mthor

No, there are different types - you're thinking of osteoarthritis, which is what you can get when you're old, when you're fat, or as the result of an overuse syndrome (I have it in my knees and ankles, because I'm fat and spend a lot of time on my feet, and in the base of my right thumb, from taking blood pressures and giving shots.) Oh, shit, here. http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/

No, it is good - at least your doc is trying to find out the cause of your pain so that you can do something about it.

http://www.medicinenet.com/bone_density_scan/article.htm Read this.

I call the cops and tell them that there's a wanted criminal pounding on my neighbor's door, and that he's extremely drunk. I hang up the phone and hope that they bring extra pepper spray and tasers. Then I get ready to record the fun for posterity.

discolemonade[/member] It's not that I don't know- I just can't read. I was thinking of a bone density scan. Say goodbye to osteoporosis (and those well-oiled young men) and hello to evaluation of pain (and maybe Wolverine-style implants)

Just went to MedScape to check - bone scans can also be used in the evaluation of pain, to help determine whether it is bone or soft tissue related.

Well, you're making progress - you're talking about getting a job without talking about going back down to the cellar in the same breath. And it does sound sensible to take care of the issues that would make it harder to find -or keep- a job.

I kind of doubt it - although there is something to be said for being carried around on a well-cushioned litter by four shirtless and well-oiled young men, while a fifth follows behind, gently fanning you with a giant ostrich plume fan...but I digress. Anyway, I don't think so. Maybe the VA's protocol requires a baseline at an absurdly young age, or, like I said, maybe they're checking for bone loss or demineralization because of the arthritis - I would imagine the toll taken by inflammation could lead to some localized issues.

It must be - I've never known Mix to deliberately mislead anybody. It would be odd, but not unheard of, at your age, but I'm wondering if maybe they're checking for any bone loss secondary to your arthritis?

Not that I know everything, but they usually use those to check for osteopenia or osteoporosis or Ebola Jr.

You're built like the Pillsbury doughboy.

Your arrest would qualify as an activity necessitating police involvement.

Because there's one born every minute.

I live in one of these areas, and there are always alternatives.

Amen. That is always an option, and sometimes it's the only option.

Why would you do something like that to yourself?

In medicine, there are some things that it's best to assume that the patient is either lying about or unaware of. Pregnancy is one of them. For example, any woman (and by woman, I mean anybody who has experienced menarche) who presents to the ER with lower abdominal pain gets, among other tests, a pregnancy test to help rule out an ectopic pregnancy, which can be fatal if not treated. Even if it's not such a dire situation, the earlier prenatal care starts, the better for both mother and child, and if the patient decides that she wants to terminate, the earlier it's done, the safer it is. I have seen kids as young as 12 gets tested; the youngest I've seen come back positive was 14, and she swore up and down that she wasn't having sex, as did mom and dad. Given that the consequences of not doing one can be catastrophic for both patient and care provider, it's worth a few minutes of being pissed that one's integrity is being called into question. Tell your friend that she needs to read the Patient's Bill of Rights (yes, there really is such a thing) for her doctor's practice; it usually states in one way or another that the patient gets to participate in any treatment decisions.

Isn't that the network where they keep trying to kill Bigfoot?

Apage, Satanas.

Why is the title phrased as a question? You don't really want an answer or a discussion, you just want a chance to spread the gospel of shit happens.

That's a pretty part of the state. It is, however, not where I am, which is also pretty but generally a little colder. And less civilized. No wineries near here - we got us a brewery. BTW - you have a daughter ? Forget donating unless you buy by the crate. It seemed like every time my daughters came to visit, somebody had forgotten something necessary, and any surplus quickly evaporated.

My place then - I'm in upstate NY, and although it's been hot this week, I'm looking at 60's and 50's starting tomorrow. Plus if you want a band, we may be able to arrange something with the bandstand on the village triangle - the mayor is my stepbrother, so maybe I can get some kind of family discount. (And the library is just across the street, I have keys, so we have restrooms.

You have to have enough AC for everybody to be standing right up next to it. But hey - for party favors, we can have paper fans. Big, sturdy paper fans. (And it's a good way to tell who the hot flash fairy is visiting at any given moment.)

I'm there - your place or mine?

That's a great idea...you can donate all of your unused supplies to a homeless shelter and we can drink pina coladas while we say aloha to them. And then we can have really spicy food because everybody will be sweating already anyway.