4 Serious Yet Common Injuries That Leave You Debilitated

 

 

Injuries are going to be a simple fact of life for everyone, and it is important to know when a seemingly minor injury is actually something much more dangerous or debilitating. Properly identifying and then treating these injuries is the single best way to prevent lifelong problems. Here is a look at four common injuries that have the potential to become much more serious issues when not treated immediately.

 

1. Broken/Sprained Wrist

Sprained and broken wrists are incredibly common for anyone that leads an active lifestyle, plays sports, or even goes on afternoon bicycle rides. In most instances, both of these injuries are treated by immobilizing the area for a minimum of four weeks for a sprain and eight weeks for a break. Unfortunately, if this type of injury is misdiagnosed or not treated immediately, the bones and ligaments could fuse or heal improperly and lead to a lifetime of pain and dexterity issues.

 

2. Whiplash

Whiplash is most common in situations such as a car being rear-ended or being hit in a contact sport. This is a catch-all term for the damage that takes place after the head and neck are moved back and forth quickly. While it may seem like nothing more than a headache or stiff neck, it can actually be something much more serious. In the event of an auto accident, patients must immediately seek out professional medical attention and contact a personal injury lawyer as these collisions can quickly turn into lengthy legal battles.

 

3. ACL Tear

This injury involves the over-stretching or tearing of the ACL ligament in the knee. It generally takes place during sports when there is a sudden twisting motion of the knee that strains the soft tissue. It is an unfortunate fact that upwards of 3 million ACL tears take place every year in the United States alone, and failing to treat them could result in lifelong strength and mobility issues. A typical treatment plan involves a few weeks of immobilization after surgery followed by physical therapy.

 

4. Arthritis

Arthritis can develop at any joint of the body and is often the result of repetitive movements or trauma to that particular area. In many instances, the side effects of arthritis such as stiffness and chronic pain can become worse when it is not diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Depending on the cause of the arthritis, professional treatments will often include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, painkillers, massage, and acupuncture.

 

Even if an injury appears to be minor, it is always wise to seek out immediate medical attention to prevent any long-term problems or further damage.

 

 

Information Source: Ladahlaw.com/clark-county/personal-injury-lawyer

 

Categories: acl tear, Arthritis, broken wrist, Disability, disabled, Injury, personal injury, sprained wrist, whiplash

How To Get More Peace Of Mind When Caring For Elderly Parents At Home

 

Taking an elderly parent into your home and caring for them can be a stressful time for any family. Often this move for parents is because they are beginning to be physically or mentally impaired in some way. Part of the stress is the concern for their safety and health and what you may be responsible for in future. Here are some ways to ensure their safety and increase your own peace of mind as you embark on this journey together.

 

Parents Who Are Physically Disabled

If your parents are physically handicapped, they will need extra help to carry out daily activities. There are many safety devices available to make it easier for getting around in your home. Wheelchairs and other medical equipment can be provided by Medicare when a physician has prescribed their use so ask about what you may be qualified for. Other equipment is also available at medical supply stores, and can occasionally be found at discount stores and second-hand stores at a much lower price.

Parents who are still able to walk may have weakened limbs, or may have balance problems. A walker placed in their bedroom can be of great benefit in helping them to move around on their own. Safety rails placed on the bed and grab bars in the bathroom can also help to stabilize them, when getting up or taking a shower. Make sure they are installed correctly and at the right heights.

 

Parents Who Are Mentally Disabled

Parents who are beginning to have memory problems will need help taking medication. They will require supervision which will have to increase as they age. It’s very important not to leave a parent who has memory problems unsupervised in the kitchen, or in other areas where burn or safety risk is a factor. When taking the memory impaired out for any reason, it is best to avoid large crowds where the elderly can become confused and supervision becomes difficult.

Day care centers for the elderly can provide age appropriate activities for the memory impaired, while allowing you a little time for yourself. They are especially helpful for those with Alzheimer’s, where the goal is to retain as much memory as possible for as long as possible. As Alzheimer’s progresses, wandering can become a problem as well. It is very important to have increased home security so elderly who are beset by this condition do not become confused and leave the home. A home security system like the ones on Northstar alarm reviews which can be controlled by a touchpad security code, are very helpful for insuring that a parent with Alzheimer’s will not wander outside. Security gates placed in key areas in the home can also be very beneficial.

