February 15, 2010

Hope you had a nice Valentine’s Day, yesterday. The bride and I went out on the town–a fairly unusual occurrence these days, as we like to eat at home, where we can control what we prepare, to keep our weight under control. But this time, we had a couple of gift
certificates from Christmas for a highly rated local prime steak and lobster restaurant, Del Frisco’s, reputed to be one of the best available. So, we decided to go and we went.

Everything was terrific: rich, but delicious. Drank only water and seltzer, as usual, but granted myself and my wife special dispensation for the entrees…and (dare I say it) dessert. And I did eat only half….

I love gift certificates as presents. First time I can remember in a long time that I paid only eight bucks for the entire night, including the tip for the car valet. Great inner beauty, right there. It always tastes better, somehow, when someone else is paying for it. Have you noticed that, too?

As it happens, the meal was great and we enjoyed it immensely. Wouldn’t want to do it too often, or I’d blow back up again. But an occasional indulgence is OK and good for the soul.

Between the great meal, a couple dozen red roses and a few gifts for my honey (and a few from her for me, as well) and it was a nice day all around.

On our way back, we noticed a big sign at the entrance to our gated community: “Bear Sighting.” That means, as you might expect, that one of the residents had seen a black bear (that’s the kind that are native to the area). That means that we all need to be careful not to leave garbage out doors, as that will draw them in.

Our home is located on a golf course, which is right next to a huge nature conservancy. We get regular visits from entire herds of deer, walking right through our front yards (incidentally eating all our shrubs and bushes, at a leisurly pace). Possums, raccoons, armadillos, squirrels, owls, hawks, eagles (and rarely, alligators and snakes) are the local fauna. After all, the woods is their home. We’re the invaders, if you think about it. Pretty cool, really. One of the best things about living here, in the Wekiva Springs basin.

But bears are potentially dangerous. Reminds me of my first close encounter with a big black bear. My wife used to put food out for any stray cats in the neighborhood (that didn’t already live with us). Then, one night, we heard a scratching, metallic sound. We pulled up the shades and there, sitting not three feet from us, on the front porch, separated from us only by a thin pane of glass, was a three hundred pound black bear.

He (or she…couldn’t tell which) was sitting there, like a little child, with this big metal cat food bowl held in both hands…errr…paws, licking for all he was worth with his long, pink tongue. I remember thinking his coat was beautiful and so shiny and that I could almost reach out and touch him. Of course, he could’ve reached out and touched me, too. And I have no illusions about how that would have gone.

Beautiful, yes. But very dangerous. And potentially deadly. So that was the end of feeding the outdoor critters. They’ll just have to make do without our contribution. Frustrates my wife to no end, as she gets a great deal of pleasure feeding and watching the animals.

Anyway, now I have to pay for the sins of the evening. After popping a couple of extra capsules of my ultra pure, enteric coated, pharmaceutical grade fish oil

http://www.favoriteformulas.com

which will help to balance my indulgence in red meat. It does this by acting to lower my blood triglyceride levels (one of the most reliable effects of the omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil) and lower my cholesterol (since I take all my fish oil caps with garlic–which you need to do, too, if you want it to lower cholesterol).

Then, I’ll go out to the garage, and do some specially modified Hindu Squats and some dumbbell quarter squats, again, specially modified, so that my incipient knee pain doesn’t try to make a comeback. These and other great knee pain exercises are detailed in my PAIN-FREE PROGRAM

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html

It’s a sad truth of life: ain’t no such thing as a free lunch (or dinner, as in this case). Even if it’s virtually free, dollar-wise, there’s always a price to be paid, in one coin or another. Til next time, my friend, be well. Talk to you soon.

Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and your optimal health,

Dr. Bill
 
“The Wellness Warrior”               TM

P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html

P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html

P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html

P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html

FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION

Copyright, 2010 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

February 12, 2010

The massive snow storm that has inundated the Northeast, including Washington D.C. has shut down government. The press had to tell us that, else how would we know? And, of course, the usual suspects are railing that the record snowfall and the accompanying cold are symptomatic of…wait for it…YES! Global WARMING! (snicker) Excuse me, “climate change,” a suitably elastic phrase for the increasingly desperate believers.

