|
|
|
|
Home
Arthritis Insight
Newsletter * Vol. 4 Issue 157 June 18, 2003 AI Staff
Current
Discussion
Archives
Survey
Disease
Index
Surgeries
Tests & Labs
Medications
Alternative Therapy
Expert Advice
Newly Diagnosed
Find a Doc
Medical Records
Clinical Trials
Webcasts
Register
Chat
Message Boards
- Where's Arthur?
Member
Directory
Greeting
Cards
Newsletter
Get Involved
Birthday Board
Member Stories
Photo Album
Members CAN
Member Websites
Question of the Week
Protein Folding
Team
Warrior Angels
Tips & Hints
Get Cooking
- Cooking with Char!
Diet
& Nutrition
Travel
AI
Help Desk
Social Security Disability
Home Treatments
Advice
Exercise
For Friends & Family
- Rosie's SOS
Gardening
Parenting With
Arthritis
Fight the Fatigue
Arthritis & Employment
Our Pets
Arthritis & Depression
Book Nook
Web Links
Organizations
Ask the Webrarian
Dictionary
Abbreviations
Community
Newsletter
Vol 4 Issue 157
----------------------------------
Welcome to the 157th issue of the Arthritis Insight Newsletter.
All back issues will be posted at community/newsletter
Feel free to pass this newsletter around to others who may be
interested.
----------------------------------
The information in this newsletter should not take the place of
advice and guidance from your own health-care providers. Material
in this newsletter is provided for educational and informational
purposes only. Be sure to check with your doctor before making
any changes in your treatment plan. Information presented here is
the opinion of the authors and has not necessarily been approved
or endorsed by the medical advisors.
----------------------------------
Notes From Tina
(Tina@arthritisinsight.com)
Tina Underwood aka KrissyJo
Greetings everyone - Tina's still out and recovering nicely.
This is going to be a long one, so bear with me. ;o)
feature/survey.html
And take the survey. We need your input to make the site the work
for you.
~Kimmy
----------------------------------
Ron's Ramblin's
(Ron@arthritisinsight.com)
Ron Griffin aka IndyRon
Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch...The pleasures of painting
are upon me. Why I don t just give up and hire someone to do
it for me is a real mystery to me. Well, Actually, I have my
niece and nephew down giving me a hand, but for some reason, I
can t just sit back and watch. I have been up and down the
ladder a lot more times than I want to count, and my hips and
knees feel every one of them. Maybe one of these days I will
learn that doing things like this causes pain. Nah, I doubt it.
It has been an experience having 2 teens around the house along
with a twelve year old. I have learned the difference between
real time and teen time, and believe me, there is a distinct
difference. Sometimes I think that it would be nice to be able to
go back and operate on teen time, sleep as long as you want, get
up whenever you feel like it, and stay up as long as you want. Oh
well, my body just won t do that any more. Maybe I am
getting a tad old after all.
Have a good week all.
(((((HUGS to all)))))
~Ron
----------------------------------
Your Weekly Giggle
Kids: THINGS TO THINK ABOUT!
Many thanks to Susan for sending this one in.
1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to
walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to
sit down and shut up.
2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own
children.
3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.
4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat
word for word what you shouldn't have said.
5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind
yourself that there are children more awful than your own.
6. We child proofed our homes, but they are still getting in.
Check out all the jokes at:
fun/jokes
Send yours in today!
----------------------------------
Tina's Tips
Tina@arthritisinsight.com
Arthritis can affect your ability to do even the simplest of
tasks. I've heard some people say, "Accept your
limitations." I'm not sure accepting them is the way to go.
I prefer to challenge those limitations, work around them,
finding alternate ways of achieving the same goal. Every week
I'll share some tips I've found to work around those annoying
limitations and I hope all of you will send in your tips too. We
may not be the next Martha Stewart, but sometimes the simplest
things can help so much.
A great idea from Char:
I save and reuse those squeezable containers that things like
mustard, etc. come in.
I buy things like hair conditioner, shampoo, bath gel, etc. in
large containers to save money, and I use the squeezable bottles
that I save, to put smaller amounts in smaller, easier to handle
containers, in the shower.
