market returns to our clients in the most tax-efficient and low-cost manner possible.

The reason for this union is two-fold. For HMV, it provides clients in Longview and the surrounding east Texas region with increased access to local support. Our firm serves a variety of clients and communities positioned along the I-20 corridor and across the nation. HMV will operate from Curtis Blakely & Co., PC’s Longview office location in addition to its two other locations. By joining HMV, Curtis Blakely & Co., PC’s team of professionals will continue to serve local, regional, and national clients with the added support of the firm’s commitment to servicing and growing the communities in which, they live and work. In addition, the firm will have access to a full range of national and international capabilities through HMV’s membership with the RSM US Alliance – a premier affiliation of independent accounting and consulting firms in the United States, with more than 75 members in over 38 states, the Cayman Islands, and Puerto Rico. We provide access to the resources, experience, and professional knowledge base of a national organization, while still providing the level of service and attention that only a local, independent accounting firm can offer.

HMV has grown over the decades by building relationships. Our relationship with Curtis Blakely & Co. is no different. In fact, it stems from a friendship developed decades ago in the kindergarten classroom. Emily Leahy, Partner at HMV, and Kristin Hildebrand, Partner at Curtis Blakely & Co., PC, have been friends and maintained their relationship since kindergarten and now, they are business partners. As HMV became familiar with the team of professionals in Longview, it became clear that Curtis Blakely & Co., PC was a high-quality firm focused on client service with exceptional people. Our firms are “a match made in heaven,” or even better, “a match made in kindergarten!”

HMV has grown over the years by expanding our services and providing opportunities to our clients. From the traditional service lines of tax, accounting, and auditing, we have added retirement plan administration, business valuation, litigation support, mineral management and consulting, and wealth management. In addition, Curtis Blakely & Co., PC specializes in service offerings to niche industries such as telecommunications and utilities. We plan to continue expanding our service lines and are always open to providing opportunities in the future.

Our people and our clients are the very best. At HMV, client service and experience are driven by our mission statement and maintained by technical expertise alongside our core principles of commitment, integrity, teamwork and people.

HMV has been recognized as a “Locals Love Us” award winner and listed in Forbes as one of America’s Top Recommended Tax and Accounting firms for several consecutive years. We believe that the combination of these two firms will put HMV into the top 200 firms in the United States as measured by Inside Public Accounting. We are so grateful for our clients, our people, and our communities who afford us the opportunity to serve and support our firm’s goals.

What’s next? As was yesterday and the years prior, we will continue to focus our efforts on building relationships and providing opportunities to our clients, our people, and our communities.

BY DANELLE WARE AND THE OSL FAMILY

KNEE ARTHRITIS IS CAUSED BY THE WEARING OUT of cartilage in the knee. Cartilage is the cushion in the knee that allows us to move without pain in our daily lives. As the cartilage wears out, we start to hurt! All the catching, locking, and deep toothache pain are because of arthritis. We have a variety of nonsurgical options to treat knee arthritis. Unfortunately, if the arthritis is severe enough, these modalities are no longer effective, and the only option left is knee replacement surgery. Considering this, newer treatment options have been developed to avoid surgery. Two of these newer treatment options are platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell injections. I’d like to take a moment to explain these two novel treatment methods and maybe dispel some of the mystique surrounding these injections.

PRP is a product derived from a patient’s blood who visits a clinic and has their blood drawn. This blood is collected and spun in a machine called a centrifuge, which separates the blood into three layers. The top layer is the plasma. The middle layer is called buffy coat, which contains white blood cells and platelets. Finally, the bottom layer is the red blood cells. The platelet-containing layer is isolated and preserved, while the rest is discarded. This is in essence concentrating a large amount of platelets into a small amount. This “platelet-rich plasma” is then injected into the patient’s knee.

The theoretical benefits of PRP are derived from platelet growth factors. These growth factors are touted to help with pain and potentially regenerate cartilage in the knee. Different doctors recommend various formulas and treatment regimens. Some might recommend multiple visits for PRP injections depending on the diagnosis. Unfortunately, the studies on PRP injections do not support these claims. Study after study has failed to provide any significant benefits of PRP compared to other treatments currently on the market, such as a regular steroid injection. A recent study on PRP revealed that it lowered patients’ knee pain by 2 points on a scale of 1–10 over a 6-month period. After 6 months, the pain returns. Furthermore, all these patients had MRIs before and after PRP injections, and no evidence of cartilage regeneration from the injections was found.

Stem cell injections are more invasive and more costly for patients compared to PRP. In stem cell injections, a physician extracts bone marrow from a patient. The most common area where this is done is around the pelvis, which is the place in your hips you put your hands on when you are mad at your husband or wife. A patient is sedated, and bone marrow is extracted using a large needle. These cells in the bone marrow are separated using a centrifuge. After isolating the stem cells, they are injected into the patient’s knee. Because cells are extracted from the bone marrow, this procedure can be a little bit more painful. This entire process takes a little longer and often requires a trip to the operating room, whereas a PRP injection can be performed in a clinic.

The studies on stem cells and PRP are hard to interpret at times. There are numerous “recipes” for these injections, making them difficult to compare across a wide range of studies. Furthermore, the severity of knee arthritis seems to matter. A 50-year-old patient with very mild knee arthritis might respond differently compared to a 90-year-old with end-stage arthritis that has been present for years. Studies on stem cell injections for knee arthritis have failed to show any long-term benefit compared to treatments already on the market. For this reason, the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons does not recommend the use of PRP and stem cell injections for advanced knee arthritis.

These injections typically are not covered by insurance and can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000. When patients enquire about these options, I simply do not recommend it to them. The short duration of benefit for knee arthritis does not justify a patient’s high out-of-pocket expenses.

Jeffrey Pearson is a fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in total joint replacement and general orthopedics. If you would like to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Pearson, please visit: orthopedicspecialistsla.com or call the Orthopedic Specialists of Louisiana scheduling team: (866)759-9679. Dr. Pearson has clinic locations in Shreveport and Bossier City.