Arthritis Insight Newsletter * Vol. 6 Issue 185 March 3, 2004

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Welcome to the 185th 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.

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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.

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Notes From Tina
(Tina@arthritisinsight.com)
Tina Underwood aka KrissyJo

Wow! What a week it's been. We've had a couple emergencies on the site - if you've been to the update page you know we've had to discontinue our free e-mail accounts and start new message boards.

We were notified by our hosting company that we were way, way, way over our storage limit for the website and needed to make some drastic changes or risk having the site suspended.

Because of the way the internet works these day - most of the free e-mail accounts were sitting unused because they filled with spam so quickly it was hard to find the real mail amoungst the junk mail. Our only choice was to discontinue offering free e-mail account and delete the existing accouts to free up that space.

The Message Boards were another section that was taking up alot of room. There was a glitch in the script and we were unable to archive old posts so our only choice was to start all over again. If you haven't been to the boards for a while or are wondering why your bookmark doesn't work anymore - take a look at phpBB2 - we think you'll be pleased with the change.

We apologize for any inconvenience these changes may cause you. Please know if we could have done things any other way we would have. Our hands were tied.

Fundraiser will kick-off next week - so keep an eye on the update page for more details. In the meantime take a look at some of the prizes we've lined up this year:

BodyForm Therapeutic Systems from http://www.bodyform.com
Wonderful canes from http://www.canesgalore.com
A great fashion cane from http://stylestick.com/
A Gyro Power Ball from http://gyropowerball.com/
A pair of Warm Me Ups from http://warmmeups.com/
Author and fellow gimp, Diane Chamberlain is sending one winner an signed copy of one of her great books. http://www.dianechamberlain.com/
Some wonderful import items donated by a friend.
Donna G is letting one winner choose between a choice of either a one year paid subscription to Arthritis Today, or a black & decker automatic jar opener or a black & decker automatic grater.

And those are just SOME of the prizes we have!

Remember, no one here gets a paycheck. All of the money we recieve goes right back into running the site. We currently have enough money to pay for one more month of hosting the site and chat rooms. That's it. If we don't have a fundraiser, Arthritis Insight will be gone. We also hope to upgrade our computers this year. And of course, we'd love to able to afford to have another Gimp picnic and throw a pizza party at the Boston Gimpfest. Although the Fundraiser hasn't officially begun, any donations recived from now until the end of the Fundraiser will be entered into the drawing.

We had some various computer crashes, email system failures, etc this past year and a couple of the addresses from the last fundraiser were lost of you are owed a prize, please contact us.

Have a great week!

- Tina & Kimmy

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Ron's Ramblin's
(Ron@arthritisinsight.com)
Ron Griffin aka IndyRon

Well, this should be an interesting week. It is early on Monday morning and my contractor called to let me know that they will be here to take up the floor and reinstall the new one. It is bad enough to have to go through this process once, but twice???? I just keep telling myself that it will be worth all the hassle when it is done.

I am writing this early in the week since, because of the floor construction, I am going to have to totally disconnect and shut down my computer. What a pain. It wouldnt be all that bad but for the network.

Oh well I will probably be out of commission most of the week so I want to take this opportunity to wish for each of you a wonderful and pain free week.

-Ron

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Your Weekly Giggle
Puzzlement


How come when you mix flour and water you get glue?

Then you add eggs and sugar and you get cake.

Where did the glue go?

Answer :

That's what makes the cake stick to your BUTT!

Check out all the jokes at:
fun/jokes
Send yours in today!

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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 good one from Gloria to add to last week's toothpaste tube tip:

You can also lay a bottle of lotion down & push down with the palm of your hand to get the lotion out of the bottle. Be sure to hold your other hand close enough to catch the lotion.

Check out more tips at living/tips.html and send in yours today to Tina@arthritisinsight.com Keep those tips coming!