You can also buy new squeezable bottles, but why go to that
expense when you can recycle ones from the kitchen?
Check out more tips at living/tips.html and send in yours today to Tina@arthritisinsight.com Keep those tips coming!
----------------------------------
What s New
Check out all the latest updates at updates.html
Our Pets
Gloria shares a picture of Molly and Sam.
living/pets/petpics2.html
Member Stories
A spinal stenosis story from Sal and a request for some advice.
community/stories
Arthritis & Employment
The question: "What do you do?" is answered by another
community member.
living/employment/do.html
Advice for Better Living
DeeTee de-"livers" some advice. We'll start fresh with
all new questions next week. :)
living/advice
News
News from the world wide web for your arthritis and general
health.
news
Newsletter
We've got issue 156 all ready for your reading enjoyment.
community/newsletter
----------------------------------
Arthritis Insight Chat
community/chat
Time to get the party started! Got some extra time? Can't sleep?
Drop into the chatroom to talk to other members that know exactly
what you're going through.
----------------------------------
Cooking with Char
Char LeFleur
Char@arthritisinsight.com
Hello friends! Sorry I missed last week, but I was running up and
down the road going to doctors appointments and such all week. I
have had TKRs and I have one that is giving me lots of problems,
and we aren't sure why. Hopefully, we can get a handle on it this
week.
The date for Gimpfest is rapidly approaching. Your reservations
at the hotel, need to be in by July 1st. So make your
reservations now. The more the merrier. Hopefully my knee
problems will be resolved by then. But if not, the only thing
that would keep Gimpfest from happening is if I end up having
surgery. So good thoughts, prayers and warm wishes would be
appreciated.
Today's recipes, come directly from that character on TV called
"Mr. Food." This first one really caught my eye. I
suspect it will yours too, if you are a chocoholic.
Chocolate-Stuffed French Toast
Serve topped with a sprinkle of confectioners' sugar and some
maple syrup.
Serving: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
1 loaf (1 pound) day-old French bread
1 cup (6 ounces) milk chocolate chips
5 eggs
1-1/4 cups milk
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Coat a 9" x 13" baking dish with nonstick cooking
spray. Slice the bread into 1-1/2-inch-thick slices. Using a
sharp small knife, cut a 2-inch long slit horizontally in one
side of each bread slice, cutting 3/4 of the way through,
creating a pocket in each. 2. Spoon 2 heaping teaspoons chocolate
chips into the pocket of each bread slice; press to close. Place
filled slices into the baking dish.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cinnamon, and
vanilla. Pour mixture evenly over the bread, turning the pieces
over to coat completely. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate
for several hours or overnight.
4. Preheat the oven to 400° F. Bake the stuffed bread,
uncovered, for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Can you say decadent? LOL
Price is always a consideration at my house. And when chicken
hindquarters go on sale, I stock up. And here is a tasty recipe
that makes the chicken a little different.
Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
This becomes a real eye-popper garnished with sliced scallions
and lime wedges.
Serving: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes (plus 8 hours marinating time)
8 large chicken thighs, skinned if desired (about 2 pounds)
1/2 cup soy sauce
5 scallions, chopped
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1. Place the chicken in a large resealable plastic storage bag.
In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; mix well and
add to the chicken. Seal the bag and marinate in the refrigerator
for about 8 hours, turning occasionally. 2. Preheat the grill to
medium heat. Drain the chicken, reserving the marinade. Bring the
reserved marinade to a boil in a small saucepan; set aside for
basting. 3. Cook the chicken, with the grill lid open, over
medium heat for 10 minutes on each side, or until cooked through
and no pink remains, basting often until the last five minutes of
cooking with the reserved marinade.
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, or have recipes
you would like to share, please send them to Char@arthritisinsight.com.
----------------------------------
From NIAMS:
Questions and Answers About Spinal Stenosis
Complete article at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/spinalstenosis/spinal_sten.htm
This fact sheet contains general information about spinal
stenosis. It describes the condition's causes, symptoms,
diagnosis, and treatments. At the end is a list of additional
resources. If you have further questions after reading this fact
sheet, you may wish to discuss them with your doctor.
