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PAG E 30, W EDN ESDA Y, D ECEM1ER Il, 1985 W - ITBY FR EE PRESS Learn to cope with the daily battle of Arthritis Fighting arthritis is often a daily battle. For those with acute forms of arthritis, the best weapons are a good treatment program, determination and patience. The treatment program's success depends on the patient's own involvement. The arthritis victim needs to establish solid com- munication with his/her doctors and therapists. When they are fully aware of how arthritis affects their patient, they can make informed decisions on effective treatment. if you suffer from ar- thritis, tel your doctor exactly what your sym- ptoms are, and what ac- tivities aggravate your condition. Be sure to mention any medications you take. Let him/her know about any changes in your condition. Ask questions. And discuss your concerns. Con- cealing any anxiety you feel about your arthritis will not ease your mind. Only reliable infor- mation and understan- ding advice will do that. Your doctor can provide this and wilH refer you to counselling services if necessary. Understanding - vital! Find out all you can about arthritis. Under- standing the disease is vital to coping with it successfully. Your doc- tors and therapists can help, and you can also take advantage of community resources. The Arthritis Society of- ten holds publie meetings for arthritis sufferers, their families and friends. These forums offer the oppor- tunity to discuss the illness and share per- sonal and professional experiences. Once your treatment program is prepared, follow it carefully. You are the most important member of your treat- ment team and progress is only possible when you stick with your in- structions. Do the exer- cises suggested on a regulartbasis, and take medication exactly as prescribed - don't ex- periment. If, for instan- ce, you are prescribed a once-daily non- steroidal anti-inflam- matory drug (NSAID), take it only once a day. This may sound elemen- tary but it is surprising how many people fail to follow the physician's directions precisely. Discuss feelings It is particularly hard to accept the unpredic- tability of arthritis. It is an up-and-.down illness, flaring up without war- ning and disappearing just as bewilderingly. This can cause a keen sense of frustration, and sometimes depression. Don't ignore these feelings. Talk about them, with your family, your friends, your therapists or doctors - anyone who will lend a sympathetic ear. Don't just grin and bear it. You need to rely on others to help you through the very real emotional and physical discomforts this con- dition can provoke. Managing your ar- thritis requires effort and persistence. Im- provement won't hap- pen overnight. But with a healthy, positive at- titude you can make eiant strides. Plenty of practical steps can be taken to make life a little easier on the arthritis sufferer. Even minor changes to the home or to an in- dividuals lifestyle can mean more comfort and a mighty boost to morale. Daily exercise is an excellent way to control some of the symptoms of arthritis. The amount of exercise you can han- die will depend on the type of arthritis you have and its severity. It should also be carefully balanced with enough rest, of course. Don't ever do more than you can handle comfortably. Exercise regularly Make a daily walk part of your at-home ac- tivity. If possible, walk on soft surfaces like grass, rather than hard roads or rough, uneven surfaces. Built up gradually to longer distances. Swimming, too, will help your condition. The buoyancy of the water will support your joints and a heated pool can water and, on the ege relieve pain and stif- of thesink, pretend t fness. If you have been play the piano; drum assigned exercises, your fingers in all direc- you'Il find them far tions. The same simple easier to do in the water. exercise can be done Heat treatments can with the toes, feet and be pain relievers. Hot ankles. baths or showers, elec- tric heating pads and heat lamps are few such Similarly, cold com- methods. If your hands presses or towel- or wrists are arthritic, wrapped ice bags can try bathing them in hot relieve pain. They numb water until they are slightly gowng. Then the affected area and squeeze a sponge gently reduce the blood cir- several times. Take culation, easing the your hands from the pain. Frorn page 28 Youth Cup resuits following are the Rushton:0 bth - 100 resuits: breast, 200 breast, iSth - 11-12 Girls: Wendy 100 fly. Primeau: 10th - 400 free, Relay: Scott Currie, 12th - 100 back, 200 free, Mark Kelly, Matt Cook, 14th - 800 free, 15th - 100 Jason Rushton - bronze f ree. 200 medley relay. 