Parents who have mid-term Alzheimer’s may need the help of a nurses’ aide. Nurses’ aides are employed at many home health care agencies and are trained in helping older people with memory problems. Check your insurance to see if they will help with the cost of employment.

 

Staying Educated

One of the best things to do when taking care of parents in your home, is to take advantage of as many opportunities to learn about elderly caregiving as possible. There is a lot of research available online to help you, as well as forums where people share their own experiences and ideas. Another very helpful resource is assisted living facilities and nursing homes in your area. They will usually have someone who can give you advice if you are having a difficult problem in caregiving. Churches with senior ministries can also give practical help and can guide you to social organizations that assist in taking care of the elderly.

 

Caring for an elderly parent can be a blessing instead of a worry. Many children who care for elderly parents say a close relationship is fused with them at this critical time, and provides lasting memories for adults and kids alike.

 

Categories: Alzheimer's Disease, disabled, elderly, elderly parent, elderly parents, health, Home, home security, memory impaired, memory problems, mental, nbsp parents, old age, Parents

Erotic Awards Aim to Remove Sex Stigma for Disabled People

Sexual health is important to your wellbeing, no matter who you are. More and more attention is being turned towards the sexual needs of disabled people, but the true pioneer that celebrates sexuality for all people are the Erotic Awards.

 

The Erotic Awards take place every year and thrust the sexual needs of disabled people into the spotlight. Thanks to pioneering sex campaigner Tuppy Owens, the annual awards ceremony and post-ceremony kink party Night Of The Senses has been going for 25 years, raising money for Outsiders – a charity that helps disabled people find sexual partners. Last year’s film The Sessions explored that taboo of sex and disability, telling the story of a paralysed man who loses his virginity to a ‘sexual surrogate’. Then you have the Channel 4 documentary Can Have Sex Will Have Sex, which details the sex lives of four disabled people, including one who has sex with an escort hired by his mother.

 

Such programmes and films are important because they tell us something Owens has been asserting for decades: disabled people have the same basic human desire for sexual intimacy. This is why Owens set up the awards: to recognise and celebrate sex-positive artists, campaigners, academics and sex educators. Last year, finalists included Tits And Sass – a group blog run by sex workers, including strippers, porn performers and prostitutes – and Sue Newsome, who developed a multi-sensory massage for a man paralysed from the waist down. However, the evening is about more than handing out trophies. Once the winners have accepted their awards (known as the Golden Flying Penis), it’s time for various tents, with names such as The Grope Box and The Petting Zoo, to open.

 

Though Owens created and has led the event for almost a quarter of a century, last year she stepped down as head honcho and instead took up her role as disability steward. The 69-year-old pioneer is retiring from the event to focus on her own research and writing. Instead, the mantle of last year’s event was passed onto award-winning producer Lianne Coop, 36, and photographer Grace Gelder, 29, who runs Juicy Productions. A seemingly odd choice compared to the experience in event-planning and status of their predecessor, but, as ever, there is a method to Owens’s madness: they are enthusiastic, bright and, most importantly, they are young.

 

Owens comments, ‘When it started 25 years ago, all my friends came along to support me. They still come along, of course, but they are also nearly in their seventies. It’s time for a new generation of people to hear about the event, so we need young people to run it.’ Last year, Owens’ wish came true when the crowd turned out to be a youthful mix of Gelder and Coop’s friends and those who had benefited from the word-of-mouth campaign. Unfortunately, however, the number of disabled guests in attendance at the event is still relatively low.

 

Even though carers are free to attend and the venue has wheelchair accessibility, Gelder estimates that just 10% of the crowd were disabled at last year’s event. The photographer, who met Owens while researching a documentary on sex and disability, enthuses, ‘Obviously we want more to join in. There needs to be a place where disabled people can come and enjoy themselves and their sexuality.’ Hopefully, this wish will come to light at the 2014 Erotic Awards, for which Gelder and Coop hope a famous name will help promote. Gelder notes, ‘Someone such as Sam Roddick [founder of erotic emporium Coco de Mer] would change everything for us.’

Categories: disabled, Disabled People, Erotic Awards, event, owens, people, stigma, year