Marvin Jones: Big Boys Don’t Cry or Get Depressed
By Marlo Sollitto

In the rough and tumble world of football, men don’t cry, they don’t show their emotions and they don’t talk about their feelings. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t suffering. Marvin Jones, an all-American defenseman for the New York Jets for 11 years and hall-of-fame player for Florida State, suffered from depression throughout his football career, but he never talked about it and did not seek help for many years.

“Growing up in my world, you were supposed to be tough. During my football career, my depressed feelings came out as anger and aggression. It made me a great football player,” Jones says. “But it comes to a point when that doesn’t work anymore, and the depression takes over.”

Jones suffered from depression from a young age, stemming, he says, from a series of events that altered his life: His mother, sister and grandfather all died within three months of each other.

As a child, he says he wasn’t taught to be open with his feelings, so he never talked about his depression. “I had warning signs; I just didn’t know what they were.” As he got older, Jones knew he needed to get help for his illness, but the stigma of dealing with a mental illness, combined with his celebrity status, stood in his way. “As a football player, you worry that the coach and team will think: ‘Oh he’s depressed. That’s going to affect his playing and hurt the team.’ Then you worry - what if the media finds out? So you have a guy who is suffering; keeping it to himself, and the problem goes undiagnosed.”

And so publicly, he hid his problem, doing what he knew how to do: play football. The 6-foot-2 linebacker left the Jets in 2003 with 1,200 tackles (810 solo), a record that ranks Jones third in Jets' history.

He also hid his struggle socially, interacting well with others, never letting on about the inner-turmoil he was feeling. Toward the end of his career, his depression worsened to the point that Jones didn’t care who found out. He knew he had to get help. “I didn’t announce it, but a few people I was close with knew.”

Regular therapy sessions and medication lifted Jones’ depression; however, he realizes it is an issue he will deal with for the rest of his life.

Looking at the problem that affects nearly 10 million Americans a year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Jones, at age 33, calls depression a problem that affects all of society, either directly or indirectly. He hopes to use his status as a football star to persuade those who suffer from mental illness to get help. “Talk about what you’re feeling. Depression will kill you. It’s a very powerful and explosive feeling and you can’t and shouldn’t have to deal with it alone,” he says.

Read the rest of the article in the Winter 2007 issue . . .

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The Joint Club: Bionic Mobility Offers New Lease On Life
By Tani Hurley

I walked a half mile today. That may not sound like much, but it has only been two weeks and two days since I underwent a total hip replacement.

A combination of circumstances and events convinced me to undergo the surgery as a solution to my hip and knee problems. The first was on our recent trip to Scotland. I was hobbling around with a cane, while I watched a 79-year-old woman – who had had a hip and both knees replaced – dancing Highland folk dances. Then there was the episode in the grocery store. I was limping along and met a much older version of myself limping behind her basket in the opposite direction. “Hip?” she asked me. I nodded, and the stranger gave me a hug. “I know you must hurt,” she said.

Then and there, I decided that I did not want to spend the next 20 years hobbling around. I was also plain tired of the word “can’t.” I turned to Physician’s Regional Medical Center (formerly Cleveland Clinic Naples) and the Orthopaedic Center of Excellence because I had read about Dr. Robert Zehr’s approach to this problem and liked the concept. Joint replacement patients are not just encouraged but required to be “up and at it” as quickly as possible. Rather than discouraging family involvement, the program strongly encourages a family member to be part of the process.

Am I a Candidate?
A review of current x-rays with Dr. Zehr and his associate was revealing. I had a much-deteriorated left hip, and the right knee was also in bad shape. Since rehab for knee surgery requires the patient to climb stairs leading with the opposite leg – and that was the bad hip – we decided to repair the hip first.

After my initial appointment, I was eager to climb onto the operating table right away. I had been reading up on the subject for months, talking to everyone I met who had undergone replacement surgery. My use of a cane usually triggered the conversation.

Hip or joint replacement is still major surgery, so Dr. Zehr went over the procedure with me in detail, showing me a sample of the equipment that would ultimately replace the damaged hip joint. I will admit I was a little put-off by the fact that it was reminiscent of the body parts Arnold Swartzenegger revealed in “Terminator” – part metal, part plastic. But the mechanical hip joint worked, and the one I had didn’t, so . . .

