January 27, 2010

Really reaching back through the dim mists of time for this one, today. We’ve been toying with the idea of getting another large flat screen TV for the bedroom wall. Originally thought about doing this for Christmas, as a gift to ourselves, but budget constraints and other expenses put the kibosh on that.
 
While considering this, with all the pre-Super Bowl sales going on, I had occasion to think of the many TV’s we have and those we’ve had in the past. Now, I don’t use the TV continually. I read quite a bit, too. But I tend to get most of my news from the TV, I enjoy the news analysis and opinion shows and I’m a sucker for a classic movie–hooks me right in.
 
(Have you ever noticed that even if you OWN the movie, on a DVD or tape, you just HAVE to see it, if it comes on TV? Or is that just me?)
 
Anyway, this all caused me to reflect on my very first TV, back in the 50′s. Now, I realize that you, like many others, may not have been alive then. And it may be difficult for you to imagine a world without a color TV somewhere in it. But the first TV’s were black and white. 
 
Ours was a big console, a real piece of wooden furniture, with this rounded greenish, cream colored screen, maybe 13 inches wide or so. It had rounded corners and a curved front and a few very basic controls. My Dad always tried to provide the best for his family, so we were the first on our block to get one, or so I recall.
 
I remember the day it arrived, in this gigantic cardboard box. It was quite the event. My mother, me and I think, one of my friends(though I don’t remember who) were there for the unwrapping. The delivery guys lifted the big wooden console out and placed it against the wall in our living room. This was in the semi-attached house on 88th Street in Brooklyn, between 3rd and 4th Avenues, so the neighbors were all agog at this development, on display.
 
I DO remember playing with the box, crawling around inside and playing hide and seek. I had no idea that I should have been interested in the screen. Had no idea what it was. Never saw one before. Didn’t take long to find out, though.
 
Although they came with rabbit ear antennae at that time, my father had sprung for a real antenna, for installation on the roof, to improve reception. It didn’t take long for me to see the potential. I had a number of favorite shows: Howdy Doody with Buffalo Bob(and Clarabell the clown, Flubbadub, Mr. Bluster, Indian Princess Summer-Fall-Winter-Spring, Chief Thunderthud and the rest of the gang), The Lone Ranger (stirring strains of the William Tell Overture, and the sonorous tones of the announcer: “Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear…the Lone Ranger rides again…”), Captain Midnight (sponsored by Ovaltine–I never DID like that stuff, but I loved the show), and perhaps my favorite, “Winky Dink and You.”
 
This last was an early educational show for kids. Winky Dink was what we’d call today a virtual character: he was this animated guy, with a big, five-pointed star for a head. Winky dink would give you hints about the object that was developing in front of you, as dots on the TV screen. 
 
You were supposed to apply a special orange plastic film to your TV screen, so you could draw on it and connect the dots, to make the picture. Very clever, interactive idea to educate kids and get them involved. Only, we didn’t have the special screen. So, seeing no real impediment to connecting the dots, I drew directly on the actual TV screen, with a grease crayon.
 
Mom nearly had a stroke! I remember her scrubbing that crayon off the family treasure. I was in bad odor for a while (though she never could stay mad at me for long). I also loved “Captain Video and his Video Rangers” (beloved of Ed Norton, on the Jackie Gleason classic, “The Honeymooners”), “Tom Corbett, Space Cadet” and many others. All in black and white, all primitive by today’s standards, but a whole world of imagination, right in our living room. 
 
It’s different today. Five year old kids are more facile with computer screens and iPhones than I am. Ah well. We are each a product of our respective Age, aren’t we? Today, many of us have a TV in every room, some so large that they rival the movie experience, images so crisp and defined in living color that they seem to include us in the action on the screen. That’s progress….
 
Yet, in many ways I was just as happy with my big cardboard box and my imagination, too innocent to know that the TV itself was the key to many worlds of wonder. It was a different world then (Alert! Sure sign of advancing age…).
 
Same thing with Medicine in that time. Mostly, it was GP’s, General Practicioners (Family Practicioners in today’s parlance). Specialists, like surgeons were relatively uncommon and the GP’s actually DID surgery, set bones, you name it. Primitive by today’s scientific standards, but warm and comforting, too.
 
In those days, many home remedies were used side-by-side with the latest advances in medical science. The Family doctor knew that many of these remedies worked, so they were an accepted adjunct to treatment. When Big Pharma became Big Pharma, however, all that changed. Like priests of sacred secrets, who do not wish to share their monopoly with the laity, many of today’s doctors view alternative, home remedies with contempt, citing the lack of double blind, controlled studies. Yet, many of these simple remedies WORK.
 
Take fish oil, for example. Literally thousands of well designed studies have shown that the omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil have tremendous potential for healing and for preventing heart attacks, lowering blood pressure, slowing (or even reversing) arterial plaque, lowering triglycerides and (with garlic) lowering cholesterol, and even combatting the pain of arthritis, on account of its potent  anti-inflammatory properties. All this, and virtually NO serious side effects (something you CAN’T say about many drugs, including Advil and Aleve).
 
Yet many conventional physicians STILL don’t fully recognize the healing potential of these natural remedies. Lucky for you, you have ME. And my POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA http://www.favoriteformulas.com  Used with a healthy diet, sensible habits and daily exercise, like my PAIN-FREE PROGRAM & DVD  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html  it can not only help you optimize your health, but help extend you life, as well. Regarding supplements, alternative and natural remedies, in many cases, it’s “Back To The Future,” using the best of them, in conjunction with the latest cutting edge medical technologies, to give you the best chance of being your very best.
 
