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Tuesday, June 7, 2011 – Daily News 5A Bamboozling breeds bad blood Gamma rays treat trigeminal neuralgia longer. Dear Annie: My father passed away a year ago. My brother, who lived closest, was entrusted to oversee my mother’s care. My siblings and I were all aware of the sacrifices Dad made to ensure my mother would be provided for. Their house is not paid off, but there is enough coming in monthly to cover her expenses. A couple of days after Mom received the insur- ance settlement, my brother borrowed a third of it. He gave her a promissory note and is paying 2 percent interest. A year later, he borrowed half of what was left. My mother just informed me of this when I called on what would have been my dad’s birthday. My brother told her to keep it a secret, so she doesn’t want me to let on. I advised her to move the rest of the money into an account to which my brother does not have access. Right now, I don’t think very highly of my brother and wonder if this is a form of elder abuse. He is having financial difficulties, but so Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar am I, and Mom doesn’t have enough money to fix anyone’s prob- lems. His pay has been downsized, but he has a pretty lavish lifestyle and indulges his kids and wife. Right now, my mother is planning to change her will, since my brother is the executor. What is your advice? — Disap- pointed Dear Disappointed: If your brother took this money from your mother without her knowledge or consent, or if Mom was incapable of understand- ing the repercussions of what she was doing, it would indeed be elder abuse. But it sounds as if your brother is attempting to pay her back, albeit slowly. Before allowing this to escalate into a per- manent rift, you should have a family discussion with all your siblings and your mother. Don’t make accusations. Simply dis- cuss how best to see that Mom’s money is used for her benefit. You might want to bring in a financial counselor or attorney to act as mediator. Dear Annie: My wife FEATURES DEAR DR. GOTT: My mother- and I have been married for 30 years. We each have a child from a previous mar- riage, and we have a son together. Our marriage has been pretty good over the years except for one thing — she and her daughter are enmeshed. The biggest problem is the never-ending phone calls. My stepdaughter calls every day, morning, noon and night. We have been interrupted on vacation with meaningless phone calls. I had our landline taken out so I wouldn’t have to answer her calls, but now my wife walks around the house with her cell phone in her hand. This problem has caused count- less disagreements. My wife thinks this is fine, although the other children don’t do this. — Help Dear Help: Some adult children, particularly daughters, tend to call their mothers frequently during the course of the day. Your wife is the one who encour- ages and permits this, and she has no intention of stopping. Frankly, as long as you don’t have to answer the phone, we strongly urge you to leave this alone. in-law has been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. There are many treatment options, but she would have to travel to another state for some of them. She is in her 90s, so travel is difficult for her. The headaches are severe and have land- ed her in the hospital in the past. There is a procedure using a gamma ray that we are considering but are unable to find statistics on a cure rate. What can you tell us about this and other treatment options that might be avail- able for this condition? Dr. Peter Gott DEAR READER: This condition, also referred to as tic douloureux, is a nerve dis- order that originates from the trigeminal nerve at the base of the brain. The condition typically presents in older adults and may be part of the aging process, but it can affect people of any age. Women over the age of 50 are more prone than are men. Trigeminal neuralgia may result from a swollen blood vessel, multiple sclerosis or a similar disorder that compresses the nerve or harms the myelin sheath that protects spe- cific nerves, or less likely, from the presence of a tumor compressing the nerve. If it pre- sents in a person under the age of 40, a cause is more likely to be found than if it appears later in life. Testing to determine a cause might include laboratory work, MRI or neu- rological testing. Symptoms include painful spasms resembling electric shocks (generally on one side of the face only), around the eye, cheek or jaw. It can be triggered by chewing, eating, drinking, brushing the teeth, shaving or by simply touching the face lightly. Initial attacks might be brief; however, they can progress to occur more frequently and last Relief or a reduced level of pain from symptoms might be accomplished with the use of muscle relaxants, some anti- seizure medications or tricyclic antidepressants. It is not uncom- mon for any medication to become less effective over time. When that occurs, alcohol injec- tions that numb the face or surgery may be appropriate. Several possi- ble forms of surgery such as gamma-knife radiosurgery, balloon com- pression, glycerol injections, microvascular decompression, the use of electric current to destroy nerve fibers associated with pain or rhizotomy (cutting a portion of the trigemi- nal nerve) may be recommended. Alterna- tive treatment includes acupuncture, biofeedback or vitamin and nutritional ther- apy. The gamma-ray procedure to which you refer may offer a noninvasive option for patients that cannot consider traditional surgery for a variety of reasons, such as advanced age. It may require a single night’s hospitalization, is generally covered by insurance, and represents a major advance. The cost of the procedure is up to one-third less than