20 May 2017 PRIME TIME
Make No Bones About It
Dr . Gerard Muraida
The Doc Is In
Dr Muraida is a Hospice and Palliative Care specialist and is the Senior Medical Director of Gentiva Hospice in Albuquerque , NM .
The arrival of warm weather has many people getting out and working in their yards . As benign of an activity as this may seem , it can be backbreaking work . But there are precautions you can take to avoid injury and strain , and generally maintain good health while getting the benefit of being outdoors and getting some exercise .
• Break large projects into smaller , more manageable tasks completed over a few days ’ time .
• Elicit the help of others for lifting or carrying heavy items .
• Keep your back straight when lifting , and use your legs as the primary power source .
• Use gardening stools , knee pads or any other accessory that will protect your joints from hard surfaces .
• Use SPF 30 or higher sunscreen to protect any exposed skin .
• Keep hydrated and take frequent breaks to rest .
• Plan your yard work for the cooler part of the day .
Planning your outside activities carefully may save a lot of misery . To underscore the extent to which back problems impact our population , back pain treatment ranks as the fourth highest medical cost after angina , hypertension and diabetes in the United States .
Many times , determining the cause is difficult . Starting at the top , chronic neck pain affects up to 15 percent of seniors . Most chronic neck pain is musculoskeletal or caused by degenerative disorders . Neck pain with referred pain
to the arm is called radiculopathy . This type of pain may be caused by a herniated disc . There are seven cervical vertebrae with a disc between each vertebrae . The level of the herniation will dictate the affected area of the upper extremity . If there is an acute neck problem or trauma , consult your health care provider .
Low back pain affects 50 percent of adults each year . The good news is that approximately 90 percent of back complaints are selflimited and the symptoms resolve within two weeks . Only about 10 percent of those individuals suffering acute low back may have persistent symptoms . Fewer than 5 percent of these patients will have sciatica , nerve pain running from your buttock down the outside of your leg .
Warning signs that may signal the need for further evaluation include : night pain , back pain in the presence of a known cancer , osteoporosis , loss of bowel or bladder control , and lower extremity muscle weakness .
Reducing risk is key to avoiding back injuries . Cessation of cigarette smoking , minimization of repetitive lifting , and weight loss are helpful in limiting back problems . In general , routine exercise ( walking ) helps with primary prevention of back ailments . If you already have back pain , consider asking your health care provider about “ back school ” for further back safety tips .
Treatment of back pain should always start with a nonpharmacologic regimen . Begin with ice for the first 48 hours , followed by moist heat thereafter . Massage may also help . Therapy should always be customized for each individual case . If needed , nonnarcotic analgesics should be tried first . Tylenol is a good first-line pain reliever . If you need a non-steroidal , such as ibuprofen , keep the dose as low as possible . Be aware that individuals with heart failure or renal disease should take extra precautions with these medications .
ANSWER TO # 5105 A C H R A E P I S A E T H A N I N C H O N E S L E A V E I N T H E L U R C H M E R E S T S O R O R I T Y
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S H Y M E D A L D A M S S T E R N S A N D Y R I O L E A S E T R Y A D D E R U A R T E E T H P R O N E E D D A A R S O N S R S
P A T W O E A D O P T I O N V A S S A L P U L L I N G A F A S T O N E E P E E G L U E T E N S E R E O S E T E P G A
THE HISTORY , ISSUES , AND HUMAN DRAMA THAT SHAPED NEW MEXICO ’ S FEDERAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM .
Through the lens of the federal court system , Taming New Mexico canvasses centuries of New Mexico legal history . See how New Mexico transitioned from the Spanish-Mexican rule of law to today ’ s American legal system , including the pivotal cases and powerful personalities that shaped and transformed our state ’ s legal and cultural landscape . Narrated by Sam Donaldson .
REFRESH and reboot at THE WOODMARK AT UPTOWN
CALL FOR INFORMATION ON OUR MONTHLY SPECIAL AND TO SCHEDULE A PRIVATE LUNCH & TOUR !
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