Foot and
Ankle Pain
C. Luke Rust, MD
Orthopedics
Rebound Orthopedics and
Neurosurgery
200 NE Mother Joseph
Place, Suite 210
Vancouver, WA 98664
360-254-6161
My Aching Foot:
Foot Pain Causes and
Treatment
When:
Wednesday,
April 30, 6 to 8 p.m.
Where:
Health Education
Center
Info:
Learn about the
causes and treatment
options for the most
common foot conditions,
including plantar fasciitis,
Achilles tendinitis, and
arthritis.
TALK WITH A
DOCTOR
SLEEP
SAFETY
JOINT REPLACEMENT
Q
Now that my children
are school-age and
sleeping through the
night, I thought I would
have more energy. But for
months I’ve felt exhausted
and sick. When will I start to
feel like myself again?
A
Raising young children can
be tiring, but if you have felt
tired and achy for six months or
more and have difficulty completing
normal daily activities, you may be
more than sleep-deprived. You may
have chronic fatigue and immune
dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS).
Chronic fatigue occurs most often
in people in middle age—their 40s
or 50s—and more often in women
than men. Symptoms of chronic
fatigue are similar to common viral
infections like the flu. They can
include muscle aches, headache,
fatigue, joint pain, sore throat, and
tender lymph nodes.
While the causes of chronic
fatigue syndrome are not clear,
there are treatment options. Over-
the-counter pain relievers may help
with headache or muscle or joint
pain. If you need a more aggressive
treatment plan, discuss your options
with your doctor. Prescription
pain relievers, antidepressants, or
counseling, along with a gentle
exercise program and adjusted daily
schedule, can also help in your drive
to feel better.
Q
How can I keep my
child safe from injury
during the springtime?
A
As the weather begins to warm
up with the onset of spring,
children who have been cooped up
throughout the winter start heading
outside to play. Because of this
outdoor play, springtime usually
shows an increase in accidents and
injuries for children.
The most common injuries result
from outdoor falls—from common
play areas like monkey bars, swings,
trampolines, and trees. As children
head to the playground, they are
susceptible to ankle sprains, muscle
strains, and broken bones from
hard falls. Rather than stop the fun
altogether, we recommend that
the best prevention is supervision.
Watch your children closely on the
playground to make sure they are
playing safely and not roughhousing.
If an injury does occur, it is
important to know how to treat it
quickly. Muscle strains, bumps, and
bruises can easily be treated at home
with over-the-counter pain relievers
and TLC. For more serious injuries,
a visit to your pediatrician, family
doctor, or urgent care may be in
order. If you are not sure about the
severity of your child’s injury, it is
better to be safe than sorry. Head to
the emergency department if urgent
care is not available and you suspect
a broken bone.
Q
My knees have been
hurting on a daily
basis. Do I need a joint
replacement?
A
Knee pain is quite common
and can be caused by many
things. Injuries to any portion of the
knee, the bones, or the connective
tissues can cause pain. Mechanical
or postural problems can cause knee
pain, as can any of the more than
100 forms of arthritis.
To discover more about your
particular situation, schedule a visit
with your primary care doctor or
ask for a referral to an orthopedic
surgeon. A thorough evaluation
may give you the insight you are
looking for.
As a general rule, if your knees
hurt every day and prevent you from
engaging in your regular activities,
it is likely that a knee replacement
could help improve your knee pain
and function. If your knees stiffen
up when you’re sitting, if you’re no
longer as mobile as you’d like to be,
or if over-the-counter medication
and a cane aren’t giving you the relief
you need, you may be a candidate for
a knee replacement.
Talk to your doctor or visit
for more information about knee
replacement.
Julie Miles
Family Medicine with Obstetrics
PeaceHealth Medical Group
Fisher’s Landing
16811 SE McGillivray Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98683
360-735-8100
Omar Naji, MD
Family Medicine with Sports
Medicine
PeaceHealth Medical Group
Fisher’s Landing
16811 SE McGillivray Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98683
360-735-8100
Marlene Dietrich, MD
Neurology
PeaceHealth Medical Group
Neurology
505 NE 87th Ave., Suite 460
Vancouver, WA 98664
360-514-7771
Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome: Feeling
Tired at Menopause
When:
Tuesday, May 27,
6 to 8 p.m.
Where:
Health Education Center
Info:
Social time and refreshments
at 6 p.m.; presentation starts at
6:30 p.m.
5
Menopause 101:
