New clinical trial for lumbar spinal surgery begins in San Antonio

MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

A new clinical trial is underway for an alternative method to lumbar spinal fusion surgery. Orthopedic medical center Ortho San Antonio and orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Anton Jorgensen announced the BalancedBack Total Joint Replacement trial using a “first-of-its-kind” technology called the 3Spine MOTUS device.

3Spine is a healthcare company focused on integrating development, research, and execution of lower back total joint replacement. The combination of the 3Spine procedure and the MOTUS device aim to address leg pain, back pain, and spinal instability. The surgery implements reconstruction of the functional spinal unit to treat degenerative disease.

Dr. Jorgensen was trained by fellow orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Hodges, the co-founder and medical director of 3Spine. Dr. Jorgensen said in a press release that he is proud to be the first Texas surgeon to participate in an important clinical trial of this type. He encouraged the community to keep in mind the challenges that come with spinal fusion surgery while searching for “new and innovative solutions to improve patient care.”

“This is something new I had to learn and practice, but I am convinced that MOTUS has the potential to fundamentally change the way I treat degenerative lumbar disease,” he said.

The first surgeries in the trial were completed at the Foundation Surgical Hospital of San Antonio. 3Spine Inc. is seeking certain patients with single-level lumbar spine disease and lumbar degeneration to participate in the study. Patients interested in the clinical trial in San Antonio can email brouk.gebreab@christushealth.org for more information.

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

How to get a medical cannabis prescription from anywhere in Texas

Easy as 1, 2, 3

Medical cannabis is legal in Texas, offering a natural solution for alleviating symptoms of over 150 conditions approved under the Texas Compassionate Use Program.

Texas Original, the state’s leading medical cannabis provider, offers 11 medical cannabis pickup locations and statewide delivery so patients can access the medicine no matter where they live in Texas.

Texans who are interested in receiving a medical cannabis prescription can complete the process in a few simple steps.

Step 1: Schedule an appointment
The first step to obtaining a prescription is to schedule an appointment with a doctor registered to prescribe medical cannabis. Several clinics offer virtual appointments, so you can meet with a doctor from anywhere in Texas.

Veterans, first responders, teachers, and medical professionals are eligible for a free first appointment for a six-month prescription and discounts on follow-up appointments. If you belong to one of these eligible groups, check the box on the form.

Step 2: Talk to a doctor
During your appointment, the doctor will review your medical records and confirm if you are eligible for medical cannabis, then discuss your treatment plan

Once approved, your doctor will add your prescription to the online medical cannabis registry, where licensed dispensaries can access it.

Step 3: Receive your medicine
After your appointment, call 512-614-0343 to place your first order.A Texas Original representative will help you select your products and schedule you for a pickup or delivery.

Patients can pick up their medicine in the following cities:

Austin
San Antonio
Houston
Dallas
Fort Worth
Frisco
Addison
Waco
Lubbock
Nacogdoches

If you can’t pick up your medicine, Texas Original offers statewide delivery for patients.

The Compassionate Use Program has opened new doors for patients and doctors to work together to effectively alleviate symptoms of qualifying conditions.

If you’re ready to start your journey with medical cannabis, reach out to Texas Original to get started. Plus, enjoy a 20 percent discount on your first order at Texas Original.

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

Medical cannabis can alleviate symptoms for more than 150 conditions.

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

It only takes 3 steps to get medical cannabis in Texas

Easy As 1, 2, 3

As the Texas Legislature convenes for its 88^th session, many patients, physicians, and advocates are pushing for expansions to the Compassionate Use Program, the state’s medical cannabis program.

Since 2015, the program has expanded twice, allowing for more than 150 conditions to qualify for medical cannabis.

For thousands of patients in the state, medical cannabis provides a safe alternative to opioid medications and effective relief for symptoms like pain, insomnia, anxiety, nausea, muscle spasms, and more.