What Is Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of spaces in the spine (backbone)
that results in pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots.
This disorder usually involves the narrowing of one or more of
three areas of the spine: (1) the canal in the center of the
column of bones (vertebral or spinal column) through which the
spinal cord and nerve roots run, (2) the canals at the base or
roots of nerves branching out from the spinal cord, or (3) the
openings between vertebrae (bones of the spine) through which
nerves leave the spine and go to other parts of the body. The
narrowing may involve a small or large area of the spine.
Pressure on the lower part of the spinal cord or on nerve roots
branching out from that area may give rise to pain or numbness in
the legs. Pressure on the upper part of the spinal cord (that is,
the neck area) may produce similar symptoms in the shoulders, or
even the legs.
Who Gets Spinal Stenosis?
This disorder is most common in people over 50 years of age.
However, it may occur in younger people who are born with a
narrowing of the spinal canal or who suffer an injury to the
spine.
What Structures of the Spine Are Involved?
The spine is a column of 26 bones that extend in a line from the
base of the skull to the pelvis (see fig. 1). Twenty-four of the
bones are called vertebrae. The bones of the spine include 7
cervical vertebrae in the neck; 12 thoracic vertebrae at the back
wall of the chest; 5 lumbar vertebrae at the inward curve (small)
of the lower back; the sacrum, composed of 5 fused vertebrae
between the hip bones; and the coccyx, composed of 3 to 5 fused
bones at the lower tip of the vertebral column. The vertebrae
link to each other and are cushioned by shock-absorbing disks
that lie between them.
The vertebral column provides the main support for the upper
body, allowing humans to stand upright or bend and twist, and it
protects the spinal cord from injury. Following are structures of
the spine most involved in spinal stenosis.
- Intervertebral disks--pads of cartilage between vertebrae that
act as shock absorbers.
- Facet joints--joints located on both sides and on the top and
bottom of each vertebra. They connect the vertebrae to each other
and permit back motion.
- Intervertebral foramen (also called neural foramen)--an opening
between vertebrae through which nerves leave the spine and extend
to other parts of the body.
- Lamina--part of the vertebra at the upper portion of the
vertebral arch that forms the roof of the canal through which the
spinal cord and nerve roots pass.
- Ligaments--elastic bands of tissue that support the spine by
preventing the vertebrae from slipping out of line as the spine
moves. A large ligament often involved in spinal stenosis is the
ligamentum flavum, which runs as a continuous band from lamina to
lamina in the spine.
- Pedicles--narrow stem-like structures on the vertebrae that
form the walls of the bottom part of the vertebral arch.
- Spinal cord/nerve roots--a major part of the central nervous
system that extends from the base of the brain down to the lower
back and that is encased by the vertebral column. It consists of
nerve cells and bundles of nerves. The cord connects the brain to
all parts of the body via 31 pairs of nerves that branch out from
the cord and leave the spine between vertebrae.
- Synovium--a thin membrane that produces fluid to lubricate the
facet joints, allowing them to move easily.
- Vertebral arch--a circle of bone around the canal through which
the spinal cord passes. It is composed of a floor at the back of
the vertebra, walls (the pedicles), and a ceiling where two
laminae join.
What Causes Spinal Stenosis?
The normal vertebral canal provides adequate room for the spinal
cord. Narrowing of the canal, which occurs in spinal stenosis,
may be inherited or acquired. Some people inherit a small spinal
canal or have a curvature of the spine (scoliosis) that produces
pressure on nerves and soft tissue and compresses or stretches
ligaments. In an inherited condition called achondroplasia,
defective bone formation results in abnormally short and
thickened pedicles that reduce the diameter of (distance across)
the spinal canal.
Acquired conditions that can cause spinal stenosis are explained
in more detail in the sections that follow.
Degenerative (Aging) Conditions, Including Osteoarthritis
Spinal stenosis most often results from a gradual, degenerative
aging process. Either structural changes or inflammation can
begin the process. As people age, the ligaments of the spine may
thicken and calcify (harden from deposits of calcium salts).
