Big HELLO from CROATIA

[Nancy]

Hi Terri -
you have every right to believe it is true with changes in the weather and changes in your body ( responses of increased aching, stiffness and generalized joint pain...). Working with patients in Physical medicine and seeing so many have these effects/outcomes - I joke that they can tell me if it will rain 2 days before the weatherman can confirm it... Just tell everyone that you have a new summer position as a human barometer....and will take tips...; ) If they were able to improve your pain with some shoe inserts and some ultrasound to your back - that is awesome... some of the simplest actions - seem to make such a difference....Consider aquatic therapy...warm if your body can take the heat...
I had not seen the threads from our croatia friend... I hope that everything improves and that you are able to pursue your love affair with the sports teams and dealing with the american way of life... Sometimes twisted, other times very blessed... I have had more interest in seeing how the other half lives ( Canada with socialized medicine, etc...) and comparatively dealing with insurance issues and plans here in the states... I can truly say that it has been a joy to "see" other people on the web who have this engagingly rare illness - although I get tired of being told to buy lottery tickets...secondary to the rarity of the disease.. yeah right!..
I have met people who have been newly Dx with Wegener's in hospitals to share that life is approachable, enjoyable and no, you will probably not die immediately... no matter what others/web sites say... I have appreciated the team effort to help people dealing ( reeling) with this Dx... and get them the appropriate care sooner... After 14 years since diagnosis... It has been interesting... As my brother states "Any day above ground is a GOOD day"... Thanks for the opportunity to read, share and add some insights...

[elephant]

I hear that alot Terri, I believe you!

[Sangye]

Terri, yay for going to PT, boo for someone sticking a shoe insert in without doing proper radiologic measurements. That small thing can wreak havoc on your body, even if it felt good at first. There is absolutely no way for them to tell if you need one or what size. They differ by millimeters! To determine it by looking for the hips to be level is like filling your car tires just by sight.

The safe way to determine if you need an insert (and what size) is to see a chiropractor. Many people will look like they have a shorter leg on one side when it's a torque in the pelvis. If you don't fix that and just prop it up, you'll do a lot of damage. I have a scoliosis that causes one leg to appear shorter. Putting an insert in my shoe makes my pelvis level. However, x-rays of my scoliosis show that an insert would worsen the rotation of the vertebrae (scoliosis is a lateral curve, which also causes vertebrae to rotate). If I wore an insert, I'd destroy my lumbar discs and cause widespread damage.

To give you an idea of how sensitive the body is to inserts: If a patient comes in with an insert that they've worn more than 6 months and you determine they don't need it, you can't just take it away. The body has adapted from head to toe--every single joint, muscle and ligament. You have to decrease the size by 1 mm a month to allow the body to adapt. Faster than that and the person could become quite ill.

I don't routinely x-ray as part of the chiropractic technique that I do, but if I were evaluating a patient for inserts I would require an x-ray.

About a month ago one of my car tires was nearly flat (someone let the air out). The tire store guys filled it up but the gauge on the hose wasn't working right so basically they were unknowingly filling it by sight. I drove to Baltimore and when I got there the whole car started to shake like it was going to explode. Honestly, I've never seen a car do that. It turned out that they inflated the tire to DOUBLE the normal. After driving 50 miles that had thrown off the all-wheel drive mechanism. Thankfully it didn't damage it. The tire looked the same as the others, even with twice as much air. Imagine if that were a body!

[Terri]

G, thanks Sangye for the info. When you compared it to the air in tires, it makes perfect sense.
He actually measured from my belly button to the end of my toes. My left was longer. I said I'm not surprised after limping around for the past 3 yrs and not putting pressure on my right leg.
I will take notes of what you said and mention it on my next visit and thanks again as always. You probably saved me future problems that I don't need.
If I'm feeling ok this weekend, hubby and I might head to Va. The Chesapeake has been calling us for some time now. Getting that need to get on the water itch....

[Terri]

P.S.
Nancy, I meant to say.....love the avatar
Is he french? LOL

[Sangye]

Yeah, the measurement will still be inaccurate if the pelvis is torqued. A prolonged limp will certainly cause a lot of issues-- pelvic torque among them.

I hope you and your hubby have a great time on the Chesapeake! You deserve some fun.

[Nancy]

"Oui" (yes) - He has a raspberry beret - but chose to go formal for the pic... : ) Actually my Mastiff would review me with full confusion and distain if I tried to take his picture like this... they are so sweet... and drool is a large part of their personality as well.

Sangye - you make so many good points... The docs that I worked with did follow up with radiologic reports and re-evaluations - but trusted specially trained therapists for initial measurement and placement.... I also agree that the other issues with scoliosis after correction is true - kind of at times, trading one problem for a whole new one... Thanks for the insight!! Many issues that I have never fully considered! The type of measurements that terri mentioned - I have Never heard of...

[Sangye]

We learned that type of measuring in chiropractic school as part of evaluating for an anatomical short leg (vs functional). There are several steps to it and it would never take the place of radiologic evaluation.

I have great respect for PTs, having spent a lot of time in it due to a knee and shoulder injury in my 20's.

[SebastianCRO]

just wanted to say hello to all of my WG friends
I'm hoping and prying for all of us every Sunday so we can all have a life we deserve..

STAY POSITIVE..

stay safe and never give up,
Sebastian

ps..
GOOO STEEELEEERS

[drz]

just wanted to say hello to all of my WG friends
I'm hoping and prying for all of us every Sunday so we can all have a life we deserve..

STAY POSITIVE..

stay safe and never give up,
Sebastian

ps..
GOOO STEEELEEERS

I like the cheeseheads. Sorry!