It does look beautiful from a distance, though. And it reminds me of the first time I met my mentor and teacher, Rod Turner, back in 1978. I had been selected as one of only two candidates chosen to be an Otto E. Aufranc Fellow in Constructive Surgery at the New England Baptist Hospital, in Boston.

This was a very big deal, as that is arguably the most prestigious fellowship available in adult joint reconstruction. This was in the winter, well before my fellowship was due to start the following July.

I was summoned to come watch Dr. Turner perform a major total hip revision surgery in Provdence Hospital in Rhode Island. He was using a new, high speed drill, that would become legendary in orthopaedic surgery, The Midas Rex. And he wanted me to see it in action, so I would be able to hit the ground running, when my fellowship actually started. He also wanted me to see it, as he knew I was an artist and he wanted me to be able to draw the technique for publication.

So, I flew into Providence, Rhode Island–right smack in the middle of a literal blizzard. We were lucky the plane was able to land. I had been given instructions where to go and how to get there. So, buttoned up against the wind driven snow and dressed to impress beneath my coat, I got into a cab and gave the driver the instructions that were given to me, to get to the hospital, where I would meet my mentor, for the first time.

After a dicey trip to the hospital, through a winter wasteland, with knee high snow, we finally arrived. I reached for my wallet, to pay the driver…and suddenly realized that I had NO MONEY and NO WALLET.

Crap.

Must have left them on my dresser at home, when I got up in the black of early morning, to shower and dress for this important trip. So, here I was, in a “foreign” state, in the middle of a blizzard, about to meet my professor for the very first time. And I was broke. Worse, I was in debt–the taxi driver needed to get paid.

Crap.

Well, I did a bit of fast talking to the driver, who agreed to wait (really, what else could he do? But still…). And I went into the O.R., where my first act, upon meeting the famous Dr. Turner, was to ask him if I could borrow five bucks to pay the driver (money went a lot further then).

Everyone in the O.R. was very amused by my predicament. Of course, I felt like a complete fool. But I didn’t see as I had any other choice, given the circumstances.

He was very good humored about it and gave me the money, which I dutifully paid to the patient driver. Only then could I come back to the O.R., get undressed, get into scrubs and watch the surgery, which I must say was fascinating. I had never seen anything like it. I was hooked from that moment.

The rest of that day was a blur. I don’t even remember how I got back to the airport, to go home. Though Dr. Turner must have driven me, as I had zero resources of my own. He turned out to be a terrific guy–very friendly, very down to earth and scary brilliant. He was the guy you want at your side, when it all hits the fan.

And over the next year, he taught me plenty, perhaps more than anyone else, about revision surgery and general excellence in Medicine and Orthopaedics. Really a one of a kind man, to whom I owe more than I can ever repay (plus five bucks).

Some years after I had left the fellowship for private practice and after several books, on which I was fortunate to be asked to participate (as both an author and an artist) with Dr. Turner and my other teachers, he was injured and fractured his arm.

He needed surgery, which naturally got some complications (this is called the V.I.P. curse–any complication that can occur, will… if the patient is a doctor) and left him disabled and unable to operate. I’ve lost track of him over the years, but truly, he was one in a million.

And now, whenever I see a massive snowstorm, like the blizzard we have now, I think of my first meeting with Rod, with great fondness and gratitude, not only for what he taught me, or his great technical knowledge and skill, but for his easy humor and his
great humanity.

Nowadays, snow looks nice, but I hate being in it. Like rain, it causes any aches and pains you have to act up. Fortunately, there are things you can do to eliminate the pain. And I outline a lot of them in my healing program, HOW TO AVOID KNEE SURGERY

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html

And of course, any arthritic pain or other inflammations can be reduced by consistent use of my ultra pure, enteric coated pharmaceutical grade, POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA

http://www.favoriteformulas.com

And if you’re NOT in great shape DO NOT shovel your driveway, yourself. Spend a few bucks and get the kid next door to do it. Otherwise, you’re likely to wrench your back, or get yourself a heart attack.

So, use common sense. Stay warm. Be well. And enjoy your weekend. As I told you, Monday should be the start of a new server for these emails. If you want to continue getting them, please go here, now, and resubscribe:

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/three-simple-secrets.html

for my email newsletter. The link will give you access to a special report on effective tips for fat loss, my gift to you, for signing up again. If you don’t, you may not get another. See you then, my friend.

Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and your optimal health,

Dr. Bill

“The Wellness Warrior”                TM

P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html

P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html

P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html

P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html

FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION

Copyright, 2010 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

February 11, 2010

Well, we’re coming up on D-Day right quick. As of February 15th, this server will be dead. So, if you enjoy my daily communiques, rants, stories and health information, you need to sign up for my NEW server.

Yes, yes. I know it’s a pain in the ass. Can’t be helped, though. I believe this is a move for the better, with superior service and email delivery.

But to help motivate you to re-subscribe, I have a bribe…err…a little gift, for you. It’s a special report on fat loss, that you can download in return for your name and email address.

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/three-simple-secrets.html

And who among us couldn’t do with a little fat loss, hmmmm? This is a report on three simple secrets that I GUARANTEE will help you lose fat, fast.

I really don’t want to lose you, as part of our extended Dr. Bill’s Clinic family. But if you don’t sign up, you won’t get any more emails from me.

So if you enjoy what I do and want it to continue, you have to do your part. Go sign up, right now, while you’re thinking about it and get my FREE special report.

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/three-simple-secrets.html

Did I mention it’s FREE? It’s my gift to you, for re-subscribing.

For my part, I’ll try to keep you entertained and informed with the latest facts and opinions for your optimal health. It’s a dangerous world out there, especially now. While there’s a lot of information on the web, you have no idea what’s true and what’s not, what’s valid research and what’s B.S.

Unless you, too, are a physician, you need some guidance and some advice. That’s what I’m here for.

If you want to get the latest methods to relieve pain, prevent disease, improve your overall health and extend your life, stick with me, my friend. Sign up NOW:

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/three-simple-secrets.html

To paraphrase Arnold, “Come with me, if you want to live…” Talk to you soon. Til then, be well.

Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and your optimal health,

Dr. Bill

“The Wellness Warrior”             TM

P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html

P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html

P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html

P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html

FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION

Copyright, 2010 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

February 10, 2010

I’ve been warning you for some time that a change
in servers for this daily email was coming. Well,
it’s nearly here.

I finally got the link for you to sign up for
my new server. If you enjoy these daily emails
and want to continue receiving this newsletter,
you must sign up and opt-in again.

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/three-simple-secrets.html

Sorry for the inconvenience, but we’ll all be
happier with the change. To induce you to act
NOW, while you’re thinking about it, I have a
FREE GIFT for you, a special report on FAT LOSS,
that you can download, just as soon as you
re-subscribe.

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/three-simple-secrets.html

As of February 15th, this server will be dead. And if
you haven’t signed up again, you will no longer
receive my emails.

So, if you enjoy my stories, commentary, opinions,
medical advice and tips for better health, and if
you want them to continue, you MUST go here NOW:

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/three-simple-secrets.html

If you don’t, they WILL stop, as of the 15th. But I
hope you will. Thanks in advance for your trouble, my
friend. Be well. I’ll talk to you soon.

Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and your optimal health,

Dr. Bill

“The Wellness Warrior”           TM

February 10, 2010

You know, I just saw an ad the other day, writen by a chiropractor, who is promoting the use of a cold laser for arthritis pain relief. He cited a two year old study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and then, MISREPRESENTED THE RESULTS, to better sell his modality.

Now, this is no slam against chiropractors. A number of them are my friends and colleagues and there’s no doubt that they help people, which is the name of the game. It IS, however, a criticism of dishonesty in advertising. Here’s what I mean.

The published study cited compared WOMAC scores (a standard statistical device for comparing clinical results of arthritis treatments) between two comparable groups. One group was treated with arthroscopic surgery (ie., debridement, or “housecleaning”), followed by medication and physical therapy.

The other group was treated only with medication and Physical Therapy. It was found after two years that there was no appreciable difference between the two groups (based on their comparative WOMAC scores). The conclusion was that there was no demonstrable clinical benefit from the arthroscopic knee surgery, when done for arthritis.

So this was the study referenced by the good doctor. But, after correctly summarizing the study’s conclusion, this doc then went further, to say this: “Once again, this study proves what conservative doctors have known all along. Non-invasive treatments are the solution to osteoarthritis knee pain.”

