8/9/2019 Therapy Article - KY
1/4
009 9
Theres nothing like a
nice, warm dip in thepool to relax those
aching muscles and joints.Or, better yet, theres noth-
ing like a warm dip in the poolto help those suffering fromchronic pain and joint issuesregain parts of their lives backthey may have once thought tobe gone for good.
Just ask Gary Thurman, onepatient taking advantage of anaquatic therapy programlocated at the YMCA through
Active Day of SomersetOutpatient Therapy.
I can see some improve-ment when Im in that water,Thurman said. I can dothings I couldnt do before.
Thurman has suffered fromchronic pain since he injuredhis back years ago, and he hadlearned to simply deal with thesevere pain which meantlimiting what he could do ineveryday life before his
doctor told him about the
aquatic therapy program.Year, after year, after year,
after year, Thurman saidabout the pain that had over-taken his life. Its alwaysthere.
And while Thurman isntpain-free, the therapy con-sidered an alternative to physi-cal therapy, which can be toopainful for sufferers of specificproblems has helped himregain the use of muscles andjoints hed quit using long ago.
The therapy can also help aperson deal with the painwithout the use of highlyaddictive, strong narcotics or deal with the pain with theuse of fewer narcotics.
I could tell I was getting alittle stronger in the water,Thurman said. I was usingmuscles I hadnt used inyears.
Active Day Center RehabAdministrator Judy Harmon
By Heather Pyles
Melanie Kilgore, a physicaltherapy assistant withActive Day of Somerset,lowers Kenny Perkins intothe pool for therapy. Hesuffers from diabetes,which has decreased circula-tion to his right foot. GaryThurman watches, he is intherapy for back pain.
8/9/2019 Therapy Article - KY
2/4
10 Southern Kentucky Health & Family Journal
Visit our Web site atwww.medicineshoppe.com
2008 Newspaper Holdings, Inc.
Jim Cherry, R.Ph.900 East Mount VernonSomerset, KY 42501M-F 9:00-6:00Sat 9:00-1:00
6066799227
Khalid Iqbal, M.D.GASTROENTEROLOGY110 Hardin Lane Suite 9 Somerset, KY 42503
606-679-7317
Dr. Khalid Iqbal, M.D. established his
gastroenterology practice in Somersetin 1985. He is fully trained in all the
endoscopy procedures, includingcolonoscopy. He has done more than
10,000 colonoscopies and has treated awide range of medical conditions.halid Iqbal, M.D.
said many people who sufferfrom chronic ailments like long-term back and joint pain,fibromyalgia (a disease thatcauses extreme pain over theentire body), muscular sclerosis,Parkinsons disease and diabetes(causing a significant decrease incirculation) are pulled into a
vicious cycle that renders theirbodies weaker than when theybegan.
So many people with chronicpain issues ... dont exercisebecause it hurts, Harmon said.
That reaction is a normal one.Severe pain naturally causes oneto consider not using the joint ormuscle that is causing the diffi-culties, and he or she assumesusing the problem joint or mus-cle would aggaravate it and onlycause more pain.
That may be true temporarily,but Harmon and Active DayCenter Physical Therapist SonyaBeattie said that sets up a seriesof events that lead to the affectedarea receiving less circulationand losing strength.
The bodys circulation system
delivers oxygen to the tissue, andwithout that oxygen, that tissuebegins to die. Beattie said thebody effectively cuts off circula-tion to an area once its con-vinced that the area does notneed the oxygen.
Many diabetics struggle withsuch a significant decrease in cir-
culation to areas such as the footthat theyre often forced to havethose limbs amputated.
For Kenny Perkins, that could-nt be more true. Perkins suffersfrom diabetes, which has led tocirculation problems in hislimbs, specifically his right foot.
I couldnt sleep of the nightbut for four or five hours,Perkins said. My leg would gocompletely numb.
Perkins said his right legwould also become ice cold forperiods of time, and he said hisdoctor told him the foot wouldhave to be amputated if the cir-culation didnt improve.
Thats when the aquatic ther-apy program became a possibil-ity. Perkins, who must stay in awheelchair because he cannot
8/9/2019 Therapy Article - KY
3/4
2009 11
put any weight on his right foot,is able to use the foot with limi-tations for the 30 minutes toone hour hes in the therapypool.
Those sessions usuallytwice a week have helpedPerkins body begin to re-estab-
lish circulation and bring life-saving oxygen to the problemarea.
People who cant even standon land by themselves can standin the water without help,Beattie said.
The water effectively helps
unload the ailing joints andmuscles, which helps the patientuse those areas and assists inlessening the pain.
But that doesnt mean thetherapy is a bed of roses. Beattiesaid at first many patients arefooled into thinking they can do
things they really cant whichcan lead to even more injuries.
Id of killed myself if Idtried to do that (the therapy) bymyself, Perkins said. Theymake me slow down and theytake my pulse.
Beattie said the importantthing to remember is baby stepsfor aquatic therapy patients,thought she pointed out thatpatients who are relativelyhealthy and recovering fromknee or hip replacement surgeryare expected to make progress ata quicker speed than those suf-fering from long-term issues.
And the therapy helps cardio-vascular health as well.
You dont think about pooltherapy being cardiovascularexercise, but it certainly is, saidHarmon.
And many patients simplyenjoy the therapy, which is anadded bonus.
It (the therapy) has helpedme a whole lot, Thurman said.I enjoy the water anyway.
Thurman said he may need toundergo a knee replacement
Complete cardiac diagnostic evalua-
tion with echocardiograms, stress
tests and cardiac catheterizations.
Complete vascular work-up of neck and
legs with ultrasounds and angiograms
Complete syncope work-ups with Tilttables, holters and event recorders
Complete heart failure treatment andevaluation
Pacemaker Placement and interrogation
External Counterpulsation for
advanced heart disease and heart
failure
Serving patients in the Lake Cumberland
Region for more than four years!
DR. IQBAL is board certified in Car-
diology and Internal Medicine, and
has advanced training in nuclearmedicine and Cardiac CT scanning.
He has received
extensive training from Allegheny
University and Medical College of
Pennsylvania, the University of
South Carolina, the University of
Pennsylvania, and Tulane University
Medical Center. He also completed
a heart transplantation and ad-
vanced hear failure fellowship. Dr.
Iqbal has been seeing patients in
Pulaski and Wayne counties for the
past four years.
DR. IBRAIZ IQBAL, MD, M.P.H., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.P.Board Certified in Cardiology and Medicine
850 Hail Knob Road, Suite BSomerset, KY
(606) 677-1112
WELCOMING EXISTING & ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
Gary Thurman, 54, injured his back several years ago and hasdealt with chronic pain for a long time. Hes in therapy to helprelieve that pain and regain some movement back that hehasnt been able to do in years.
8/9/2019 Therapy Article - KY
4/4
12 Southern Kentucky Health & Family Journal
surgery in the enarfuture, and he said whilehe knows recovery willbe difficult, he knows itsdoable with the help ofthe aquatic therapy pro-gram.
It wont be as hardgetting back this time as
last time, Thurman said.Both men plan on
continuing the therapyas long as they need it,and theyre looking for-ward to taking the meth-ods and tools theylearned to continue thetherapy on their own something that wouldntbe fathomable withoutthe help of Active DayCenter.
These ladies have all
been super, Thurmansaid. It takes a specialperson to do this andthey listen to your prob-lems.
Sometimes thats allit takes is somebody just
to listen, Thurmanadded.
Perkins is delightedthat the therapy hashelped him stave offamputation for thatmuch longer, and he saidhell continue to worktoward a healthier life
with the help of those atthe Active Day Center.
Im going to try tokeep my leg as long as Ican, Perkins said.
While Thurman andPerkins have both bene-fited from the therapy,along with several otherpatients, Harmon andBeattie said not everyonewill qualify as a candi-date for the program.
For more information
about the program andfor information on thosewho may be candidatesfor the program can callJudy Harmon at theActive Day Center at606-678-8566, ext. 27. I
Kenny Perkins, 54, suffers fromdiabetes, and is in therapy to tryto stave off amputation of thefoot. Its seemed to have worked
so far. He can sleep all night now(before, his whole leg would gonumb and wake him up, and itwould be ice cold too) and put abit of weight on it in the water ...but not much.
Comfort Keepers provides the kind oftrusted, in-home care that helps peoplemaintain full and independent lives,right in the comfort of their own home.
Our Comfort Keepersare carefullyscreened, trained, bonded, and insured.
W E A R E C O M F O R T K E E P E R S
606-676-9888
Over 550 independently owned and operated offices worldwide.
W W W . C O M F O R T K E E P E R S . C O M
S E R V I C E S
Companionship Cooking, Light
Housekeeping Errands, Shopping Incidental
Transportation Laundry
Recreation, Crafts Grooming, DressingGuidance
Medication Reminders
Personal Care Services: Bathing, Hygiene Incontinence Care Many Others
2009CK
Franchising,
Inc.
Are you a caring and compassionate person?Join the Comfort Keepers team today!
SECIVRES eepersKtComfor
OCERAEW
thevidesopr
PEEKTROF
RE S
Companionship
cidentalIhoppingSrrands,E
ousekeepingLightCooking,
H
ationansporT
essinrDoomin ,rG raftsCeation,ecrR
yLaundr
n- omeuste ,trandfullmaintain
comtheinright
ruO pfC,deniart,deneercs
606-6
e pst atecar
lindependentwotheiroftor
yllferaceasnidna,dedno
6-9888
indep550rOv
thersOanyMarCcontinenceI
ygieneHathing,BvicerSearCersonalP
emindRedicationMidanceG
dwidrwfficesatedperandwnedoendently
FMOC.WWW
es:
rs
dngnircauorAtrCetniJ
.e
.SREPEEKTR
repetnoisspmocydotmaetrep
MO