A Message from Dr. Lasich

With the Olympic Games around the corner, what should you be watching for? Check out Dara Torres (see “In the News”), the 41 year old mother and Olympic swimmer who defies aging with good health and habits. She shows the world that if you take care of your body anything is possible. Go Dara!

For those who want to learn about good body mechanics, check out the weight lifters who have perfected the squat in order to lift an extraordinary amount of pounds. They will inspire anyone to bend the knees before lifting.

All of these high performance feats of speed, strength, and agility are not gained by accident. Oh no, these athletes train their bodies throughout the year. Without training an athlete cannot compete, without training a firefighter cannot extinguish fires, without training even simple daily tasks can become a struggle. Training is the best way to control how you physically feel and perform. I dare you to watch the Olympics and not be inspired by the capabilities of the human body at its best.

On the same note, I dare you to read High Heels to Hormones and walk away not feeling better. It’s up to you.

On the Journal Frontline:
The “W” Word for Reducing Pain
by Christina Lasich, M.D.

“Oh doctor, I just cannot stand the pain. Isn’t there something we can do?” This may sound familiar to anyone who has back pain and the mere thought of going to the grocery store causes the muscles to panic with tension. Prolonged periods of standing and walking are pain triggers for many people with an aging spine.

Relief comes rapidly if you grab onto that shopping cart, spine rehabilitation doctors like me know this as the “shopping cart” sign. As soon as your weight is distributed through your arms onto the cart, the back pain just melts away. If this sounds very familiar, most likely you have spinal stenosis—arthritis of the back joints.

Well, you cannot hang onto a shopping cart all day long which brings me to the “W” word, walker. “Oh no doctor, I am not going to use a walker.” I hear that response all the time, but hear me out. Better yet, read what one of my patients wrote after she started using a walker.

"I LOVE this walker! I feel so confident and secure when walking with this walker. I can stand straight-up and do not have to look at my feet. I can lift my feet higher so that I do not stumble, I can walk faster and farther. (A walker) could put the joy back into walking for you."

A walker is really about safety and comfort. No one should feel ashamed for using a tool that brings you freedom and independence. Pain control requires many tools in your toolbox because you cannot build a house with just a hammer. Most importantly, you have to think about safety and fall prevention as you get older. You may know someone who fell and had the misfortune of a hospital stay. You should be afraid of a broken bone and potential complications. Do not be afraid to use a walker, safety should be your priority. For this reason, I emphasized safety in High Heels to Hormone: A Woman’s Guide to Spine Care, my book for improving spine health.

When your doctor mentions the “W” word, do not cringe with distress. Imagine your self feeling better, walking further, and living independently. You can do something about that back pain; start with education, prevention and a whole alphabet of tools. Please be kind to your spine and it will be kind to you.

LIFE Quotes

“Don't focus on the depression; you're not a human, you're a DOG!”
– Cesar "The Dog Whisperer"

In the News

U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials

At 41, Dara Torres rules pool

(Los Angeles Times) They blasted "American Woman" over the public-address system Friday night after 41-year-old Dara Torres took what had been an intriguing storyline and turned it into a comeback story for the aged.

This mother of a 2-year-old girl looked like a kid again herself -- waving an American flag on the pool deck -- in making an unprecedented fifth Olympic team, winning the 100-meter freestyle in 53.78 seconds at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials. Natalie Coughlin, the U.S.-record holder, was second in 53.83.

latimes.com

Apothecary Corner