No. Sorry. First, that is NOT what the study proved. Second, that statement is patently absurd.

Invasive treatments, meaning ALL forms of surgery, but ALSO, strictly speaking, even injections into or around the affected arthritic joint, each have their place. You just can’t make a blanket statement that ALL non-invasive treatments alone are THE solution. It’s simply not true.

Every case is an individual situation. And no single treatment is applicable, or effective in all cases.

Look, even when I was doing joint surgery nearly every day, I encouraged people who DIDN’T need surgery to wait, try some of the many conservative treatments, from all across the medical spectrum, conventional, alternative, or some combination of the two (complementary).

Nonoperative treatments CAN be helpful and ARE effective for many cases of mild, moderate and even some severe cases of osteoarthritis.

But in other cases– where there is bone-on-bone, meaning that the underlying subchondral bone is completely exposed, by erosion of the protective cartilage layer, or even worse, cases where the bone itself has begun to wear away from friction, resulting in progressive deformities– surgery is the ONLY solution.

In these latter cases, surgery IS necessary. And frankly, treating these advanced cases with only non-invasive treatments is like pi$$ing in the wind–the results are likely to be… unfortunate. In some instances, this would be frank malpractice.

What you want is to avoid the UNNECESSARY SURGERY.

That’s why I put all the very best treatments, including the cold laser, into my newest healing program for knee pain, HOW TO AVOID KNEE SURGERY:

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html

And now, as a perfect complement to that course, I’ve released my newest healing compound, DR. BILL’S JOINT HEALTH FORMULA:

http://www.favoriteformulas.com/jointhealth

This is a wonderful amalgam of the best ingredients available for the relief of the pain of arthritis, including a secret oil from New Zealand, that dramatically reduces symptoms of pain and stiffness. Taken in conjunction with my ultra pure, enteric coated, pharmaceutical grade fish oil, POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA

http://www.favoriteformulas.com

and you have a powerful combination for arthritis pain relief, that may well delay, or even eliminate any potential joint surgery. The point, though, is that you must be wary of any claims you read on the internet. Just because it’s written doesn’t mean it’s true.

Well, any time now, you’ll be getting the instructions for the big switch to another provider for this newsletter. Remember, if you want to keep receiving this daily email, you MUST re-subscribe. Otherwise, they will simply stop. I’m hoping that you find some value in this and that you’ll follow me to the new service. But, as always, the choice is yours.

Til next time, my friend, be well. Talk to you soon.

Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and optimal health,

Dr. Bill

P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html

P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html

P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html

P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html

FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION

Copyright, 2010 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

February 9, 2010

Whether you’re an aging athlete, a weekend warrior, or an aging Boomer (like me) painful joints and arthritis can make life a misery. I spent nearly a quarter century fighting the ravages of arthritis as an orthopaedic surgical specialist. And, I have arthritis myself, in my previously fractured spine and in my knees. So I know EXACTLY what you’re feeling and EXACTLY what you need.

Since I first started Dr. Bill’s Clinic, I’ve been trying to help you get relief from joint pain, especially of knee pain, with many varied treatments, tips, pharmaceutical grade fish oil, supplements and specially modified knee pain exercises, which can keep you OUT of the operating room:

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html

I’ve given you many tips to relieve joint pain, like losing weight, avoiding running and other impact activities, applying moist heat, low impact exercise, and avoiding red meat.

But now, for the very first time, after a year of discovery and rejection of various promising compounds, I have finally got THE special compound that goes right to the source of the joint pain–ARTHRITIS–to provide joint pain relief.

AND, it is the perfect complement to the natural anti-inflammatory properties of my ultra pure, pharmaceutical grade fish oil, POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA:

http://www.favoriteformulas.com

Take them BOTH, for a “double whammy” to your painful, swollen, arthritic joints. They can relieve your pain, restore your function and may keep you from needing arthritis medication, with side effects that can include reflux (heartburn), gastritis, ulcers and
even G.I. bleeding).

But even if you are already on prescription strength medication, this combination can help to further reduce your joint pain and maybe even reduce your dependency on drugs (and their adverse side effects), or pain pills.