Read the rest of the article in the Winter 2007 issue . . .

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Osteoporosis - What Should You Know?
By Ellen Prager, PhD

Have you heard? Gidget has osteoporosis. Actress Sally Field is now the new face of this prevalent disease.

After being diagnosed with osteoporosis in early 2005, Field chose to go public with her personal health. “Now that I’m almost 60, I want to help change the way women live as they age. We have fought so hard in our lives for things to be better, not to accept the status quo. We surely can’t stop now that we are entering this next part of our lives,” said Field. “For me, treating my osteoporosis means I can strengthen my bones and continue my active lifestyle without being so afraid of breaking a bone. I can’t imagine not doing everything possible to manage my osteoporosis.”

But what does Sally Field’s diagnosis of osteoporosis mean to you? It means that if the woman you remember with the cute figure and pigtails can get it, so can you. Finding out what you should know about osteoporosis is the first step. To join Sally Field as she urges women to take the promise for better bone health, visit her campaign web site, www.BoneHealth.com

Osteoporosis – what you should know?
Dr. Allan Goodwin of the Department of Rheumatology at Physicians Regional Medical Center and specialist in bone diseases advises that you know the answers to the following questions. Follow up with your physician in order to receive the appropriate testing and treatment to prevent the deteriorating quality of life or death that can result.

Am I carrying out the right lifestyle measures to prevent bone loss and reduce my chance for fractures?
Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for osteoporosis and fracture. Excessive alcohol consumption can play a detrimental role in vitamin D metabolism, balance and predisposition to falls. Exercises such as walking help maintain good muscle tone and balance, which is particularly important as one ages and helps prevent falls that may predispose you to osteoporosis-related fractures.

Am I getting the recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D daily to suit my particular medical situation?
Both calcium and vitamin D are important for normal bone mineralization. -Vitamin D is essential to absorbing calcium and is important for muscle strength and balance. Calcium and vitamin D requirements increase as one ages.

Read the rest of the article in the Winter 2007 issue . . .

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The Heat Is On: 10 Tips To Beat The Heat
Source: Road Runners Club of America, Ayne Furman, DPM and Cathy Fieseler, MD

Running in the Florida heat can be dangerous without proper precautions and preparations. The following are some of the Road Runners Club of America’s Sports Committee's recommendations for running in the heat:

(1) Stay hydrated! You can lose between 6 and 12 oz. of fluid for every 20 minutes of running. Therefore it is important to pre-hydrate (10 to 15 oz. of fluid 10 to 15 minutes prior to running) and drink fluids every 20 to 30 minutes along your running route. Avoid beverages that contain caffeine or alcohol. Stick with water or sports drinks. (The sugar and salt in sports drinks aid in water absorption and replenish electrolytes.)

(2) To determine if you are hydrating properly, weigh yourself before and after running. You should have drunk one pint of fluid for every pound you're missing. A persistent elevated pulse rate after finishing your run and dark yellow urine are indicators that you are running while dehydrated. Keep in mind that thirst is not an adequate indicator of dehydration.

(3) Run in the shade whenever possible and avoid direct sun and blacktop. When you are going to be exposed, apply at least spf 15 sunscreen. Not only can the sun affect your skin, but its rays can affect your eyes. When it is sunny, wear sunglasses that can filter out UVA and UVB rays. Wearing a hat with a visor will not only shade your eyes, but also the skin on your face. Try to schedule your runs for the cooler portion of the day, usually in early morning.

(4) When running, if you become dizzy, nauseated, have dry skin or the chills, STOP running and try to get a drink. If you do not feel better, seek assistance.

(5) If you have a heart or respiratory problem or you are on any medication, consult your doctor about running in the heat. In some cases, it may be in your best interest to run indoors. Also, if you have a history of heat stroke or a related illness, run with extreme caution.

(6) Children should limit running in high temperatures due to their lower tolerance of heat.

(7) Avoid plastic sweat suits, late morning races, salt tablets and consuming drinks with high sugar concentration. Also, avoid running if you are ill.

(8) Wear light-colored clothing.

(9) Listen to the race director's pre-race announcements regarding the heat and humidity prior to racing.

(10) Always tell someone your running route.

Read the rest of the article in the Winter 2007 issue . . .

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