Is That Ankle/Knee Sprained or Just Strained?

After our blog on bandaging cuts and scrapes to knees, elbows, and other hard to wrap areas, we received several inquiries concerning the difference between sprains and simple strains. While a simple strain produces pain, swelling is usually minimal. If the injury is to an ankle, soaking the joint in warm water with Epsom salts is often the best and most economical treatment. Any cuts and abrasions to the area can be wrapped in a simple homemade bandage as we discussed earlier.

If the injured joint is extremely painful and presents with marked edema (swelling), it's best to see a physician for an X-Ray. Remember, docs-in-a-box are not usually set up for treating these kinds of injuries and will in all probability refer you to the emergency department of a hospital. If there are no cuts involved in this kind of injury, it's best to leave the joint unwrapped until you can seek medical treatment. Knees are much trickier to diagnose and often produce more debilitating injuries; they are always best checked out by physician.

If you've suffered previous knee injuries that have resulted in osteoarthritis (OA), you've probably been prescribed COX-2 inhibitors (Celebrex, etc.) to take on a daily basis. There are some new long-term treatments on the market--one, Synvisc-One, is listed in our ads to the right. If one of these treatments doesn't work for you, be sure to tell your physician you aren't getting the results you would like. He or she should be happy to work with you on long-term treatment plans.

Finally, remember if you injure yourself while playing baseball, basketball, football, etc., for the first time in twenty years, be sure to come up with a less humorous explanation for your family and co-workers.

Keep safe,

Nurse Nan

No Stuffed Animals in the Hospital?

What should you take a child in the hospital? That would depend on the child, but we can certainly say what not to take: Large stuffed animals. These stuffed creations look so cute in the gift shop, but in the hospital room much less so.

I've heard some visitors say, "Oh, but they make the child happy." Yes, they do, for a few hours until their pain returns or they begin to feel so much better their only interest is getting dressed and going home. Then the toys are relegated to a corner to take up much needed room or, even worse, set on the floor where they become a hazard in emergencies. Once the child is ready to leave the hospital, the stuffed animal becomes something Mom or Dad has to tote to the car and then find room for at home.

One of the best presents to take a child in the hospital is an activity or pop-up book. They take up little space when folded and are easily transported home to enjoy over and over. Depending on the circumstances, taking some coffee or sandwiches to a waiting parent can be a very much appreciated gift.

With flu season about to start, we hope none of your children becomes ill. Remember to call your physician as soon as possible to set up a vaccination appointment for your whole family.

Nurse Nan

You're Going to Give Me a Shot Where?

Due to a local physician having some problems at his office, we've had several questions concerning just who's who at the doctor's. Here's the run down of what type personnel you will usually find:

Physician - either a Medical Doctor or an Osteopath
Physician's Assistant - these are licensed and usually possess a Master's Degree
CRNP - these highly trained nurses are licensed and also usually possess a Master's Degree
RN - professional nurses; there are currently four kinds practicing in the state, but all have the same legal status
LPN - trade nurses that are called LVNs in some states
Medical Assistant - these are not licensed, do the basics, and do not usually administer injections
Phlebotomist - personnel trained in drawing blood, found in larger offices

If you have any doubt about who is assisting your physician or administering vaccinations, etc., feel free to ask. All competent personnel will be glad to answer your questions concerning their credentials.

The Alabama Department of Health is mounting a campaign for massive vaccinations this fall. Without vaccinations, their estimate is 30% of the state's population will contract swine flu. The vaccine should be available here in early to mid October.

And just where should you get your injection? We've actually had a question about this, and the answer is it depends. Some injections need to be given in a large muscle, usually in the buttock. Untrained personnel can easily injure the sciatic nerve while administering these injections--one big reason to ask who's who if you aren't sure.

If you take frequent injections that don't require a large muscle, standard protocol is to administer the medicine subcutaneously, avoiding the muscle; however, if you receive minimal injections each year, don't hesitate to ask for the shots to be given in the deltoid where less pain and soreness result.

Again, we urge everyone to begin making plans for this year's flu shot. Shots are no fun, but neither is the flu, and we don't want to lose any readers.