So, here it is. As I promised yesterday, this is the link for my brand-new JOINT HEALTH FORMULA:

http://www.favoriteformulas.com/jointhealth

This special formula contains a rare healing oil from New Zealand, shown to REDUCE ARTHRITIS PAIN by 67%, as well as a number of other natural ingredients that help to “plump up” your cartilage, restore the water and “cushioning” to your joints, and increase your mobility, without pain:

http://www.favoriteformulas.com/jointhealth

This link will take you to a webpage that will tell you how you can get this amazing new formula, specifically what it does and what you can expect.

It also reveals 3 myths and facts on eliminating the pain of arthritis.

So, if you have joint pain, or know you have arthritis, this is the real deal! Get arthritis pain relief, without drugs or surgery! Go here NOW, while the first batch is still available:

http://www.favoriteformulas.com/jointhealth

Give it a try. I know you’ll be glad you did. And, let’s face it, you have nothing to lose but your pain. That’s it for today, my friend. Have a great weekend, enjoy the Superbowl and be well!

Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and optimum joint health,

Dr. Bill

“The Wellness Warrior”          TM

P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html

P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html

P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html

P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html

FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION

Copyright, 2010 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

February 8, 2010

Well, Superbowl XLIV (or 44, which reminds us why Roman numerals were discarded) turned out to be a real contest. And a real surprise. My wife and I surely had a lot of company thinking that Manning’s Indianapolis Colts were going to mop the floor with Brees’ New Orleans Saints. And as the game started out, it looked as though that would be the story.

One of the more exciting moments was in the very first quarter, when Manning handed off the ball to Joesph Addai, number 29, who ran down the field for a touchdown. It just doesn’t get more exciting than that! But then, the tide slowly turned.

Manning’s passes were incomplete. Several calls by the referees were against the Colts, which made a huge difference in the outcome. And the underdogs from New Orleans, on their first showing in franchise history, The Saints went marchin’ in…to Superbowl History, as the 2010 NFL champions.

It had to be a bitter pill for the Colts, favored to win by nearly everyone. They never stopped trying. But finally, they just couldn’t catch up. And the Saints won it 31 to 17, when the smoke cleared.

Congratulations to Drew Brees, winning quarterback and MVP, and his team. They pulled it off! And the fans on Bourbon Street went wild (not that they don’t go wild, normally…).

The halftime show by The Who was pretty spectacular, visually, with lots of lasers, synchronized fireworks, and other great visual effects. The songs were a medley of their past hits and reminded us of what a great band they used to be. But Roger Daltrey couldn’t hit the high notes to “Pinball Wizard” and several other signature numbers. It was almost painful to listen.

It was a performance that reminded me of lines from that old Kenny Roger’s song “The Gambler:” …You gotta know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away….” But, that’s just my opinion.

On a positive note, there were no “wardrobe malfunctions,” for which we can all be thankful.

One thing I noted again and again, while watching the game: the punishment these men take in the course of a hard fought game is astounding. You can especially appreciate it on those slow motion replays, when you can see the enormous impacts they absorb and the awful, twisting forces that threaten to rip their knees apart (and sometimes do).

The only thing that saves them from permanent injury every time they’re hit (besides luck) is relative youth and pre-season training, using many of the very same exercises I teach in my newly expanded PAIN-FREE PROGRAM and the included EXERCISE DVD:

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html

It does make you realize why their careers are usually short, though. No one can continue to absorb that much punishment, without long term consequences. Makes you appreciate a guy like Favre, dosen’t it?

And then, there were the commercials. Dorritos was a big sponsor this year. And, in my opinion, the nadir of taste was their bit with the guy in the coffin with all the Dorritos chips, at a funeral. Maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t think that was funny. It was just dumb.

But a few were cute. I liked the Clydesdale and the Bull commercial by Budweiser. And the sexy babes of GoDaddy.com are always pleasant on the eyes. Again, probably me, but overall, I just thought the advertisements this year were tepid, compared with those of past years. And they cost a reported million bucks a minute, too.

So, Superbowl 44 is history, now. Time to get on with everything else. I’m gonna pop a couple of my ultra pure, pharmaceutical grade fish oil caps 

http://www.favoriteformulas.com

take the rest of my vitamins and get my exercises in. Then, I have to finish a special gift for you, which you can download, IF you sign up for my emails again, later this week.

