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THE REAL PAIN OF GARDENING: IT’S NOT ABOUT THE PLANTS
Now that I’m retired and don’t see patients as a source of blogging material, I have to look elsewhere, or into my archives. I’m finding plenty of sources on Nextdoor, where neighbors are asking for doctor referrals and help with household needs. And this week a neighbor asked about finding someone to help to pull weeds… I hate weeds…and I love them. There’s something amazing about the strength and beauty of weeds. Would that we were that tough. Humans are more like orchids; hard and slow to grow. But weeds? Green in the middle of a drought. Blooming when it’s 105 degrees outside. They’re resilient to the toughest means of…
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THE DANGEROUS PATH…
"An injury has the potential to be life changing."
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36 BOTTLES OF…WATER
As any of you who have followed my blog will know, I often post regarding conditions I see frequently, especially if they come in threes. Last week I saw three patients who injured themselves lifting those humongous shrink-wrapped-36-bottle packages of water. If you haven’t tried to pick one up, don’t try. But if you drink bottled water, you most certainly have tried to wrangle one, because IT’S CHEAPER! But at what cost? I wonder how many rotator cuffs and biceps tendons have been torn over the years as a result of the marvelous idea of packing 36 bottles (or more) into one package. How many wrist and finger strains? I’ve…
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PART 11: STAYING PAIN-FREE DURING COVID-19 – DON’T LET THE SUN SET ON THESE PAINFUL CONDITIONS
This series presents a great opportunity to talk about stopping pain before it gets ramped up…before the sun sets. There are some conditions which if addressed on the first day you feel pain, a lot of misery might be avoided. They would simply be a forgotten whisper of discomfort, rather than the scourge they become. I’m not talking about trauma. When a bone is protruding from the skin, and blood squirting about, it is necessary to do something on day one. I’m talking about repetitive strain disorders, the result of cumulative, minor insults to our bodies, which we often ignore, thinking the pain will go away on its own. They…
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PART 9: STAYING PAIN-FREE DURING COVID-19 – EMERGENCIES
Over the past couple of months, it has been recommended that we stay away from emergency rooms and doctors’ offices, as well as other public places as much as possible. Restaurants and stores are easier to avoid, and other than the devastating financial repercussions of avoiding them, there is no physical downside to it…unless it’s driving you stir crazy! But there is a potential danger in avoiding necessary medical treatment, and we’re starting to see statistics regarding deaths which are attributable to the quarantine, and the fact that we’re reluctant to see our doctors or go to the ER. We continue to have conditions which must be evaluated by a…
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PART 6: STAYING PAIN-FREE DURING COVID-19 – CHILDREN
Kids deserve their own post. Certainly, all my other recommendations apply, but there are a few additional considerations, when it comes to children’s orthopedic concerns. Try to avoid pain pills of all types (narcotic, NSAIDs, Tylenol, natural stuff). I did an entire post on this. Getting comfy with the use of pain pills might start early. If you have children, please read that post. Our brain has an amazing capacity to deal with pain. It functions very well in your children…unless they think it doesn’t. Parents often ask for pain pills on behalf of their children, even when they aren’t complaining of pain! …and R.I.C.E. By now, you know what…
