Utah Vets Battle Back Against Arthritis: Self-management program gets them moving again

(Salt Lake City) – One in three Utah veterans is fighting a home-front battle with arthritis: of the 53,000 Veterans in Utah, more than 17,000 are currently diagnosed with the disease. A published CDC report shows a higher rate among Veterans than civilians that is likely related to joint injuries incurred during their military service.  The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, most often brought on by joint injury and trauma.

Dave Buchholz of Salt Lake City served in the Army Special Forces as part of an Air Force pararescue team in Southeast Asia from 1971 to 1975. He survived land and scuba jumps with 150 pounds of equipment, and even simulated helicopter crashes.  Dave suffers from PTSD and became addicted to pain killers to help manage his chronic pain. The trauma and impact of the jumps took their toll on his lower back, where joint pain and arthritis led to major back surgery in J

“I had an issue acknowledging my pain level.  I even self-medicated a bit with alcohol. It’s been a challenge. I’m pushing 63 years old, and I’ve got to ask myself, ‘How do I want to live the rest of my life?’”

Dave is living a better life today after taking the Living Well with Chronic Conditions self-management course, a scientifically-proven program that can reduce the adverse effects of arthritis (e.g., pain, poor function, depression) and its comorbidities (e.g., heart disease, diabetes). It’s a resource available to all Veterans.

Living Well with Chronic Conditions is a self-management education course offered throughout Utah that teaches people with arthritis and other chronic conditions how to control symptoms and understand how their health problems affect their lives. The course brings together groups of 10-15 participants who meet for two hours a week for six weeks. The courses are run by lay leaders with relevant health problems of their own. The VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City held its first Living Well with Chronic Conditions workshop in March 2013. Dave attended in April of this year.

“I got the most out of the workshop’s group discussions, learning about dealing with chronic pain and how to set goals.”  Dave’s goals were to stay active throughout the day, hitting the gym five times a week to release natural endorphins and help lessen the pain. “The Living Well workshop gave me the motivation to keep going to the gym. Endorphins free up some of the pain, that’s the good side,” he added. “The down side is that you have to overcome the pain to get to the workout.”

Since his back surgery, Dave has beaten his addiction to pain killers and feels well enough to pursue his interest in music by taking drum lessons. “With my history of addiction, alcoholism, PTSD, and chronic pain, I knew I had to do something to get my mind going in the right direction.”

Dave will be a grandfather for the first time in January. “That’s very motivational for me,” he explains.  “I’m not one who likes to complain. I’m really pleased with the health care I’ve received through the VA. They are great.”

If you are interested in improving the quality of life for a Veteran you know, you can help by letting him or her know about the free Living Well with Chronic Conditions self-management education classes.

For more information about how to manage your arthritis, visit http://health.utah.gov/arthritis/, or contact Christine Weiss, UDOH, at (801) 538-9458 or cweiss@utah.gov. To sign up for a class at the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center, contact Joan Heusser at 801-582-1565, ext 4246, or Joan.Heusser@va.gov.

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Media Contact:
Christine Weiss
UDOH Arthritis Program
(o) 801-538-9458 (m) 801-471-8073
cweiss@utah.gov

Pacific Islanders Admit to, Take On Poor Health Status

(Salt Lake City, UT) – Beginning Monday, November 10, the UDOH Office of Health Disparities (OHD) will join local community groups and sponsors in the state’s largest health initiative to address alarming health problems among Utah’s Pacific Islanders. In response to some of Utah’s highest rates of obesity, diabetes, and infant mortality, the Utah Pacific Islander Coalition (UPIHC) has coordinated a series of health promotion events from Salt Lake City to St. George. 

At UPIHC’s request, Governor Gary Herbert has declared the second week in November as Utah Pacific Islander Health Week, which has been observed through events like health fairs, free fitness programs, CPR classes, senior citizen luncheons, and community forums featuring Pacific Islander health advocates like Sione and Filipe Fa, former contestants on television’s The Biggest Loser

The Office of Health Disparities has collaborated with UPIHC since 2011 and actively provides technical assistance to Pacific Islander non-profit agencies like The Queen Center, National Tongan American Community, and Hui Hawai’i o Utah Hawaiian Civic Club. Queen Center executive director Joyce AhYou says holding Health Week in November is intentional. “It builds momentum before the holiday feasting season begins, to encourage ourselves to make healthier choices.” OHD director Dulce Díez praises the local Pacific Islander community for their proactive approach to addressing their own health issues – including infant mortality, diabetes, and obesity rates that were reported in 2011 as being twice as high as the rest of the state. 

UT PI Health Week kicks off on Monday, November 10 with the Pacific Family Health Expo from 6:00-8:30 pm at the Sorenson Multicultural Center at 855 W. 1300 S. in Salt Lake City. The Expo will feature a variety of activity stations, fitness demonstrations, information booths, and free services including health insurance enrollment help and screenings for cholesterol, visual acuity and glaucoma, blood pressure, and diabetes. The Expo is free, including a light dinner, and open to the public with activities for all ages.

The full schedule of Health Week events is available at www.utahpacifichealth.org. The UPIHC can be reached for questions at info@utahpacifichealth.org.

Utah Pacific Islander Health Week is the largest event of its kind in the Intermountain region, drawing over 1,100 attendees in 2013. According to Kava Talks founder, Susi Feltch-Malohifo‘ou, “This year’s Health Week is going to be bigger and better than previous years and this kind of growth and increased interest and investment in our community health is exactly what we want to see.”

The 3rd Annual Utah Pacific Islander Health Week is made possible through the support of UPIHC member organizations, SelectHealth, Molina Healthcare, The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH), Health Choice Utah, and the UDOH Office of Health Disparities.

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Media Contact:

Jacob Fitisemanu, Jr.

Outreach Coordinator

801-259-8700