Practical health information you can use
Practical, jargon-free information from our Addison clinic, whose lead provider has 27+ years of clinical experience. Articles are credited to our providers, Charles Ortega, PA-C and Rowena Calleja, PT. Each article page shows who wrote it, and a review line where one applies.
PRP, PPP, BMAC, and A2M are autologous procedures prepared from your own blood or bone marrow. They are considered investigational and are not FDA-approved for the treatment of any specific orthopedic condition. Individual results are not guaranteed.
Where readers start
Five Questions to Ask Before You Book a Genicular Artery Embolization
Genicular artery embolization is a procedure you may see advertised for knee pain. Five questions to ask any clinic about the evidence, risks and who it is for.
What the Grade on Your Knee X-Ray Actually Means
Kellgren-Lawrence grades 0 to 4, what each one describes, and why the grade and the pain so often disagree.
Your MRI Says Meniscus Tear. Here Is What That Does and Does Not Mean
Degenerative meniscal tears are common in knees that do not hurt. Questions to ask about whether yours is the problem or the background.
Orthobiologic Medicine
The Knee Injections You Will Be Offered, and What Each One Actually Is
Corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid, PRP, BMAC and A2M described by what they are and where each sits with the guidelines. PRP, BMAC and A2M are investigational.
How to Prepare for an Autologous Orthobiologic Procedure
What the appointment involves, what to ask beforehand, what to arrange for the day, and the questions worth asking any clinic that offers one.
Rotator Cuff Injuries: Non-Surgical Care Options
How physical therapy fits into shoulder care, where investigational autologous procedures like PRP and BMAC stand, and when surgery is considered.
Non-Surgical Care Options for Knee Pain in Dallas
From physical therapy to investigational autologous procedures like PRP and BMAC: an overview of the non-surgical care options people consider for knee pain.
BMAC vs PRP: Comparing Two Autologous Orthobiologic Procedures
PRP and BMAC are both autologous orthobiologic procedures prepared from your own biology — but they're not the same. A side-by-side comparison of how they differ.
How PRP Injections Are Prepared and Performed
What's in a PRP injection, how it's prepared and performed with image guidance, and what to expect afterward. PRP is investigational.
What Is Orthobiologic Medicine? A Patient's Guide
PRP, BMAC, A2M, and how autologous orthobiologic procedures are prepared and performed — explained in plain language by Charles Ortega, PA-C.
Physical Therapy
Your MRI Says Meniscus Tear. Here Is What That Does and Does Not Mean
Degenerative meniscal tears are common in knees that do not hurt. Questions to ask about whether yours is the problem or the background.
Quadriceps Weakness: A Common Finding in a Painful Knee
Why the thigh muscle can weaken quickly, why it may not fully come back on its own, and what loading it looks like.
Braces and Canes for Knee Arthritis: Unglamorous, and Still Worth Asking About
Knee bracing is a conditional guideline recommendation for knee OA and cane use a good practice statement. Which one, which hand, and why people refuse them.
Outer Hip Pain: Why It's Usually Tendinopathy, Not Bursitis
Pain you can't lie on is often not a bursa problem. What the tendons may be doing, why stretching can aggravate it, and what a randomised trial found.
Frozen Shoulder: The Three Stages and How Long Each Lasts
Adhesive capsulitis tends to move through stages, though timing varies. Knowing your stage can help you and your provider decide what to focus on now.
Plantar Fasciitis: Why Heel Pain Lingers and What May Help
That stabbing first-step pain is often not mainly inflammation, which may be why rest and anti-inflammatories alone do not always help.
Physical Therapy After Knee or Shoulder Surgery: The First 12 Weeks
Why the protocol outranks how you feel, what each phase is for, and the mistakes that can set recovery back.
Sciatica: When It Resolves and When It Doesn't
Many cases of sciatica ease over weeks, but not all do. What the timeline can look like, the red flags that need same-day care, and when to be evaluated.
Telehealth Physical Therapy: What Works Remotely
What a remote PT visit can genuinely do, what still needs the clinic, and the Texas rules that govern it.
Desk Ergonomics for Neck and Shoulder Pain
A practical, no-gadget guide to a desk setup that may be easier on your neck and shoulders, and the movement habit worth building.
