Which ailments currently beplague you - The Bear and Badger

poprock

Must be a Gaelic thing, they’re called cleggs here too.

cosmicjellybean

I don’t think I’ve ever seen horse-flies. They look like nasty fuckers. And those bites!

LivDiv

Have you been to the docs with that Pop?
I had similar right on the end of my elbow a few years back. I went to Boots pharmacy and they sent me straight to the drop in centre.
I had anti-biotics to clear it up. Im not a fan of taking anti-biotics willy nilly but the doc said it was necessary.

poprock

I’ve got like 10 of these fucking bites, at various stages of healing. This is because there’s a field of cows right behind our meadow, where I take the dog lots of times per day.

Horseflies like cows. Sometimes they overstep and come bite me instead.

I’m keeping the bites clean and taking antihistamines to minimise my reaction to them. None of them are infected. If they weeped anything other than clean, clear liquid or normal-looking blood, then I’d be on to the doctors for antibiotics quicker than a very quick thing.

stonechalice

I know several people that had horse fly bites go very bad. A mate of mine had an ambulance called to a festival we were at and he was carted off immediately because his leg tripled in size in two hours. Fucked him right up for weeks. Those cunts rip your skin up and fill it with filth.

Webbins

Do taking garlic capsules help deter them as it anecdotally does mozzies?

Gremill

Cleggs are bastards, those serrated jaws are a thing of Nightmares

yourfavouriteuncle

I think if you just drink a can of fly spray before every field walk then you should be golden.

Wookienopants

And that's me never going out every again

poprock

Any excuse.

Minkymu

tin_robot wrote:

Matt_82 wrote:

Matt_82 wrote:

I appear to have managed to pulled a muscle (or something similar) in my foot. I can walk but it hurts like hell and it seizes up when I'm not using it. This is what I get for getting old

Turns out that this is Plantars Fasciitis. And I have at least 6 months before it'll go away, if it does. Fucking joy.

I'm sure you've heard all this already Matt, but just in case...

- Make sure you having well fitting supportive footwear. Get additional cushioning for the heel if possible. Avoid any kind of shoe that doesn't stay pretty firmly in place.

- Try regular stretches, and try massaging by rolling your foot along a tennis ball.

- Anti-inflammatories can help with the pain (just be wary of irritating your stomach)

- If none of that helps see if you can get to a podiatrist for specialist insoles.

Failing all of that, you could ask for a steroid injection. This usually works but is extremely painful, which is why we don't tend to offer it without trying everything else first.

I have this. Its a twat. I have had 2 steroid injections over the last 4 years neither did much for me, and getting it done is unpleasant.

I get numb toes too although my circulation is fine along with sensation tests.

davyK

poprock wrote:

Must be a Gaelic thing, they’re called cleggs here too.

There is quite an overlap with Scotland and NI re vernacular.

Kow

My mother is from Dundalk. She calls horse flies clags.

hunk

Eurgh, I hate flies. Especially the egg laying variety in wounds.

Slowly recovering from a subluxated shoulder. Still on nsaid's (naproxen) but trying to limit intake because prolonged use can cause stomach bleeds.
Started physio and it actually relieves the pain somewhat.

JonB

My dad has just been diagnosed with Parkinson's. He's 77. We've felt like something was up for a couple of years - he's been kind of slow and clumsy in a way that didn't seem to be purely down to age - but he's only recently had tests* and had it confirmed. Anyway, he's basically fine for the time being and has some medication now.

Just thought I'd share in case anyone else had experience with relatives etc. with Parkinson's. I know it's not going to affect him greatly in the short term, but obviously I'm concerned for his state a few years down the line, especially since I'm unlikely to see him much in the next couple of years.

* As a side note, he ended up getting a private appointment because the NHS one he was given was 6 months away.

Yossarian

Sorry to hear that Jon.

My grandad had Parkinson’s. I was still fairly young when he died, but I mostly remember a long, slow physical and, eventually, mental decline. It will be tough for you to watch. Make sure you look after yourself through this as well as your family.

JonB

My aunt's partner died about 20 years ago after a long decline with Parkinson's, so I know what you mean. But my impression is that the treatments have improved quite a lot in recent years. Hopefully it doesn't get too awful before he's ready to go anyway.

Yossarian

Fingers crossed.

I don’t know if you happen to follow Paul Sinha on Twitter, he got diagnosed with Parkinson’s about a year ago, plus he is, or was, a medical doctor. Might be worth a follow, you could potentially get some useful advice.

tin_robot

JonB wrote:

My dad has just been diagnosed with Parkinson's. He's 77. We've felt like something was up for a couple of years - he's been kind of slow and clumsy in a way that didn't seem to be purely down to age - but he's only recently had tests* and had it confirmed. Anyway, he's basically fine for the time being and has some medication now. Just thought I'd share in case anyone else had experience with relatives etc. with Parkinson's. I know it's not going to affect him greatly in the short term, but obviously I'm concerned for his state a few years down the line, especially since I'm unlikely to see him much in the next couple of years. * As a side note, he ended up getting a private appointment because the NHS one he was given was 6 months away.

Sorry to hear that Jon. Obviously I've had experience of Parkinsons one way or another over the years, and am happy to offer any thoughts or advice if you need it, now or in the future.

