By:Robert Remler
Florence Patasky is not going to waste the beautiful days of summer by sitting inside her house in Long Beach. If she wanted to, though, that would be understandable.
Three years ago, Patasky, "a young 70, please," had her second hip
replacement. Following that operation, she developed arthritis.
Her advice to 430,000 other Long Islanders who have arthritis is simple.
"Keep moving. Don't sit in the house and feel sorry for yourself."
To ease the deadening pain of arthritis, she keeps a busy schedule.
She goes for walks on the boardwalk in Long Beach as well as through her
neighborhood. She also volunteers at local hospitals and nursing homes,
talking with people who have had hip replacements. She tells those in
hospital beds to look at her as someone who has recovered.
Patasky also finds time to attend a monthly meeting sponsored by The Arthritis Foundation of Long Island. Her local chapter meets the third
Tuesday of every month at the Long Beach Medical Center. (The next meeting is 2 p.m. Aug. 21.) The meetings are helpful because they give
her the opportunity to speak with other people who have arthritis. Often the meetings include a lecturer speaking on topics ranging from nutrition to the
benefits of massage therapy.
Patasky, a retired price changer for Waldbaum's, described her arthritic
condition as "a drawing pain" that travels up her legs. "Sometimes my fingers get stiff," she said. Years of working on cold floors in cold aisles is what Patasky said hastened the development of her arthritis. "But, my doctor said that is not what caused it."
Dr. Gilbert Chou, a rheumatologist sharing a practice in Hewlett, said causes of arthritis vary. "There are many types of arthritis," Chou said. "Some arthritis is caused by wear and tear. Other forms of arthritis are caused by poor regulation of the hormone system."
Chou advises those with arthritis to eat healthy foods and to keep
their weight in the normal range. "This is good for joint and bone and also
beneficial for the cardiovascular system."
Exercise is also recommended for those with arthritis. "Regular
Exercise, in general, is not harmful for patients with arthritis," Chou said.
Range-of-motion exercises, stretching, gentle strengthening and aerobic
exercises are generally good for people with arthritis, he said. "Heavy
weight lifting and activities which strain the joints should be avoided."
Future medical breakthrough in the study of arthritis is encouraging.
The past five years have brought various new medications for treating
arthritis-related conditions. "Our practice has been doing clinical
research in conjunction with the pharmaceutical companies to evaluate the
efficiency of new arthritis and osteoporosis drugs," Chou said.
Some drugs under study by Chou and his colleagues include what he
described as Cox-2 inhibitors, such as Celebrex and Vioxx. These are "safer
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs" prescribed for osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis.
"Definitely, there are more drugs on the horizon," Chou said. "We are
currently recruiting patients for ongoing clinical trials." Those seeking
more information can contact Chou's office at (516) 295-4481.
The Arthritis Foundation of Long Island will also provide free
Information. The Long Island Chapter currently has 9,000 members, a spokesperson said. Being a foundation member is not required to attend a meeting. For information about support-group meetings, call (631) 427-8272 or visit Web site www.arthritis.org.
Vacation agenda
July and August is a good time to take a vacation, which is why the
American Medical Association recommends a strategy for enjoying time away from work.
The association suggests that people can use their time away from work to recharge themselves physically, mentally and emotionally. The recharging
should include a balance between physical activity, relaxation and healthful
eating habits.
"Remember that it is easier to maintain your fitness level
than to try to get back in shape after putting on weight and losing muscle
tone."
One pitfall to avoid during vacation time is the temptation to overeat
and choose high-fat foods. Strategies for avoiding those pitfalls include:
