As an occupational therapist with many patients being “post-op” (or after-surgery) for knee replacements I believe that more information needs to be disseminated about

1. how you know you might need a joint replacement & who qualifies
2. what to do when you think you might need one
3. where to go
4. what to do before surgery
5. what to expect during surgery
6. what to do after surgery

Dr. William Barrett’s Blog discusses all of these things in a clean-looking and professional way. Many posts are dedicated to knee replacements which are appropriate for many people, as well as options for less-invasive techniques and other options to consider without going directly to total knee replacement.

It also discusses hip replacement surgeries in greater depth which can also be a very life-altering procedure.

Posts worth mentioning to those of you who may be wondering about Total Knee Surgery (TKA) might be:

Total Knee Arthroplasty – The Basics, The Surgical Procedure

I Want The Best TKA Available

MIS Total Knee – What Is It And Why Does It Exist

How Do I Prepare For Total Joint Replacement Surgery

This blog is a great resource for those in a first stage of inquiry regarding pain in their knees or hips. It is a very non-threatening environment where basic questions can be answered and launch pads can be created for further information and resources.

I’m sure there are those of you out there that are suffering debilitating pain that decreases function in your everyday activities. So if you are, now you know where you can look! Thanks Dr. Barrett – keep the information coming!

“Dr. Barrett is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. He has lectured and published widely.”

We were pretty excited, thinking this would help give us a big boost in donations for our charity. Well as it turns out USA Today didn’t run their Glaucoma article before the Blogathon. They didn’t even run it a week after. On November 6th, four months after the Blogathon, the article was finally published. Sooo, I present to you BlogsWeLuv’s very belated fifteen minutes of fame.

Someone needs to teach USA Today the finer points of link love.

1. Stop smoking! Smoking is known to elevate intraocular pressure.
2. Get some aerobic exercise. Some studies show that regular aerobic exercise (30 minutes at least four days per week) can reduce IOP by an average of 20%!
3. Don’t drink large quantities of fluids too quickly. Doing so can cause a temporary rise in IOP. Drink only a few ounces at a time.
4. Eat a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables, and keep your weight at a healthy level.
5. Avoid activities like scuba diving and yoga positions that involve standing on the head, since they can raise IOP.
6. Get lots of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acids, and Chromium in your diet. All have shown promise in glaucoma patients.
7. Follow your doctor’s orders exactly!

Former Minnesota Twins slugger and National Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett was forced to retire when he lost the vision in his right eye at age 35. The culprit? Glaucoma.

Though glaucoma is much more prevalent in those over the age of 40, it is certainly not limited to that age group. I am living proof. I was diagnosed with glaucoma eight years ago at the age of 27.

Don’t let glaucoma rob you of your sight. Schedule an eye exam this year and every year thereafter. When glaucoma is detected early, blindness can nearly always be prevented. You can support The Glaucoma Foundation’s efforts to find a cure for glaucoma by making a pledge.

From Jessica Exelbert, Director of Research and Development:

The Glaucoma Foundation is pleased to be involved with Blogathon 2007. Our goal is to find a cure for glaucoma, which is often called the ’sneak thief of sight’. If you have glaucoma, oftentimes you don’t know it, because there are no symptoms. It’s only found after there has been significant and permanent damage to your vision. Nine times out of ten, blindness from glaucoma could have been prevented. The Glaucoma Foundation urges everyone, young and old, to get your eyes checked this year… you may save your sight!

Glaucoma is a number of eye diseases, many of which are caused by increased pressure in the eye, resulting in damage to the optic nerve, which can cause blindness. However, some cases of glaucoma can occur when the eye pressure is within the normal range.

Glaucoma Risk Factors

While everyone should get regular eye exams, there are a few conditions related to this disease which tend to put some people at greater risk.

Age over 45

Family history

African descent

Reduced corneal thickness

IOP (intraoccular pressure) above the normal range

Additional factors:

Diabetes

Nearsightedness (myopia)

Severe eye injury

Prolonged cortisone or steroid use

Low blood pressure

The Glaucoma Foundation compares a healthy eye to a sink. The faucet is always running, and the drain is always open. The aqueous humor is constantly circulating through the anterior chamber. It is produced by the ciliary body, which is situated behind the iris. The aqueous flows between the iris and the lens, and after nourishing the cornea and lens, flows out of the eye through a very tiny spongy tissue called the trabecular meshwork. The trabecular meshwork is situated in the angle where the iris and cornea meet.

When this drain becomes clogged, aqueous cannot leave the eye as fast as it is produced, causing the fluid to build up. But since the eye is a closed compartment, the “sink” doesn’t overflow. The backed up fluid causes increased pressure to build within the eye. To understand just how this pressure affects the eye, think of the eye as a balloon. When too much air enters the balloon, the pressure builds and the balloon pops. The eye is too strong to pop, so instead, it gives at its weakest point, which is where the optic nerve leaves the eye.

The optic nerve is part of the central nervous system and carries visual information from the eye to the brain. This nerve is made up of over one million nerve axons, which are nerve fiber extensions of the retinal ganglion cells. When the eye pressure is increased, the optic nerve becomes damaged and the retinal ganglion cells begin to die. This results in permanent vision loss.

At this time, there is no cure for glaucoma. However, through early diagnosis and treatment, blindness can be prevented.

I am one of the lucky glaucoma patients. I was diagnosed eight years ago, at the age of 27. I see my doctor frequently, and I am on daily medications to control the disease. I have suffered very little optic nerve damage so far, and with any luck, it will stay that way. I dream of the day a cure is found – hopefully in my own lifetime.

You can help. On July 28th, Mike and I will be participating in Blogathon 2007. Beginning at 9 AM Eastern, we will blog for 24 straight hours to support The Glaucoma Foundation. Please consider making a pledge for our cause. Every dollar you contribute will help to further research into this horrible disease. As an added incentive, we will be giving away a $25 Amazon.com gift card at the close of Blogathon 2007. For every $5 you contribute, you will receive one entry into the drawing.

At the close of Blogathon 2007, you will receive an email reminder about fulfilling your pledge. Several people have asked about PayPal. At this time, The Glaucoma Foundation is not accepting PayPal; however, they said that you are welcome to send a check by mail if you do not have a credit or debit card.

Thank you for your help!