Wear & Tear Arthritis

When the smooth, slippery cartilage that protects ends of our bones breaks down and wears away, we may experience pain from the friction of bone on bone when we go to move those joints. There is no cure for this degenerative condition called osteoarthritis, according to the Mayo Clinic, but progression can be slowed. 

Jim Miller, Savvy Senior, in a recent article (April 2012), Exercise one of the best treatments for arthritis, in the Portland Press Herald, recommends keeping fit by stretching each day to maintain flexibility, do weight training and calisthenics to build strength, and aerobic exercises (low impact) to help with circulations and general overall health. He recommends talking with your physician and checking out a local gym, health club, or other exercise programs in your town or city.

Physical and occupational therapists may help us find ways to exercise and adjust our lifestyles to help reduce pain. I think meeting and talking with others who may be experiencing similar issues is a great way to share information that may help work through some difficulties with arthritis. I have found a gluten-free diet has made a huge difference in pain I had from arthritis.

The Mayo Clinic has several recommendations andr home remedies to deal with the condition and discomfort, including losing weight, exercising, some over-the-counter medications, using assistive devices, and using hot and cold therapies.

If you need a heating pad and an ice pack, Maine Warmers' microwave heating pads can do both. All of their products go from the freezer to the microwave and back again. A Knee Pack, Back Warmer, or Neck Warmer may be just the thing to help with flexibility and circulation in stiff joints.

Cars & Body Parts

Our body systems work something like those of a car to keep us traveling over the roads of life. The circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems are synced together to keep us humming along the highway. In our travels, we hit obstacles like detours, potholes, dead ends, wrong turns, and at times we have to stop and move over for emergencies.

Like cars, our bodies sometimes break down -- maybe needing a part replacement or a little additive to help us run more smoothly. Sometimes we may need a minor adjustment from a chiropractor. A fender bender can take us to the body shop, a.k.a. the physical therapist, for training on how to exercise properly and work through some physical set-back. More seriously, a computer glitch may send us to the neurologist to find where a wire or two might be crossed or pinched.

Sometimes the problems are easy to solve -- they hook you up to a diagnostic machine and voila! The body mechanics immediately discover what is wrong. Other times we have to rely on the experience of experts and other diagnostic tools.

Following the rules of the road, stopping to rest and stretch, refueling, keeping our parts moving so they don’t rust and freeze up or dry out are important for optimum health. But even the best cars need mechanical help at times. Having an excellent mechanic is important for body maintenance.

To help keep your body parts moving, exercising is important. Through exercise you may experience some tight muscles. A microwave heating pad from Maine Warmers can help stimulate circulation and increase flexibility in tight muscles. A Neck Warmer or Back Warmer may help keep you on the right road to an active healthy life.

A Sense of Self Worth

When elderly people feel they cannot produce and become independent, they lose their sense of worth and lust for life. Though they have provided for others all their lives and deserve to be on the receiving end, it is hard to give up the role that made them feel good about themselves.

As the care giver you may help elderly people stay independent by letting them do as much for themselves as they can. Waiting on them may be more detrimental to their health than having them get up out of a chair and do for themselves. Reason is the important moderator here.

Mental stimulation and good nutrition helps them stay vital. Interaction is so  important and is often not available to them as they become less mobile. Popping in on an elderly person may be the best thing you can do -- even for a few minutes each day.

Many elderly people who are inactive often feel cold. A microwave heating pad may help stimulate Maine Warmers' microwave heating pad in the shape of a Sheep offer comforting companionship. A gift of a Dachshund Dog that never has to be walked or fed may be the perfect gift for an elderly person who has cold hands or feet -- even in the summer.
circulation and help them through a difficult time with surgery or illness when their activity level is diminished.

Keeping your hips flexible after surgery

As we age, our joints become less elastic. Arthritis and surgery can place limits our flexibility. After my mother had surgery to repair a broken hip, she couldn’t reach to tie her shoes. With physical therapy and repeated stretching exercises she was able to improve her range of motion significantly.

Exercise and stretching help to keep us mobile and improve balance. Once we stop exercising we lose muscle mass and joints stiffen even more.

The Arthritis Foundation has an exercise program designed to help people with arthritis keep moving.

On page 42 of “Arthritis Today,” there are six simple stretching exercises on how to keep flexibility in the hips – especially after surgery.  

Planning a time in the day to exercise is important. Without a plan, chances are the exercise routine will take a back seat to other activities.

