Among the offerings are books on crafts, gardening, nature and health, along with both fiction and nonfiction selections. Many are large-print format. The philosophy behind the Little Free Library is “Take a Book, Return a Book.”

The library is open 24/7/365, and readers are asked to borrow no more than one book at a time, and return it when they have finished reading it. Donations of current books in excellent condition may be made at the MRSC front desk.

This project was funded by the Kendal Foundation, and we are grateful to Kendal at Lexington for thinking of us!

The word “arthritis” is a general term that literally means “joint inflammation”. A joint is a place in the body where two bones meet. Inflammation is a natural protective response, but in various types of arthritis it can damage joints and other body parts.

Arthritis affects everyone differently, and can assault any joint, including those in the hands, feet, hips and knees. Arthritis strikes people of all ages, races and ethnicities, is more prevalent among adults who are obese, and affects more women than men.

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA), a joint disease from thinning of cartilage caused by injury, inflammation or age. It is a serious, painful and potentially life-altering joint disease that places severe limits on daily activity and quality of life for over 27 million Americans.

Pain from OA comes from two causes: structural damage in the joint, which causes pressure and stress when the joint moves, and inflammation in the tissues of the joint. If OA pain is not managed it can take over one’s life, causing reduced movement of the affected joint(s) which leads to muscle weakening and even more joint stiffness.

Poorly managed pain also disturbs sleep, dampens mood, and causes both frustration and worry. The combination of these problems can lead to isolation, depression, and the risk for worsening pain. Many people mistakenly believe that pain is a normal part of getting older, and that nothing can be done for pain. Others worry about pain medicine side effects, or fear that activity and movement will make osteoarthritis worse.

There are several strategies that can be used to manage OA pain. They include:

Stopping Pain Before It Starts

By pacing activities between heavier and lighter tasks, balancing activity with planned rest breaks, and recognizing signals that you need to rest, you can save energy and reduce the chance of developing joint pain.

Protecting your joints makes strain and injury less likely. You protect your joints when you avoid activities that place high stress on them, like prolonged sitting or standing or carrying objects for a long period.

The risk of arthritis increases as weight increases; one pound of weight loss decreases the load on your knees by four pounds! Researchers have found that people of normal weight have a 30% chance of developing arthritis over their lifetimes, while people who are overweight or obese have a 60% risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Increasing physical activity, done with care to not risk joint injury, is highly effective in easing and preventing OA pain. Activities that build strength, increase endurance, and maintain flexibility can result in less pain, improved ability to move joints, and better quality of life.

Pain Relief Right Now

Finding pain-control methods that work for you is a matter of trial and error. A combination of strategies for managing pain now and pain prevention to keep your pain from getting worse usually works best, but you should, as always, work with your doctor to create a pain management plan.

A variety of do-it-yourself, medication-free pain relief methods works for many people. These include heat and cold treatments, relaxation techniques, and massage.

Non-prescription pain relief is often used by OA sufferers. Some of the products you might try are pain relievers, like acetaminophen (Tylenol), anti-inflammatories (Advil and Aleve), topical rubs, gels, creams and sprays, and supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin.

Work With Your Doctor

You and your doctor can form a powerful team in working to manage your OA pain. When your doctor knows which joints are painful, what pain relief measures have already been tried, and what makes your pain better or worse, it is much easier to make a plan to deal with your pain.

One of the options your doctor has is to prescribe prescription pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications. A newer option is prescription topicals, like gels and lotions, which contain anti-inflammatory medicines.

To strengthen joints or to protect them, your doctor may refer you for physical therapy or occupational therapy, or recommend that you use a splint, brace, cane, or walker.

For certain people, injections into joints can ease pain and increase mobility. For others, surgery – such as joint replacement – may be a consideration.

Chronic pain from osteoarthritis does not need to be accepted as inevitable. Although no one can guarantee you that all your pain will disappear, finding ways to control your pain, protect your joints, and prevent additional pain can make life worth living again.

Earl Edwards, an IT Specialist at Washington and Lee and long-time friend of MRSC, delivered 9 computers, flat-screen monitors, keyboards and mice (mouses?) along with a laser printer, to replace failed or failing equipment in MRSC’s Computer Lab. These items were replaced at W&L as part of an upgrade program. Earl reformatted each computer’s hard drive, installed operating systems, Microsoft Office, and DeepFreeze, and established the “new” computers’ network. With reliable equipment once again, we can restart our very popular Intro to Computers courses.

YMCA Executive Director Alysan Raymond and MRSC director Jeri Schaff explained that each organization was looking for ways to expand their offerings while staying within fixed – and shrinking – budgets. A chance conversation led to the agreement to “barter” classes.

“Move It or Lose It” classes will be held at Maury River Senior Center, and will be taught by Joy Phelps, a YMCA instructor. Focusing on strength, flexibility and balance, “Move It or Lose It” will help active adults maintain the muscles they need to stay active, help achieve a healthy weight, and prevent falls. This class will use both sitting and standing positions and a minimum of equipment so that participants can duplicate the exercises at home.

“Breakfast for Your Brain” classes will take place at the YMCA, under the direction of Jeri Schaff, MRSC director. By engaging all the senses, “Breakfast for Your Brain” helps to strengthen existing neural connections in the brain, and establish new ones. Research shows that the brain acts much like a muscle; using it makes it stronger, more flexible, and better able to recover from injury. “Breakfast for Your Brain” relies on activities undertaken outside of class for much of its success, and participants will be given “homework” such as learning to do one new activity in the following week.

While attendees and instructors can expect to sweat (physically or mentally) in these classes, they are meant to be entertaining as well. Past classes have been very enjoyable, with some participants making new friendships that have lasted ever since. Each class relies on interaction among attendees for much of its success.

“Move It or Lose It” classes will be offered at Maury River Senior Center on Wednesdays at 3:15 pm, beginning January 11. Participants are advised to wear comfortable clothes and sneakers. “Breakfast for Your Brain” classes at the YMCA will take place on Thursdays at 10:00am, beginning January 16.

These classes are offered free of charge, although voluntary donations will be gratefully accepted. Advance registration is not required, but participants must attend the first class to be able to continue. Classes are subject to cancellation is sufficient enrollment is not achieved.

For more information about “Move It or Lose It” and “Breakfast for Your Brain” interested persons should call Maury River Senior Center at 261-7474.