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Whats New

Message Boards
Come on over and help us break in the new boards!
phpBB2

Newsletter
The latest issue up! Grab a cuppa something warm and take a look.
community/newsletter

News
Karen's been at it again. All the news you need for your arthritis and general health.
news

Ask the Webrarian
We've done a little digging for information regarding antibiotic treatment for Scleroderma.
resources/webrarian

Check out all the latest updates at
updates.html

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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.

Watch for the chat schedule to be updated soon!

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From NIAMS:
Questions and Answers about Arthritis and Exercise
It's that time of year - the weather's getting nicer you may feel like getting out and doing a little exercising. Here are some tips so you do it safely.
Complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/arthritis/arthexfs.htm

Should People With Arthritis Exercise?

Yes. Studies have shown that exercise helps people with arthritis in many ways. Exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness and increases flexibility, muscle strength, cardiac fitness, and endurance. It also helps with weight reduction and contributes to an improved sense of well-being.

How Does Exercise Fit Into a Treatment Plan for People With Arthritis?

Exercise is one part of a comprehensive arthritis treatment plan. Treatment plans also may include rest and relaxation, proper diet, medication, and instruction about proper use of joints and ways to conserve energy (that is, not waste motion) as well as the use of pain relief methods.

What Types of Exercise Are Most Suitable for Someone With Arthritis?

Three types of exercise are best for people with arthritis:

- Range-of-motion exercises (e.g., dance) help maintain normal joint movement and relieve stiffness. This type of exercise helps maintain or increase flexibility.
- Strengthening exercises (e.g., weight training) help keep or increase muscle strength. Strong muscles help support and protect joints affected by arthritis.
- Aerobic or endurance exercises (e.g., bicycle riding) improve cardiovascular fitness, help control weight, and improve overall function. Weight control can be important to people who have arthritis because extra weight puts extra pressure on many joints. Some studies show that aerobic exercise can reduce inflammation in some joints.

Most health clubs and community centers offer exercise programs for people with physical limitations.

How Does a Person With Arthritis Start an Exercise Program?

People with arthritis should discuss exercise options with their doctors and other health care providers. Most doctors recommend exercise for their patients. Many people with arthritis begin with easy, range-of-motion exercises and low-impact aerobics. People with arthritis can participate in a variety of, but not all, sports and exercise programs. The doctor will know which, if any, sports are off-limits.

The doctor may have suggestions about how to get started or may refer the patient to a physical therapist. It is best to find a physical therapist who has experience working with people who have arthritis. The therapist will design an appropriate home exercise program and teach clients about pain-relief methods, proper body mechanics (placement of the body for a given task, such as lifting a heavy box), joint protection, and conserving energy.

Step Up to Exercise: How To Get Started

- Discuss exercise plans with your doctor.
- Start with supervision from a physical therapist or qualified athletic trainer.
- Apply heat to sore joints (optional; many people with arthritis start their exercise program this way).
- Stretch and warm up with range-of-motion exercises.
- Start strengthening exercises slowly with small weights (a 1- or 2-pound weight can make a big difference).
- Progress slowly.
- Use cold packs after exercising (optional; many people with arthritis complete their exercise routine this way).
- Add aerobic exercise.
- Consider appropriate recreational exercise (after doing range-of-motion, strengthening, and aerobic exercise). Fewer injuries to joints affected by arthritis occur during recreational exercise if it is preceded by range-of-motion, strengthening, and aerobic exercise that gets your body in the best condition possible.
- Ease off if joints become painful, inflamed, or red, and work with your doctor to find the cause and eliminate it.
- Choose the exercise program you enjoy most and make it a habit.


What Are Some Pain Relief Methods for People With Arthritis?