The time has nearly come for the switch to the new server. So, be prepared. And if you want to keep getting my musings, ravings, commentary and free medical info, opt-in again, when you get the notice. Til next time, my friend, be well. Talk with you soon.

Yours for a pain-free tomorrow,

Dr. Bill

“The Wellness Warrior”             TM

P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html

P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html

P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html

P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html

FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION

Copyright, 2010 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

February 4, 2010

It’s almost here, my friend. Tomorrow, after a year of examining formulas and refining various ingredients, I’m finally ready. I’m releasing my newest healing formula–one designed to help you get rid of the chronic pain and disability of arthritis.

This formula contains a rare healing oil from New Zealand, shown to reduce arthritis pain by 67%, as well as a number of other ingredients that have been shown to help plump up your cartilage, restore the “cushioning” of your joints and increase your mobility, reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

And it’s all natural, too. No foreign molecules, no dreadful clinical side effects. Just healing compounds to help your aging, aching joints.

So get ready, get set…I’ll be back tomorrow, with this new healing formula and tell you where and how you can get it.

Yours for a pain-free tomorrow,

Dr. Bill

“The Wellness Warrior”           TM
 

February 3, 2010

It’s been raining on and off for the past two days, here in “sunny” Orlando. “Whyever do they call this the “Sunshine State?” With all this moisture in the air, I can tell you that everyone with a degenerative condition anywhere has been feeling it.

Damp or rainy weather is always accompanied by a fall in barometric pressure. The further the fall, the worse the weather. Remember all those “falling barometer” readings they cite, when reporting on hurricanes? Same idea.

As it happens, your body also has a barometer of sorts. Any injuries, accidental (like bruises, fractures, tendinitis, or degenerative joint disease) or deliberate (like my recent surgical site) will feel much worse in bad weather, because of special nerve endings in the soft tissues around the sites of injury.

These nerve endings are called baroreceptors and they respond to flucuations in the atmospheric (barometric) pressure. So it’s not an old wives’ tale that your achey joints are worse before a storm–it’s true.

Besides my herniorrhaphy, which is otherwise healing pretty well, my knees (one of which I KNOW has some arthritic changes, documented during the arthroscopic surgery on Tax Day, 2005) and my back (previously fractured in mid 2001) are all wailing, in response to the dampness. Of course, I keep the edge off by taking my pharmaceutical grade fish oil, DR. BILL’S POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA:

http://www.favoriteformulas.com

The omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to have real and fairly potent anti-inflammatory properties, in many medical studies, comparable to OTC NSAID medcations, but without the side effects (like gastritis, reflux, ulcers and GI bleeding). But though they can blunt the edge of that inflammatory component of pain, they can’t do much about the deterioration of the cartilage in the arthritic joints themselves.

Even the great knee pain exercises I teach in my newly revised and expanded PAIN-FREE PROGRAM & DVD 

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html

although they can help tremendously, by strengthening the supporting muscles and improving dynamic joint stability, don’t address the real root of the problem: destruction of the joint surfaces, with ultimate exposure of the underlying bone. That’s what degenerative joint disease, also called osteoarthritis, or just plain ol’ arthritis, is–progressive destruction of the bearing surfaces of the joints.

And few things are as deeply, boringly, agonizingly painful.

Arthritis, of one sort or another, is the “Boomers’ Bane.” Those of us who belong to that demographic are just beginning to find out, first hand, what that really means. It ain’t much fun and that’s for sure.

If only there were some kind of “magic pill” that you could take, that could relieve that awful pain, restore mobility and slow the progression of the cartilage destruction. A compound that could stop arthritis in its tracks and might slow, symptomatically reverse,
and, in some cases, even eliminate or delay the need for joint replacement surgery, perhaps indefinitely.

Wouldn’t that be great? I mean, it could completely transform your life! And what would such a thing be worth to you?

Well, you won’t need to wonder much longer. Tomorrow, I’ll be sending you a very short email, telling you to look out for a great new development from Dr. Bill’s Favorite Formulas. It’s the answer to your prayers. And it’s almost ready for release.