Texas Original, the state’s leading medical cannabis provider, makes the process of getting a prescription easy. Receiving a medical cannabis prescription starts with a few simple steps:

Step 1: Find out if you qualify
The first step is to find out if you qualify by scheduling an appointment with a doctor registered in the Compassionate Use Program.

Several registered doctors offer convenient virtual appointments through telemedicine practices so patients can meet with the doctor from anywhere in Texas.

To set your appointment, visit Texas Original’s website and fill out the form. Veterans, first responders, teachers, and medical professionals are eligible to receive a free first appointment for a six-month prescription. If you belong to one of these eligible groups, simply check the box on the form.

Step 2: Talk to a doctor
During your appointment, the doctor will review your medical records and confirm if you are eligible for medical cannabis, then discuss your treatment plan.

Once approved, your doctor will add your prescription to the online medical cannabis registry, where it can be accessed by licensed dispensaries.

Step 3: Receive a prescription
After your appointment, call 512-614-0343 to place your first order. Texas Original offers the state’s leading medical-grade cannabis products, including Texas’ first fast-acting medical cannabis gummies.

All products undergo rigorous testing and the results are published publicly on Texas Original’s website for patients to access anytime.

The dispensary team will help you select your products, then schedule you for a pickup at a location nearest to you or arrange home delivery.

Medical cannabis provides Texans an all-natural option that may help alleviate symptoms like pain, insomnia, and anxiety that are commonly associated with approved medical conditions.

If you or a loved one are ready to start your journey with medical cannabis, reach out to Texas Original to get started. Plus, enjoy a 20 percent discount on your first order at Texas Original.

Photo courtesy of the City of San Antonio

2 new San Antonio murals celebrate the Alamo City in joyful movement

How Community Moves

At the end of November, two bright new murals took over regular exterior walls at the Ramirez Community Center, tying the setting into the activities organizers hope San Antonians will enjoy nearby. Titled “Motivated Community” and “Joyful Momentum,” the works represent activity as well as a spirit of togetherness — fitting for the organization that helped bring them to life.

This is the first collaboration between the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Street Art Initiative, a local nonprofit that focuses on career development for street artists. The nonprofit has created 66 murals around the city so far, and is organizing “the largest outdoor gallery in Texas,” currently in the form of a self-guided tour via Google Maps. The city's involvement includes another layer of collaboration between the Department of Arts & Culture, the Department of Parks & Recreation, and San Antonio City Council District 4.

“The Ramirez Community Center mural project is the perfect example [of] how inter-departmental collaborations can work to beautify our existing community spaces,” said Department of Parks & Recreation assistant director Nikki Ramos in a press release. “Through community participation and input, this mural gives this space identity and creates pride among area residents.”

These are the first sports and recreation murals commissioned by the city. One depicts a larger-than-life child on a swing, offering a more leisurely and carefree point of view on movement. The other places snapshots of different sports together, blurring the line between official team sports and everyday exercise. It offers some diversity by taking inspiration from “real individuals who use the facilities,” including adults, children, different body types, and abstract colors.

"Motivated Community" mural at the Ramirez Community Center in San Antonio These murals mark a first partnership between the city and the San Antonio Street Art Initiative.Photo courtesy of the City of San Antonio

“Murals are having a major moment right now and this is an excellent example of how meaningful creative work can help express and support a sense of neighborhood history, culture and belonging,” said executive director Krystal Jones. “We are delighted to have partnered with the nonprofit San Antonio Street on this project and hope that the community will find these stunning public works of art to be invigorating and inspiring to all.”

The artists, Adriana Garcia and sisters Manola and Maria Ramirez, blended their styles to make this colorful set of murals that combines punchy graphic design with more realistic, honest depictions of people in action. The Ramirez sisters are graduates of the University of Texas at Austin.

“Motivated Community” and “Joyful Momentum” can be viewed at the Ramirez Community Center, at 1011 Gillette Blvd. More information on the Ramirez Community Center and its activities is available at sanantonio.gov.