There are known methods to help stop pain for short periods of time. This temporary relief can make it easier for people who have arthritis to exercise. The doctor or physical therapist can suggest a method that is best for each patient. The following methods have worked for many people:

- Moist heat supplied by warm towels, hot packs, a bath, or a shower can be used at home for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day to relieve symptoms. A health professional can use short waves, microwaves, and ultrasound to deliver deep heat to noninflamed joint areas. Deep heat is not recommended for patients with acutely inflamed joints. Deep heat is often used around the shoulder to relax tight tendons prior to stretching exercises.
- Cold supplied by a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel helps to stop pain and reduce swelling when used for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. It is often used for acutely inflamed joints. People who have Raynaud's phenomenon should not use this method.
- Hydrotherapy (water therapy) can decrease pain and stiffness. Exercising in a large pool may be easier because water takes some weight off painful joints. Community centers, YMCAs, and YWCAs have water exercise classes developed for people with arthritis. Some patients also find relief from the heat and movement provided by a whirlpool.
- Mobilization therapies include traction (gentle, steady pulling), massage, and manipulation (using the hands to restore normal movement to stiff joints). When done by a trained professional, these methods can help control pain and increase joint motion and muscle and tendon flexibility.
- TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) and biofeedback are two additional methods that may provide some pain relief, but many patients find that they cost too much money and take too much time. In TENS, an electrical shock is transmitted through electrodes placed on the skin's surface. TENS machines cost between $80 and $800. The inexpensive units are fine. Patients can wear them during the day and turn them off and on as needed for pain control.
- Relaxation therapy also helps reduce pain. Patients can learn to release the tension in their muscles to relieve pain. Physical therapists may be able to teach relaxation techniques. The Arthritis Foundation has a self-help course that includes relaxation therapy. Health spas and vacation resorts sometimes have special relaxation courses.
- Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method of pain relief. A medically qualified acupuncturist places needles in certain sites. Researchers believe that the needles stimulate deep sensory nerves that tell the brain to release natural painkillers (endorphins). Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but pressure is applied to the acupuncture sites instead of using needles.


How Often Should People With Arthritis Exercise?

Range-of-motion exercises can be done daily and should be done at least every other day.

Strengthening exercises should be done every other day unless you have severe pain or swelling in your joints.

Endurance exercises should be done for 20 to 30 minutes three times a week unless you have severe pain or swelling in your joints. According to the American College of Rheumatology, 20- to 30-minute exercise routines can be performed in increments of 10 minutes over the course of a day.


What Type of Strengthening Program Is Best?

This varies depending on personal preference, the type of arthritis involved, and how active the inflammation is. Strengthening one's muscles can help take the burden off painful joints. Strength training can be done with small free weights, exercise machines, isometrics, elastic bands, and resistive water exercises. Correct positioning is critical, because if done incorrectly, strengthening exercises can cause muscle tears, more pain, and more joint swelling.

Are There Different Exercises for People With Different Types of Arthritis?

There are many types of arthritis. Experienced doctors, physical therapists, and occupational therapists can recommend exercises that are particularly helpful for a specific type of arthritis. Doctors and therapists also know specific exercises for particularly painful joints. There may be exercises that are off-limits for people with a particular type of arthritis or when joints are swollen and inflamed. People with arthritis should discuss their exercise plans with a doctor. Doctors who treat people with arthritis include rheumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons, general practitioners, family doctors, internists, and rehabilitation specialists (physiatrists).

How Much Exercise Is Too Much?

Most experts agree that if exercise causes pain that lasts for more than 1 hour, it is too strenuous. People with arthritis should work with their physical therapist or doctor to adjust their exercise program when they notice any of the following signs of strenuous exercise:

- Unusual or persistent fatigue
- Increased weakness
- Decreased range of motion
- Increased joint swelling
- Continuing pain (pain that lasts more than 1 hour after exercising)


Should Someone With Rheumatoid Arthritis Continue To Exercise During a General Flare? How About During a Local Joint Flare?

It is appropriate to put joints gently through their full range of motion once a day, with periods of rest, during acute systemic flares or local joint flares. Patients can talk to their doctor about how much rest is best during general or joint flares.

Are Researchers Studying Arthritis and Exercise?

