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Wednesday, March 31, 2010 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Ease the pain of disc disease DEAR DR. GOTT: I have recently been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. I am 69 and also have osteoarthritis. My symptoms are groin, knee, hip and thigh pain — all on the left side. What treatment would you recommend? I take 12 prescription med- ications and 13 supple- ments. I’m allergic to penicillin, Demerol, codeine and Vancomycin. DEAR READER: The spine is made up of bones called vertebrae. A disc that contains a soft, jelly- like inner layer cushions each vertebra. The discs in our backs can be com- pared with shock absorbers on a car. During activity, they absorb jar- ring and movements while allowing you to bend and flex in a variety of posi- tions. Dr. Peter Gott Bed rest may be necessary for a day or two; how- ever, inactivity isn’t always a good thing. Too much rest will result in a loss of muscle strength, which will make symptoms worse and delay recov- ery. As we age, the normal wear and tear on these “shock absorbers” is known as disc degenera- tion. The discs may lose some of their water con- tent, making them less capable of performing as effectively as they did before. The result is pain, numbness, weakness and the inability to function effectively. Risk factors other than age include height, excess body weight, a history of smok- ing and physical activity. Men taller than 5 feet 11 inches and women taller than 5 feet 7 inches have an increased risk for developing disc disease. The additional weight some people carry puts more stress on discs. A history of smoking decreases oxygen levels in the blood and deprives the body of necessary nutri- ents. Finally, activity such as frequent heavy lifting, sitting for hours at a time at work, or playing high- impact sports can cause problems. Over-the-counter nons- teroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or topical creams might relieve some symptoms. If you are a runner or enjoy high- impact activity, consider making a change to some- thing less strenuous. Cold compresses should work to reduce inflammation initially. Following that, consider using heat. Con- servative treatment can include water aerobics, gentle yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, massage and physical therapy. Exercise in moderation is endorsed. Osteoarthritis affects almost everyone as we age. It is a joint disease caused by the breakdown of cartilage, commonly occurring in the hips, knees, feet and spine. Healthy cartilage is smooth, flexible and elas- tic, allowing for easy movement. With osteoarthritis, the surface of the cartilage softens, frays and cracks. With continued breakdown, the ends of bones thicken and form spurs at points where ligaments attach to bone. Again, normal wear and tear of the joints over time is to blame. Treatment is aimed at controlling pain, preventing joint deformity and, most importantly, maintaining movement. NSAIDs might be taken for relief of symptoms. Rest, protection of the affected joint(s), yoga, water aerobics and physi- cal therapy might be endorsed. Exercise is vital to maintain movement. Beyond that, your physi- cian or orthopedic special- ist should be consulted to determine the next step. I don’t know what your other medical conditions are, but I suggest you speak with the prescriber(s) regarding discontinuing some of your prescription drugs. Then ask about replacing some of your supplements with a good daily vitamin supplement. To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Understanding Osteoarthritis.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self- addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDr- GottMD.com. Dr. Peter Gott is a retired physician and the author of the book “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet,” available at most chain and independent bookstores, and the recently published “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook.” Pining for younger guy who dumped me Dear Annie: I am an 80-year-‘‘young’’ gay male and have been swept off my feet by a 55-year-old gay man. I went into this as a fling, but it soon became serious. I know several male couples who have a similar age difference, and the relationships have worked out very well. I was previously in a relationship that lasted more than 50 years and have been single since my partner passed away five years ago. The problem is, I have really fallen for this younger guy. He asked me to marry him twice, but each time I told him we’d have to talk it out. He agreed, but we didn’t actually get around to it. Two weeks went by, and then he called to say it was over and that was it — nothing. I have left messages on his answering machine, but have received no return calls. I still have strong feelings for him and don’t know what to do. Should I close the book on this and move on, or do I keep trying to see if it might take off? — N.Y. Dear N.Y.: Either he isn’t inter- ested in you any longer, or he is too temperamental to wait two weeks. His way of handling your relation- ship strikes us as manipulative and immature. We know you’re smitten with him, but he doesn’t seem to be the best person for you. Please try to move on. Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar up, married and had kids. Sarah moved to another state 15 years ago. The prob- lem is, she seldom calls. I hear from her twice a year if I’m lucky. In response, I phone her only four or five times a year, so I don’t over- load her. She rarely returns my calls, although if I sound distressed and tell her I need her, she will call back imme- diately. Every Christmas and birthday, we exchange gifts. I send a prompt thank-you note or phone her. Sarah rarely lets me know my gifts were received. She has a lot of family here and comes to town every couple of years. She gives me little to no warning, yet I drop everything to meet with her. I have told her how I feel about the way she treats me. She says she never wants to hurt me and will try to do better, but nothing has changed. Sarah attended my son’s wed- ding, and I realize this took time and money. It meant the world to me. I have plenty of friends in this area, but none touches my heart as Sarah does. Do I simply accept her the way she is and be content with the small amount of interaction we have, or should I assume our friend- ship doesn’t mean that much to her? — Don’t Want To Lose a Special Friend Dear Don’t: After 15 years of Dear Annie: I’ve been best friends with ‘‘Sarah’’ since high school. We stayed close as we grew living in different states, it is inevitable that the bonds of friend- ship would loosen a bit. We are cer- tain Sarah still cares about you, but you have placed the friendship much higher on your list of priori- ties than she has. If you want to continue to count her as a friend, we think you should accept her as she is and value the time you do get to spend together without expecting too much more. Dear Annie: I read the letter from ‘‘Waiting in California,’’ the 26-year-old male virgin who made an eloquent case for his conviction to wait to have sex. I waited until college, at which point I weakened. I felt so much pressure to not be a virgin that I got high and had sex with one person after another. I contracted STDs, terminated a pregnancy and set myself up for a lifetime of regret and shame. I wish I had valued myself enough to wait and not succumb to the pressures I perceived around me. Empty sex is the loneliest self- inflicted pain you can imagine. — Regrets for Life in Simi Valley, Calif. Dear Regrets: Please know your letter will help others understand that they don’t have to give in to such pressures. We hope you can forgive yourself. 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. Local grocer seeks grant applicants Starting today, Raley’s asks Northern California communities a thoughtful and inspiring question: “Who could you reach with $7,500?” The regional, family-operated grocer will launch Raley’s Reach, a program placing nearly $40,000 in the hands of the community as the public deter- mines where five $7,500 grants will go this spring. Through April 19, nonprofit organizations, everyday heroes and service groups are invited to dream up ideas and post them on www.raleys.com/reach. Starting April 21, it’s in the hands of those in the online community to log on and cast votes for the project they would like to see put in action. The top five ideas with the most votes will receive $7,500 to put their projects into action. Raley’s offers the opportunity for grants to go where individuals recognize the greatest need – whether it’s filling the local library with new books, funding an arts enrichment program for dis- advantaged students or planting a community gar- den. Cable median barrier lives up to expectations Officials with the Cal- ifornia Department of Transportation District 2 are pleased with the per- formance of the cable median barriers that were installed at two locations on Interstate 5 in the Redding area last year. Caltrans estimates that there have been 15 vehicle and cable colli- sions at several locations since the cable was installed in the fall of 2009, in which the cable barrier has prevented potential crossover acci- dents. "We are very happy with these results," said District Director John Bulinski. "It’s perform- ing as designed … and that saves lives" The first of its kind used in California, this College to hold plant sale in Redding The Shasta College Horticulture Club announces the dates of their 39th Annual Spring Plant Sale. A wide variety of plants, trees and shrubs will be sold from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 15 and April 16 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 17 on the Shasta College Farm at the northeast corner of the campus. This year the club boasts a huge selec- tion of plants including: organic vegetable starts, trees, fruit trees, herbs, shrubs, berries, vegetables, annual and perennial flowers, native plants, houseplants, ground- covers, grasses, and much more. For more information, call Leimone Waite at 242-2210, or call the Shasta Col- lege Natural Resources, Industry & Public Safety Division at 242-7560. $ Money $ 2 Lend Corning Calif. Largest Selection In Tri-County • Herbal Medicines • Edibles (Foods) • Clones 1317 Solano St. (530) 824-4811 www.tehamaherbalcollective.vpweb.com Cash 4 Notes McKinley Mortgage Co. CA DRE # 01773837 Call 530-241-0977 800-909-1977 type of barrier has some advantages over other conventional median bar- riers: efits: Key features and ben- • Relatively inexpen- sive at $11 per foot com- pared to $50 to $100 for steel beam or concrete, cable barriers are fast and easy to repair, quick- ly returning the roadway to its original condition. Repairs have averaged 20 minutes. • This type of barrier helps prevent head-on collisions by catching out of control vehicles like a net and redirecting them in the median. The flexibility of the cables diffuses the impact felt by motorists. • In the event of high- way closures, cable bar- riers easily allow traffic to be re-routed through the median preventing travel delays. Additional median cable barrier projects are scheduled for the area with the first being part of the Interstate 5, Cot- tonwood Hills Truck Climbing Lanes project beginning in April.