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Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain
Rheumatoid arthritis pain can be managed by avoiding stress on the joints. Since arthritic joints cannot tolerate a lot of stress, pulling, pushing and twisting can be painful. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are ways to manage rheumatoid arthritis pain:
1. Each day, move each joint through its full pain-free range of motion. Some days, you may be able to move the joint further than others. Take care not to make any sudden jerking or bouncing movements.
2. Pay attention to the types of pain you feel. Know the difference between the discomfort of rheumatoid arthritis pain and the pain felt from overusing the joint. If you notice that you feel pain from overuse, in the future, avoid the actions that caused that pain. Try to figure out a way to modify the action, so the task can still be completed.
3. If the rheumatoid arthritis is in your finger joints, watch how you use your hands. Avoid putting your fingers in stressful positions, such as positions that push your fingers towards your little finger or any task that requires prolonged gripping or pinching. A good example is brushing crumbs off a table. Use the side of your hand instead of brushing with the palm of your hand flat on the table.
4. Watch body position. Work surfaces should be 2 inches below the bent elbow. Have good back and foot support when sitting. Use wrist and forearm supports for long periods of typing. Increasing the height of the chair decreases stress on hips and knees, as it is easier to stand up from a higher sitting position.
5. When you have a choice of joints to do a certain task, use the strongest joint. Carry things on the palm of your hand, instead of between the fingers and thumb. For larger items, use your forearm to balance and support heavier and larger items.
6. Do not allow joints to become stiff. If you are writing, flex your hands every 10 to 15 minutes. For long car trips, at least once an hour, stop and stretch. If you are sitting at a computer all day or watching TV, get up every half hour and stretch.
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Contacting & Locating The Social Security Office
To begin your application for or to ask questions about Social Security Disability, you may call your local Social Security office, or call the national toll-free number 1-800-772-1213.
To find your local Social Security office telephone number in the telephone book, look under "U.S. Government Offices", usually in a blue section in the front of your "Yellow Pages" telephone book. Where I live, it is in a section called "Government Listings", right before all of the "City Of ___" and "State Of ___" listings. The name is officially "Social Security Administration".
For general information and services, the Social Security office is open from 7:00 am until 7 pm.
You may also listen to pre-recorded information 24 hours a day, which many times will answer general questions when you call the nationwide toll-free number.
The TTY number to call is 1-800-325-0778.
Information is available in Spanish as well as English.
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Children with Disabilities: Special Olympics
The Special Olympics started out as a venture in Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s backyard in the early ‘60s. By 1968, there were 40 locations where children with disabilities could go to play sports—this is when the Special Olympics was born. Special Olympics is a nonprofit organization that has turned global. It now has a presence in almost 200 countries, and with seven world-region offices, it is still expanding in order to reach more children with disabilities.
The Special Olympics allows children with disabilities to participate in sport activities that they would otherwise not be able to participate in. This gives the children a sense of accomplishment and acceptance—they participate in athletic events, just as everyone else does. Special Olympics also provides free healthcare screenings. The participants get medical attention they may otherwise not have access to.
People around the world help realize Ms. Shriver’s vision: “to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities everywhere, and, in turn, transform the lives of everyone they touch—building a better, more accepting world for all of us.”
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Caregivers: Burnout
A caregiver can be someone who works for another individual in a professional situation or it can be someone caring for a family member. People who require a caregiver may be older, may be suffering from a terminal illness or may have an illness from birth (such as cerebral palsy).
Caregiver burnout will happen if the caregiver does not take care of him or herself. In situations where the caregiver is a hired professional, burnout is possible, but usually happens later, rather than sooner, as the caregiver works shifts, then is able to go home and “unwind.”
Caregiver burnout for people taking care of a family member 24 hours a day, seven days a week can be high if the caregiver does not take time out for him or herself. Family caregivers tend to think that they are the only person who can properly care for the family member with health issues. If a caregiver does not get away from the situation, forgets to eat often and does not get enough sleep (often people with health issues cannot sleep through the night), the caregiver can burnout.
Burnout causes accidents, as the caregiver becomes tired and careless. Caregivers should enlist the help of other family members. The family members should work in shifts and should switch shifts often, so the same person is not getting up every night. A caregiver should also take some time for him or herself away from the entire situation. If the caregiver is the only person available, the caregiver should contact someone for help during the day or even during the night hours. Groups such as hospice provide caregiver assistance.
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Baby Boomer Medical: Knee Replacement Infection
Why have a knee replacement?
Knee replacement is performed to relieve knee pain after all other resources have been utilized. Knee pain is often an effect of osteoarthritis, but in many cases, it can be genetics, a previous trauma to the knee, leg alignment problems or metabolic conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis destroys cartilage, which can cause severe knee pain.
Most doctors will try options other than total knee replacement before they perform the surgery. Knee surgery requires the patient to be off his or her feet for weeks and also requires months of physical therapy.
What is a knee replacement?
When a patient has a total knee replacement, the worn out part of the knee is resurfaced, making the cartilage smooth so the knee operates freely and without pain. The thigh and leg bones (femur and tibia) are also resurfaced. In the case of leg misalignment, the leg is also re-aligned. The new surface of the femur is metallic. The new surface of the tibia may be polyethylene or may have a metallic base with a polyethylene surface.
Infection in total knee replacement surgeries
While total knee replacement infection is rare, it does happen. The patient is generally given antibiotics before and after the surgery in order to reduce the incidence of total knee replacement infection. Care in the operating room also helps to prevent infection.
Infections are generally treated with irrigation and debridement of the knee (washing out the knee joint), but in some cases, the new knee will need to be removed and another new knee reinserted. Intravenous antibiotics are also given for knee replacement infections.
Always make sure the knee replacement surgeon knows of any medical problems prior to scheduling a knee surgery—certain medical problems cause a higher risk of knee replacement infection.
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