Bones and joints may also enlarge, and osteophytes (bone spurs)
may form. When the health of one part of the spine fails, it
usually places increased stress on other parts of the spine. For
example, a degenerative condition affecting the facet joints may
eventually cause secondary changes, such as a herniated (bulging)
disk that places pressure on the spinal cord or nerve root (see
fig. 5). When a segment of the spine becomes too mobile, the
capsules (enclosing membranes) of the facet joints thicken in an
effort to stabilize the segment, and bone spurs may occur. This
decreases the space (neural foramen) available for nerve roots
leaving the spinal cord.
Aging with secondary changes is the most common cause of spinal
stenosis. Two forms of arthritis that may affect the spine are
osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.¹ Osteoarthritis is the
most common form of arthritis and is more likely to occur in
middle-aged and older people. It is a chronic, degenerative
process that may involve multiple joints of the body. It wears
away the surface cartilage layer of joints, and is often
accompanied by overgrowth of bone, formation of bone spurs, and
impaired function. If the degenerative change affects the facet
joint(s) and the disk, the condition is sometimes referred to as
spondylosis. This condition may be accompanied by disk
degeneration, and an enlargement or overgrowth of bone that
narrows the central and root canals.
Spondylolysthesis, a condition in which one vertebra slips
forward on another, may result from a degenerative condition or
an accident, or may be acquired at birth. Poor alignment of the
spinal column when a vertebra slips forward onto the one below it
can place pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots at that
place.
¹The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and
Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse has separate information
packages on osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Single
copies are free.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects people at an earlier age
than osteoarthritis does and is associated with inflammation and
enlargement of the soft tissues of the joints. Although not a
common cause of spinal stenosis, damage to ligaments, bones, and
joints that begins as synovitis (inflammation of the synovial
membrane) has a severe and disrupting effect on joint function.
The portions of the vertebral column with the greatest mobility
(for example, the neck area) are often the ones most affected in
people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Nonarthritic Acquired Spinal Stenosis
The following conditions that are not related to arthritis or
degenerative disease are causes of acquired spinal stenosis:
Tumors of the spine are abnormal growths of soft tissue that may
affect the spinal canal directly by inflammation or by growth of
tissue into the canal. Tissue growth may lead to bone resorption
(bone loss due to overactivity of certain bone cells) or
displacement of bone and the eventual collapse of the supporting
framework of the vertebral column.
Trauma (accidents) may either dislocate the spine and the spinal
canal or cause burst fractures that produce fragments of bone
that penetrate the canal.
Although surgery that involves fusion (union) of vertebrae may be
skillfully performed, tissue swelling after surgery may place
pressure on the spinal cord.
Paget's disease of bone is a chronic (long-term) disorder that
typically results in enlarged and deformed bones. Excessive bone
breakdown and formation cause thick and fragile bone. As a
result, bone pain, arthritis, noticeable deformities, and
fractures can occur. The disease can affect any bone of the body,
but is often found in the spine. The blood supply that feeds
healthy nerve tissue may be diverted to the area of involved
bone. Also, structural deformities of the involved vertebrae can
cause narrowing of the spinal canal, producing a variety of
neurological symptoms.
Fluorosis is an excessive level of fluoride in the body. It may
result from chronic inhalation of industrial dusts or gases
contaminated with fluorides, prolonged ingestion of water
containing large amounts of fluorides, or accidental ingestion of
fluoride-containing insecticides. The condition may lead to
calcified spinal ligaments or softened bones and to degenerative
conditions like spinal stenosis.
What Are the Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis?
Spaces within the spine can narrow without producing any
symptoms. However, if narrowing places pressure on the spinal
cord or nerve roots, there may be a slow onset and progression of
symptoms. The back itself may or may not hurt. More often, people
experience numbness, weakness, cramping, or general pain in the
legs that occurs during flexing the lower back while sitting.
(The flex position "opens up" the spinal column,
enlarging the spaces between vertebrae at the back of the spine.)