Photo courtesy of Speak As One

New Texas-based mental health subscription box plans national launch in 2023

Speak Now and Hold Your Peace

Mental health apps are so alluring, but once you’ve recorded your two-week streak and things are feeling a little more organized, it can be hard to keep going. It’s hard enough to keep up with journaling and a great bedtime routine, and many lovely self-help tools also lose their effectiveness when the novelty wears off.

A smart company might harness that novelty as its hook — and an easily distracted self-helper won’t fall off the wagon. Like many other companies in the mental health space, Speak As One will work on a subscription model, but this one won’t languish, unused on a credit card statement. The service, which plans to launch in Austin during SXSW in spring 2023, delivers boxes of tangible mental health tools, inspiration, games, and even sensory objects that act as a monthly nudge to try something new, and curiosity takes care of the rest.

A sample box included:

Stress balls with short inspirational phrases by MindPanda
An Emotional First Aid Kit containing advice for situations as they come up, like sleeplessness and feelings of inadequacy
Tiny colorful putties at different resistances by Flint Rehab
A notebook, and two books: Athlete Mental Health Playbook and 1000 Unique Questions About Me
Other small items

It’s more than packing and shipping out a few toys each month. The boxes are curated with help from a licensed therapist, who leaves a personal note along with tips on how to use the items inside and additional resources. There is one type of box right now that aims to “reduce anxiety, increase mindfulness, and promote peace and balance,” but for further customization (for $10 more), the team is working on boxes tailored to first responders, veterans, athletes, and people in “recovery.”

Speak As One emphasizes community stories in its branding outside the delivery box, and uses inspiration from “influencers” (less content creators and more so people who can embody a relatable story) to build the specialty boxes. The company’s YouTube channel shares dozens of interviews with founder Julie Korioth, a former board member for Austin’s SIMS Foundation, a well-respected mental health resource for members of the local music industry.

“With hundreds of millions of people struggling with mental health, and COVID making the issue much worse, society continues to ostracize those who openly discuss mental health issues,” said Korioth in a release. “I founded this company so we can change the way the world sees, discusses, and supports mental health. Our goal is to promote empathy, connectedness, acceptance, and thoughtfulness with an innovative toolkit that caters to specific needs."

In addition to offering a nudge, these boxes could make great care packages for a loved one who is feeling introspective or going through a significant life event. It is possible to buy gift boxes, if presentation is your thing, but it’d be just as easy to repackage a box that comes before the receiver ready to appreciate the items at home.

The cost of one box is manageable at $49.99 (especially considering the retail value of products included, which the sample box far exceed), but for many subscribers this adds up fast. Luckily, there is no pressure to continue a lengthy commitment — subscriptions last between one and six months, so users have plenty of time to reconsider and sit with the items that have already been delivered.

"The goal is to meet our audience at any phase of their mental health journey,” said Korioth. “We’re creating change and a global life-long support system for children and adults dealing with mental health challenges. We simultaneously highlight businesses, the tech community, athletes, and artists doing wonderful work in this space.”

The company plans to partner with corporations to connect with employees and provide boxes to individuals the company chooses, and will turn some content into session albums with sales proceeds dedicated to mental health research.

More information and links to preorder are available at speakasone.com.

Photo courtesy of Milan Laser Hair Removal

Is laser hair removal worth getting? The experts break it down.

Pros & Cons

Remember those shoes you got that you paid almost nothing for? At the time, they were such a steal. But, surprise! A few months later, they’re falling apart. By investing in a quality pair of shoes that cost more upfront, you won’t have to worry about them falling apart and paying more in the end to replace them.

It’s true: You get what you pay for! Laser hair removal is kind of like that. It’s an investment rather than an expense.

To learn more about this cost-effective way of banishing unwanted hair for good, we spoke to San Antonio's laser hair removal experts at Milan Laser Hair Removal, the nation’s largest laser hair removal provider. Read on to learn if laser hair removal is really worth it.