Researchers are looking at the effects of exercise and sports on the development of musculoskeletal disabilities, including arthritis. They have found that people who do moderate, regular running have low, if any, risk of developing osteoarthritis. However, studies show that people who participate in sports with high-intensity, direct joint impact are at risk for the disease. Examples are football and soccer. Sports involving repeated joint impact and twisting (such as baseball and soccer) also increase osteoarthritis risk. Early diagnosis and effective treatment of sports injuries and complete rehabilitation should decrease the risk of osteoarthritis from these injuries.

Researchers also are looking at the effects of muscle strength on the development of osteoarthritis. Studies show, for example, that strengthening the quadriceps muscles can reduce knee pain and disability associated with osteoarthritis. One study shows that a relatively small increase in strength (20-25 percent) can lead to a 20-30 percent decrease in the chance of developing knee osteoarthritis. Other researchers continue to look for and find benefits from exercise to patients with rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathies, systemic lupus erythematosus, and fibromyalgia. They are also studying the benefits of short- and long-term exercise in older populations.

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Member Stories
Alicia's Story

My name is Alicia and I live in California.

I was diagnosed with RH in March of 2000 right at my 50th birthday. This was by far the most unusual birthday gift I'd ever received.

However it wasn't very surprising because even while growing up I experienced a lot of joint pain. I remember as a child I could never sit indian style like most kids because if I did I would come back up with so much pain in my knees.

After having each of my children I would suffer from pain in my back especially after bending over to change diapers. I always had a difficult time straightening myself back up.

Probably what sent me over the edge was extreme stress in both my personal life and at work, getting little sleep and continuing to overdo things as I've always done things. I can't or didn't know when to say no and when to stop and make things easy on myself.

My story is similar to most stories except that as soon as I was diagnosed and referred to a Rheumatologist I went in search of an alternative medicine physician or a Naturopathic MD or a Holistic MD. I was referred to an Alternative Medicine MD by Stanford Hospital. She proceeded to run tests unlike the tests the other physicians had run in order to rule out Lyme Disease, Wilson's disease, Thyroid, Lupus and I can't recall what other diseases. Of course my insurance would not pay for these tests so it was out of pocket but I figured this is the only life I will ever have and after all what else do I work for. I don't smoke, drink, party or gamble I just over work.

In the process of running some of these tests she had me take simultaneously two antibiotics, one of which was Doxycycline. After 3 days of taking the Doxy I had a really bad flare, I went on the internet to see what the contraindications were of taking the Doxy along with methotrexate which is what I was prescribed by my Rheumatologist. It advised never to take these two together because there was the possibility of severe liver damage. I called the alternative medicine doc and told them that in order to complete the series of tests I would have to stop the Methotrexate. I did so and proceeded with the Doxy which was to rule in our out Lyme disease. Every three days I was to submit a urine test and freeze it first then send via Federal Express.

What I discovered after about the second week was that I was feeling so much better after having felt so much worse when I had started on the Doxy and stopping the Methotrexate. I called my doctor again, not my Rheumy and told her that I was feeling so much better and did I have to resume the Metho now that I had completed the testing of the urine.

She asked me to come and see her and I did and she said that she had some RH patients that she treats with Doxy because there is a different school that believes that RH in some instances is due to a viral infection.


I asked if I could continue on the Doxy and stop the Methotrexate alltogether. She advised that I let my Rheumy know and I could just take the Doxy along with Vioxx which had been given to me by the Rheumy. When taking Methotrexate my hair started falling out, my gums began bleeding and receding and I had a gray pallor to my skin.

About 3 weeks after I went off the Metho my hair began to look and feel healthier and my gums stopped bleeding and my cognitive process improved. While taking Methotrexate I used to experience mental blocks where my thought process would be shortcircuited at times. In the middle of a thought I would just forget what I had been thinking and what I was going to do or say.

