Dear Sensei,
Hope this note finds you in good health and spirits.
I just wanted to touch base with you about Derick. He has had to give up teaching at the dojo due
to the sudden and very serious deterioration of his eyesight. This situation came on very rapidly
about two weeks ago.
He approached Chris Cody and myself to assist him with teaching and so forth. He wanted to
prepare us for the takeover of the running of the dojo in the event that he might have to give it up
entirely. We were pleased to offer our help.
However, even Derick did not anticipate his eyesight failing him so quickly. He has given up
teaching except on the odd occasion as of the 1st of March. His doctors are recommending that he
have an operation on his eye immediatly but Derick wants to explore some alternative medical
possibilities. He had the same operation on his right eye in September 1989. He was unable to train
or do anything physically strenuous at all for the next two years. He is hoping something more
reasonable can be found before his eye reaches a critical stage.
Please keep Derick in your thoughts as he struggles again with such aterrible dilemma. He is in
good spirits about but has admitted that he is scared. I am scared for him.
In the meantime, concerning dojo matters, the contact person will be me. Any advise will be
gratefully accepted as Chris and I try to keepthings together for the dojo.
Thank-you
Roxanna Hall
I have read Mr. Walker's concerns about his degenerating arthritic condition and his vision loss. I
am not a doctor, but I am by training a systems physiologist and I am a health services researcer by
profession.
The managed care programs at my health care company has disease management programs for the
chronically ill. The goal is to help people with chronic health needs to get the most benefit out of
their health care dollars. Despite what people may think, it is rarely a dollar winner for the health
plan; usually it is an issue of creating the most appropriate care for an individual where the
unmanaged system can present itself as a labrynth. Treatments coordinated are at least expert
opinion based, if not evidence based. Individuals are assigned to a single nurse who assesses the
patient and coordinates the care for the individual using the existing physician networks. In addition
the nurse also provides educational material to help the patient self-manage the condition. These
programs exist for a number of different conditions; arthritis is one of them.
What I'm trying to say is that treatments are available for individuals in your condition. Ideally you
have health benefits that you can use that have a program like this. If that is not the case, then it is
worth finding a specialist who can manage your condition - even if there is considerable personal
expense involved. One cannot overstate the effect of pain and suffering on the quality and
productivity in one's life.
Beyond seeking care from qualified professionals, I have a few extra points of advice and
comment.
1) Be careful about aspirin and martial arts. Aspirin increases clotting time, which means you will
easily get black & blue after contact work. There are other NSAIDs (non steroidal anti
inflammatory drugs) which don't cause this side effect.
2) Don't stop moving. Don't stop training. Don't stop stretching.
3) Do avoid exercise that is traumatic to the joints. The ideal martial art for the arthritic is tai chi, or
a karate style done in a tai-chi-like manner. However contact work is OK and maybe even useful;
it releases endorphins which relieve pain.
4) Get a diet that is low fat and high in fruits and vegetables. Keep
weight down to a minimum.
5) Get a multivitamin that contains a cornucopia of antioxidants. There are some relatively new ones
on the market now that not only have the standards (beta carotene, C, E, selenium) but also have a
dozen or so extracts of cruciferous vegetables with the active phytochemicals present.
6) Consider a glucosamine sulfate supplement. Initial research suggests this may aid in collagen
repair in the joints. Even if the effect is only placebo, it may be worth a try. This can be gotten at
most health food stores. Go for reputable vitamin manufacturers.
As for the vision loss, well the doctor is also the first place to stop. After that, there are probably
many out there who can share experiences with you that may help. The main thing is that you need
to be aware that you will be losing depth perception. This is important if you are going to be doing
partner work (for the safety of both you and your partner).
Good luck!
Bill Glasheen, PhD
When I began Uechi-Ryu, I was a young,healthy and active teenager.
Since that time I have been diagnosed with a progressive form of arthritis. It seems as though that
every day I have to learn to overcome another internal form of pain. Believe it or not its been my
study of Uechi-Ryu that has helped me to continue to study. It is my belief that as we train to make
the art part of our being, we also find ways to overcome minor obstacles in our path.
At the rank of Nidan, I am now at the point where I can barely bare weight on one foot and also
have an eye condition that makes it difficult to focus out of My left eye. Thank GOD for peripheral
vision
If any body out there has any suggestions or comments, please shout !
James W.G. Walker