No Free Medical Advice from This Doc

Dear Dr. Jim 

I have been having this problem and don't know how to handle it. 

It started with a pain in my left shoulder being stiff.  I woke up with it hurting that way.  

The next morning my left hip was stiff and hurting, the shoulder was some better.  By night my left foot also hurt though my shoulder had stopped hurting. 

A day later that same problem was affecting my right shoulder, then migrated to my hip and down to my right toe. 

Next day it was my left shoulder all over again.  Finally the pain moved to my left hip.and stopped there.  

Well Doc, any ideas what is wrong with me?

Hurting in St Paul, Arthur Cheapy

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Dear Art Cheap 

You know I'm not a Medical Doctor so I am not qualified to give you medical.advice.  My doctorate is in Law so in education I am entitled to the name prefix of Doctor, abbreviated "Dr."  

And if with using  that title we retire from academia then we are entitled to keep using it in retirement, which I have done.

Now, my free advice.  Sometimes what you save by avoiding expense costs a lot more than doing things right.

That said my curiosity got the best of me so I ran your story by my physician.  

Right away he scolded me for trying to get free medical advice from him worse than I was telling you.  Nevertheless he did give me a hint that this sounds like the behavior of osteoarthritis.  

He said that if he was right you should see your doctor right away for treatment before it gets any worse. 

That was the good news.  He said there isn't a cure for that but medicine can for sure ease the pain and sometime it may also slow its growth, but not much most times. 

So my free advice for you Mr. Cheapy, is to stop being cheap and go see your medical doctor.  

Let me know the Doc's verdict, Dr Jim  

So, keep on keep'n on, and till then, "Please ask your question or leave your comment now!" (Just ask me and you will remain anonymous)

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I DO NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE HERE OR ON THIS BLOG OR FROM COMMENTS.

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How to share the family computer -- husband out if now, not of his choosing

Dear Dr. Jim

I sure do need your help. My wife hogs the computer here, and if she lets it loose the kids grab hold.

We can't afford two so mostly I am in the lurch. Once in a while I call in sick so that I can get on the computer during the day.

Other times I throw a fit (it would be a tantrum if I were a kid) about it and they all feel guilty. So then I may get to use it a little until they settle down and start begging with me for THEIR computer.

I really am missing my computer games and visiting with my FaceBook friends.

Please help me, Dr. Jim,

Andy in Andersonville, Arkansas

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Dear Andy (really AAA, huh?)

Well now, you have gotten yourself into a mess, haven't you.

Really now, we could see this coming since you are all bound to just the one computer. Unfortunately you have drawn the short straw and are pretty much left out of the rotation.

Our solution is to get you back into the rotation. You must call a family conference and ANNOUNCE that you also need some prime time computer time.

It would help if Mrs. Andy will support you in this. You can ANNOUNCE to her as well but things will go a lot easier for all if she approves ahead of time.

Here is what you do:

1. Divide the evening hours that you all have into 30-minute segments on a piece of paper. Keep in mind that some of the children may have earlier bed times than others and than you adults.

2. Have everyone write their preferences in time for all the slots, from one (1) to as many as you have in common.

3. Start at square number one and write the names of those who want this early time. Mrs. Andy may not want these early ones if she is going to prepare supper. THIS MAY BE THE TIME WHEN YOU SHARE--FROM HERE ON--IN THE PREPARATION OF MEALS to give her some prime time for reading her e-mails and the like.

4. In a hat, place the name token (that you have made for each) for those desiring this time. If possible let someone who has not wanted this time to draw. The name drawn will get the time.

5. Leave the name just drawn out and put in anyone else whose token is not in from the last drawing. Remove any one's who does not want this time. Let a person who is not in the hat draw. The person who won the last drawing would be good for this.

6. Repeat the process until all slots have names assigned. Easy way to do this, cross out everyone except the winner where they first wrote. You could have a fresh schedule but this leads to problems of one's word against the other about mistakes.

7. Put the all the name tokens back into the hat when it becomes empty. Watch that the distribution of times is equal until the kids start going to bed.

8. Repeat steps 5, 6, and 7 for all the days of the week. Weekends may be on hold until everyone's weekend schedule of activities is firmed up.

Some notes:

It will be obvious that the ones with later bedtimes get more time. Make sure that those with early bed times get their share until they go to bed.

You might want to start a family kitty for another computer. Put in everyone's spare change or a portion of it. Add an assessment of a portion of jobs and allowances, sort of like an income tax. You could have a lawn sale or do all sorts of things to get money.

I did not mention the kid's homework. Give compensation time for when they are not in the drawing because of homework. If some of the homework is to be done on the computer a priority can be had for this. You should watch over to keep them honest (part of their family training) to be doing only homework.

You and Mrs. Andy can each stop in briefly at the library if you pass near one so that you can get e-mail. You probably won't have time to answer, this can be done in your computing time.

A lot of people are doing the previously mentioned e-mail checking at computers at their work. Most firms don't care if privileges are not abused as this activity on company time and resources improves moral.

Hope this has helped you out of your problem, it really was/is a family problem.

Dr. Jim

A Colombo: I purposely referenced the AAA in my greeting because my idea for the solution to the computer time situation is similar to the AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) approach to problem drinking.

And you, staying home from work just to play and use the computer. Talk about addictions, you need to think about this one. Dr. Jim

So, keep on keep'n on, and till then,
"Please ask your question or leave your comment now!"
(Just ask me and you will remain anonymous)
Submit question or comment in privacy now

To read the rules and/or submit a question, click here.(CLICK HERE NOW, I've read the rules.)
To leave a comment or non-private question, simply leave a comment below as usual.

This Burbank fellow just wants to stay home all the time

Dear Dr. Jim

I am having the problem of my life. It seems that I don't want to go anyplace anymore. I don't even want to leave the house except for Saturdays and Sundays.

Especially I don't want to go to school. I don't like to go there, I don't like the people there, especially the pupils and teachers, and don't like to do anything they are wanting me to do there.

I will honor your advice, my wife says I should write you and we have this agreement.

Wanna B. Homebody, in Burbank.

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Dear Wanna B.

I have checked the surroundings you are exposed to at that school, everything and everybody is fairly nice, with the exceptions of a few U. Gnow What's. Nastiness runs in the What family and is to be to be expected.

Then I checked with Mrs. Homebody, she says you just have to go as you are a teacher there.

So, it looks like you are stuck there. You could change schools next school year. Or you could change lines of work. That may involve schooling which you probably wouldn't like. What about retirement? I know a retired teacher who has become a golf marshal at a nearby golf course. She gets all the golfing she wants, free.

You can toss a coin about the options above. But tomorrow and for a while you don't have any choice.

So enjoy your weekends, but get your lazy b*tt back to school.


So, keep on keep'n on, and till then,
"Please ask your question or leave your comment now!"
(Just ask me and you will remain anonymous)