After about 6 months I went to my Rheumy and she advised that instead of Doxycycline I should take Minocycline which she said is from the same family of antibiotics but with fewer gastrointestinal side effects.

My alternative MD after completing the battery of tests found deficiencies in many essential nutrients in my body. She started with vitamin B12 injections and gave me a list of nutrients I should be taking. Freshly ground flax seeds daily for a quick infusion of vitamin E in it's most natural form, Calcium, Zinc Piccolinate, Evening Primrose Oil, Co-enzymate B complex, Acidophilus, Bifidium as friendly intestinal enzymes and quite a bit more. I did a lot of reading and both my doctors recommended books to read. They are both women doctors and I think it has made a difference for me as they respect my intelligence and respect that I know my body and that it does not respond or react well to heavy duty drugs but does better with a more natural way of treating this nasty disease. I also joined an on-line Arthritis support group by way of the Arthritis foundation message board and that too has made a great deal of difference in that we communicate a lot of valuable information to each other and as we all know knowledge is power, especially in dealing with MD's and insurance companies.

I think this is enough for today. I have so much more to say but I don't want to bore all of you with my story. Thanks for hearing me out and good luck to all of us.

See all the stories and journals at:
community/stories

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Notes and Insights:

Birthday Board!
Happy Birthday to SarahB, Sus, Eva Monge, Alex Barna, Meg aka Meg Hurts and Brianna!!!
Check out all the birthdays at
community/birthday
and make sure to send them an arthritis-friendly e-card:
cgi-bin/postcards/postcard.pl

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.

Warm Me Ups are gel filled mitts that you nuke in the micorwave. They stay toasty warm for quite a while. I got a pair last week and love them. I spoke to the creator, Cathy, and she has generously offered to give Arthritis Insight a donation for each pair sold to our readers. If you got cold hands go to http://www.warmmeups.com. Click on "order online" then click on the Arthritis Insight logo. They even have feet warmers!

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.

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AI Help Desk
Linda Peck

Q: I heard a rumor that Microsoft will no longer offer support on any version of Windows other that XP, which means no updates. These programs will just die out. Is this true?

A: In accordance with their "Product Support Lifecycle", MS discontinued support for Windows 98 on July 1, 2003. On January 16, 2004 Win 98 was considered obsolete.

As for Win ME, "mainstream support" ended December 31, 2003, but there'll still be a two year "extended support phase", followed by at least one year of "Online self-help support". What does that mean?

Mainstream support means support from real people and hotfixes.

Extended support means you can pay to get help from a real person while security-related hotfix support will continue at no charge. Non-security related hotfix support will cost you. Forget about warranty support, design changes, or new features.

Self-help online support means that the online Knowledge Base articles, FAQs, troubleshooting tools, and other resources will stay on the website.

You will be assimilated into XPresistance is futile!

Tip of the Week - Unblocking and Blocking Senders

For those who don't know, you can block senders with most e-mail software. When you "block" someone, all of the e-mail they send to you gets deleted as it comes in. In Outlook Express, just hit the Messages menu and select Block Sender to block the currently selected e-mail. Don't try this now though or you'll accidentally block Arthritis Insight!

OK, so how do you unblock someone you've accidentally blocked? In Outlook Express, go to the Tools menu, Message Rules, Blocked Senders. Just highlight the person you want to unblock and hit the "remove" button.

PS - Most other e-mail software will allow you to block people either using a similar method or by using "filters." You can set these filters to automatically send messages to the recycle bin if you like.

Source: Computer Tips & Techniques
http://www.worldstart.com
Copyright 2001, Worldstart - Reprinted with permission.

