Harvesting family fun - Winters Express

B-4 — Winters (CA) Express, Thursday, October 21, 2010Sciatica just onecause of back painDEAR DR. DONOHUE:Our basement flooded,and I was chosen toclean it. All that pushing,lifting and scrubbing dida number on my back. It’sbeen bothering me fortwo weeks. I never had aback problem before,but my dad used to havethem all the time. Hesaid it was sciatica. Ibelieve that’s what Ihave. How can I get rid ofit? — M.J.ANSWER: Don’t jump toconclusions. Sciatica(sigh-AT-ik-ah) is onlyone cause of back pain.The fact that your fatherhad it has little bearingon your having it. Didyour dad arrive at thediagnosis on his own?Many people do. Quiteoften, they’re wrong.The sciatic nerve is alarge nerve formed bythe intermingling ofnerve roots coming fromthe lower segments ofthe spinal cord. It and itsbranches run from thelower back through thebuttock and down the legto the ankle and foot.Pressure on the nerve atany point in its courseirritates it and producesthe pain of sciatica. Themost common causecomes from a protrusionof one of the back’s disks,which presses on thespinal cord rootlets thatcombine to build thenerve.Low-back, buttock andleg pain are the hallmarksof sciatica. Theleg pain is on the back ofthe leg or its outer side.Even though the diagnosisis a bit iffy here, sciatica— and most of theother causes of low-backpain — get better in threeto six weeks. You don’thave to completely rest.Strict bed rest iscontraindicated. Walkaround and perform thenormal activities of dailylife, but don’t lift, push orperform manual labor.Use heat or cold on yourback, whichever you findbenefits you more.Tylenol (acetaminophen)usually controlspain. If it doesn’t,one of the nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory drugs(Aleve, Advil, Motrin)can be tried. An injectionof steroids into theback takes care ofinflammation that addsto the pressure on thenerve. Surgery usuallyisn’t necessary. Thelong-term outlook isgood.If the pain hasn’t goneby four weeks, see a doctor.See the doctorpromptly if pain increasesor you lose control ofyour bladder or bowels.The booklet on backpain provides moreinformation on this commonproblem. To obtaina copy, write: Dr. Donohue— No. 303W, Box536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475. Enclose acheck or money order (nocash) for $4.75 U.S./$6Canada with the recipient’sprinted name andaddress. Please allowfour weeks for delivery.***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Iremember your oncewriting about how a personwith COPD ought tobreathe. My dad was justdiagnosed with COPD,and I would like to passthat information to him.Will you please repeatit? — S.A.ANSWER: That ispursed-lip breathing.The person puckers thelips as though going towhistle or give a kiss.Then he inhales throughhis nose andexhales through thepursed lips. Exhalingshould be more prolongedthan inhaling.This technique keeps theairways opened to allowmore air to get into thelungs and more carbondioxide to get out ofthem.“COPD” stands for“chronic obstructivepulmonary disease”: emphysemaand chronicbronchitis.***Dr. Donohue regrets thathe is unable to answer individualletters, but hewill incorporate them inhis column wheneverpossible. Readers maywrite him or request anorder form of availablehealth newsletters atP.O. Box 536475, Orlando,FL 32853-6475.(c) 2010 North AmericaSynd., Inc.All Rights ReservedFeaturesMeditation on the Tin ManNick Chopper’s axewas enchanted againsthim by the Wicked EastWitch to keep him frommarrying his beloved.When he wielded hisaxe, it attacked him. Atfirst, he was luckyenough to get a machined,stainless steel,tin-covered leg. Thenthe chopping continued.He became a radicaltriple amputee. Theout-of-control choppingcontinued until allbut the heart andreproductive organswere replaced.Frankensteinian, hewalked the earth, unrequited,and illequippedto “seal thedeal.” Imagine, L.Frank Baum could havestarted, “One morning,as Nick Chopper waswaking from an anxiousdream, he discoveredthat in his bed hehad changed into amonstrous, impotent,metallic man.” Thatsells him short, andfocuses on the wronglead. The story is aboutthe rusting, the very actof rusting and remission.Tin Man is thearchetype of a specialkind of health problem,one where the bodyattacks itself.The truth about theTin Man is that tin doesn’trust. His joints wereattacked from the inside.Like an out-of-controlimmune system, hisown body turned onhim. When one suffersfrom M.S., lupus or otherimmune