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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 22, 2017)
6 B SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH Stretching Helps Ease Spinal Stenosis Pain DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife suffered from spinal stenosis. She had a cortisone shot, which helped for 90 days. She had regular physi- cal therapy meetings. She was in constant pain, but insisted on play- ing tennis (against her doctor’s wishes). Then, we happened to vacation for a month in Florida, and one of the offered activities was a “stretch” workout. She insisted that she want- ed to try it. After the very fi rst time she thought she felt a little better. She went to several more sessions, and fi nally asked the trainer what she could buy to keep it up at home. The trainer suggested a stretching DVD. It takes about an hour to com- plete it, and she now does it three times a week. She plays hard tennis fi ve days a week, hasn’t complained SALOME’S STARS ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Temper your typical Aries urge to charge into a situation and demand answers. Instead, let the Lamb’s gentler self emerge to deal with a problem that requires delicacy. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You are aware of what’s going on, so con- tinue to stand by your earlier decision, no matter how persuasive the counter- arguments might be. Money pressures soon will ease. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) By all means, have fun and enjoy your newly expanded social life. But don’t forget that some people are depending on you to keep promises that are very important to them. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You need to wait patiently for an answer about pain since 2010, and hasn’t needed any physical therapy, either. I continue to be amazed. Certainly this kind of therapy can’t hurt anyone, since you do it only to your personal comfort levels. Perhaps you might mention this type of therapy in your column sometime. It worked miracles for us at virtually no cost. -- R.M. ANSWER: Spinal stenosis is caused by pressure on the nerves at the level of the spinal column. Physical therapy is one effective treatment, and one I always recom- mend prior to considering surgery. I thank you for taking the time to point out that gentle stretching can help, probably by opening up the spaces in between the vertebrae to allow the nerve more room. The booklet on back problems gives an outline of some causes of and treatments for the more-com- mon back maladies. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Roach -- No. 303W, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. Enclose a check or money order for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. DEAR DR. ROACH: We recently lost a dear relative to cholangiocar- cinoma. He had served in the Navy in Vietnam. The probable cause of his cancer was from a parasite, a river fl uke, which is common to that region. The diagnosis came way too late to save his life. How can veterans be tested or diagnosed early enough for a possible success- ful cure? Are there any current tests available? -- J.A.E. ANSWER: I am sorry to hear about your relative. Cholangiocarcinoma is cancer of the bile duct, a rare cancer. Liver fl ukes are a risk factor, and so is a condition called primary sclerosing cholangitis, a condition associated with ulcerative colitis. The cancer is rare but highly lethal, because by the time symptoms show up, the cancer usually is advanced. Also because of its rarity, screen- ing for the cancer in a general popu- lation won’t be effective. However, for people at high risk, such as those with PSC or a history of liver para- sites, at least one study has shown that screening with a blood test (CA 19-9, CEA) or by endoscopy can be effective. It would be reasonable to speak with the expert taking care of this problem, usually a gastroenter- ologist, about screening. to a workplace problem and not push for a decision. Remember: Time is on your side. A fi nancial matter needs closer attention. LEO (July 23 to August 22) You now have information that can infl u- ence that decision you planned to make. But the clever Cat will consult a trusted friend or family member before making a major move. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Good news: You’re fi nding that more doors are opening for you to show what you can do, and you don’t even have to knock very hard to get the attention you’re seeking. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your gift for creating order out of chaos will help you deal with a sud- den rush of responsibilities that would threaten someone less able to balance his or her priorities. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Congratulations. Your energy lev- els are coming right back up to normal -- just in time to help you tackle some worthwhile challenges and make some important choices. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Th e sage Sagittarian should demand a full explanation of inconsistencies that might be cropping up in what had seemed to be a straight- forward deal. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A confl ict between obli- gations to family and to the job can create stressful problems. Best advice: Balance your dual priorities so that one doesn’t outweigh the other. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Don’t guess, speculate or gossip about that “mystery” situation at the workplace. Bide your time. An explanation will be forthcoming very soon. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Boredom might be creeping in and causing you to lose interest in a repeat project. Deal with it by fl ipping over your usual routine and fi nding a new way to do an old task. 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