It get the impression you know the main headlines already. I'd say the trickiest decision from a medical perspective is when to start medication - broadly speaking we tend to hang back until symptoms are affecting quality of life, in order to prevent side effects and potentiate benefits. It sounds like that decision's already been made. One thing to look out for is that medication can appear to wear off over time - particularly the duration of effect can be reduced. This is particularly problematic as doctors often see patients shortly after they've had their tablets, when they're at their best, and don't see them when things are wearing off. So we can be guilty of thinking things are better than they are. Hopefully this won't happen for a long time, but it's something to look out for, and to encourage your Dad to make a fuss about when it does, rather than quietly putting up with it as so many people do.

The only other thing I'd say is that exercise is really important, especially at the moment. I know it's a thing that doctors always say, but in Parkinsons in particular exercise makes a huge difference. 2.5 hours a week can slow progression of the disease, and it helps with co-ordination, strength, balance and the tremor itself.

Parkinson's UK has some really good resources that might help.

JonB

OK. Thanks, tin. He's always been good with exercise, so that shouldn't be an issue. Just a case of finding things that are most beneficial.

g.man

Ach, that's very sad news Jon.

RamSteelwood

tore my hamstring last night playing footy. i've done it before but this is worse, pretty sure it's a full grade 3 tear. i heard the pop, and so did some of the lads nearby!
hopefully enough intact that it won't need surgery but currently can only manage to stand up straight or lie flat on my front without being in pain.
at 42 i'm starting to think i might not make it as a pro footballer now...

LivDiv

Put a good tape together and Arsenal will have you.
"He'll be good if he gets fit"

LivDiv

That sounds bloody painful though. I guess its a trip to the GP first and multiple scans and experts from there.

Hope you can avoid surgery mate.

Kow

I'm pretty sure that doctors recommend doing no sports of any kind after you hit 40.

cockbeard

Thank you Dr Kow

I'm screenshotting that and using it as a b-chit when I need it

g.man

Sorry to hear that Ram. Not good news at all mate.

Kow wrote:

I'm pretty sure that doctors recommend doing no sports of any kind after you hit 40.

Yup. I can cripple myself just getting out of a chair these days.

pantyfire

tin_robot wrote:

JonB wrote:

My dad has just been diagnosed with Parkinson's. He's 77. We've felt like something was up for a couple of years - he's been kind of slow and clumsy in a way that didn't seem to be purely down to age - but he's only recently had tests* and had it confirmed. Anyway, he's basically fine for the time being and has some medication now. Just thought I'd share in case anyone else had experience with relatives etc. with Parkinson's. I know it's not going to affect him greatly in the short term, but obviously I'm concerned for his state a few years down the line, especially since I'm unlikely to see him much in the next couple of years. * As a side note, he ended up getting a private appointment because the NHS one he was given was 6 months away.

Sorry to hear that Jon. Obviously I've had experience of Parkinsons one way or another over the years, and am happy to offer any thoughts or advice if you need it, now or in the future.

It get the impression you know the main headlines already. I'd say the trickiest decision from a medical perspective is when to start medication - broadly speaking we tend to hang back until symptoms are affecting quality of life, in order to prevent side effects and potentiate benefits. It sounds like that decision's already been made. One thing to look out for is that medication can appear to wear off over time - particularly the duration of effect can be reduced. This is particularly problematic as doctors often see patients shortly after they've had their tablets, when they're at their best, and don't see them when things are wearing off. So we can be guilty of thinking things are better than they are. Hopefully this won't happen for a long time, but it's something to look out for, and to encourage your Dad to make a fuss about when it does, rather than quietly putting up with it as so many people do.

The only other thing I'd say is that exercise is really important, especially at the moment. I know it's a thing that doctors always say, but in Parkinsons in particular exercise makes a huge difference. 2.5 hours a week can slow progression of the disease, and it helps with co-ordination, strength, balance and the tremor itself.

Parkinson's UK has some really good resources that might help.

Sorry to hear this as well Jon.

My father in law died two years ago. He had Parkinson’s for over 25 years.
My wife and I lived with and looked after him daily for his last ten years.

He was very conscious of the tremors etc…in the beginning and wasted time not wanting to go out and do things. Time he regretted as the disease progressed enough to actually stop him going out and doing things.
So my advice. Do everything he wants to do now, don’t put it off. No one gives a shit that your hands or leg tremors a bit. Just travel, eat out, visit family in New Zealand, do the things you’ve always wanted to do etc… while you can. Because there WILL be a time when he wont he able to do them.

The FiL also developed Parkinson’s dementia and was confined to a chair for his last 5 years. Being fed via a peg (feeding pump directly into the stomach), he literally had a couple of minutes a day when he was ‘dad’ and couldn’t even enjoy tv, music or muster the wherewithal to have a newspaper read to him.
By the end he was just… ‘there’.

I am not belittling the situation in any way shape or form but be relieved it’s been diagnosed at such an advanced age. It usually takes many years to become totally debilitating and with medication he will likely live a relatively normal life until it’s his time to go via other natural causes.

hylian_elf

Stress and anxiety of moving home. Fuck this.

Plus builders being slow gits at the final hurdle and not finished front paving so it’ll be done over next couple of weeks while we are settling into new home.

Fuck this.

acemuzzy

We're also having a bit of a nightmare with things atm. Away for two weeks which is making the missus even more anxious, while I'm not convinced much will progress and we'll still be in this shitty state of affairs for another coupler of months. Sigh.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories