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Non-Invasive Alternatives to Surgery for Aging Baby Boomers
Aired August 25, 2003 - 13:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well it's a fact of life, we're all getting older. And with a little age comes those aches and pains. But don't despair. There are high-tech solutions for some of those things that ail us. Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen here to tell us all about them. Do tell.
(LAUGHTER)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Now you don't necessarily want them. Everything comes with risk. So I want to say that before we go any further.
But baby boomers are finding that when they were in their 20s or in their 30s they could do all sorts of activities and it didn't bother them. But then they're in their 40s and 50s and all of a sudden tennis, basketball, racquetball, all of those things start to hurt.
So doctors are noticing a trend that boomers are coming to them and saying, Hey, Doc, could you replace that knee, could you replace that soldier or some other -- hip surgery. Some very extensive surgeries that folks are asking for. And doctors and hospitals are often only too happy to oblige. These pay very well.
Here's one company that's advertising an elbow procedure, as you can see, and this seems to be aimed directly at baby boomers. And so some doctors are saying, You know, the boomers are coming here, they're asking for extensive procedures. And we're saying, Hold on a second. Maybe what you don't want is an extensive procedure and what you do want is a lifestyle change.
So doctors are telling boomers, We know you love those high- impact activities, but maybe you need to give them up or do them less. Running, tennis, racquetball, basketball, baseball all can be very tough on the joints. Lower impact activities that can be much easier on the joints, stretching, swimming, water aerobics, cycling, walking and golf.
So again, some doctors are saying, Yes, go ahead. Let's do this procedure, you need it. In other cases, they say, Let's do something else.
One doctor I talked to said, You know, don't say you heard it from me, but keep in mind these procedures are very lucrative for doctors. And so when a doctor is enthusiastic about doing, let's say, a joint replacement, you need to ask someone else, too. Because it may just be that the doctor's making a lot of money off of it. And for a doctor to send you to physical therapy, they don't make any money. But they do make money off these procedures so beware.
PHILLIPS: What if you don't want the surgery? Is there another alternative?
COHEN: If you don't want the surgery but want to keep up with your high-impact activities, there are a couple of things that you can try. For example, we mentioned physical therapy.
You can also try medications, prescription medications. Glucosamine is a supplement that some doctors like. Steroid injections often will help with joint problems. Physical therapy. And aids such as bandages and braces. Some people have success with those.
PHILLIPS: All right, now what causes these injuries? Is it just the wearing out? Or is there another explanation?
COHEN: Part of it is the wearing out and you just don't have the same joints you had 30 years ago. So part of it is like a car. The parts wear out after a certain period of time.
But part of it may be old injuries that are coming back to haunt you. Let's say we just heard about the Little League. You're a Little League pitcher, you're throwing too many curve balls, spending too many hours doing pitching. And maybe it bothers you a little. But then when you're 50, it bothers you a lot.
So sometimes it's those old injuries that come back at you.
PHILLIPS: All right, get a brace. I've done that. Then you take it off and you're in pain.
COHEN: That's right. Exactly. So those sometimes are pretty temporary.
PHILLIPS: All right. Thanks, Elizabeth.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Boomers>
Aired August 25, 2003 - 13:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well it's a fact of life, we're all getting older. And with a little age comes those aches and pains. But don't despair. There are high-tech solutions for some of those things that ail us. Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen here to tell us all about them. Do tell.
(LAUGHTER)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Now you don't necessarily want them. Everything comes with risk. So I want to say that before we go any further.
But baby boomers are finding that when they were in their 20s or in their 30s they could do all sorts of activities and it didn't bother them. But then they're in their 40s and 50s and all of a sudden tennis, basketball, racquetball, all of those things start to hurt.
So doctors are noticing a trend that boomers are coming to them and saying, Hey, Doc, could you replace that knee, could you replace that soldier or some other -- hip surgery. Some very extensive surgeries that folks are asking for. And doctors and hospitals are often only too happy to oblige. These pay very well.
Here's one company that's advertising an elbow procedure, as you can see, and this seems to be aimed directly at baby boomers. And so some doctors are saying, You know, the boomers are coming here, they're asking for extensive procedures. And we're saying, Hold on a second. Maybe what you don't want is an extensive procedure and what you do want is a lifestyle change.
So doctors are telling boomers, We know you love those high- impact activities, but maybe you need to give them up or do them less. Running, tennis, racquetball, basketball, baseball all can be very tough on the joints. Lower impact activities that can be much easier on the joints, stretching, swimming, water aerobics, cycling, walking and golf.
So again, some doctors are saying, Yes, go ahead. Let's do this procedure, you need it. In other cases, they say, Let's do something else.
One doctor I talked to said, You know, don't say you heard it from me, but keep in mind these procedures are very lucrative for doctors. And so when a doctor is enthusiastic about doing, let's say, a joint replacement, you need to ask someone else, too. Because it may just be that the doctor's making a lot of money off of it. And for a doctor to send you to physical therapy, they don't make any money. But they do make money off these procedures so beware.
PHILLIPS: What if you don't want the surgery? Is there another alternative?
COHEN: If you don't want the surgery but want to keep up with your high-impact activities, there are a couple of things that you can try. For example, we mentioned physical therapy.
You can also try medications, prescription medications. Glucosamine is a supplement that some doctors like. Steroid injections often will help with joint problems. Physical therapy. And aids such as bandages and braces. Some people have success with those.
PHILLIPS: All right, now what causes these injuries? Is it just the wearing out? Or is there another explanation?
COHEN: Part of it is the wearing out and you just don't have the same joints you had 30 years ago. So part of it is like a car. The parts wear out after a certain period of time.
But part of it may be old injuries that are coming back to haunt you. Let's say we just heard about the Little League. You're a Little League pitcher, you're throwing too many curve balls, spending too many hours doing pitching. And maybe it bothers you a little. But then when you're 50, it bothers you a lot.
So sometimes it's those old injuries that come back at you.
PHILLIPS: All right, get a brace. I've done that. Then you take it off and you're in pain.
COHEN: That's right. Exactly. So those sometimes are pretty temporary.
PHILLIPS: All right. Thanks, Elizabeth.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Boomers>
