Evening star., 1961-01-19
STOP
KILLING
YOURSELF
BY PETER J. STEINCROHN

arthritis Is stubborn; but
don't get the idea that moth
ing at all can be done for 1t.
Patient Y: Well, all I can
judge by is myself. I've had
this pain on and off in my
wrist and large toe for years.
I can't seem to shake it off.
1t may 60 away for months
and then comes back with a
wa1lop. Especially in my foot.
Keeps me awake for nights.
Doctor X: What have you
done about it?
Patient Y: Frankly, noth-
ing-except take aspirin. I've
never gone to a doctor about
it because, as I've said, I
believe that doctors can't do
anything for arthritis.
Doctor x: You're SO stub
born about your conviction
that you'd rather keep on
suffering than give in!
You remind me Of the man
who went to his dentist with
an excruciating toothache.
The dentist asked him which
tooth bothered him. He re-
fused to answer. He said:
You're the dentist. You
find out. I won't tell"
What I am getting at Ii
you have Ito tell" your doc
tor if you expect to feel bet
ter. You have been treating
yourself for arthritis for
months and not getting
betterI How do you know
it's arthritis? 1t may be
something else.
But let's suppose 1t is arth-
ritis. Don't you see the most
important thing to learn Is:
Just what type Of arthritis Is
1t?
Is it osteoarthritis - the
kind in which there is grad
ual degeneration Of the
Joints? Most Of US have
some form Of this after 40).
Is it rheumatoi6 arthritis
which usually attacks
younger persons and often
causes eventual deformity OF
the Joints of the hands?
I could mention many more
types, but I have a hunch that
you may be suffering from
Rout. Unless you use the
right drugs for this male
factor of the human being,
you might just as well De
taking candy drops instead
of pills.
Patient Y: I'm beginning
to see. What next? Where
do / go from here?
DR.. X: Nowhere. Just
relax. You have been a long
time in coming; now don't
expect to get your problem
solved overnight. Just be
thankful that. at last. you
have stopped guessing at
what your trouble is.
| Here's what / plan to do.
First you'll go to a laboratory
to have q blood sample ex-
amined for uric acid content.
II that Is definitely high. we
will have pretty good ev1-
dence that you really have
gouty arthritis. X-rays may
show changes in the joints
that put the cap on the
bottle Of proof.
II that Is the final dag
nosis, then there are quite q
few drugs to choose from
that often knock out gout
with the same dispatch as
II you applied a sledgeham-
mer. One Of the tried-and-
true standbys is colchicine.
It often stops the acute at
tack within "a hours. aspirin
may be an excellent drug.
but it has little effect upon
the acute attack Of gout0
I'll tell you how to take
colchicine. depending upon
the lab findings and upon
how you react. Among other
drugs tried are Butazolidin
and Benemid. These drugs
are not only used during the
actual attack Of pain. red
ness, and swelling Of the
joint, but are given for
months to prevent the recur-
renee Of early attacks.
In addition. I'll probably
tell you to cut down on fats
in your diet. Also coffee.
tea and other foods.
But I'm really way ahead
Of my story. I haven't made
the diagnosis yet. I have
only been assuming you
have gout. You see. for your
sake, I don't want to get
caught in the same trap
you've been in for months:
JUST GUESSING. Have I
made myself clear?
Patient Y: And how!
|