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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 2016)
4 B SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2016 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH Is knee replacement surgery the only option? DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a female in my 60s, and for the past couple of months I have been having some discomfort and swelling in my right knee. I am slightly overweight and have osteoarthritis. I have no pain when walking, but when leaning over, I get a tight pain in the front of the leg, below the knee. I saw my orthopedic doctor, who told me that the cartilage is worn away, and said that I would need a knee replacement. I was given a cortisone shot, which helped the pain. Would losing weight help me avoid surgery? I take an anti-inflammatory and rubbed Bengay on the knee, which helped. I went for another opin- ion from a second orthopedic surgeon, had more X-rays taken and was given the same diagnosis. Is there anything SALOME’S STARS ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Family and friends rally around as you confront an unexpected chal- lenge. Some plans will have to be changed until all the fuss and fluster settle down. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your creative gifts find new outlets for expression this week. Someone (a Libra, perhaps) has ideas that you might find surprisingly appealing. Pay attention. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You’ll soon be able to restart those delayed travel plans. A financial mat- ter you thought was closed could sud- denly reopen. Be prepared to take swift, decisive action. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A more I can do to avoid having a knee replacement soon? — C.W. ANSWER: Osteoarthritis of the knee can cause permanent loss of the cartilage. Once the cartilage is gone, the knee replacement is by far the best option to reduce pain and improve function. However, there are some things you can do to delay the need for surgery, as well as to feel better. Losing weight is important, if you are carrying more than you should. Your body weight is multiplied when you are going up and down stairs, so los- ing even a few pounds means much less pressure inside the knee. Anti-inflammatories and Tylenol reduce pain but don’t affect the pro- gression of disease. Bengay, topical anti-inflammatories and capsaicin creams help some people. Steroid injections are a good option for some: Hyaluronic acid shots, such as Synvisc, help many as well. Exercise, however, definitely improves both pain and function. Walking a little bit farther each day means being able to walk still more without pain. A joint-replacement surgery shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. Not everybody has a good outcome, and an infection in an artificial joint can be devastating. However, it has been my experience that most people who have gotten a joint replacement wish they had done so sooner, so don’t suffer for too long if these treatments aren’t helping. The arthritis booklet discusses osteoarthritis, along with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Roach — No. 301W, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. DEAR DR. ROACH: What do you know about Himalayan salt? Is it harmful to take every day? I am told that it can help lower blood pressure, because it has minerals and trace ele- ments. — M.S. ANSWER: Himalayan salt, though it has a pretty pink color and trace minerals, is still almost all table salt — sodium chloride — and salt raises blood pressure for most people. Keeping sodium intake down is likely to reduce risk of heart disease and stroke. Generally, people with a healthy diet get all the trace minerals they need. Most studies on multivita- min and mineral supplements have shown no benefit. romantic relationship takes an unex- pected turn. You might be confused about how to react. It’s best not to be rushed into a decision that you’re not ready to make. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Don’t let your pride stand in the way of resolving an emotionally painful situ- ation. This is a good time to deal with it and let the healing finally begin. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A workplace problem that you’ve been handling so well suddenly spins out of control. Don’t panic. You can rely on your good sense to help you restore order. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Wearing rose-colored glasses won’t solve a thorny personal situa- tion. You need to take a hard look at what’s happening and then act according to the facts. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Weigh all your options carefully before making any decisions you’ve been putting off. Then go ahead and plan a weekend of family fun. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) While personal and financial situations continue to improve, some setbacks might occur. But they’re only temporary, so hang in there. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Family matters dominate the week. Health problems raise con- cern, but soon prove to be less serious than you had feared. Things start eas- ing up by the weekend. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Most situations are calmer now, both at home and on the job. But there’s still a chance that a co-worker will set off another round of unpleasantness. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) There’s no need to fish for compli- ments from an admirer who can’t say enough nice things about you. The upcoming holiday bodes well for family gatherings. Siuslaw N ews ! AD IT DAY E R TO www. the siuslawnews.com E -E DITION • S PORTS • T OP S TORIES • O BITUARIES • W EATHER • F ORUMS • B LOGS