So keep your eyes peeled for my email tomorrow. It will be announcing a brand new formula for arthritis relief. Just be patient for a couple of days more. It WILL be worth the wait. You won’t be sorry, my friend. Until then, be well.

Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and your optimal health,

Dr. Bill

“The Wellness Warrior”                TM

P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html

P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html

P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html

P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html

FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION

Copyright, 2010 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

February 2, 2010

As I mentioned yesterday, we had a couple of dinner guests from Italy, last night. And, though I’ve told you about his son’s upcoming arthroscopic surgery for a torn lateral meniscus, there was more. The father, Mario, himself had another issue.
 
It never ceases to amaze me that nearly everyone I meet has some orthopaedic problem or other. I suppose, given my age and that of the people I tend to meet, that I shouldn’t be surprised. Most of us are Boomers, who are deep into middle age and developing a myriad of aches, joint pains and various problems. This was no exception.
 
I had noticed that he moved his right arm and shoulder a lot like Senator John McCain. Naturally, though I noticed this, I didn’t bring it up, until he did.
 
He happened to mention that he has ongoing stiffness and pain in that shoulder. And he can’t elevate it above his head. Even the attempt gives him pain.
 
At his request, I did a little “curbside consult” and examined him. He had a significant deformity in his right clavicle (collar bone), when you felt it. It didn’t show, from the outside, but it clearly zig-zagged and was different from the other side.
 
Seems he had a motor vehicle acident many years ago. He had a shoulder injury, but did not have any treatment. This, in a country that has one of those “National Health Plans” that certain elements are determined to foist off on us, here.
 
Feeling around and doing a cursory shoulder exam, it was apparent to me that he had had a malunited clavicle fracture in that MVA. It had healed in that zig-zag position. But he was most tender at its outer end, where the clavicle joints the socket of the acromion process of the shoulder blade (scapula). Not only that, but the end of his clavicle was both tender (indicating arthritis of the AC joint)AND it was “sprung” a bit–meaning that it could be pushed down and it would move. This means that he also had partial rupture of the ligaments that secure the clavicle to the AC joint, what we call an AC Separation (probably grade I).
 
On the other end of the clavicle, there was a prominent lump at the upper end of his sternum (“breast bone”), where the clavicle joined it. So this guy had really screwed up his collar bone, its joints on both ends and we hadn’t even gotten to his shoulder joint, itself. 
 
At this stage of the game, the damage is long done. This should have been set properly and immobilized at the time of the injury. Now, all that can be done is to try various things to reduce inflammation, like taking my ultra pure, pharmaceutical grade fish oil,   DR. BILL’S POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA
 
http://www.favoriteformulas.com 

It’s well known that omega 3 fatty acids have proven anti-inflammatory effects, in addition to their heart and brain healthy properties, and their ability to “thin” the blood, lower triglycerides and reduce arterial plaque formation.
 
But his story points out how important it is to get the right treatment, in a timely fashion. And all this might have been avoided had he gotten the appropriate treatment at the time of the injury. That doesn’t mean surgery, either. In this instance, the conservative treatment of setting the clavicle fracture and splinting it with a figure-of-eight strap is the usual initial management. Would have saved him a bunch of trouble today.
 
Same thing with other joints, as well. Knee pain is best managed with conservative, non-operative measures, at least initially. And those treatments can be alternative, not just conventional. What matters is that whatever you do, it work to give you fast relief. That’s what I present in my newest healing program, HOW TO AVOID KNEE SURGERY
 
http://www.drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
Thing is, these measures are not only effective, but they don’t “burn any bridges,” meaning that if they fail to give you needed relief, you can always get more aggressive, or even surgical treatment, later.
 
It just makes sense to start with milder, less invasive treatment first (with a few exceptions, like open fractures, a locked knee, a fully dislocated knee, or a fulminant infection in the knee, among others). It’s like climbing a ladder–you start at the bottom rung and work your way up, a step at a time. Milder treatments first and move on up to more and more aggressive measures, as needed. 
 
But for heaven’s sake, don’t ever ignore an injury. Get treated! Or you’ll end up like my new Italian friend, a long time regretting it.

Til next time, my friend, be well.
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and your optimal health,
 
Dr. Bill
 
“The Wellness Warrior”         TM

P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html 
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2010 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved