Klarinet Archive - Posting 000235.txt from 1996/09

From: Neil Leupold <nleupold@-----.EDU>
Subj: Orthopod vs. Orthopedic
Date: Sat, 14 Sep 1996 23:36:31 -0400

First of all, I can only barely begin to adequately express my gratitude
- to everyone who has responded to my request for advice concerning the pain
in my wrist. The breadth and depth of information I've received has been
absolutely invaluable and I continue to compile it for reference purposes.
There have been recommendations about devices (braces, neckstraps, stands),
books, magazine articles, specific doctors (including their names and
contact information!), and innumerable personal accounts with intelligent
and detailed procedures which have worked well for each individual who
has offered them. One person even happens to live in my area and has
offered to lend me a device which has proven helpful when he has
experienced pain like mine. To all of you a sincere "thank you", and
please continue to send me your personal accounts and other information -
especially if you have not yet responded. And now, another question:

Two of you have recommended consultation with an "orthopod" doctor. By
appearances alone, the word "orthopod" seems to be connected to the word
"orthopedic", but my knowledge of word roots and meanings is sketchy when
it comes to medical terminology. More than a few have recommended
against seeing an orthopedic specialist because that area of medicine
typically focuses on surgery as the primary method of treatment. Is
there a difference between an orthopod doctor and an orthopedic
specialist? It's just the words themselves which confuse me, and
specific/accurrate information is clearly important. If no other
responses come regarding this post, please respond to this question most
importantly.

Getting back to the other suggestions thus far, several of you expressed
hearty praise for Alexander Technique, and somebody mentioned a "cousin"
therapy called "Felsenkreis" technique (being German, I particularly
enjoy words like that). I think it may have been David Niethamer who
pointed out the relationship between different areas of the body and the
symbiotic relationship - i.e.; if one area of muscles is involuntarily
fatigued, that tension will transfer to other areas and affect function
of the human organism as a whole. This logic would also seem to
translate well in consideration of the nervous system, which is why I'm
now noting the absence of suggestions to see a chiropractor. I already
have extensive personal experience in treatment by a chiropractor, so my
bias is clear. I plan to consult one this afternoon to ensure that my
spine is properly aligned and my nervous system operating without
inhibition from pinched nerves and such. Stress can force vertebrae out
of adjustment all by itself, via involuntary contraction of muscles in
the neck and spine, resulting in possible pain simply from inhibited
nervous function. What do some of the others on this list have to say
in this regard? Godsend? Placebo? Quackery?

Neil

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Neil Leupold
Southern Methodist University
Meadows School of the Arts
nleupold@-----.edu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   
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