Well, that’s it for today, my friend. If you haven’t done so, please go by and sign up for my Podcasts and Video Podcasts at iTunes or http://thewellnesswarrior.mypodcastworld.com   Til next time, 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

January 28, 2010

Just finished hearing President Obama’s first offical State of the Union speech before a joint session of Congress, last night. Also listened to the Republican response by Governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia, from the Virginia State House, in Richmond. And I just finished reading some comments about the speech, left by some of our fellow citizens on MSNBC. Truly incredible (and frightening, in that these imbeciles probably vote).
 
If you ever want to feel much smarter than you probably are, just read some of what passes for political commentary by the public: Long on passion, short on facts and sense. They were in fine fettle today, I can tell you that!
 
Well, if you’re expecting me to tear The One a new one, sorry. Not my job. Instead, I will share a few of my observations on specific points that stuck out in my mind, during the speech. Make of them what you will.
 
Overall, the tone of the speech was somewhat defiant, in the face of the very obvious public message delivered in the loss of Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat (held for over 40 years) to Scott Brown, a Republican who rode independent displeasure with the Administration’s policies, especially on Health Care, to a win in last week’s special election. It was also somewhat pedagogic–he was actually lecturing and several times, sounded like he was scolding.
 
That’s the thing about this guy–he sounds perfectly reasonable when he’s delivering a speech. But then you see how he executes what he says, or IF he does. And that does not often compute with the facts. 
 
First, there he goes again…blaming Bush. It’s been a year. He knew coming in that this was the situation. I will NOT defend Bush’s record on spending; it’s indefensible. However, I will observe that quadrupling the deficit is probably NOT the most fiscally sound move that Obama could make. But his constant whining about Bush causing all this is unseemly and as often as he’s used this ploy, it’s wearing mighty thin….
 
He is taking credit for such recovery signs as are currently evident and attributing this to his Stimulus Package (even though the bulk of the money has STILL not been spent). He says now that his number one priority is JOBS and proposed a new jobs bill. Yet, he intends to impose a tax on “Big Banks,” which will further inhibit lending by said banks, which, as a result, will also inhibit small businesses from hiring new workers. 
 
But, on a positive note, he proposed eliminating capital gains taxes and tax credits for small businesses. He is still sticking by Cap and Trade legislation, even though that’s been proclaimed DOA and is deeply unpopular, based as it is on phony “climate change” assumptions.
 
On Energy, he called for new nuclear power plants, clean coal technology, biofuels, and…be still my beating heart…offshore drilling of new oil and gas reserves. Terrific. Only…does he mean it and can we believe him? That’s not cynicism. Based on past performance, that’s a reasonable question.
 
And, completely ignoring or willfully misreading the message sent by the election of Scott Brown, and the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey, he STILL wants to pass some kind of Health Care Insurance Reform. He SAYS he thinks it’s because he hasn’t explained it enough to the American people. This, from a guy who spends more time on TV than in the Oval Office. Amazing.
 
News flash to the President: Sir, it is BECAUSE they understand it all too well that the public has rejected this monstrosity. And they don’t want it.
 
Again with the straw man argument that if you’re against this Health Care Reform plan, you’re FOR the status quo. Again with the litany of claims that you can keep your own doctor or plan (you can’t), that it will reduce costs (it can’t; it won’t), it will reduce the deficit by over one trillion over the next two decades (a mathematical impossibility) and a few true claims: it WILL cover pre- existing conditions, and prevent care from being denied when you’re sick. He never mentioned the QUALITY of care, or the possiblity of rationing, which is my biggest worry.
 
And then, the completely disingenuous claim that if anyone has a better idea, let him know. He wants to know. Please. There was virtually NO outreach to the minority party. They deliberately kept the Republicans out of the deliberations and shot down any of their more reasonable ideas, like: Buying insurance policies over state lines; Requiring coverage for pre-existing conditions; True tort reform; Medical Savings Accounts.
 
So, it’s not dead yet. Given that, my advice is that you protect yourself now, by getting in shape and staying that way. Lose weight. Watch your diet. Get started on my pharmaceutical grade fish oil  http://www.favoriteformulas.com  which will reduce your risks of heart attacks and strokes, lower blood pressure, reduce joint pain and inflammation and lower triglycerides and (with garlic)cholesterol.
 
Daily exercise is crucial and the closest thing we have to a true “Fountain of Youth.” I’d recommend my PAIN-FREE PROGRAM & DVD:  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html   together with a walking program, to help you control weight, reduce insulin resistance and boost immunity. It will also help to prevent or eliminate knee pain, if that’s an issue for you.
 
He then moved on and proposed a spending freeze, of all discretionary government spending (except for the military, Medicare, Medicaid) to begin in 2011 (after first raising the spending by 24% just this year, thereby locking those increases in place). And he reiterated his proposal for increased income taxes for citizens earning over $250,000.
 
And, as a sop to his left-wing base, he called for legislation to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy of Bill Clinton, to allow gays to serve openly in the military. All the problems we have and THIS is what he’s worried about. I feel safer now…
 
But my favorite moment was his ringing call to arms…eh…sanctions for Iran and North Korea and improved security against terrorists. The cameras then cut to Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, who sat there wide-eyed and looked like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. I’ll bet the mullahs are just $hitting themselves in fear….Oy!
 
He closed with an invocation of the American character: “In the end, it’s our ideals and our values that built America.” How I wish I could believe that HE believed that. But his every action belies that statement.
 
So, this speech was, in my opinion, redux, not reset. Many had predicted that he would press reset on his agenda, listen to the electorate and swing to the Center, like Bill Clinton did. But this guy is a true man of the left, not a pragmatic centrist like Clinton. He’s a true believer. So I don’t see him doing that. Instead, he’s doubling down. “I don’t quit,” he said. God help us all. 
 