Stretching cold muscles is not recommended.  It's important to warm up ahead of time with a walk. A heating pad also helps warm muscles and improves flexibility, but does not take the place of exercise.

 Maine Warmers extra large Back Warmer covers a large area and may be just right to help warm the hips before stretching. A Whale Warmer is also quite large and a fun way to warm muscles. Check out Maine Warmers’ Web site for a variety of shapes and sizes.

Play Keeps Us Young

I am not a scientist, but I know I feel great after playing with my grandchildren or with relatives and friends. Play keeps us young. I think this statement must be backed up by scientific data somewhere. I often hear that laughter and physical activity are the best medicine.

The old adage,” All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” most people will agree is true as well.

For about three years, I spent every day, including weekends, working. I love my work and made that my excuse. Then one day, I realized I no longer had time to spend with friends, and was amazed that other people didn’t work on weekends. Once I realized I was missing out on a lot of fun, I began to take more time off, enjoy the company of others, and find activities that made me feel great. Every year now, my New Year's resolution is to HAVE MORE FUN.

Children and animals are great at playing. Animals never seem to lose their ability to play. Finding a healthy balance between work and play is just part of a healthy lifestyle.

Sometimes, when we play too hard we develop sore muscles – especially as we age.

Maine Warmers has a line of comforting creatures that will help you relax those muscles regain flexibility. These unique animal shaped microwave heating pads are available online and in a variety of gift stores. Check out Maine Warmers’ Hot Dog and Cozy Sheep as playful gifts for children and adults.

Helping an elderly relative

Helping an elderly relative may mean letting them do more for themselves. Yes, you might be able to help do a chore faster, and your intentions are purely to lend a hand, but if it is something the person can safely do for him or herself it might be better to back off. The more one can do for oneself, the more independent one feels. Confidence in elderly people diminishes as activities become more limited.

Being physically active (as is reasonable) can help circulation, flexibility, and balance. Exercise classes for the elderly help to keep muscle mass and provide some social interaction, which can be a challenge as age increases and mobility decreases.

The biggest help is to provide positive human interaction, to make sure the elderly person has fun and laughs as much as possible in the right situations. Encouraging conversation and storytelling, by asking questions about experiences with travel, school, and noteworthy events can help. Keep it light and fun – steering the conversation away from sadness if it creeps in.

Sometimes elderly people feel cold even when the inside temperature is 75 to 80 degrees because blood circulation may not be as vigorous as it once was. A microwave heating pad can provide comforting warmth and help stimulate circulation and flexibility. A gift of a Cozy Sheep, sometime referred to as a Cuddle Ewe, brings comforting warmth and companionship – perfect for an elderly person. It’s reusable, washable, durable, and safe. You can check out a variety of comforting creatures, including a Cozy Cat or Dachshund Neck Warmer for just the right one to bring a smile.

Personal Medical Journal Template

Keeping your own medical records is a good idea. A list of all doctors' visits - including dentists and eye doctors is very handy when you need to see dates of immunizations, tests, illnesses, conditions, and surgeries. If you move and have to find a new physician, you easily could provide photocopies of your medical history.  It would be especially handy if you are caring for children or an elderly parent.

We created a template to follow -- one that you could easily photocopy or print and use to record your family's visits to health professionals. Your physicians may use it to see health patterns or make critical diagnoses. Keep pages organized by family member in a loose leaf notebook.

If you need a microwave heating pad for an elderly parent or friend who is ill and feeling cold, check out Maine Warmers. Their microwave heating pads come in a variety of shapes and sizes -- including neck warmers, large back warmers, and cozy sheep among other comforting creatures.

Cut and paste this template into a Word document, save it, and print it when you need to make copies.

Journal of Medical Appointments

Patient Name: __________________________________________________________________________

Date: ____________________

Medical Professional and Type: _____________________________________________________________

Location: _______________________________________________________________________________

Reason for visit: _________________________________________________________________________

Symptoms: _____________________________________________________________________________

Questions: _____________________________________________________________________________

 _______________________________________________________________________________________

Diagnosis: ______________________________________________________________________________

  
Recommendations: ______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

Prescribed Medications: __________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Tests and Immunizations: ________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Reason for and dates of tests: ________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Test results and dates: _____________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Referrals and follow-up appointments: ________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Blood pressure: __________________     Height: _________________         Weight: _________________