If a disk between vertebrae is compressed, people may feel pain
radiating down the leg (sciatica).
People with more severe stenosis may experience abnormal bowel
and bladder function and foot disorders. For example, cauda
equina syndrome is a partial or complete loss of control of the
bowel or bladder and sometimes sexual function; it is due to
compression of the collection of spinal roots that descend from
the lower part of the spinal cord and occupy the vertebral canal
below the cord. In very rare instances, compression above the
area where the lumbar vertebrae and sacrum meet results in
partial or complete paralysis of the legs.
How Is Spinal Stenosis Diagnosed?
The doctor may use a variety of approaches to diagnose spinal
stenosis and rule out other conditions.
Medical history--the patient tells the doctor details about
symptoms and about any injury, condition, or general health
problem that might be causing the symptoms.
Physical examination--the doctor (1) examines the patient to
determine the extent of limitation of movement; (2) checks for
pain or symptoms when the patient hyperextends the spine (bends
backwards); and (3) looks for the loss of extremity reflexes,
which may be related to numbness or weakness in the arms or legs.
X ray--an x-ray beam is passed through the back to produce a
two-dimensional picture. An x ray may be done before other tests
to look for signs of an injury, tumor, or inherited abnormality.
This test can show the structure of the vertebrae and the
outlines of joints, and can detect calcification.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)--energy from a powerful magnet
(rather than x rays) produces signals that are detected by a
scanner and analyzed by computer. This produces a series of
cross-sectional images ("slices") and/or a
three-dimensional view of parts of the back. An MRI is
particularly sensitive for detecting damage or disease of soft
tissues, such as the disks between vertebrae or ligaments. It
shows the spinal cord, nerve roots, and surrounding spaces, as
well as enlargement, degeneration, or tumors.
Computerized axial tomography (CAT)--x rays are passed through
the back at different angles, detected by a scanner, and analyzed
by a computer. This produces a series of cross-sectional images
and/or three-dimensional views of the parts of the back. The scan
shows the shape and size of the spinal canal, its contents, and
structures surrounding it.
Myelogram--a liquid dye that x rays cannot penetrate is injected
into the spinal column. The dye circulates around the spinal cord
and spinal nerves, which appear as white objects against bone on
an x-ray film. A myelogram can show pressure on the spinal cord
or nerves from herniated disks, bone spurs, or tumors.
Bone scan--an injected radioactive material attaches itself to
bone, especially in areas where bone is actively breaking down or
being formed. The test can detect fractures, tumors, infections,
and arthritis, but may not tell one disorder from another.
Therefore, a bone scan is usually performed along with other
tests.
Who Treats Spinal Stenosis?
Nonsurgical treatment of spinal stenosis may be provided by
internists or general practitioners. The disorder is also treated
by specialists such as rheumatologists, who treat arthritis and
related disorders; and neurologists, who treat nerve diseases.
Orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons also provide nonsurgical
treatment and perform spinal surgery if it is required. Allied
health professionals such as physical therapists may also help
treat patients.
What Are Some Nonsurgical Treatments for Spinal Stenosis?
In the absence of severe or progressive nerve involvement, a
doctor may prescribe one or more of the following conservative
treatments:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, naproxen
(Naprosyn),² ibuprofen (Motrin, Nuprin, Advil), or indomethacin
(Indocin), to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
Analgesics, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), to relieve pain.
Corticosteroid injections into the outermost of the membranes
covering the spinal cord and nerve roots to reduce inflammation
and treat acute pain that radiates to the hips or down a leg.
Restricted activity (varies depending on extent of nerve
involvement).
Physical therapy and/or prescribed exercises to maintain motion
of the spine and build endurance, which help stabilize the spine.
A lumbar brace or corset to provide some support and help the
patient regain mobility. This approach is sometimes used for
patients with weak abdominal muscles or older patients with
degeneration at several levels of the spine.
²Brand names included in this fact sheet are provided as
examples only. Their inclusion does not mean that these products
are endorsed by the National Institutes of Health or another
Government agency. Also, if a particular brand name is not
mentioned, this does not mean or imply that the product is
unsatisfactory.