Posture Isn't the Whole Story: What the Evidence Says
The research on posture and pain is weaker than the wellness industry suggests. Here's what it actually shows — and what to work on instead.
Sports Physical Therapy in Addison, TX: Returning to Your Sport
What sports-focused physical therapy involves for DFW athletes: rehab after injury, work on re-injury risk, and a gradual return to sport.
PT vs. Surgery: What Studies Found, and When Surgery Fits
What published studies found for knee, shoulder, back and wrist problems, their limits, and when surgery may be needed.
Weight Management
What a 5% Weight Change Means for an Arthritic Knee
Weight loss is one of a short list of strong recommendations for knee osteoarthritis. What the guideline actually says, and why the first 5% is the part that gets quoted.
Managing GLP-1 Side Effects: A Practical Patient Guide
Nausea, fatigue, and appetite changes are common when starting a GLP-1. Ways to manage them, and when to call your provider.
Compounded Semaglutide for Weight Loss: What Dallas Patients Should Know
What compounded semaglutide is, how it differs from compounded tirzepatide, candidacy, safety, and medical supervision. Compounded medications are not FDA approved.
Compounded Tirzepatide vs Compounded Semaglutide: Which GLP-1 Is Right for You?
How compounded tirzepatide and compounded semaglutide differ in mechanism, side effects and cost, and what to ask your provider. Compounded medications are not FDA approved.
Is Compounded Tirzepatide Covered by Insurance? What You Need to Know in 2026
Insurance coverage for GLP-1 weight loss medications is complicated. What may be covered, what often isn't, and how self-pay works. Ask your plan.
Medical Weight Loss vs. DIY: Why Provider Supervision Matters
Telehealth and DIY GLP-1 programs are widely advertised. What medical supervision involves, and questions to ask any program.
Your First Month on Compounded Tirzepatide: A Week-by-Week Guide
What the first four weeks on compounded tirzepatide can involve: titration, side effects and appetite changes. Experiences vary. Compounded medications are not FDA approved.
Neuropathy
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: What's Happening and What to Do
Why it starts in the toes, when the ADA says you should be screened, and why numbness is the more dangerous symptom.
Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Options
Numbness, tingling, and burning pain in the hands or feet? An overview of multi-modal options to discuss with your provider. Results vary.
Federal Workers (OWCP)
Knee Injuries on a Federal Job: CA-1, CA-2 and the Co-Signature Rule
Which form your knee injury belongs on, how continuation of pay works, the CA-16 clock, and the FECA rule about who has to sign the medical report.
OWCP Schedule Awards: How Permanent Impairment Is Rated
What a FECA schedule award pays, the weeks assigned to each body part, and why the back isn't on the list.
Returning to Work After a Texas Workplace Injury
Work status reports, bona fide offers of employment, and what happens to your income benefits when you go back — the Texas return-to-work rules, with citations.
Filing an OWCP Claim: Common Mistakes
Errors that can delay or put FECA benefits at risk for federal employees: wrong form, missed CA-16 window, and medical reports signed by the wrong provider.
Workers' Comp Physical Therapy: Your Rights in Texas
How Texas workers' comp physical therapy generally works and how treatment choices are made. Innovare Tx sees federal OWCP claims, not Texas state workers' comp.
OWCP for Federal Employees: A Complete Guide to Filing Claims
USPS, TSA, VA and other federal workers: how to file CA-1 and CA-2 claims, how the initial choice of physician works, and what to expect.
Integrated Care
Five Questions to Ask Before You Book a Genicular Artery Embolization
Genicular artery embolization is a procedure you may see advertised for knee pain. Five questions to ask any clinic about the evidence, risks and who it is for.
What the Grade on Your Knee X-Ray Actually Means
Kellgren-Lawrence grades 0 to 4, what each one describes, and why the grade and the pain so often disagree.
A Swollen Knee: What Can Wait Until Monday, and What Cannot
Many swollen knees can wait for a scheduled visit. Some are emergencies. The features that separate them, and the rules used to decide who needs an X-ray.
Integrated Care vs. Specialist-Hopping: What to Consider
Seeing several separate specialists can mean repeated tests and more appointments. What coordinated, whole-person care involves.
Have a question we haven't covered?
Book a visit or call our Addison clinic — our providers are happy to talk through your options.