The Republican response was the best in recent memory. The key points? We should restore the proper role of government and not increase taxes and litigation. Create energy jobs and lower energy prices. And, in a reference to the Christmas Crotch Bomber fiasco, we should use our dollars to defeat terrorists, not defend them. Pretty good stuff.

Well, November is coming…take solace in that. If Obama doesn’t get it now, maybe he’ll get it then. 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

January 26, 2010

I got an email from a friend of mine, about someone with a peculiar hip pain. Seems this guy had a sudden onset of a popping over the outer aspect of his hip, when he twisted. This was accompanied by pain down the back of his thigh. Naturally, he was concerned. So my friend asked me what I thought.
 
Well, y’know, there are always a number of conditions that can cause a similar pattern of symptoms. But it’s an old, but true saying popular in medical circles: “When you hear hoofbeats, don’t think of zebras.” Meaning, of course, that the most common cause is usually the answer.
 
In this case, the guy probably had an acute onset of ITB (iliotibial band) tendinitis. The ITB is a thick, wide fibrous band that runs down the side of the leg, like a wide tuxedo stripe, from the pelvis and the abductor muscles at the side of the hip, overlying that lump of bone that you probably call your “hip bone,” and I call the greater trochanter.
 
If this band was injured, or irritated, perhaps by a minor bump, now forgotten, that minor injury might have been sufficient to provoke the cell-mediated, delayed inflammation I spoke about yesterday. Then, the tissues can become swollen and thicker than normal, causing the band to impinge on the underlying lump of bone (which is all “trochanter” really means). Any twisting or torsional movement would then cause the band to snap or pop over the trochanter, like plucking a banjo string.
 
The resultant pain would follow the path of the anatomy, down the side of the leg. Not uncommonly, its back edge is the most tender, hence the pain “down the back of the leg.” This can sometimes mimic sciatica, though that is usually NOT accompanied by sound effects, nor is it provoked by twisting motions at the hip. And true sciatica is often a severe, burning pain, often accompanied by numbness, or muscular weakness, or even reduced or absent reflexes in the distribution of specific nerve root(s). From the description, this man had something quite diffferent.
 
And this particular condition (ITB Tendinitis) can be double trouble, as well. Wherever the pain starts, it can also cause pain at its other end, where it crosses the outer aspect of the knee joint, to insert on the small bump of bone at the outer, upper tibia (shin bone), called Gerde’s Tubercle. 
 
So it’s not uncommon to see hip AND knee pain from this entity. That’s the probem with a long structure that crosses two joints–it can cause pain anywhere along its entire length and at both ends, as well.  

So, what to do?
 
Fortunately, the same measures are effective whatever part of the ITB is inflamed. So treatments intended for the knee ARE effective for symptoms from the hip and vice versa. Here are a few helpful things you can do for relief:
 
First, you need to avoid any activities that aggravate the structure and cause the popping. 
 
Second, relieve stress and tension on the band, by using a cane in the hand opposite the affected side. 
 
Third, rest with your hips apart (abducted). A good way to do this is to put a couple of pillows between your knees. 
 
If you must sit, do so on a pillow, or gel pad, as the greater trochanters roll backwards when you sit and if you sit on a hard chair, that can actually cause pain and just make things worse. 
 
If symptoms have just started, ice the tender area a few times a day. 
 
After the first 48 hours, switch to moist heat. 
 
Reduce inflammation short term, by using Advil or Aleve. BUT, you must take these NSAID drugs with food, to protect your stomach from side effects, which include gastritis, reflux, ulcers and bleeding. 
 
Long term, I’d recommend a high quality pharmaceutical grade fish oil, like my POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA, http://www.favoriteformulas.com   which lacks any significant side effects, but has potent, proven anti-inflammatory properties. Once the “fire” is out, you can then begin gentle stretching and strengthening exercises for the ITB, like those I teach in my PAIN-FREE PROGRAM, available here at:  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exrrcise_eliminate.html
 
As with any tendon problem, healing is slow, because the iliotibioal band is mainly fibrous tissue, which has a very poor blood supply. So slow and steady progress, without repetitive aggravation of symptoms, is the way to go. I’ve had this particular condition myself, so I know these measures work. You just need patience and “tincture of time.” Til next time, my friend, be well.  Talk to you soon.
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow,
 
Dr. Bill
 
“The Wellness Warrior”        TM
 
(Be sure to sign up for my Podcasts at iTunes, or http://thewellnesswarrior.mypodcastworld.com)
 
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

January 25, 2010

Over the weekend, I got an email from a subscriber who complained of a very common problem. So, I thought I’d pass it along, as you may well have, or have had, this same problem yourself.
 
He wrote that he had developed a pop or snapping sensation inside his knee, which had cause him to start having pain, when bending or straightening the joint. He didn’t recall any specific injury to the knee.
 
That’s not at all uncommon, you know. Many is the time that patients came to see me in the office with an obvious injury, yet they couldn’t remember any such trauma in the recent past. In these cases, what I surmised is that they had a minor injury, perhaps a bump into the corner of a piece of furniture, not bad enough to remember, so it didn’t register. 
 
But over a few days, the incident now forgotten, the body set up a “delayed” inflammation, mediated by a cellular response. From the standpoint of the patient, this pain seemed to come out of the blue. But there really WAS an injury–just not one they could recall.
 
I’ve had this happen, myself. It was only when I really made the effort to remember and retrace my steps that I finally recalled the minor bump, several days before, that was the cause of the pain. That’s more likely to happen, now that I’m back on my POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA  http://www.favoriteformulas.com
 
The pharmaceutical grade fish oil has real anti-coagulant properties, among others, like preventing heart attacks and strokes, anti-inflammatory properties, and many others. While that’s usually a good thing, preventing abnormal clots and deep vein thrombosis, the price you pay is a greater tendency to bruise, which is simply bleeding under the skin.
 