When Should Surgery Be Considered and What Is Involved?
In many cases, the conditions causing spinal stenosis cannot be
permanently altered by nonsurgical treatment, even though these
measures may relieve pain for a time. To determine the extent to
which nonsurgical treatment will help, a doctor seldom recommends
surgery during the first 3 months of treatment. However, surgery
might be considered within the 3-month period if a patient
experiences numbness or weakness that interferes with walking,
impaired bowel or bladder function, or other neurological
involvement.
The purpose of surgery is to relieve pressure on the spinal cord
or nerves and restore and maintain alignment and strength of the
spine. This can be done by removing, trimming, or adjusting
diseased parts that are causing the pressure or loss of
alignment. The most common surgery is called decompressive
laminectomy: removal of the lamina (roof) of one or more
vertebrae to create more space for the nerves. A surgeon may
perform a laminectomy with or without fusing vertebrae or
removing part of a disk. Various devices may be used to enhance
fusion and strengthen unstable segments of the spine following
decompression surgery.
Patients with spinal stenosis caused by spinal trauma or
achondroplasia may need surgery at a young age. When surgery is
required in patients with achondroplasia, laminectomy (removal of
the roof) without fusion is usually sufficient.
What Are the Major Risks of Surgery?
All surgery, particularly that involving general anesthesia and
older patients, carries risks. The most common complications of
surgery for spinal stenosis are a tear in the membrane covering
the spinal cord at the site of the operation, infection, or a
blood clot that forms in the veins. These conditions can be
treated but may prolong recovery.
What Are the Long-Term Outcomes of Surgical Treatment for Spinal
Stenosis?
Removal of the obstruction that has caused the symptoms usually
gives patients some relief; most patients have less leg pain and
are able to walk better following surgery. However, if nerves
were badly damaged prior to surgery, there may be some remaining
pain or numbness or no improvement. Also, the degenerative
process will likely continue, and pain or limitation of activity
may reappear 5 or more years after surgery.
----------------------------------
Member Stories
Sal's Story
Hi: My name is Sal.
I have had Spinal Stenosis for several years and have been able
to get the shots which have really helped with the pain...But now
they tell me I can get no more...My spine surgeon is recomending
surgery, and I am scared to death of having anyone get a peek
inside of my back. But I am contimplating it and would like to
talk to anyone who has had this surgery, and would like to know
how they are doing.
Please get back to me.
Thank you
If you think you can help Sal - go on over to:
community/stories/sal.html
for contact information
To see the rest of stories go on over to:
community/stories
----------------------------------
Notes and Insights:
Birthday Board!
Happy Birthday Jesse Trevino aka jtj169, Bob Moles, ZeeRa and
Zita!!!
Check out all the birthdays at
community/birthday
and make sure to send them an arthritis-friendly e-card:
cgi-bin/postcards/postcard.pl
Gimpfest 2003 Iowa, Here We Come!
Come be part of the fun when dozens of gimps head to Stuart, Iowa
on July 24-27.
Get all the details here:
http://www.fadedjeans.com/iowa/
AJAO Regional Conference
"Taming Juvenile Arthritis"
June 2003 - Phoenix, Arizona
The Arthritis Foundation is proud to host the 2003 American
Juvenile Arthritis Organization (AJAO) Regional Conference,
"Taming Juvenile Arthritis." The American Juvenile
Arthritis Organization leads the effort to improve the quality of
life for those affected by childhood arthritis and related
diseases. This 3-day conference is geared towards children,
teens, young adults and family members who are affected by
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and other childhood rheumatic
diseases
http://jraworld.arthritisinsight.com/community/involved.html
Join the Arthritis Dieters!
This is a group of people with arthritis who want to lose weight
with others who know of the challenges of living with is
arthritis. All those medications that make living with arthritis
tolerable, but pile on the pounds. This group has been set up to
give us a protected group where we can talk to others who know
what it is like.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arthritis-dieters/
Wanna help?
Having surgery? Starting a new drug or treatment? Filing for
disability? Keep an Arthritis Insight journal so all of our
members can share and learn from your experience. If you want to
keep a journal just let us know.