1. It saves you time
Hate shaving and waxing? We all do. No one enjoys spending that extra time in the shower shaving their legs and planning their shaving routine around wearing a swimsuit or shorts. The average person spends about 39 hours a year shaving. If you choose to wax, you have to make a salon appointment each month and take time out of your day for something that gives you temporary results.

With laser hair removal, you can get those hours back. That’s because laser hair removal produces permanent results when done properly. A laser pulse is delivered directly to the hair follicle, targeting the pigment in the hair. The heat from the laser destroys the follicle, and that hair can never grow again — ever. The average Milan Laser client is 95-plus percent hair-free in their treated areas within seven to 10 treatments. Permanent results mean never wasting time on outdated hair removal methods again.

2. It saves you money
In addition to wasting time on shaving and waxing, you’re also wasting money. Some may not think of laser hair removal as being cost-effective, but it is. About $3,800 is spent over a lifetime on shaving essentials. For waxing appointments at salons, you’re looking at $24,000 over a lifetime. The money spent on waxing appointments, replacing razors, or buying shaving cream becomes cyclical and costs more in the end. Laser hair removal is an investment, rather than an expense.

To get the best value for your money, take advantage of places that offer payment plans. For instance, Milan Laser offers everyone affordable laser hair removal payment plans.

And because our bodies are unpredictable, new follicles can become active, and new hair can grow due to hormone changes, age, and genetics. This is where touch-up fees come into play. To guarantee lifetime results, some places offer unlimited laser hair removal packages, like Milan Laser. If you choose one of these laser hair removal providers, you’ll never have to worry about touch-up fees or other surprise costs.

3. It’s more comfortable than you think
It’s easy to understand why some think a laser coming into contact with your skin is painful. But think about how painful waxing is, and when you accidentally nick yourself shaving? Ouch!

Most people say laser hair removal feels like the sting of a rubber band snapping against the skin, but only for a millisecond — the time it takes for the laser to zap your hair. Many lasers, such as the Candela GentleMax Pro used at Milan Laser, have built-in comfort features. Some less sophisticated, outdated lasers use numbing creams, messy gels, or chilled air that’s blown on the treatment area. On the other hand, the Candela uses a cooling cryogen mist released immediately after each laser pulse to reduce any potential discomfort and provide you with the most comfortable laser hair removal treatments.

4. It’s easy
Because laser hair removal is becoming more mainstream, it’s easier than ever to find laser hair removal providers. For the best results and experience, you’ll want to use a provider with medical oversight that has highly trained medical professionals operating the lasers such as Milan Laser.

If you choose a provider who specializes in laser hair removal, like Milan Laser, you’re likely to enjoy quick, easy treatments. These treatments can usually be done over a lunch break, on weekends, or after work to fit your busy schedule.

Best of all, there’s no downtime with laser hair removal treatments, unlike painful waxing appointments — you’re in and out and can go on with the rest of your day!

5. It’s for everyone
Contrary to popular belief, laser hair removal is not just for a certain age, gender, or skin tone. Men have unwanted hair too, and men’s laser hair removal is becoming more common. The most popular body areas where men get laser hair removal are their backs, face, chest, and shoulders, just to name a few.

Laser hair removal also works for all skin tones when performed correctly. However, not all places that offer laser hair removal services can safely treat every skin tone, so do your research and find a laser hair removal provider with the proper technologies to treat the entire skin tone spectrum.

For instance, Milan Laser’s Candela GentleMax Pro includes two lasers: the Nd: YAG for darker skin and the Alexandrite for lighter skin tones. Because of this, places like Milan Laser can create a customized treatment plan for each client’s exact hair color and skin tone.

Ready to never shave again and make more time to do what you want to do? Give Milan Laser a call at 833-NO-RAZOR or go in for a free consultation. Visit a local laser hair removal expert at any of Milan Laser’s San Antonio locations conveniently located in San Antonio, San Antonio West, and Selma.

Learn more about laser hair removal in San Antonio.