This Week's Clicks

Free medications for those with no insurance, etc (see site)
http://www.needymeds.com/

See a quilt that has been designed with pictures of those who lost their lives on 9/11
http://www.loisjarvisquilts.com/index.html

Color test - the old left brain vs. the right brain
http://www.njagyouth.org/colortest.swf

For dog lovers - Puppy Mill Rescue
http://www.puppymillrescue.org

For cat lovers
http://4catwhiskers.homestead..com/

For webmasters, free content
http://www.freesticky.com/stickyweb/default.asp

Recommended Software for Your Consideration

I recently purchased two software packages that I want to tell you about. My email was becoming swamped with spam and after trying several major spam killers, I purchased Spam Bully. This software runs totally within email, unlike one of the major spam killers whose software was a separate program and came with an annual fee. Spam Bully is extremely user friendly with simple configuration that is easy to understand. It can be purchased through Cloudeight Stationery for $19.95, which is $10 discount at http://www.thundercloud.net/cdrom/spambully/. You may have to join Cloudeight (free) in order to take advantage of the discount. They have super stationeries for email and many other offerings and features that I think you will enjoy.

The next software is Spy Hunter. This program identifies and removes adware. Again, I tried a variety programs and found Spy Hunter to be the most thorough and user friendly. It located spyware on my p.c. that one of the better known programs missed. Spy Hunter includes a very nice pop up stopper. I purchased this program for $29.99 directly from the Enigma Software Group at http://www.enigmasoftwaregroup.com/more_info_spyhunter.shtml.

Don't let spam, spyware and pop-ups bog down your p.c. and internet pleasure. Do your homework, but consider the above programs that I have found to be superior. Just my personal recommendations.

Until Next Week,

Do not look at how difficult the road ahead looks. You cannot see every part of the path and unseen gifts are ahead along the way.

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Weekly News Summary
Karen Sears
kaekae@arthritisinsight.com

BIRTH CONTROL PILLS LOWER RISK OF ARTHRITIS
The use of birth control pills, but not estrogen therapy, lowers the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, according to a new report. The findings suggest a dose-related effect, as estrogen drugs are typically one-sixth as potent as birth control pills.
PakTribune March 3, 2004

REGENERON ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR PHASE Iib STUDY OF IL-1 TRAP AND END OF NOVARTIS PARTICIPATION IN IL-1 TRAP PROGRAM
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: REGN) announced today that it plans to initiate a Phase IIb study of the Company's Interleukin-1 (IL-1) Trap for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the second half of 2004 and that Novartis Pharma AG notified the Company today that it has decided to forgo its rights under the parties' collaboration agreement to jointly develop and commercialize the IL-1 Trap.
Press Relations March 3, 2004

DRUG COMBO HELPS TREAT ARTHRITIS, STUDY SAYS
Combining a new drug with the standard initial treatment for rheumatoid arthritis seems to work better than using either medicine alone, research indicates.
IndyStar Feb 29, 2004

STUDY: ANTIBIOTIC SLOWS CARTILAGE LOSS
A study led by Indiana University scientists found that a common antibiotic appears to reduce cartilage loss and pain in women whose knees show early signs of the crippling effects of osteoarthritis.
MLive March 3, 2004

INTERVENTIONAL APPROACHES FOR RELIEVING PAIN
For patients with chronic pain who fail conservative therapies, an interventional therapy might be helpful. The simpler of these approaches include trigger point injections (injecting local anesthetic and/or steroid into myofascial trigger points), epidural steroid injections and joint injections. The more complex include nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, and intraspinal drug administration. These more sophisticated procedures are typically provided by anesthesiologists with advanced training in pain management.
Tulsaworld.com March 3, 2004

BOOMERS FIGHT CREAKING JOINTS - BATTLING AGAINST FAILING KNEES
The Monday after New Year's, Dan Murphy got up at 6 a.m. and ran 10 miles from his home in Bethesda, Md., to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Northwest Washington.
There he traded Saucony running shoes for hospital-issued flip-flops and had surgery on his right knee. Baby boomers, after all, can't let a little pain keep them down.
Washington Post March 3, 2004

More health news can be found on our site:
news/

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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.

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A Closing Thought
Words of Wisdom

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW--What a Ride!"

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Arthritis Insight Newsletter Copyright 2004