Know Your Numbers: Bone Density Testing and Osteoporosis

The Arthritis & Infusion Center and Dr. Hulon E. Crayton encourage you to take an active role in your health care. Preventive health care and screenings are essential to achieving an overall healthy life just as changing the oil in your vehicle is necessary to maintain performance. In this video blog, Dr. Crayton explains why it is important to know your numbers in regards to women and Osteoporosis.

 

Remember, Pain is Not Normal, we can help! Call The Arthritis & Infusion Center today to schedule your preventative health check-up with Dr. Crayton. 

Waving for World Arthritis Day

Physical activity is vitally important for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), which is why the 'Move to Improve' theme was created for World Arthritis Day (WAD) in 2011 /2012.

  

To generate awareness of some of the key issues facing people with RMDs in the United States and build support for WAD and the 'Move to Improve' theme, The Arthritis & Infusion Center is promoting a fun campaign in which people are invited to photograph or video people waving - a physical activity everyone can participate in!

Everyone can join in by taking a fun photograph or short video of their friends, families, colleagues, team mates and wider networks waving their hands, arms or whole body. Photographs and video footage of people waving can then be uploaded onto the World Arthritis Day website (www.worldarthritisday.org/waving). Each person seen waving in the photograph or video will count, so the more people you can get waving the better. The target is to capture 100,000 people from Europe and around the world waving. The number of people seen waving from each country can be found on the WAD website.

Photographs and still images from video footage of people waving will become individual pixels in a giant picture (photomontage) to be used in national campaigns on World Arthritis Day (12 October).

 Facts and figures about RMDs:

• Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases encompass more than 200 different diseases which span from various types of arthritis to osteoporosis and on to systemic connective tissue diseases.

• Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases are characterised by pain and a consequent reduction in the range, motion and function in one or more areas of the musculoskeletal system; in some diseases there are signs of inflammation: swelling, redness and warmth in the affected areas. Rheumatic diseases can also affect internal organs.

• In the industrialized world rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases affect more individuals than any other disease group, with 120 million people affected across Europe alone. 

• In the United States there are nearly 46 million people who are affected by rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, this is 14.6% of the population. 

• 21 million people in the United States are affected by arthritis. 

• One third of people are affected by rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases at some point during their lifetime and people of all ages can be affected. 

• In Europe almost every family is affected in some way by a rheumatic or musculoskeletal disease.
• Musculoskeletal complaints are the second most common reason for consulting a doctor and account for around 10% to 20% of all doctors visits.
• 75% to 85% of people will suffer from low back pain at some point in their lives  

 
Dr. Crayton and our Staff have uploaded our Waving images for World Arthritis Day. We cannot wait to see yours! Upload them today and let's join together in the fight against arthritis. If you have any questions, contact us or comment below and we will gladly help. 

“Don’t wait until you can no longer walk.”

During the 2012 Olympics, we saw the story of American Manteo Mitchell who broke his leg during a race, and still finished first. However, he was a trained athlete and was 25 years old! As we age, we really need to begin to “listen” to our body and not wait until we can no longer walk. Here are some common issues treated by Dr. Hulon Crayton at The Arthritis and Infusion Center:

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot. This tissue is called the plantar fascia. It connects the heel bone to the toes and creates the arch of the foot. According to PubMed Health, Plantar fasciitis occurs when the thick band of tissue on the bottom of the foot is overstretched or overused. This can be painful and make walking more difficult. You are more likely to get plantar fasciitis if you have:

·         Foot arch problems (both flat feet and high arches)

·         Long-distance running, especially running downhill or on uneven surfaces

·         Sudden weight gain or obesity

·         Tight Achilles tendon (the tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel)

·         Shoes with poor arch support or soft soles

Plantar fasciitis is seen in both men and women. However, it most often affects active men ages 40 - 70. Treatment may include medication or injections into the problem area.

Bone density should also be carefully monitored as we age. Dr. Crayton recommends a Bone Density Scan in order to determine how fragile your bones are, and then he can recommend treatment according to your test results. 

 Do not ignore your symptoms until you can no longer walk!  Dr. Crayton constantly reminds people:  “Pain is not normal!”  Let The Arthritis and Infusion Center help!

“Don’t Wait Until You Break a Bone”

CRACK! The sound is unmistakable and echoes in your ears. A bone has broken and the pain becomes unbearable. Dr. Hulon Crayton must treat the aftermath of such injuries all too often.

“I wish people would understand that there are precautionary steps that can be taken in order to build bone mass, and tests to determine your risks for osteoporosis.”

  We recommend:

• Building stronger bones with diet and supplements 
•  Weight-bearing exercises
•  Adding new drugs, which have been very effective for the treatment of osteoporosis

At The Arthritis and Infusion Center, we recommend that women (65 or older) and men (age 70 or older) take a Bone Density Test, which is a painless way to measure bone health and determine the risks for osteoporosis and assess the risk of fracture.

         Risk factors include: 

•  Not getting enough dietary calcium 
•  Having a small frame and/or excessive thinness 
• Smoking 
• Certain medications (like long-term use of steroids)
• Ethnicity, lactose intolerance, and excessive alcohol use

Don’t wait to hear the sound that everyone dreads. Osteoporosis is a silent, progressive disease that you can’t see or feel. Unfortunately, many people don’t know they have experienced bone loss until they break a bone. Dr. Crayton always tells his patients that “Pain is not normal. Let us help.”  

Arthritis Tips for Daily Living # 4

Continuing our series regarding “Arthritis Tips for Daily Living,” Dr. Hulon Crayton is always looking for ways to ease the pain for his patients associated with the simplest of daily tasks. The Arthritis and Infusion Center found an article in Significant Living magazine by Dr. Rick Caracciolo, and have adapted a list of his suggestions regarding things to keep in mind AROUND THE HOUSE and IN THE CAR:

·      Many furniture manufacturers have made lift chairs that no longer look sterile and can ease the pressure on your joints when you have to get up.

·      For cleaning, use reaching tongs to pick up items and expandable dusters.

·      In the car, seatbelt pullers, gas-cap turners, and car-key adapters would be  helpful.

·      When doing household chores, consider electric scissors, pre-threaded needles, or gardening tools with large handles.

·      Use a voice-activated or large button phone, complete with a headset.

You may find other information that’s helpful from the National Institutes of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, you may want to consider a subscription to ArthritisToday magazine, which covers other helpful hints to ease the pain of day-to-day living.

However, it’s vital that you find a doctor who really listens to you. Dr. Hulon Crayton has garnered a reputation for not only listening to his patients, but working in tandem with them to develop the most effective treatment plan available. Call us today to see how The Arthritis and Infusion Center can help make your life easier and more pain free!