Wishing you good health,

Nurse Nan

Home Remedies - How About Them Apples?

What do you think when you hear the words "home remedies?" We certainly hope no one thinks of do-it-yourself lobotomies or curing gout by burying their toenails under a Hawthorne tree during the full moon.

No, home remedies are simply tried and true, and sometimes economical, solutions to everyday problems involving our health. By far, the most asked question I encounter has to do with, well, not going. You would be surprised at how many people recite the long list of laxatives they've purchased over the years--some of them working, some of them not.

Before you try any OTC laxatives, try eating the proverbial apple a day. Other fruit will do as well, but the versatile apple is available fresh, dried, or cooked into high-calorie concoctions that we all love. A spot of hot coffee or tea is also beneficial, yet most who relate this problem tell me they've never tried either "home remedy."

Now, excuse me, I have some eye of neut simmering in my cauldron...

Have a great weekend,

Nurse Nan

Corinne Malvern - Nurse Nancy's "Mom"

We're going to step outside our usual format and talk about a fantastic talent. Corinne Malvern was the artist behind Nurse Nancy, Doctor Dan, and many other popular characters from the 1930s to the 1950s. Sadly she died at the age of 51 in 1956. I'm sure her Nurse Nancy character inspired many little girls to become nurses, and we hope that many remember her art fondly.

The copyright on her Nurse Nancy ended approximately 10 years ago, but perhaps there's some good in that. Above is a collage of Nurse Nancy images that are used in a line of decorative storage boxes. Now the world may see Nancy in a variety of settings away from the book that originally featured Malvern's beautiful drawings.

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Just what is a "natural home remedy?" Our next blog will attempt to shed some light on home remedies and clear up some misconceptions.

Until then, stay safe and happy,

Nurse Nan

Nurse Nan's Credentials

Late last year, a group of politically minded individuals started the Shoalanda Speaks group. Initially it was just a blog dedicated to conservative local politics, but later it branched out into other areas. Originally, I was asked to help edit the Shoalanda blog; later I was asked to do a fun type first aid blog--one that would answer questions from Shoals area residents. Currently, there are four blogs in the Shoalanda group, and each uses the same e-mail address: shoalanda.speaks@gmail.com.

In the past few days, I have received several questions from Tollie Williams concerning my credentials. We prefer to keep things light and breezy at our blog, but since Mr. Williams' questions seem to point in the other direction, and since these questions have been asked on a public forum (Twitter), I will address them here.

Nurse Nan's Credentials, Affiliations, & Academics:

1. Academic diploma from Coffee High School
2. BA in English from UNA
3. BA in History from UAH
4. ASN from Calhoun Community College
5. BSN from UAH
6. Certification in Growth Hormone Education
7. Certification in Emotional Effects of Violence on Children
8. Author of two local histories
9. Editor of one local history
10. Editor of two novels
11. Member Phi Alpha Theta
12. Member Sigma Tau Delta
13. Member Phi Theta Kappa
14. Founder - Information Campaign for AED Readiness & Education (ICARE)

We hope the above will satisfy Mr. Williams' curiosity.

Thanks for your patience today,

Nurse Nan

How Do I Bandage Those Knees & Elbows?

By far, most of the questions I receive involve children. With those bundles of joy and angst come skins and scrapes, a great number of them to knees and elbows, or perhaps to the ends of tiny toes. So, how do you keep them clean while they heal?

After thoroughly cleansing the wounds (remember: deep gashes require an emergency room visit), cover the area with damp gauze; Big Lots or even the Dollar Tree carry inexpensive 2x2 and 4x4 cotton gauge. Now...the hard part: How do you keep gauze in place on an area that bends so freely and frequently?

Look no further than your closet. While you may use some old tee-shirts as dust clothes or rags to absorb oil in the garage, be sure to save some for bandages. Wash the shirt, preferably all cotton, and cut into 3" strips, the longer the better. Now you have a clean inexpensive bandage to hold the gauze in place. Most wounds should be healed enough in 24 to 36 hours to dispense with bandaging, but continue to spray or manually apply a good antiseptic until they heal completely.

Finally, remember, they do grow up eventually,

Nurse Nan