11-12 Boys: Mark 13-14 Girls: Julie Kelly: 4th - 50 free, 100 Leswick: 10th - 50 free. free, 100 breast, 'Oth - 13-14 boys: Stewart 200 breast. Matt Cook: Smith: 13th - 200 breast, 4th - 200 back. Jason 15th - 100 breast. Whtbyskaters in easterft championships A number of Whitby youths competed in the Eastern Ontario Figure Skating Championships Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 in Ot- tawa. Heather Forshaw placed 15th in the juvenile ladies A; Rhonda Stacey placed ith in the pre-novice ladies A; Steve Sears placed second in the pre-novice mens; Michelle Yeo and Jody Lyn Jones placed seven- th and eighth respec- tively in the novice ladies. AT TER SLEY TIR E SERVICE PASSENGER & LIGHT TRUCKS - BRAK ES-SH OCKS- -T U NE-U PS- -COOLING SYSTEMS- 103 DU DAS S. E. 62 KI NG ST.E 103 TB DNDASTE. 1OSH AWA 668-3356 571-3400 Get set for the % HOLIDAYS Seo our expert hair styl. Isis today for that new, beaut°ful, holiday Image you want. Or Surprise someone with our:- '. 1 1 which can be used a any time and any service. LA CONTESSA BEAUTY LOUNGE 119 GREEN STREET, WHITBY 668-9262 Fron page 28 MINOR PEEWEE Whitby ...........3 Oshawa Canadien. Drew Myere Derek Ellis Justin cardwell MAJOR NOVICE W hitby ............... 4 Thornhill .............0 Paul Dillon . ...... .... 3 Andre Marais PEEWEE HOUSELEAGUE Miracle Food Mart....5 Dodd&Souter ........o Scoti Wood Jason Yeu David Young Brent Knowles Kevin Craddock Shutout: John O'Rourke Whitby Professional Firefighters.......2 Richard Howden Scott Mitchell Shutout: Mike Hajdu Checkers Variety . 3 Don Belanger .................2 Jeremy Harness IWA LOCAL 2-242..................0 MacMillan Bathurst... 4 Kristen Brown ................2 Blaine Hunt..................2 Trustees pais e retiring principals Whitby trustees paid tribute to three retiring elementary school prin- cipals at the Dec. 9 meeting of the Durham Board of Education. Ian Brown, vice- chairman, commented that the combined teaching experience of Joy Bain, Meadowerest Public School; William Batten, Kathleen Rowe Publie School; and Grace Delaney, Dr. Robert Thornton represented a con- tribution of over 101 years. Brown reminded the board that last year Bain had been eîected by her peers as educator of the year. "Those people will be sorely missed," John Buchanan said. Ail three will retire the end of June. BiliSwan FROM PG. 5 a losing battle, you can sense the bloodlust on the other side as they close in for the kill. The drill speed slowed somewhat, just the way my home workshop power saw does when cutting through a knot. I know now he is getting serious. The drillstopped. "My, my! What's this? Haven't been flossing as often as we should, have we? And our brushing technique definitely needs some work. Yes, yes. Remind me to have my assistant give you a few tips." That's the thing I hate most about dentistry. See, they get out this big toothbrush, and a person-size Mr. Molar and make comments about being a good boy and brushing up and down and not sawing sideways as though we were trying to saw the teeth down like a Christmas tree. I came expecting a ripping political debate and end up talking to Mr. Molar. But it's all part of a plot. My dentist, I suspect, is a closet tory. Maybe even Tory. Well, he may have won that political debate. But the fight is not over. His parting words are something to remember: "Go easy on the left side for a few days. You may be a bit heat sensitive, but that will pass soon. See you in six months. " <S"e you in six months! But you know he's right. He's got you by the canines there.) "And go easy on the popcorn for a few days." But later that night I got the last word. I warmed up the saucepan, added the oil and popped up the biggest, fluffiest bowl I have had in weeks. And ate it, carefully, one fluffy popped kernel af- ter the other. Carefully. DR. SUSAN LEET is pleased to announce the opening of a family practice of OPTOMETRY 60 Randali Dr. (Suite 12) PICKERING VILLAGE SQUARE (ON HWY. 2) PICKERING Saturday and Evening exams by appointment 427-2948 CLAYTON'S CHRISTMAS