Posted by Another GD on December 21, 2003 at 13:55:13:
In Reply to: old fashioned treatments posted by Keith on December 21, 2003 at 08:06:06:
I think you should be more careful in your comparisons. Older (old fashioned) is often not better. Technology advances, and we expand from what we learned from past experiences – the carburetor was a simple, time tested approach to supplying fuel to a car’s engine, but fuel injection let us go from 18 MPG to 30 or 40! Want to go back to the old fuel guzzlers?
The same is being done by our medical experts re LP, both in invasive and non-invasive treatment paths. As an example, conservative treatment, i.e. bracing has leapt forward, the horrible old fashioned braces like the bulky ‘A” frame braces, even the Atlanta (Scottish Rite) brace’s with the restricting spreader bar between the legs have gone away. My grandson has a Scottish Rite without a spreader and doesn’t really restrict his activities worth discussing. His brace also only maintains a 60 degree spread of his hip joints, much more comfortable and just as effective as the old fashioned 90 degree spread!
Even if invasive intervention is required this has advanced with leaps and bounds. Surgery install a fixator, or even more complicated procedures keep the youngster down for a few weeks, instead of months or years as you suggest. Putting my grandson into a leg brace was so heartbreaking I almost lost it having to do so, confining him to a year or more bedridden in a heavy cast would be more than I could handle.
Old fashioned is better? No. I pray we never have to go back to feeding ever thirsty cars, locking our kids into months or years of enforced bed rest and bed pans. Thank God for the modern technology, and the dedicated Doctors and researchers that are making life better for my grandson, and for other LP victims.
BTW, I still use my grandfather’s recipe for BBQ sauce, and pork ribs, but not his ideas about health care.
Happy Holidays!