| Globe Syndicate
for release November 1, 2002 The Sandwich Generation . . . Helping Your Aging Parents by Carol Abaya, M.A. Are you juggling doing errands for your aging parents, your children, yourself and working at the same time? Are you tired, stressed out and upset that your once vibrant parent is now frail and needy? Do you feel alone? Rest assured you are not alone! The Sandwich Generation is dedicated to the 50 million Americans who may have elder/parent care concerns and/or responsibilities. Chronic Pain Is One Of Top Untreated Medical Problems Question: I am 74 and have had migraines for 30 years. Nothing seems to help. The doctors haven't been able to identify why I have them. Question: My father, 80, has been complaining of pain over his right eye and forehead. The doctor says nothing is wrong. Question: My mother, 69, has been having headaches and pressure at the bridge of her nose, which radiates out across her eyebrows. She has been to both the eye and nose doctors. They can't find anything wrong. Answer: Reasons for pain can often be allusive. The "reason" can be in one part of the body, and the pain elsewhere. Pain management is also tied into human spirituality and feelings of self. So it's important to address the cause. Too often medication masks symptoms (the pain), but does not cure. Studies show that almost 20% of the elderly regularly take pain medication, and most of the time pain continues. And the consequences of taking too much medication can be devastating. People become depressed, lethargic and reclusive. In all of these scenarios, pain might occur because the spine or neck is out of proper alignment. Pain is felt in the head as headaches. A sports injury trained Chiropractor should be consulted. Or the jaw could be out of alignment (TMJ). This often happens if a person has had a lot of dental work done over the years and has bridges or caps. Pain travels. Talk to your dentist. If the woman with the pressure over her nose also has sinus problems, eating a slice of raw onion can immediately reduce pressure. Also onions can be boiled, and one should drink the water as tea. There is something in onions that reduce nasal passage inflammation. Other things that can help reduce headaches: biofeedback, acupressure and reflexology. There is a group of health care professionals (from doctors, dentists, chiropractors to others) who specialize in identifying pain sources and treatment. A Pennsylvania dentist, Gerald H. Smith has a marvelous CD, "Alternative Treatments for Conquering Chronic Pain" and a web site www.icnr.com. His e-mail is ghsdoc@icnr.com. Tell him I gave you his name. * * * Question: My parents, 81 and 84, regularly each take several expensive medicines. Their only income is social security and they're having trouble paying for all the daily bills. Where can they get help? Answer: First of all, make sure your parents really need the medicines. Too often doctors do not review prescriptions or eliminate those not really needed. There is help. Seven drug companies now offer a drug discount card, called "Together Rxl." Patients' annual incomes must be less than $28,000 per individual or $38,000 for couples. The companies are Abbott, Astra Xeneca, Aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Glaxo Smith Kline, J&J, and Novartis. Pfizer and Eli Lily offer flat fee co-payment cards. For more details call 800-865-7211 or go to their website: www.togetherx.com. * * * Do you have a question? Send it in. Although letters cannot be answered individually, appropriate letters will be answered in this column whenever possible. Letters may be edited. Send letters to Ms. Carol Abaya, c/o Name\Address of YOUR newspaper (or mail direct to her at PO Box 132,Wickatunk, NJ 07765-0132) or contact her through her web site: thesandwichgeneration.com. Carol Abaya is an international-award-winning journalist and creator of the unique magazine The Sandwich Generation: You & Your Aging Parents. NOTES TO EDITORS: text = 490 words; other material = 160 words We would appreciate it if you would include the "Globe Syndicate" bug at the end of the column. ©2002 by Globe Syndicate, all rights reserved. |