Blood in the tissues is a common cause for delayed inflammation and resultant pain. In this case, this person likely had a bruise, which he no longer recalls, which then set up the inflammation, which then resulted in inflammation of the synovial membrane, that lines the knee. 
 
The synovium normally has a few small folds from birth. When these folds are swollen from inflammation, they enlarge into plicae(meaning “folds” in Latin). These plicae can then snap, or pop, as they are rubbed against the bony contours of the end of the femur, within the knee. In effect, they are plucked, like the strings of a guitar, when bending or extending the knee.
 
If the inflammation is chronic, lasting for an extended period of time, the synovial membrane may be replaced by thick, fibrous tissue, thereby becoming a stiff cord of scar. Once that happens, that plica is there for good. It can only be removed by surgery. 
 
Prior to that, however, the irritated and swollen fold in the membrane can be shrunk, by using one, or several, of the many            non-surgical treatments in my newest healing program, HOW TO AVOID KNEE SURGERY http://www.drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
In the short term, ice applications, for the first 24-48 hours helps, because the cold constricts the blood vessels, thereby limiting the amount of bleeding and swelling in the injured tissues. After that, intermittent heat is more beneficial. 
 
How do you know when to switch?
 
See how it feels. If heat makes the knee hurt more, then it still needs ice. If, on the other hand it feels good, then heat is what’s needed. Like we used to say in the 60′s and 70′s: “If it feels good, do it.”
 
And, though this may seem like just common sense, you should NOT continue to snap the knee. Continually “plucking the string” will only prolong the ongoing inflammation, maintaining the swelling of the tissues and preventing resolution. To keep the knee still, you may need to place it in a knee immobilizer, which will hold it straight, while still allowing weight bearing.
 
If you follow these few tips and use the methods I outline in HOW TO AVOID KNEE SURGERY, http://www.drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html  and you will get fast relief, shrink the plica and get rid of that irksome, snapping knee pain. Til next time, my friend, be well. Talk to you again, 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

January 22, 2010

With all the ansgt leading up to the special election in Massachusetts and all the hoopla after Scott Brown’s amazing victory, this nearly slipped through the cracks. But I just couldn’t let it pass, without comment.
 
Last week, former Home Run King Mark McGwire finally admitted to using steroids during the 1998 season, when he broke Roger Marris’ home run record (#61) and went on to set a new record. He retired in 2001, with a lifetime 583 homers. 
 
Well…for most of us, this announcement wasn’t really news.
 
Judging from Mr. McGwire’s rather evasive answers to the Congressional Committee investigation of PED (Performance Enhancing Drugs), in professional baseball, it was pretty clear to all that he probably did use them. But he was looking to avoid self-incrimination before Congress. And, really, under those circumstances, how can you blame him?
 
In any case, his recent public confession has removed all doubt. His defenders point out that he hit plenty of home runs before he ever took PED’s. And McGwire himself said that he “had a gift” for hitting homers, and he always did. He also said that he only used the steroids and growth hormone shots to help him heal faster after injuries, which is actually a pretty good argument in his defense.
 
Detractors, however, consider this revelation grounds for keeping him out of the Hall of Fame, maybe forever. Mark says, with some justice, that he had plenty of muscle without the steroids. And that they do not add anything to the hand-eye coordination necessary to hitting home runs.
 
He’s right about that, too. I agree with his argument, but I suspect that, just maybe, he was looking for a little edge, too. I DO remember the big fuss about his use of creatine, at that time, a supplement that promotes muscle growth and strength (though not to the same extent as anabolic steroids and hGH).
 
Well, I’ll leave the moral quandry of the Hall of Fame to those much better qualified to address it (and those who care–which I really don’t). But this is as good an opportunity as I can recall to discuss WHY steroids are illegal in sports.
 
First, there’s the argument that it gives the athlete an unfair, “unnatural” advantage. Just to be contrary, I could point out that if everyone used them, it wouldn’t be an unfair advantage for anyone. But that facetious argument brings up the very real health consequences, which are dangerous.
 
First, you need to understand what we mean by “steroids.” This term, in this context, refers to artificial anabolic hormones that mimic the effects of testosterone, the male sex hormone. They can be administered orally, or by injection, and they DO stimulate rapid muscle growth, but they have also been associated with liver failure and tumors.
 
The other PED used by athletes is hGH, Human Growth Hormone. Normally secreted and released from our pituitary glands, this “master hormone” is known to enhance muscle growth and strength, speed up the healing of injuries, relieve joint pain (and is reputed to have anti-aging properties, that may increase life span, as well). When taken in excessive, non-physiological doses, the risk of cancer growth is enhanced.
 
For these reasons, anabolic steroids and hGH have been banned in sports and are also illegal, absent a legitimate medical use (such as the small boy who has insufficient hGH for normal growth).
 
And yet, because these hormones are markedly reduced as we age, restoring their benefits seems a reasonable goal, with the object of reversing the effects of aging. The idea is to return the blood levels of these hormones to those of our late teens or early twenties, by stimulating their natural release.
 
This is much different concept than injecting excessive, non-physiological amounts of the hormones. This is instead a stimulation of the body to produce and/or release more of its own, natural supplies. The theory is that by restoring youthful levels of endogenous (ie., your body’s own) growth hormone, you will restore your body to a more youthful state. Better strength, speed, flexibility, better skin tone, better sleep, enhanced immunity, and better intimacy are among the myriad benefits attributed to increased hGH blood levels.
 
