Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/28087
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Clicking knees drive patient crazy DEAR DR. GOTT: One year after having had both knees replaced, any pain I previously had is gone. Problem solved? No. A few weeks (after surgery) that turned into months, and now one year later, my knees (both) still click with every step I take. There is no pain involved, just annoyance. At times, it feels as if my new knees are rattling around in there. My wife and I enjoy walking in our develop- ment, but it is driving me nuts. I asked my doctor about it, and his comment is that all patients’ knees click to some extent. My question to you is, how can I eliminate or at least reduce this annoying prob- lem? DEAR READER: While I don’t have a ball or X-ray vision, my first guess is that you are likely experiencing normal nois- es. This is because if your knee replacement were tightened too much, you would likely experience lost range of motion and pain. By allowing the device some laxity, it will allow for a more normal range of motion without pain. Clicking and clunk- ing noises are a normal result of this. Second, your bilateral implants are composed of metal and plastic that will separate slightly when you perform such activities as walking or squatting. This does not imply that any- thing went wrong during the procedure, that it was done incorrectly, or that anything is amiss. If you were to experience pain or knee deformity as well as clicking, it then may signi- fy that the false knee is loosening excessively and may need attention. As a general rule, phys- ical therapy is begun with- in hours of surgery. As long as you are not experi- encing any pain and are not suffering any physical limitations, you should be good to go. I suggest that you sit down with your physician and demand answers to your questions. He or she should explain to you what is happening and why he or she thinks it is normal. If the doctor refuses, seek out another physician for a second opinion. DEAR DR. GOTT: My 17-year-old son has scol- iosis. We have seen a spe- Served with court papers for credit card debt? Legal Services of Northern California Butte Regional Office in Chico is offering a clinic to help at 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 6, at 541 Normal Ave., in Chico. To find out if you are eligible or qualify for assistance, you must Streets of Downtown April 9th Great Red Bluff Heist Desperados will be robbing “loot” from local businesses. Come on downtown around 11am to get your share of $ in “loot”. Sponsored by DRBBA Bring your Friends Bring your Camera 1240 Dr. Peter Gott cialist who had him wear a brace, but he couldn’t breathe with it on. I think it’s now time for surgery, but his primary- care doctor wants him to wait. What should we do and how long should we wait? DEAR READ- ER: Children and teens with mild scoliosis are often monitored with X- rays periodically to deter- mine whether the curva- ture worsens. In many instances, treatment isn’t necessary. A brace will not cure the condition, nor will it reverse the curva- ture, but it may prevent advancement. There may come the time when surgi- cal intervention is appro- priate. Symptoms may begin during growth spurts, com- monly prior to puberty. Treatment is on a per-case basis. After growth has stopped, the risk of advancement of the scolio- sis is low. Your son’s bones are likely still growing, making a brace more appropriate. There are two types available. The first and most common fits under the arms and around the rib cage, lower back and hips. The second and less popular because of its bulkiness is a full-torso brace with flat bars, and stabilizers for the back of the head and chin. Either brace should be worn as much as possible in every 24-hour period, and chil- dren and teens are encour- aged to stay active with exercise and sports. Per- haps he should return for a better-fitting brace that won’t impair his breathing. Your son’s doctors are the only ones capable of determining when surgery is warranted. Spinal fusion is not to be entered into lightly. Return to your son’s specialist to discuss what options are available to him. If you are dissatis- fied, request a second opinion to a top-notch orthopedic surgeon who specializes in young-adult scoliosis. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including “Live Longer, Live Better,” “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook,” which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com. Credit card dept seminar pre-register with the office. Call 345-9491, 534-9221 or 1-800-345- 9491. Spanish speakers avail- able if needed. Learning the Wrong Thing Over and Over Does NOT qualify as “Experienced” (Does it?) That’s why Flue Season has a complete training and testing program. Our certified technicians are not getting their “exper- ience” at your home. Spring is chimney clean- ing time if you want to save money: Our lowest price of the year with no price increase for up to 3 years. Limited Time! 527 3331 “You’re the best.” Jean Bradley – Gerber “I can trust you” Dr. E. Reasor, Redding Chimney Sweeps 527 3331 THE Chimney Professionals Flue Season “11 DAYS OF ROUND-UP!”