Aging complicates sport-related injuries

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am an active 80-year-old female in good health. I’m writing about an injury to my left knee that occurred in December 2007 while dancing. In the same month, I fell down while bowling, injuring both my knee and back. The doctors diagnosed me with spinal stenosis and damaged cartilage of the knee.

I’ve since had chiropractic treatments and massage therapy but am unable to continue due to financial difficulties. I saw an orthopedic surgeon but to my dismay, he didn’t refer me for any treatment. Instead, he administered a cortisone shot and asked that I return for a follow-up visit in three months. Follow-up visits were disappointing as he did not even try to refer me for therapy or anything beneficial to my injury.

I took it upon myself to work my knee muscles and provided self-therapy. I’m finally walking a little better, but I still cannot fully bend it. Without having to undergo surgery, is there a sports kinesiologist similar to those who care for professional athletes you can refer me to? Would that be outside my insurance benefits?

DEAR READER: I recommend that you see your primary-care physician and orthopedic specialist to obtain some answers. In a sense of the word, you must know the rules of the game before you can start to play. Perhaps they will both indicate that you have improved as much as you can, that you have arthritis, disc degeneration or other condition(s) that affect many people as they age. If that is the case, there are self-help steps you can take. If not, consider physical therapy, hydrotherapy, yoga, weight loss, pain medication and/or ice/heat for relief. You don’t indicate if you have taken any medication other than the cortisone injections that were somewhat ineffective. Is a trial medication an appropriate first step? Once you receive answers and know your limitations, ask for an appropriate referral, perhaps to a sports-medicine specialist who would be covered under your insurance.

On the home front, your local hospital or health center should have a physical-therapy department with qualified individuals to work with you. A local community center might have yoga instruction and a swimming pool with trained personnel in hydrotherapy. Even if the services are not covered by Medicare or other insurance, these programs should be affordable for seniors.

To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Managing Chronic Pain.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com.

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am sure my question has been asked many times but somehow I missed it, even though I read your column each day.

How does one multivitamin/mineral tablet taken daily with more than 30 supplements get into one tablet, especially with different ingredients?

DEAR READER: Great question and observation. Vitamins and minerals are essential for good health, yet the body requires only small amounts of most of them. A healthful diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables can provide most of our collective needs.

Supplements contain intense concentrations of each in varying degrees that are compressed into small tablets or gel capsules. Beyond that, I guess maybe the process is one of the mysteries of all time.