One way to do this is to take a dose of the amino acid, arginine, which is known to cause release of your own stores of hGH. This is so predictable a response that it is used as a test for proper functioning of the pituitary gland.
 
But imagine if you could stimulate your own growth hormone release with just a cream, that you rub on your skin a few times a day. That would be pretty amazing, right?
 
Well, there IS such a cream. It’s called Trans-D Tropin  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/trans_d_tropin.html   and I take it myself, especially now that I need to heal rapidly, after my recent hernia repair. This is NOT growth hormone, itself. Instead, it’s a secret botanical analog of growth hormone RELEASING hormone–that means that it stimulates your body to release its OWN hGH.
 
It helps you restore your growth hormone levels to those you enjoyed as a young man, or woman. And because it’s natural, your levels are always within safe, physiological parameters, with NO increased risk of cancer, according to the doctor who formulated it(whom I know, personally).
 
If you exercise, whether it be with free weights, or the special healing exercises I teach in my popular and effective PAIN-FREE PROGRAM & DVD   http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html   when you apply this cream to your forearms and rub it in, just before you exercise, you will supercharge your workouts and burn fat and build muscle faster than you believed possible. And you’ll feel better, too.
 
Naturally, I get some compensation for directing you to this great product. Why shouldn’t I? Lots of people would love me to endorse their products, but I have a professional reputation to uphold and my standards are pretty rigorous. That’s why I don’t recommend many products that aren’t my own. But I not only recommend this, I USE it, myself. That’s the best recommendation there is. So take my advice, try some Trans-D Tropin today:   http://www.drbillsclinic.com/trans_d_tropin.html
 
And for a super boost to your immune system, combine it with my POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA http://www.favoriteformulas.com  an ultra pure, pharmaceutical grade fish oil, with an enteric coating to prevent fish burps, or fishy aftertaste. 
 
So, the new revelations of the “Gospel According to Mark,” notwithstanding, boosting your OWN growth hormone levels, safely and effectively, is one of the best things you can do for your health and longevity. Try it today and see for yourself. Til next time, my friend, be well. And have a great weekened. Talk to you soon.
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and optimal health,
 
Dr. Bill
 
“The Wellness Warrior”       TM
 
(And if you haven’t done so yet, go sign up for my FREE Podcasts at http://thewellnesswarrior.mypodcastworld.com/. I’d welcome your comments and suggestions.)
 
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

January 21, 2010

The other day, I got another email from one of my subscribers, who had an interesting, but not uncommon story. Seems he had knee pain located right on his inner (medial joint line). He saw his doctor, and was sent for an MRI.
 
Sure enough, he had a torn medial meniscus. He also had some degenerative changes (read that as “early arthritis”), not uncommon in a middle aged guy. His question for me was, do I REALLY need to have an arthroscopic surgery? 
 
He was understandably reluctant to go “under the knife,” and was hoping that I could give him some less aggressive treatments that would relieve his pain, but help him avoid surgery. He also didn’t understand why these structures simply didn’t heal.
 
So, I tried to explain. I used to have to do this a dozen times a week, in my practice–meniscal injuries were the second most common cause of knee pain that I saw, after kneecap problems. So here’s the short story.
 
In each knee, there are two crescent shaped fibrocartilage structures that guide and cushion the knee in motion. They help to spread out the stresses of weightbearing over a larger surface area, kind of the way snowshoes work to keep you from sinking into a snow bank.
 
I have a great illustration of this principle in my LITTLE GREEN BOOK FOR ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN http://www.drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html  which I drew myself. (I used to work for the comics as an artist, back in the 70′s.) 
 
Here’s the thing he didn’t understand, though, that makes all the difference: These structures are mostly avascular. That means that they mostly lack a blood supply. There is virtually no circulation within these cartilage cushions, at least in the inner 2/3 to 3/4. There IS a marginal circulation at the periphery, where the medial (but NOT the lateral) meniscus attaches to the fibrous capsule of the knee joint.
 
If a tear occurs within this so-called “red zone,” it does have the potential to heal. But only 10% of tears occur there. The remainder occur in the avascular part, and therefore CANNOT heal (at least not without fairly sophisticated surgical help), because nothing heals without blood. 
 
This anatomical fact governs the behavior of meniscal tears AND determines what constitutes effective treatment.
 
Given that he has a positive MRI, he probably SHOULD have an arthroscopic examination. If pathology is confirmed at surgery, it can be fixed on the spot. This is a prime example of what I like to call a NECESSARY surgery. And, it’s a simple, outpatient procedure, with a fairly rapid recovery. I know. I’ve not only done thousands of them, but I’ve had the surgery myself, too.
 
Had he presented with the same pain pattern, but NOT had an MRI, I probably would have urged him to try the non-surgical treatments I teach in my healing program, HOW TO AVOID KNEE SURGERY, which you can get here:
 http://www.drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html
 
With methods from across the entire medical spectrum, including many effective alternative treatments, it can provide relief of pain and help you avoid surgery, in many cases. 
 
In this way, if pain is relieved, you’ve avoided an UNNECESSARY surgery. If not, you’ve “burned no bridges” and can still get an MRI and if that is positive, arthroscopy, if needed. But it gives your knee a chance to heal itself.
 
Except in case of a completely locked knee, which is a surgical emergency, it can buy you time, perhaps heal you, and you lose nothing. 
 
For other causes of knee pain, like chondromalacia patellae, or arthritis of the knee, it may be definitive treatment. I teach you how to relieve pain fast, but also how to stay pain-free for the long term, with special, modified exercises and the anti-inflammatory properties of my pharmaceutical grade fish oil, DR. BILL’S POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA:   http://www.favoriteformulas.com 
an ultra pure, highly concentrated omega 3 formulation, with a special enteric coating that prevents virtually all the fishy aftertaste and fish burps that plague other, lesser brands. 
 
But in this man’s case, he already had a demonstrated, through and through tear in the avascular zone. The probablity of healing was poor to none. And further delay would accomplish nothing good, but might result in degenerative damage to the articular cartilage, which is permanent damage. This must be avoided. 
 
THAT’S why I recommended that he proceed with surgery. And now, you can understand the thought processes that led me to that conclusion, too.
 
In the end, judgment has to be based on the anatomical and pathological facts. And that’s another good reason to get your doctor involved early in the course of your knee problem. Til next time, my friend, be well.
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow and 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

January 19, 2010

Last week, while I was perusing my emails for Dr. Bill’s Clinic, I came across a request from one of my older subscribers. By older, I mean (quite naturally) older than ME. Ever notice how when anyone talk about “old guys,” they always mean older than THEM. Right?
 
Anyway, this man is, shall we say, in late middle age, has stayed in good shape and has been a runner for years. Problem is that he recently had a sudden onset of severe knee pain, after running to catch a bus, or something.
 
He was seen by an orthopaedist, who after examining him, decided that he may well have a torn meniscus. 
 
As you may know, there are two crescent shaped fibrocartilages, called menisci, which lie between the end of the femur (thigh bone) and the upper tibia (shin bone), inside the knee. 
 
They act as cushions and guides for motion of the joint, especially in twisting, or cutting movements. For more about these and other causes of painful knee pathology, please refer to my LITTLE GREEN BOOK:  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html
 
Because these cartilage structures are invisible on standard x-rays, the doctor ordered an MRI scan of the offending knee. This scan is terrific, because it can show the structures and can predict if they are torn, with an accuracy of about 90-95%, on the medial (inside) compartment of the knee.
 
Sure enough, he had a torn medial meniscus. But he also had a surprise–he had almost completely bare bone exposed on the end of his femur, in the medial compartment. The guy was understandably shocked. How could he have such bad arthritis and not have felt it before this injury?
 
The answer is, this is not an uncommon picture. Sometimes, the articular cartilage becomes degenerative and gradually erodes away, exposing the bone. Though most people will feel this as significant pain, as it happens, a few will compensate (high pain threshhold, endorphins, etc.) and will feel nothing, at all. Until something happens, as did here, to DE-compensate his defenses against pain. THEN, he felt it.
 
Naturally, as a believer in natural healing, he was leery of knee surgery. And studies have demonstrated that arthroscopic surgery added nothing to just medicine, physical therapy and exercises, like those I teach in my newly updated and expanded PAIN-FREE PROGRAM & DVD:  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
HOWEVER…in this case, I DID recommend that he go ahead with surgery. Here’s why.
 
This man is very active and wants to remain so. He has exposed bare bone and therefore, will need at least a partial knee replacement, perhaps a total knee replacement, when his symptoms warrant it. But then, he will NOT be able to run or do any exercises involving impact, which could damage, or loosen the artificial implants.
 
He also has a significant tear, easily fixed, in addition to his arthritis. It seems reasonable to conclude that if the tear were “fixed,” he might well “buy time” and return to his asymptomatic state, at least for a while.
 
The studies that recommended against knee surgery for arthritis were talking about a general “clean out,” or debridement, NOT addressing a specific torn meniscus, with very specific mechanical symptoms, directly attributed to that damaged structure. When dealing with arthritis and knee pain, it IS best to be conservative, in most cases, where there is diffuse disease and no specific mechanical symptoms, as seen here.
 
That’s why I wrote my newest healing program, HOW TO AVOID KNEE SURGERY, which you can get here: http://www.drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
The many treatments from both conventional and alternative medicine are designed to help you avoid the UNNECESSARY procedure. but if the surgery IS necssary, as it was here, then it should be done.
 
Well, he DID have the arthroscopy, he did, in fact have the tear that the MRI predicted, and he DID do very well. He’s now glad he did it, as he has returned to his preoperative state of virtually no pain. And the procedure has bought him time, which he can continue to enjoy, until further progress of his disease makes a total knee unavoidable.
 
I love being right. 
 
And the only other recommendation I gave him that I would give you, too, is to get on my Powerhouse Omega Formula, an ultra pure, highly concentrated, pharmaceutical grade fish oil, with a special enteric coating that prevents any fishy aftertaste and the dreaded “fish burps.”
 
http://www.favoriteformulas.com  
 
Omega 3′s have potent, long term anti-inflammatory properties that help to control the pain of arthritis, a as well as many heart and brain healthy effects, as well.
 
I also advised him to consider giving up the running, in favor of power walking, or hill sprints, which avoid the damaging shocks to the weight bearing joints, seen with running. If he listens to me, these measures may buy him even more time….
 
Til next time, my friend, be well.
 
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

January 13, 2010

Just last night, as I was listening to the news, it was reported that a massive earthquake hit the island nation of Haiti, with a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter Scale. This is the largest, most devastating quake in over 200 years and promises to be a major disaster for the Haitian people. Its epicenter was near the capital of Port-Au-Prince and reportedly, every other building was knocked down.
 
Though the weather services are watching closely for potential tsunamis, the real danger remains the series of powerful aftershocks. One such hit last night, causing a number of buildings to collapse. The chaos is near total, with no food, services, medicine, or medical care.
 
By the time you read this, the relief effort will be in full swing, spearheaded, no doubt, by the good ol’ USA. We have our faults, especially lately, but there has never been, in the history of the world, as decent and benevolent a hegemonic power as the United States. And, as Martha would say, “that’s a good thing.”
 