Write an article!
We always need articles on all subjects relating to arthritis.
C'mon folks, we can't do this without you.
Ken Akers Cheer Fund
Donations to the Ken Akers Cheer Fund will be used to send
flowers and gifts to those community members who are
hospitalized, flaring or just in need of some good cheer.
community/kenscheerfund
Thank You!
A great big thank you to NeedaBasket.com (http://needabasket.com). NeedaBasket is now Arthritis Insight's
official gift basket company. They are giving us a great discount
and are donating baskets for our Arthritis Warriors.
Special Offers for Arthritis Insight Members
Whenever possible we will try get to our sponsors to agree to
discounts and the like for our members. Here are our current
special offers:
Sore No More (http://sorenomore.com) gel will send a free sample of the pain
relieving gel to any Arthritis Insight Community Member who
emails them at dma@glogerm.com.
----------------------------------
AI Help Desk
Linda Peck
Hi everyone! I apologize for my absence last week but I've been
doing too much celebrating. Too many graduations and birthdays
and on May 24th, our son was married. We've been experiencing
much cooler than normal temps in central PA.....today it is 60.
Not so good for the joints. I'm still getting the Remicade
infusions and they have made a big difference in my mobility and
level of pain. I've been able to cut my Arava dosage in half but
am still working on eliminating the Prednisone. I can definitely
tell when it's time for another infusion.
I would like to ask for your help. I've been providing the Help
Desk section of the newsletter for several years and would like
to know what you would like to see in this column. Do you find
the content helpful and easy to understand? Should I continue
providing internet links? Do you like the Tip of the Week? Is
there anyone out there who would like to co-author this column?
Please send your suggestions and comments to lpeck1@yahoo.com. Thank you so much for your help!
****************************************************************
Q: I saw someone use the keyboard to close a
program. How is that done?
A: It's big computer magic and you're not ready
for that yet. OK, it's a little shortcut, ALT-F4. Hit that while
you're in a program and you'll shut the program down. If you're
at the Windows Desktop and hit it, you'll shut down your
computer. Who needs a mouse anyway?
Q: When I start Windows, I get an error
message saying that it can't find a file. I click OK and
everything seems alright. How do I get rid of that annoying
message?
A: Probably what has happened is you've
uninstalled something that normally loaded when you started
Windows. The program is gone, but there is still a reference to
it floating around somewhere. Now, you can go hunting through
your autoexec bat, registry, startup menu, and your
"ini" files to locate the program reference and get rid
of it. However, the "down and dirty" way to do it is to
use msconfig (win98 or higher).
Click your Start button, Run. Type in "msconfig" (no
quotes) and hit OK. Click the Startup tab and try to locate the
program that is causing the error message. Usually if you look at
the end of the "Command" column you can find the file
name that Windows claims it can't find. Once located, just
uncheck it and hit OK.
Oh, note that if you can't see the end of the command line, you
can expand the size of the column (digital elastic ;-) Just hover
your mouse over the boundary between the columns and drag it
over.
Make sure you pay attention to what you're unchecking so if you
uncheck the wrong item, you can go back and re-check it if
necessary. Once you're done, reboot and see if that error message
is gone.
Tip of the Week - Launching Multiple Programs
Have you ever needed to launch multiple programs? Normally, you
hit the Start button, Programs, then select the program you want
to run. Once that one starts, you go back through and repeat the
process for the next program. Well, here's a better way.
Next time you need to launch more than one program from your
Programs menu, hold down your SHIFT key while you click the
program's icon. The application will launch, but you won't lose
the Programs menu and have to start all over. So many tricks, so
little time.
This Week's Clicks
Lose an appliance manual? Bet you can find it here
Find a garage sale.
Free wallpaper for your 'puter
Ready for some toe tapping?
Get ready for July
4th
Airbrushed designs on car plates, t-shirts, sweatshirts and
caps
(I have a car plate from this company - they used photographs of
our dogs to airbrush exact images and the result is superb.)
June is the month of creativity - "Every child is an artist.
The problem is how to remain an artist after he grows up."
