HEALTH

JOCK DOC

Don't wait to fix bone fractures

Q: I fell while skate:boarding, and X-rays showed I broke my wrist. A surgeon told me that it was a bad break of the end of the radius that extended into the joint and would require sur­ gery. I read that

these fractures can be treated with­ out surgery. What should I do?

A: If a fractured or "broken" bone is out of place and it extends into the joint surface, the bone needs to be restored to its normal anatomic alignment. This is impor­ tant in enabling the patient to achieve a more normal range of motion as well as decrease the risk of significant arthritic change as YOl-! get older.

There are different methods of fixing these kinds of fractures, so if you are concerned, get a second opinion. However, the longer you wait the more difficult it is to fix many of these fractures.

Q: I am volleyball coach and I have pain below my knee cap. It bothers me most when spiking a ball and jumping. What should I do?

DR. HARLAN SELESNICK

jockdoc69 @aoLcom

APFILE

BAD BREAK: A reader's skateboarding fracture could require ·surgery.

A: See your team physician or an orthopedic surgeon. Your most likely diagnosis is jumper's knee, which results in pain and inflamma­ tion at the origin of the kneecap tendon. The kneecap tendon is under extraordinary forces caused by four large quadriceps muscles that attach to the kneecap and put stress at the origin of the kneecap

tendon. Most of the time this responds very well to exercises aimed at improving your fle<eibility as well as a pain-free quadriceps strengthening program.

Dr. Harlan Selesnick is the Miami Heat physician. Write to him at jock­ doc69@aol.com or c/o Health, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami FL 33132.

DOCTORG

Frequent infections require doctor's visit

Q: I almost

always get urinary tract infections .. Could there be some­thing wrong?

A: Urinary tract

DR. MARC infections (UTI) are
GITTELMAN ost common in

drmarcglttelman younger women

@yahoo.cor:n and postmeno-

pausal women, and an uncomplicated bladder infection once a year is no cause for alarm. When women begin to have ;nore frequent infections a medical evalu­ ation may be needed. For men, even one urinary tract infection should require a trip to your physician.

Signs of a urinary infection include burning durmg urination, severe frequency 'of urination, a

sense of bladder pressure and the hour of sexual activity to 'help feeling that the bladder just won't decrease the risk of a urinary infec­ empty completely. For some tion. Postmenopausal women lose women these symptoms can be some of their protection against severe and even disabling, with infections when their estrogen lev­ severe cases causing blood in the els decrease. Sometimes the use of a urine and fever. A high fever and simple topical estrogen cream can associated back pain is considered a be helpful to prevent infections for medical emergency because these these women.

may be signs of a kidney infection. A condition called cystitis can

Treatment of UTIs is quite sim- mimic urinary infections, causing pIe. Your clinician is likely to pre- women to feel bladder irritation scribe a three- to five-day course of despite their urine remaining clean. antibiotics and often a medication I will talk about this in a later col­ to ease off the urinary irritation. umn, but evaluation by your physi-

Infections in younger women are cian is well wo~thwhile.

often due to sexual activity. Preven- Dr. Marc Gittelman is a board­ tive steps include good hygiene, certified urologist. Write to him at vo~ding ~ter.sex, and y.our clinician DrMarcGittelman@yahoo.com.or may-eoDsider the-use of a low dose . c/o Health; 1 HeraJd:Plaza, Miami ,

"propliyIactic" antibiotic, within an, FL33132. " .• ,'.

 

LET'S TALK

Teach children how to react to strangers

Q: I don't like the fact I'm becoming a fearful par­ ent, but stories about sex­ ual predators concern f'(le. I have an 71-year-old daugh-

DR. ANDREA CORN

compsyd

 

@bellsouth.net

and naive.

A: Despite all the disturbing stories in the news, the likelihood of such a terrible event occurring is statistically small. Still, that doesn't alleviate a parent's anxiety. Certainly, society's perception of such inci­ dents has grown as the media has raised awareness about child predators.

Every child's emotional maturation is different, so no matter if your pre-teens or tweens display an attitude suggesting they know what to do, it still is wise to educate them with age appropriate information so they remain ·safe. Even if your tweens think you are overreacting, they don't have the life experience or wisdom to take into account the seriousness of this subject. Since it is unrealistic for children to avoid strangers, it is better to teach them the skills to appropriately interact and react:

• Teach healthy skepticism. Some- ­ times nice gestures actually hide malevo­ lent intent. Child molesters will not initially act menacing or frightening. Rather they will be superficially charming to verbally seduce and trick a child into obeying them. Help your tweens by engagi.ng in role play­ ing exercises (beginning with non intrusive ones, then simulated stories that could have life-threatening outcomes.) For instance, what would your child do if a stranger offered a free puppy or cash reward in exchange for helping to search for his wife's lost purse?

•. Teach them to keep a comfortable distance to create safe personal space.

• There is safety in numbers. so out­ ings, such as going to the movies, the park or the mall should occur with friends as well as adult supervision.

• Teach them to trust their instincts, to pay attention to internal cues and not to disregard any warning signs.

Tl'lere IS mUCh information available online, in libraries and at schools, By dis­ cussing this together you can foster feel­ ings of safety. Knowledge is power, so educating your tweens should decrease your discomfort and empower them.

Dr. Andrea Corn is a licensed psycholo­ . gist'in tigh'thoLfse Point.' Write to her ~t .