complexes,it is as if the WickedWitch has enchantedthe immune system toattack itself. Limbs,joints, eyes, brain,nerves, pain centers,kidneys, liver, heart,lungs, guts, can turn torust. Sometimes a limbloses all feeling. Sometimeswe are fine foryears.The medications canbe as liberating as anew tin leg. A littleclunky, but useful. A littleproblematic, butbetter than nothing.Taking prednisone is alot like being made oftin. Like the Tin Man,one never gets tired.The downside is aplethora of side effects.When one experiencesutter despair anddependence due to illness,especially theexacerbation-remissiontype illnesses of theautoimmune system,the happy times cansoar into mania. Onelongs to feel normalagain. We seek wholenessand celebrate thepain-free times.It is hard for others tograsp the roller coasterride of our disorders.One might be foundcarousing on goldenstreets, or frozen in afield, literally unableto cry. Sometimes, onelooks perfectly fine tothe outside world. Likepolished tin, the surfaceshines, but insidethat wicked curse ischopping away.Immune problemsare like roller coasters— one can swiftly gofrom feeling peachy tofull-blown flare. It’sbest to strap in. It’s bestto ride it out in thehopes of a better day.Attitude, as demonstratedby the Tin Man,is everything.Throughout the Ozstory, the Tin Manalways fights to protectbugs and such fromharm. He even protectsthe life of a butterflyfrom being maimed forthe important castingof a magical spell. Hissuffering, loss and risingagain in tin madehim more protective ofthe fragile balance ofnature. Mr. Chopper isthe friend to all thingsgreat and small. He getsthem.To set the recordstraight on the heartproblem, Oz never gaveanything to the Tin Manbecause he had moreheart than any of them.(Jesse Loren is a poet,editor and editorialistwho lives with lupus, theshadow wolf.)Pleasedto meet youName: Theresa HillemanOccupation: Homemaker,bartender and medicalassistantHobby: KaraokeWhatʼs best about livingin Winters: “You get toknow everybody. Whenyou walk into a store, youknow somebody.”Fun fact: I can sing andbartend at the same time.ARIES (March 21 to April19) Some flashes of Ariesiremighteruptasyouconfrontan unusually bewilderingsituation. But youshould be able to keepyourtemperundercontrolasyouworkthroughit.TAURUS(April20toMay20) That marriage 'twixtthe arts and practicalitythat Taureans excel atonceagainhighlightsyourenjoyment of much of theweek. However, you needto watch any sudden urgetosplurge.GEMINI (May 21 to June20) Even with all theplusses apparently outweighingtheminuses,youstillmightwanttodeferanimportant decision tomakesureyouhaveallthefactsyouneed.CANCER (June 21 to July22) One or two problemsmight threaten to derailotherwise smoothly runningsituations at work orat home. But a few wellplacedwords should helpget things back on trackquickly.LEO (July 23 to August 22)This could be a good timeforallyouLeosandLeonasin the spotlight to openyour generous Lion'sheartsandsharetheglorywiththosewhohelpedyouaccomplishsomuchalongtheway.VIRGO (August 23 to September22)Youmightwantto get advice from someonewho's been there andknowsthesesituationsbetterthan you do, before investingtime or money (orboth) in a questionablematter.LIBRA (September 23 toOctober22)Becarefulhowyou handle a workplacematter that seems out ofplace in the scheduleyou've prepared. Beforeyouact,onewayoranother,find out who set it up andwhy.SCORPIO (October 23 toNovember 21) Your entertainmentaspect is strongthisweek.Besidesprovidinga wonderful breakfromeverydayobligations,sharing fun times bringsyouclosertothoseyoucarefor.SAGITTARIUS (November22 to December 21)Having a weekend funfest? Your friend or relativewho'sdownintheemotionaldumps could perkup if you find a way to includehim or her in yourplans.CAPRICORN (December22toJanuary19)Ifyou'reinone of those "the Goatknows best" periods, youmightwanttoeaseupandtrylisteningtowhatothershave to say. You couldlearnsomething.AQUARIUS(January20toFebruary 18) That newchallengeisgettingcloser,and you should be outthere now showing factsandfigurestopotentialalliestohelppersuadethemto rally to your support.Goodluck.PISCES (February 19 toMarch 20) Getting a headstart on holiday planscould help free up sometimelatertospendonotherprojects. Meanwhile, acolleague has some ideasthat you might find worthdiscussing.BORN THIS WEEK: Youarealwaysthereforothers,and sometimes you needto be reminded that youneed to be there for yourselfaswell.(c) 2010 King FeaturesSynd.,Inc.