-- Pablo Picasso
----------------------------------
Weekly News Summary
Karen Sears
kaekae@arthritisinsight.com
More health news can be found on our site:
news/
LYME DISEASE
Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia
Burgdorferi. The bacterium, a type of spirochete, is spread by
Ixodes ticks (black-legged or deer ticks in the eastern United
States and western black-legged ticks in the west), which acquire
the bacteria from mice and infect humans by biting and vomiting
the bacteria into their bloodstream. These ticks are smaller than
dog ticks and harder to detect. Immature ticks, or nymphs, are
about the size of a poppy seed; adult ticks are the size of a
sesame seed.
PFIZER SEES
EARNINGS UP 16 PERCENT
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) said on Tuesday it expects annual earnings
to rise by about 16 percent through 2004, boosted by cost cuts
from an acquisition and increased sales of key medicines.
PROGRAMS FOCUS ON
OLDER DRIVERS, SAFETY
First, the elderly woman tried to drive between a delivery van
and two people walking on a narrow Florida street. Then, busy
chatting, she didn't notice a car stopping in front of her. At a
stop sign, she pulled out in front of a truck.
ASPIRIN MAY CUT
RISK OF ADULT LEUKEMIA
Postmenopausal women who take aspirin two or more times each week
may lower their risk of developing leukemia by more than 50
percent compared with women who do not take the drug.
SAN DIEGO ZOO TO
EUTHANIZE PIONEERING MONKEY
His keepers at the San Diego Zoo called him "Loon" for
the way he laughed and made silly faces but on Monday they
remembered the strides he made in helping animals and people talk
to each other.
22 STATES LIMITING
DOCTORS' LATITUDE IN MEDICAID DRUGS
In one of the most successful efforts to rein in the fast-rising
cost of Medicaid, the government health plan for the poor, states
are limiting which drugs doctors can prescribe for Medicaid
patients.
HEREDITARY
HEMOCHROMATOSIS
Your 68-year-old Irish uncle has diabetes and has also been
bothered lately by chronic fatigue and a swollen stomach. After
seeing his doctor, he still isn't feeling well. Finally, he
visits a new doctor who diagnoses him with hereditary
hemochromatosis, a genetic disorder common among people of
Northern European descent.
----------------------------------
Contribute
Have you written something you think our subscribers would like
to read? Send it to Tina@arthritisinsight.com and maybe we'll use it in our newsletter.
----------------------------------
A Closing Thought
Remember when...
When there were two types of sneakers for girls and boys
(Keds & PF Flyers) and the only time you wore them at school
was for "gym."
When it took five minutes for the TV to warm up, if you even had
one.
When nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got there.
When nobody owned a purebred dog.
When a quarter was a decent allowance, and another quarter a
miracle.
When milk went up one cent and everyone talked about it for
weeks?
When you'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny.
When girls neither dated nor kissed until late high school, if
then.
When your Mom wore nylons that came in two pieces.
When all of your male teachers wore neckties and female teachers
had their hair done, everyday.
When you got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas
pumped, without asking, for free, every time. And, you didn't pay
for air. And, you got trading stamps to boot!
When laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden
inside the box.
When any parent could discipline any kid, or feed him or use him
to carry groceries, and nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing
of it.
When it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to
dinner at a real restaurant with your parents.
When they threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed,
and did!
When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to
the fate that awaited a misbehaving student at home.
---------------------------------
If you wish to advertise in the Arthritis Insight Newsletter,
contact us at advertising@arthritisinsight.com
If you wish to unsubscribe to this newsletter, just let us know.
Arthritis Insight Newsletter Copyright 2003
Page last updated on June 19, 2003
The information provided by
Arthritis Insight.com should not take the place of advice
and guidance from your own health-care providers. Material in this site is provided
for educational and informational purposes only. Be sure to check with your doctor before
making any changes in your treatment plan.
Information presented on ArthritisInsight.com is the opinion of the authors and
has not necessarily been approved or endorsed by the medical advisors. The
information contained on this web site may not be published, broadcast or
otherwise distributed without prior written authorization.