Even under the best of circumstances, Haiti is an exceptionally poor country, one of the poorest backwaters in the world, certainly the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. Ironic, because the other country that shares the same island of Hispanola, the Dominican Republic is a garden spot of the Caribbean. Perhaps it has something to do with their respective governments, or in the case of Haiti, its conspicuous absence.
 
The poor people there have rarely been cut a break. They always have some a$$hole trying to run them down, everyone from drug lords to Papadoc, to the last guy our State Department was trying to prop up.
 
I’ve been there a few times, usually as a day trip during a Caribbean cruise, often to the beach at Labadie, and I’ve always been impressed with the grinding poverty. It’s been reported that the average person there lives on two bucks a day–unbelievable! So, the last thing these folks needed was a disastrous earthquake.
 
My brother-in-law, John, is a master diver, or was when he was in shape. He had been hired, along with another friend, Pete, to search for buried treasure off the coast of Haiti. No, really. Salvage companies have the records of ships lost off the coast of the island and often organize diving expeditions, to search for lost vessels and their valuable cargos, based on their manifests. He told me that, between the drug problem and the Voodoo, he never wanted to return there. 
 
The bottom line is, the place is dirt poor and this catastrophe will only make it worse. The toll in human lives and miserie is only beginning to be counted. Let’s hope for the best for the people of Haiti in this trying time.
 
I’ve never been in an earthquake, myself. But I have freinds who have. And they tell me that it has to be one of the most frightening and disorienting sensations you can imagine. With the very ground unreliable, shifting beneath you, rockin’ ‘n’ rollin’ it has got to be one scary situation.
 
If it’s anything like being at sea in a major storm, though, which I HAVE experienced, I should think that having strong legs and stable knees might make the difference between safety and falling, with broken hips, or worse. 
 
The best way I know of, to ensure that your knees are up to any challenge, is to develop the muscles and tendons around them, by using the strategic, knee pain exercises that I teach in my new, greatly expanded PAIN-FREE PROGRAM and DVD
 
  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
By strengthening those muscles, you not only relieve knee pain, and prevent it, but you make your knees as stable as they can possibly be. It’s not only good for you, it’s cheap insurance of stability, when the world around you is going to Hell.
 
Meanwhile, our thoughts and prayers will be for the People of Haiti. Let’s hope the relief effort and an end to the aftershocks will minimize the human casualties and misery.
 
On another note, today is just shy of two weeks since my surgery for a hernia repair. I’m doing much better, and improving daily. I got the OK to start walking for exercise, as tolerated, but no lifting, or serious abdominal exercises for 6-8 weeks. Well that makes sense. The protein collagen (ie., scar or fibrous tissue, of which we’re all made, and which is the substance of the hernia repair, takes about 6-8 weeks to fully heal, and then another 6-12 months to mature, so…).
 
The surgeon gave me the OK to restart my pharmaceutical grade fish oil, so I have. But I have to start slowly, just as though I were starting out, which I am, after a fashion. Too much, too soon and I’ll get diarrhea, which would really stress my new repair and probably not be too comfortable, either.
 
My POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA is an ultra pure, but very concentrated fish oil. I need to take one capsule a day, for a few days, then one, twice a day. As I reacclimate to the dose, I can increase in a week or so to two caps in the AM, one in the PM. And after another week, finally back to my maintenance dose of two caps, twice a day.
 
http://www.favoriteformulas.com 
 
By that time, its full anti-inflammatory effects should be in full swing, with relief of my chronic back and knee pain. Makes a real difference, I can tell you. You don’t really appreciate what it does, until you have to do without. Believe me, I know.
 
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

January 11, 2010

Later today, I go to see my surgeon for my post-surgical office visit. The incision is clean and dry, no redness (erythema), no drainage, no swelling and it appears to be healing very well. Nice and clean, with no signs of infection.
 
Of course, it’s a bit tender still, but nothing like it was for the first few days. As a surgeon myself, I know that it’s healing well, and I’m  grateful it is. But the doctor who treats himself has a fool for a patient, or so they say. 
 
So, I will dutifully go to the surgeon and get his official evaluation and his blessing, before starting back on my POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA,  http://www.favoriteformulas.com  my garlic, DR. BILL’S MAXIMUM ALLICIN FORMULA (only available for those already on my fish oil), which enhances the lipid lowering actions of the pharmaceutical grade, enteric coated fish oil, to make it a net cholesterol lowering agent, as well as lowering triglycerides.
 
Especially since this cold snap and nasty, rainy weather lately has made me feel my incision more lately, than before, I’ve really missed its natural anti-inflammatory action. Did you know that in a number of clinical studies, fish oil was found to have an equivalent effect to NSAID’s, but without their adverse side effects? It’s true. In fact, in cases of rheumatoid arthritis, fish oil use allowed some patients to reduce, or eliminate NSAID’s. 
 
And, as I’ve mentioned before, inflammation is a necessary part of this hernia repair, allowing the ingrowth of fibrous tissue into the implanted mesh. So I have had to forgo the comfort of my usual dose. But, as a result, all my joints are “talking” to me, my back is aching and of course, the incision site aches, too. So I’ll be glad to get the OK to start it up again.
 
I’ll also be glad to start some mild knee pain exercises for my aching knees, like those in my newly redone and expanded PAIN-FREE PROGRAM and full length DVD  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html
 
Combined with walking and isometrics, I can begin the long process of rebuilding my fitness, a step at a time. Luckily, he did a subcuticular closure, meaning there are no sutures to be removed–a long suture under the edges of the skin gives a hairline scar and a tight closure. There wasn’t even a drop of blood, when I took off the initial dressing. Good job, all in all.
 
So, I’m looking forward to a positive evaluation, now eleven days and counting, out from my surgery. This will take about six months to really mature, but this is a good beginning. Thank God! If there’s ever going to be a problem or a complication, it’s gonna happen in a doctor, guaranteed. 
 