with invasive surgery. Because no surgical incision is made, the side effects are fewer and recuperation is substantially faster. In one single treatment session, more than 190 beams of gamma radiation are directed toward the nerve at the point where it branches out. Only the area being treated receives the significant dose of radiation, leaving the surrounding tissue unharmed. Current statistics show a cure rate of 70 per- cent to 75 percent for the first year. This rate drops to around 50 percent at three years. Fitness turns into a family affair for one local family My reason for opening up my own gym was a self- ish one; I wanted to have a place to work out and train for fights. So far, it's been that. I've been able to work out like a beast and get the quality coaching I need to stay on top of my game (thanks Manual and Rocky). And I even get to train in a cage- that I love (thanks to my hubby). I also have a place to teach. I don't need to go to 3 different places to train people. While I miss teaching for PAL and at the other gyms, I love having access to big tires for flip- cheap, we'll do ok. But there is one person, no, make that one family, that bring me great joy every time I see them come in. They are Charleen Crespin and her sons, Nicholas and Austin. They started with me when we opened on May 2nd and have hardly Avery Vilche Fitness Buff ping, ropes for climbing and sledgehammers to hit stuff with. It makes for a fun workout, more like a day at the park. The only downfall, and I'm sure all the other busi- ness owners will agree, is that you have to make money to stay afloat. I have to charge people to come in and do something that I'd rather give away for free. In that vein, I've kept it as affordable as possible. I believe that, since we're missed a workout since. Charleen, being a single mom and work- ing full time, is my hero for never making any excuses, for committing her- self and her chil- dren completely to becoming healthy and active, for having an infectious, cheerful quality that is so endearing. Since they start- ed, they have worked out 5 days a week with me (and are active on the week- ends), and they have improved their diets. As if that isn't amazing enough, they have collectively lost 58 pounds since May 2. Charleen has lost 33, Austin has lost 13 and Nicholas has lost 12 (and this is only as of May 26- as I write this article). This family is a walking adver- gibbsautobodydsl@chiconet.com 780 EAST AVE. (behind Food Maxx) Since 1950 530-527-2649 WE ACCEPT ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES Voted BEST in Tehama County ‘06, ‘07, ‘08, ‘09 & ‘10 We understand you have a choice, thank you for choosing us! Education Calendar June, 2011 Monday, June 13 Cardiac Support Coyne Center, Call 527.5077 Tuesday, June 14 CPR Coyne Center, Call 529.8026 Friday, June 17 – Saturday, June 18 Weekend Water Birth Coyne Center, Call 529.8377 Grief Support Every Thursday, 3 – 5 pm Coyne Center, Call 528.4207 Summer Pie and Summer Scrub Sales in June Call 529.8002 for more information St. Elizabeth Community Hospital A member of CHW www.redbluff.mercy.org/sports redbluff.mercy.org Blowout SALE $329 Recliner VAIL recliner* now only save $ hot buys LAWRENCE leather recliner* now only $649 save $ 300 Quantities limited-while supplies last! Furniture DEPOT 235 S Main St., Red Bluff • 530 527-1657 www.thefurnituredepot.net HOURS: MONDAY-FRIDAY 9:00-6:00 SATURDAY 9:00-5:00 • SUNDAY 11:00-5:00 Free local delivery for qualified purchase 200 Courtesy photo Austin, Charleen and Nicholas Crespin tisement for exercise and healthy eating. Congratula- tions Charleen, Nicholas and Austin. Keep doing what you're doing, and keep inspiring others to make positive life changes. I have at least 4 other mothers who bring their kids in to take classes with them. I love that. They have fun together doing some- thing that is great for them- selves. Keep it up, every- one. On the fighting side, I am scheduled to fight in North Carolina June 17. It's supposed to be televised. I'm confident that my skills are up to par, and my condi- tioning is where it needs to be. I have my game face on and am ready to go at my opponent with everything I've got. My only concern is that I need to make a 5 pound weight cut. It doesn't come off like it used to, but I'm sure I'll get there. I have a nutrition sponsor that has provided me with shakes to 1010 Jefferson St., Red Bluff 527-7800 Complete Dental Care • Cosmetic Dentistry • Adults And Children • New Patients Warmly Welcomed! www.MooreandPascarella.com help me get down in weight- thanks Visalus. I'll be stepping out in some fancy new duds thanks to Aldo Savage of Sacred Sav- age fight wear (he has spon- sored some UFC fighters and has the sweetest gear- check him out on face- book). I'll have all the ener- gy I need thanks to Veo Naturals (supplements) courtesy of Debi Bonomi- ni-Danielsen at Avanti Salon & Spa. I'll have the wonderful pictures to record the journey to the cage thanks to Ruth Ann Merkle (check her out on facebook at RuthAnnPho- tography). Last, but not least, I've been training in my freshly repaired head- gear- keeping me injury free- thanks to Dave's Boots. So, with much support, I am the warrior, prepared to do battle. I can't wait. All I ask is for your prayers and positive thoughts. Oh, and whatever you do, please don't tell my folks. I figure I'll call them from North Carolina after the fight- hopefully to tell them I won. Avery Vilche is a professional MMA fighter and fitness instructor who owns Psycho Fitness & MMA at 1450 Schwab St. in Red Bluff. You can reach her at 200-0526 or vilcheavery@yahoo.com. Jewels to Tools for 25% off thru June 11th Dads and Grads WATCHES THE GOLD EXCHANGE“Your Quality Hometown Jeweler” 413 Walnut Street, Red Bluff • 530 528-8000