Oct / Nov 2013

November 2013
Ice Pack or Heat Pack?
It can be confusing - ice pack to reduce
swelling, heat pack for increasing blood flow.
Which works best for your type of ailment?
Page 1
Employee Spotlight:
Leticia Santiago
From the Desk of Dr.
Gangemi
Dr. Shailendra Hajela
Addresses IMS
Lettie is one of our MVR - Most Valuable Seasonal Ailments - When the weather cools
Dr. Hajela’s lecture on Viscosupplementation
Resource. You’ll find her both in Bronx
down, our aches and pains become hot...
of Osteoarthritic Knees is a big hit.
and across the river in Belleville, too.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 2
Ice Pack or Heat Pack?
When to use which...
We hear so many conflicting
remedies when we are hurting “put an ice pack on it”; “that type
of pain responds to heat”–
how do you know when to
use which?
First and foremost, cold
is the best treatment for
helping to relieve pain.
Applying a cold pack to
an area where you're
experiencing pain can
have several benefits.
That's because the icy temperatures help to numb the area so
that you feel less pain. In addition
to providing pain relief, this application of cold pressure also constricts the blood vessels in a particular area. This effectively reduces
blood flow to the site of the injury
or pain, which will bring swelling
down considerably. Meanwhile,
those cold temperatures slow
down the cellular functions in the
affected area, which may help prevent further tissue damage and
limit bleeding.
Heat packs can have some of
the same effects as ice packs when
it comes to treating painful
injuries. For example, applying
heat to the affected area often
reduces inflammation.
Additionally, heating the area may
provide some pain relief
as it decreases the transmission of pain signals
to the brain. However,
the benefits of using
heat packs differ from
those of ice packs.
Instead of limiting the
blood coming to the
area, heat actually
increases the blood flow to that
spot. This helps to reduce the stiffness in joints and relieve muscle
spasms. Heat packs are also helpful for increasing flexibility and
facilitating proper stretching.
Although there are some
exceptions, it's best to use cold
packs for acute injuries like a
sprained ankle or a pulled muscle.
Cold treatments relieve pain fast,
which is important with this type of
sudden injury. Additionally, cold is
very effective for reducing swelling
and preventing tissue damage.
Cold packs act fast and are a good
go-to treatment for these types of
injuries.
...continued on next page
Employee
Spotlight:
Leticia is one of our MVRs - Most Valuable
Resources. Always quick to lend a hand, you’ll
find her in our Bronx office and, on many
occasions, across the river in our Belleville
practice, as well.
“I am very lucky,” says Leticia, “I love my
job! I love educating the patients - letting them
know exactly what a procedure entails - and
reducing any anxiety they may have. It makes
me feel so good to see them smile.”
Leticia is a Medical Assistant and Electro
Diagnostic Technician at Dr. Marini’s
office/Jersey Rehab since 2005. She trained
for her Nerve Conduction Velocity Testing at
Cadwell in Staten Island, NY.
In her off-hours, she enjoys watching classic
movies and road trips. But, by far, her favorite
pastime is spending time with her three grandchildren and cheering on her grandson at his
sports games.
Visit us at jerseyrehab.com
• 1 5 N E WA R K AV E • B E L L E V I L L E , N J 0 7 1 0 9 • 9 7 3 - 8 4 4 - 9 2 2 0 • FA X : 9 7 3 - 8 4 4 - 9 2 2 1
• 3146 EAST TREMONT AVE. • BRONX, NY10461 • 718-792-6503 • FAX: 718-792-0096
P
From the Desk of Edwin M. Gangemi, M.D.
Dr. Ed Gangemi is the founding partner of Jersey Rehab, PA. He is Board Certified in Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation and practices in both Belleville and Bronx offices.
Seasonal ailments
As the weather cools down, it seems as if our
aches and pains heat up. What can you do to
manage the pain?
Rheumatological diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis are very common in this season, causing increased sensibility and joint
pains due to exposure to low temperatures.
If seasonal joint pain appears, take B
group vitamins that improve the nutrition
of nerve roots and the cartilage surfaces of
joints, as well as calcium supplements.
Dress warmer and pay attention to therapeutic exercises. Hot baths, acupuncture,
anti-inflammatory and analgesic ointments
are also measures one can take to ease the
symptoms of this disease.
Do some simple, gentle exercise in the
evening to maintain joint mobility and the
efficiency of muscles; you'll feel less stiff in
the morning. When you are watching TV
or sitting at your desk, these simple movements can also help:
• Adjust your position frequently.
• Periodically tilt your neck from side to
side, change the position of your hands,
and bend and stretch your legs.
• Pace yourself. Take breaks so that you
don't overuse a joint and cause more pain.
When you have arthritis, movement can
decrease your pain, improve your range of
motion, strengthen your muscles and
increase your endurance.
Choose the right kinds of activities –
those that build the muscles around your
joints but don't damage the joints themselves. Focus on stretching, range of
motion exercises and gradual progressive
strength training.
Include low-impact aerobic exercise, such
as walking, cycling or water exercises, for
improving your mood and helping control
your weight.
Avoid the following activities:
- Running
- Jumping
- Tennis
- High-impact aerobics
- Repeating the same movement, such as a
tennis serve, again and again
- Inactivity, which can lead to muscle
atrophy and further decrease joint stability.
Medications are available for arthritis
pain relief. For occasional pain, take overthe-counter (OTC) acetaminophen,
aspirin tablets, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin,
others) or naproxen (Aleve, others) for one
or two days if the pain is related to unaccustomed activity. Follow the dosing directions
on the package.
Don't try to ignore severe and prolonged
arthritis pain. It may mean you have joint
damage requiring daily medication.
Depression is more common in people
with arthritis. Doctors have found that
treating depression with antidepressants
and other therapies reduces not only depression symptoms, but also arthritis pain.
If you find yourself using acetaminophen, aspirin or NSAIDs regularly, or for
longer periods of pain, talk with a Pain
Management doctor to formulate a more
effective plan for your specific pain symptoms.
(Visit jerseyrehab.com for some
recommended, simple exercises.)
A
Hot or Cold?
When to Use Which
G
E
T
W
O
(continued from Page 1)
Heat packs are more useful when it comes
to muscle pain or chronic conditions like
arthritis. The relief provided by a heat treatment is very soothing and helps to gradually
reduce pain and stiffness in a particular area.
In general, heat packs are better suited for
treating these types of ongoing muscle or
joint problems.
In some cases, a combination of heat and
cold can be used to treat and injury. This is
most common with acute injuries like a
sprained ankle. Once the cold treatments
are able to stop the swelling and bruising in
the area (which is likely after a few days),
heat may be applied to restore the flexibility
and range of motion in the affected area.
Dr. Shailendra Hajela Addresses
Indian Medical Society
Dr. Shailendra Hajela of Jersey Rehab, PA was
the featured guest speaker at the September
meeting of the Indian Medical Society (IMS).
The meeting took place at Chand Palace in
Parsippany, NJ.
Dr. Hajela presented an informative seminar
on Viscosupplementation Therapy for
Degenerative Arthritis of the Knee. Physicians
from a variety of concentrated specialties found
the information both interesting and useful. "For
some patients, this type of therapy can restore a
more active lifestyle, free from pain, and often
eliminates the need for a surgical procedure for
several years," explained Dr. Hajela.
Dr. Shailendra Hajela practices in both the
Belleville and Bronx offices of Jersey Rehab. He
is board-certified in Pain Management and also
in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
To set up an appointment with Dr. Hajela, call
973-844-9220.
To request Dr. Hajela for a presentation,
please call 201-906-5155 or send an email to
[email protected].
For more information on becoming a member
of the Indian Medical Society, email
[email protected].
• 1 5 N E WA R K AV E • B E L L E V I L L E , N J 0 7 1 0 9 • 9 7 3 - 8 4 4 - 9 2 2 0 • FA X : 9 7 3 - 8 4 4 - 9 2 2 1
• 3146 EAST TREMONT AVE. • BRONX, NY10461 • 718-792-6503 • FAX: 718-792-0096