Inflammation and Arthritis Are A Problem 
Recently I had the pleasure of helping a very nice patient who had tendonitis and arthritis in the elbow and thumbs. It was one of those happy ending stories; you know, woman has pain & can’t do her chores; she got rid of her pain and can now clean and crochet, and now is quite happy. It’s funny; we get so many people with these problems and most get better or at least get to the point where the pain is manageable. Often, they prefer to control their pain without medications if possible. They are frightened by the recent fallout of the anti-inflammatories taken off the market. However, sometimes medications are necessary for the short or long term. Pain in the neck, back, shoulders, arms and legs that is due to arthritis is a problem for many people. Muscle and bone disorders which consume a significant portion of health care dollars are occurring more often and are of concern to experts in health care planning. Most of these problems are managed with a skillful blend of the science and art of medicine using medication, therapy and education. With current changes such as the increase in the aging population, reduction in health care dollars and ever increasing job and family demands, we medical practitioners must learn to deliver care as effectively and efficiently as possible. Many physicians are busy with life and death systemic diseases or are overwhelmed by a large number of patients with colds, flu and complications. I’m sure it is a challenge to keep up with it all. Unfortunately, pain complaints sometimes end up on the back burner. This is complicated by patients who do not want to bother others with their pain and, in turn, are frustrated by losing their freedom to do activities that give them a sense of purpose. By delaying treatment, their problems get more difficult and take a longer time to treat. What should be done? Quite simply, it takes teamwork. First the patient needs to come forward with their problem be it a sore shoulder, neck, back, elbow, hand, etc. If it is dealt with early, we can reduce the number of days lost for work. Also patients can continue to do gardening, laundry, golfing and daily activities. We can also avoid major blow ups of inflammation and tissue damage or nerve destruction. The physician can direct the care to a qualified muscle and bone pain treatment specialist. This may be a therapist or Rheumatologist (arthritis doctor) or a physiatrist or all of them together working as a team. If this is not helpful, a surgeon may be consulted. However, the most important element is that the patient recognizes the problem and gets it handled. George Carlin once said, “If you have your health, cherish it. If you don’t, improve it. If you can’t improve it yourself, get help from someone who can.” We can help you if you want to help yourself. Give us a call today at 301-759-4263 in Cumberland, . MD or 304-257-4263 in Petersburg, WV. Tips To Remember: *Inflammation is caused by tissues rubbing together and generating friction. (Like rubbing your hands together to keep them warm.) *A joint that is too loose is bad because it is causing excess rubbing. These joints need strengthening of the muscles to stabilize the joint. This is common in the shoulder and thumb. A joint that is too tight needs to have the muscle stretched to relieve the pressure on the joint surfaces. This reduces the rubbing friction and swelling. This is common in the low back, upper back and neck. *We treat all of these problems here at Tri State Hand & Occupational Therapy! |
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