FOTOFAX APRIL-MAY, 1982
Medical Notes ...
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My Aching Back!
by Dr. James Stout
After the common cold, I
believe we see more muscle
aches and pains than any other
complaint. The most common of
these is pain in the iower back. At
times it’s more than a pain,
perhaps even a “ruptured disc”
that may require surgery — the
medicai “last resort” — to at
tempt repair.
We tend to take for granted
that our back wiii perform as
needed, but iike any other
mechanical structure, it can faii if
not cared for inteliigentiy and
consistentiy.
Care of the back is no more
troubie than dentai care, and cer
tainly of equal importance.
Visualize the spine as 24
spools of thread, stacked one
atop the other, with a resiiient
cushion between each spooi. The
stack is kept from coliapse by
fibrous bindings holding each
spool to the other, and further
strengthened and stabilized by
muscles outside the column,
holding it in position. Through
the hoies in the center runs a
complex bundle of electrical
wires, the nerves, going to many
places, including the back
muscles themselves.
Should a cushion (disc; carti
lage with a iiquid core) collapse,
or a binding (the iigament holding
adjacent “spools” together)
loosen, or if a muscle of the sup
port system should become
slack, the spools (vertebrae) may
slide about enough to pinch one
of the nerves going to back
muscles. The result is a spasm, a
severe tightening of the muscie.
This is painful.
If the spasm and pain are in the
smail of the back, we cail it
“acute lumbosacrai strain”, and
the victim may be in real trouble.
Repair is difficult; prevention is
much more desirabie.
Care of the back is a matter of
minimizing bending of the coi-
umn and keeping good muscle
tone, assuring a strong and
elastic stabiiizing system.
To avoid unnecessary bending
of the spine, try to do lifting with
the more powerful leg muscles,
bending at the knees, with knees
fairiy close together and the back
as straight as possible, not bent
at the waist. Avoid overhead iift-
ing, if you can. if it’s necessary,
keep the object ciose to your
body, with the elbows bent, to
minimize pressure and arching in
the iower back.
Keep your back muscles toned
with regular exercise, so a time of
heavier iabor doesn’t give you
“over-doer’s backache”. Another
ticket to misery is getting chiiled
after working up a sweat.
“Regular exercise”, as called
for, is neither strenuous nor time-
consuming. Ask us for written
directions. The exercises aiso
strengthen your abdominai
muscies, very important for a
heaithy back.
i recommend a firm mattress,
or a bed-board, 30 to 36 inches
wide between your mattress and
box springs. If you use a board,
make it of haif inch piywood, to
reach from shoulders to hips.
Lastiy, if your back hurts, and
you’re not sure your legs are of
equal length, have that checked!
For a number of fellow
employees, a simple adjustment
there has been the simple cure to
a serious problem.
A bit of thought and a few
minutes exercise may keep a
heaithy back in good shape and
avoid “back troubie”. For work,
piay, and enjoying life in general,
it’s well worth the effort.
‘‘YOU must decide!” LEWIS WHITESIDE makes his point at the
Western Carolina Safety Councii meeting. His speech, ‘‘Safety
on Triai”, was First Award Winner in the foremen’s safety taik
contest.
HENRY ADAMS responds to weii-wishers at his retirement party:
‘‘i bought a coupie of rocking chairs, but they’re for sate!” He
adds, ‘‘As a boy, I once tried to waik to a rainbow’s end. Now,
with my famiiy and the job i’ve had, i may have found both
ends—one at my home, on Rice Street in Brevard, and the other
in the piece we’ve worked together.” Henry has 29 years of
company service.
seen & heard
Here’s good news! A baby boy for
Kim and Mary Smith: Seth was
born April 8. ★ Donny and Terry
Credilie have a daughter. Shan
non Alyse. ★ Randy and Melo
dy Owenby were married in April.
★ Steve and Pam Justus have
presented Grampa Jim Justus
with a third grandchiid: James
Cody. ★ Belated congratula
tions to 4th-time-grandfather Bill
Baughn. Jason was born to Rob
ert Baughn and Mary back in Jan
uary. ★ Best wishes to Tom
Dills and Margaret (Chapman),
married April 21. ★ A third
daughter for Paul and Sue Owen
by: Jennifer Susan, ie And two
daughters at once for Marlin
Wiltz and Sandi: Twin girls Crys
tal Dawn and Kacey Leigh joined
the famiiy March 12. ★ “Just be
patient,” said Jerry Moore to his
son, Don. “You can’t get a Du
Pont job overnight; it takes time.”
But Don gave up and foliowed
Dad’s other example: joined the
Navy. Now he’s on the USS Du
Pont. -k Jim Gosnell and Gay
plan a May 22 wedding. ★ A
promise is a promise. We didn’t
tell about Rob Daniels’ pet chick
en. ★ Many thanks to those
who contribute items for Seen &
Heard! ★ If you were at the
DERA Spring Dance—did you no
tice that the band seemed differ
ent from the poster picture?
Someone skiilfully corrected hair
styles with a pencii, and gave one
of the musicians a neat mous
tache. ★ Share your good
news! Call 5862, or drop a note in
the mail.