“11 DAYS OF ROUND-UP!” 10 DAILY ADS In the DAILY NEWS April 6 – 16 Community events Hurry! They’ll go FAST … $ Promoting local 8500 ea. Your Ad Here Below the Event Box! Brand your business with the RED BLUFF ROUND-UP …or with community events that Your business supports! Call your Daily News Ad Rep at 527-2151! Plastered parent punishing proprium Dear Annie: My mom is 50 years old and just told me that she has hepatitis C. I think she has probably had it for quite some time, since my late father also had it. Growing up, Mom and I were never close. She kept to herself a lot. Things have improved over the years, but talking to her is still like pulling teeth. The problem is, Mom is an alcoholic and has no inter- est in giving up booze. I know all about AA, and so does she. I have been in recovery for five years. Those with hepatitis should not be drinking, and it upsets me that the alcohol is more important to her than her life. I know I can’t make her quit drinking — I have tried. It’s hard to bring up the subject because she gets very defensive, and I don’t want to cause conflict between us. I also don’t want to push her away by trying an intervention. Mom sees the doctor regularly, but until her blood tests show con- sequences from the drinking, noth- ing will change. I do believe she is suffering from depression. She has- n’t gone to work in more than a month and doesn’t return my phone calls. I don’t know how to help her realize that she can still lead a nor- mal life for many more years if she takes care of herself and stops drinking. Maybe she is further Bird Walk Saturday The Sacramento River Discovery Center’s April Bird Walk will take place 8 a.m., Saturday, at the Center, 1000 Sale Lane. The weather promises to be great and the birds are in full swing preparing for nesting and young. If you have fol- lowed the news from Red- ding, the Eagles have hatched out two eaglets. Who knows what we will find at the Red Bluff Recreation Area. So grab your binoculars and bird books and join us Saturday morning. For more information contact the Center at 527- 1196 or e-mail Carlene Cramer at ccramer@tehama.k12.ca. us. Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar along than we know, and she just doesn’t care anymore. Can you offer any advice? — Need Help Dear Need: As a recover- ing alcoholic, you certainly understand that you cannot make your mother do any- thing unless she is willing. Right now, she is ignoring the long-term effects of her drinking because she isn’t ready to quit, possibly because she is self-medicat- ing for depression. Since Mom isn’t returning your phone calls, please go to her home and check on her or get someone else to do it. You need to make sure she is OK. Also, call her doctor’s office, inform them that she seems depressed, and ask that it be addressed at her next appointment. Then contact the American Liver Foundation (liverfoundation.org) for suggestions on how to get through to Mom. Dear Annie: We have a dear friend we would never want to hurt, but she is almost unbearable to be around because she talks nonstop. A person can hardly get a word in edgewise. When she stops to take a breath and I interject something, she rolls right over me as if nothing was said. I hate talking to her on the phone because I cannot disengage. It would be difficult to avoid her. She recently had a bout of depression, which we suspect was triggered by a friend broaching this subject. What do we do? — Talks Too Much Dear Too Much: A common reason for someone to become a chatterbox is hearing loss. Your friend may be speaking over you and talking nonstop because she is trying to hide the fact that she can- not hear the other side of the con- versation. If you can bring this up (perhaps by claiming you are suf- fering from the same problem), sug- gest she talk to her doctor about it. Until then, you can disengage by saying, ‘‘Sorry, I have to run. I’ll talk to you later.’’ Dear Annie: I read the letter from ‘‘Wisconsin,’’ the woman who lost her husband and was saddened because her friends avoided her after the funeral. That letter hit home. I followed the suggestions of the American Hospice Association when my friends lost a spouse. But when my husband died, those same friends told me they had new lives now or were really busy. The disap- pointment still hurts. When people are in mourning, they need friends — the friends they thought they had. — Also in Wisconsin Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Courtesy photo David Dahnke (hatless) leads SRDC Bird Watchers on a Saturday Bird Walk at the 1000 Sale Lane Red Bluff Recreation Area. In anticipation of dam releases being raised to 50,000 cubic feet per second at Monday, Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko closed the Sacramento River to recreational boating effective March 28. This closure does not apply to any lakes in Shasta Coun- Public safety closures of rivers and streams due to high water Violation of this order will be subject to citation or arrest. ty. People should use common sense and avoid the river and its tributaries until the flows return to normal, at which time this order will be rescinded. High releases have caused localized flooding in many areas, as well as road closures, and it is anticipated that these high releases will continue for several days. Championing the concept of collaborative creation, nurture and promotion of new strategic branding for our region, communities, recreational opportunities and lifestyle. 90