Well, over the weekend, we had that plumber return and install a couple of new toilets for us. I went upstairs, to say hello and came up on him, kneeling on the bathroom marble floor, while setting the base of the commode. And, whaddyaknow…he was wearing KNEE PADS! Just like I told him to. 
 
You know, usually, I give folks good advice and more often than not, they ignore it. People often don’t respect or value what they don’t pay for. But not this guy. I told him I was proud of him. He said, “Hey, if I’m told something by a guy who knows what he’s talking about, I listen.”
 
Well, good for him. If he sticks with his new protection, he’ll be real happy a dozen years from now, when he DOESN’T have to suffer with patellofemoral arthritis. For more simple, but effective tips on preventing, or treating knee pain, try my LITTLE GREEN BOOK FOR ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html
 
So that’s it for today, my friend. Talk to you soon. Til next time, be well.
 
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

January 5, 2010

Once released from the hospital’s RIO unit, my wife drove me home. I was set up in a spare bedroom, with a lower mattress than my usual, to make it easier to get in and out of bed.
 
Luckily, the local anesthesia was in full force, so I remained comfortable and pain-free. I checked out the dressing, but it was clean and dry, with no sign of bleeding. So far, so good. Then, I got a cold seltzer to drink. Remember, I had been NPO (nothing by mouth) since 10PM the night before surgery, and only had ice chips in recovery, so I was pretty thirsty. Hungry, too. 
 
Then, I noticed I was tired. No surprise there. Surgery is a trauma to your body, so it induces a lot of stress. After drifting in and out of sleep, I had to go to the bathroom. That’s when things started to get interesting.
 
Turns out that when you try to get out of bed, especially without any leverage, you put a lot of stress on those new sutures, just placed in the surgical repair. YEOW! Only a momentary thing, but despite the local anesthetic, I felt that! I had to figure out how I was going to do this.
 
So, I decided to try using a cane, which I had handy, left over from my last surgery, an arthroscopy of my left knee in 2005. I discovered that of I pressed down with the cane in my left hand, I was able to get up with only minimal discomfort. How about that?

Further experimentation revealed that if the came was used in my left hand while walking, it relaxed my right abdominal muscles, by reflex. Now, I’ve known for years that the use of a cane reduces the joint reaction forces across the opposite hip and knee. In fact, I make a great point of that technique, as a way to minimize joint pain, in my LITTLE GREEN BOOK FOR ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html
 
But I never heard that it also relaxes the abdominal muscles on the opposite side from the cane. I don’t believe my surgeon even knows about this (but you can be sure that I’ll let him know, for his future patients). Keep this trick in mind, if you ever need to get abdominal surgery–it makes quite a difference.
 
The other thing that made a big difference in my comfort was the use of a rectangular cooler pack, stored in our freezer against emergencies, instead of a simple ice pack. The surgeon had recommended intermittent use of ice to reduce swelling, but this solid, cold cooler pack not only chilled the tissues, reducing local pain and swelling, but also acted as a buttress against any intra-abdominal pressure. When I pressed it against my surgical site, it kept the repair under pressure, so it reduced any tension on the internal sutures.
 
Between the cane and the cooler pack, I managed very well, indeed. I was completely comfortable, when at rest in bed. I only had some momentary pain, when attempting to get in and out of bed. Even walking was not bad, so long as I went slowly, using the cane in my left hand and holding the cooler pack against my lower abdomen, on my right.
 
In bed, I found by trial and error that a slightly bent fetal position, on my left side, with a pillow between my legs, made me very comfortable. Virtually no pain, at all. I still had taken no pain medication. In that position, I slipped off to sleep and slept all night long.
 
Next day, I found the same thing. Using the cane and the ice pack, I was comfortable enough that I was not in need of any analgesics, even though the local had surely worn off by then. I just took it easy, watched TV, read a bit and periodically took a nap.
 
Long and short of it is that, despite having filled a prescription for Percocet, just in case, I have not needed a single pill. Not one, to date. Just took off the dressing and the incision is healing fine. Of course, the real issue is the internal healing. And that’s the reason that I can’t take my twice daily dose of POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA   http://www.favoriteformulas.com 
 
A hernia is a defect in the tough fibrous sheath across the groin, which is pierced by the spermatic cord, on its way to the testes. The descent of the testes leaves a potential weakness there, which in some people, under some conditions, leads to a tear, or rupture in that sheath. This tear allows loops of bowel (small intestines) to protrude, causing a bulge under the skin. In some cases, that loop of bowel can twist, cutting off circulation and literally dying. This is called strangulation and it’s a surgical emergency. That’s why I wanted this fixed, pronto.
 
In the old days (when I was an intern), the only repairs sutured the edges of the tear back together and to the big oblique inguinal ligament, that runs between the “point” of the hip (anterior superior iliac spine) to the pubic bone. But that repair is under a lot of tension and ruptures can recur at a rate of around 30-40%. With a new, tension-free technique, the surgeon covers the defect with a fine mesh of polypropylene and sews that to the edges and the ligament. 
 
Eventually, fibrous tissues grow into that mesh, which acts like a scaffold, and upon maturity reconstitutes the abdominal wall, obliterating the defect and restoring integrity to the wall. The recurrence rate for this technique is only 1%. The downside is that it needs inflammation to provoke the ingrowth of the fibrous tissues. So, since fish oil is so effective at reducing inflammation, I can’t use it yet. And the rest of my joints KNOW it, too.
 
Anyway, that’s what happened next. So far, so good. I walked a bit more today and went out for the first time. So, little by little, day by day…it’s getting better. 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
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