Photo courtesy of Milan Laser Hair Removal

The process is for all skin types.

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7 things to know about San Antonio food right now: Mexican street food joint wraps up after 25 years

NEWS YOU CAN EAT

Editor's note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of San Antonio's restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our weekly roundup of essential food news.

Openings and closings

After serving locals for more than 25 years, a Broadway corridor mainstay has wrapped up business. In an Instagram statement, the owners of Beto's Alt-Mex announced that March 19 was the last day of service. Since 1997, the restaurant has offered an eclectic take on Pan-American street food, serving a variety of tacos and empanadas alongside sides like charro beans and Peruvian rice. In the post, the team struck a hopeful note by promising, "this is not a goodbye, but a see ya later."

A Northwest Side eatery only offered finality in its own closing note. Via Facebook, mom-and-pop joint Sarah's Barbacoa said its goodbyes on March 16. Though owner Sarah Hernandez explained the shutter was a tough decision, each member of the family management team decided to focus on emerging career opportunities.

In more playful news, schoolhouse-themed watering hole Home Roomwelcomed its first visitors on March 16. Owned by Marika Olmstead-Wright of Pacific Moon and Marc "Frenchy" Groleau of Charlie Brown's Neighborhood Bar, the watering hole has filled the former home of St. Peter Claver Academy with lawn games and primary colored furnishings. Still to come will be food trucks and a school bus patio bar.

A new project is brewing at 11015 Shaenfield Rd. A concept called Refuge Coffee and Beer has applied for a wine and malt beverage on-premise permit with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. According to corporate filings, the project is the work of Austinites. Although similarly named businesses exist in other states, this appears to be an original concept. An online presence seems to be still pending.

Other news and notes

Newish Pearl hot spot Ladino is putting a Mediterranean twist on the wine dinner. On March 27, the eatery will welcome Greek vintner Christos Zafeirakis of Domaine Zafeirakis Winery for a four-course feast paired with a whopping six wines. Tickets are $120 online and are limited to 24 guests.

River Walk restaurant Dorrego's is giving guests a little zazzle with made-to-order paella Monday through Friday, 11 am-2 pm. For $16.95, diners can customize a heaping helping of saffron rice with chicken, shrimp, scallops, sausage, mussels, and vegetables. Reservations can be booked online.

Speaking of paella, chef Johnny Hernandez's annual Paella Challenge will return to Mission County Park on March 26. As always, the shindig will feature more than 40 paellas prepared by some of San Antonio's culinary luminaries. Tickets start at $85 and benefit Hernandez's youth charity Kitchen Campus.

Ridiculously violent John Wick: Chapter 4 hits most of the right marks

Movie Review

The world of John Wick sure has changed a lot from its relatively small beginnings in 2014. Back then, Wick (Keanu Reeves) was just a former hitman out for revenge on the people who killed his dog. Now it’s full-blown franchise with a story that spans continents, necessitating that each subsequent sequel try to out-do the previous film.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is the biggest movie in the series yet, clocking in at just shy of three hours. Stunt coordinator-turned-director Chad Stahelski does his best to fill that massive running time with as much brutality and derring-do as possible. Wick, having long ago run afoul of the powers-that-be that lead the hitman syndicate, The High Table, is still on the lam, with only a few loyal friends willing to help him.

One of the leaders of The High Table, the Marquis (Bill Skarsgård), is on mission to root out Wick once and for all, systemically shutting down versions of The Continental, hotels that serve as safe houses for assassins like Wick. With the Marquis and his henchmen constantly on his tail, Wick has no choice but to do what he does best – take out as many people as he can before they get to him first.

The film, written by Shay Hatten, Michael Finch, and Derek Kolstad, is not quite a non-stop thrill ride, but it’s as close as you can get when you decide to make a film this long. The complexity of the machinations of The High Table makes it almost impossible to keep up with the actual story of the film, but when they get down to the business of fighting, none of that really matters.

There are multiple extended sequences that become an orgy of violence, but the way they’re staged by Stahelski and his team make them eminently engaging. John Wick: Chapter 3 suffered from repetitiveness, and while the same could be said here to a degree, it feels fresher because of the sheer number of combatants and constantly changing scenery.

The fight scenes are magnificently over-the-top, but in this series, that’s to be expected. Where the filmmakers step up this time around is in the cinematography, with bravura shots filling the screen. The camera is almost constantly on the move, swooping in, out, and above the action. One especially memorable sequence even has the camera going above walls to follow the fighting.

While the majority of the story is treated in a deadly serious manner, the filmmakers aren’t afraid to add in some goofy elements. We’ve always had to take Wick’s ability to survive (mostly) unscathed with a huge grain of salt, but this film turns that idea up to 11. At certain points, there’s a kind of a Wile E. Coyote tone to Wick’s escapes, especially a late sequence involving (many) stairs.

There’s not much do the character of John Wick other than his preternatural ability to kill, and Reeves continues to play him perfectly, expressing himself more in gunshots and punches than words. In addition to returning favorites like Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, and Laurence Fishburne, this film sees great supporting turns by Skarsgård, Donnie Yen, and Shamier Anderson.

John Wick: Chapter 4 did not need to be nearly as long as it is, but in this case, the excess is the point. Much of it is ridiculous and ridiculously violent, but it’s also highly entertaining, which is all you can hope for from this type of film.

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John Wick: Chapter 4 opens in theaters on March 24.

Photo by Murray Close/Lionsgate

Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 4.

Blockbuster Western art exhibition and sale stampedes into San Antonio

Luck of the draw

No other region has quite captured the public’s imagination quite like the American West. From the sweeping mountaintop vistas to the harsh desert flats, the landscape has fueled countless works of art. Although many still view it through the amber of history, the realities and myths of frontier life still resonate today.

It’s a subject well-known by the Briscoe Western Art Museum, whose annual Night of Artists Exhibition and Sale returns to San Antonio March 24 through 25. The two-day spectacular showcases nearly 300 new works by 80 of the nation’s vanguard Western artists. The event kicks off a six-week public viewing included with admission to the museum.

The paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works displayed reflect a panoramic vision of the Western United States, ranging from portraiture to nature studies. Works by greats like Billy Schenck, Don Oelze, Z.S. Liang, C. Michael Dudash, George Hallmark, Kim Wiggins, Bonnie Marris, Michael Ome Untiedt, Teresa Elliot, and Jan Mapes will be quickly snatched up by collectors.

The blockbuster show also gives guests a chance to discover emerging artists. Among the notable new talent this year are Jeremy Lipking, Eric Bowman, Glenn Dean, Dustin Van Wechel, Bob Guelich, Kevin Red Star, and Tony Pro.

"With a rich array of works from today’s top artists, events like Night of Artists prove the strength of Western art," said Michael Duchemin, Briscoe's President and CEO, via release. "The genre continues to flourish thanks to the talent showcased by our participating artists and the increasing number of collectors and enthusiasts drawn to the beauty and spirit these works capture,”

Opening weekend kicks off with an exhibition preview in the Briscoe's Jack Guenther Pavilion on the River Walk banks. The exclusive evening begins with cocktails amongst the art before a seated dinner. A high-spirited auction will provide a dramatic crescendo.

Guests wanting a more in-depth understanding of the Western art can participate in the Briscoe Bison Society Collectors Summit on March 24 and 25. Collectors, gallery owners, and artists will chat at a series of panels held at the Westin Riverwalk, offering expert advice on market trends.

Other highlights include The Night of Artists awards luncheon and the exhibit opening reception in the McNutt Sculpture Garden, both on March 25. Art fans will surely want to check out the evening Luck of the Draw sale, where attendees can snag up pieces at a fixed price.

Tickets, benefiting the museums exhibitions and programs are available online. Those who are not able to make it can view the dazzling collection March 26 through May 7.

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