“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!

Five Tips for the Prevention of Osteoporosis

Since May is National Osteoporosis Prevention Month, Dr. Hulon Crayton of The Arthritis and Infusion Center would like to remind people to be mindful of five (5) important steps to help prevent Osteoporosis: 

1)                 First and foremost, early detection is always key to disease prevention.  Actually, Osteoporosis is relatively easy to diagnose. Thanks to advanced technology, available in Dr. Crayton’s office, a bone density scan can quickly detect the loss of bone mass in a person’s body. This bone loss means that a person’s bones become more fragile and are more likely to break.

According to the Florida Department of Health, Osteoporosis is often called the “silent disease”, because there are often no symptoms until a fracture occurs. This website is an excellent resource for health information: www.doh.state.fl.us. The remaining ways to prevent osteoporosis involve lifestyle changes that include: 

2)                  Eating foods high in calcium

3)                  Getting plenty of exercise

4)                  Not smoking, and

5)                  Limit alcohol use 

However, genetics also factor into this disease. Taking supplements, like Vitamin D and Calcium, is something to consider as well. However, be certain to discuss with Dr. Crayton any medications you are taking and when you should add supplements to your diet. 

When one realizes that an estimated 44 million men and women, aged 50 and older, will be diagnosed with Osteoporosis this year alone … isn’t it time you contacted Dr. Crayton? 

Dr. Crayton always reminds his patients that any pain is not normal. The Arthritis and Infusion Center can help! Why not call them … today!  873-6748 … or www.drcrayton.net.

What is OSTEOPENIA?

At The Arthritis & Infusion Center, we often see patients who are suffering from osteopenia.  This condition is marked by a lower than normal bone mineral density, which means the person can have weak bones that fracture easily.  People who present with this condition are often thin Caucasians, who have a family history of osteoporosis.  Secondary risks include those who have eating disorders, or diseases that affect the absorption of nutrients from food, specifically Calcium or Vitamin D.  In addition, we see the condition in people who have been inactive or bedridden for long periods of time.  Osteopenia sufferers may also be those who smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol.  Unfortunately, there are no symptoms to osteopenia, but our staff diagnoses the threat by doing a DEXA scan (a form of X-ray) to detect the amount of bone loss in the patient’s body. (Do I Need a Bone Density Test?)  The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that all women, age 65 and older, should be screened for osteoporosis, which will also show if you have osteopenia.  If you are diagnosed with osteopenia, your treatment plan will include medication, but Calcium is the most critical mineral to build bone mass.  Therefore, a healthy diet, combined with exercise (specifically a weight-bearing routine), as well as making changes to your lifestyle would be recommended.  It is very important to know the medical history of those in your family, because your DNA could make you pre-determined to have osteopenia.  However, Dr. Hulon Crayton always reminds his patients that any pain is not normal!  Your first call should be to The Arthritis and Infusion Center; however, more research is available on our website as well at www.drcrayton.net.

Investing In Your Health

At The Arthritis and Infusion Center, we understand that any pain is not normal.  However, diagnosing the source of pain – especially with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms – isn’t always easy.  That’s why Dr. Hulon Crayton has made it a point to invest in the most up-to-date diagnostic tools in order to determine the origins of the diseases he treats.

For instance, our Dexa Scan equipment provides Bone Density Studies, which determine how likely you are to fracture bones.  The scan is fast, accurate, pain-free, and has very low radiation.  This information is particularly important to those patients who may lean towards osteoporosis.

           

Ultrasonography is now appreciated as a valuable tool for diagnosis monitoring and intervention in Rheumatology.  This current technology actually allows Dr. Crayton to look closely into your body, specifically your joints and muscles, to determine the origin of pain and swelling.  We have found this to be especially helpful in detecting rotator cuff and meniscus tears, rheumatoid arthritis, and other arthritis or soft tissue conditions.

Finally, we are very excited about our equipment that enables us to do Nerve Conduction Studies.  A nerve conduction study (NCS) is a test commonly used to evaluate the function, especially the ability of electrical conduction, of the motor and sensory nerves of the human body.  The results of the NCS provide good indicators of underlying diseases in the nervous system.  Patients suffering from arthritis symptoms will find this study to be particularly helpful.

Of course, within our Infusion Center, we continuously upgrade our equipment to make certain that your experience is as painless and stress-free as possible.

Remember:  Pain is not normal, and when you begin to experience pain in your muscles and joints, it’s time to contact The Arthritis and Infusion Center in Panama City, Florida.