Drug Alert: Fosamax and Femur Fractures

What is Fosamax?
Fosamax is used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. It can also be prescribed in the relief of Paget's dieses of the bone.

What is osteoperosis and Paget's diesease?

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones. When the disease is present, the bone mineral density is reduced. Simply, the bones become porous (filled with holes), thinner and become weak. Due to this, the bones have a much higher chance of breaking. Osteoporosis is most common in women after menopause, but the disease can also affect men.

Paget's disease is a chronic bone condition where the normal remodeling of the bone is disturbed. Remodeling means the synchronized process of the body laying new bone and taking up old bone. When Paget's is present, like stated above, this process is interpreted. As a result, the new bone which is formed is abnormal, enlarged, not as dense and more prone to break.

Fosamax Use and Femur Fractures

A March 2009 article in "Drug Safety Update" shared these findings in connection with taking bisphosphonates and Fosamax.

1. Atypical stress fractures (also known as insufficiency fractures) of the proximal femoral shaft have been reported in patients treated long-term with alendronic acid (in most cases, time to onset ranged from

18 months to 10 years)

2. Fractures occurred after minimal or no trauma, and some patients experienced thigh pain weeks to months before presenting with a completed femoral fracture. Fractures were frequently bilateral; therefore the contralateral femur should be examined in patients treated with alendronic acid who have a femoral shaft fracture. Poor healing of these fractures was also reported

Dr. Kenneth Egol, professor of orthopedic surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center said the following concerning Fosamax in an ABCNews article: "We are seeing people just walking, walking down the steps, patients who are doing low-energy exercise. Very unusual, the femur is one of the strongest bones in the body.

Scenes From The 2010 North Carolina Pickle Festival in Mount Olive, North Carolina

As we posted on the blog last week, we were getting down to Mount Olive to mix it up with the folks of Wayne County at the 2010 North Carolina Pickle Festival. Well, we did just that and throughout the day we met some great people from Mount Olive and the surrounding area. The weather was great and rain threatened a couple times, but ultimately stayed off the festivities.

Many people came by our booth and some even stopped by to ask us legal questions. We hope everyone who stopped by enjoyed themselves. If you did have a legal question, we hope an attoreny was of help. As always, we had the camera in tow, but instead of simply placing the pictures on our Facebook page, we figured we'd make a little slide show with music.

Sanford, North Carolina 2010 Muscular Dystrophy Association Lock Up

The folks at the Raleigh Muscular Dystrophy Association office hit another home run last week. The location was different, but the positive result was the same. The people of Sanford, North Carolina brought their A-Game and raised, get this, nearly $60,000 for the MDA on April 22.

The event was held in downtown Sanford at The Steele Pig. Along with lending their space, they also fed everyone. They didn't just do finger foods. They went the whole 9 with BBQ pork, baked beans, mashed potatoes and much, much more. The BBQ was great. We highly recommend visiting The Steele Pig if you ever get down to Sanford.

As always, we brought along the camera and snapped some photos of the event. To see all the pictures we took, please visit our Facebook page and check them out in our Photo Albums.

Friday Feed #49

Find out what these celebrities were called before they were famous
See what actor's birth name was "Albert Einstein." He, of course, changed it up for the sake of his career.

To learn better, take a nap
Before you take on a task, research has found that sleeping and dreaming about it will show you the way.

College Baseball rain delay turns into a dance off
Crazy college kids.

Best QB Classes of All Time
SI takes a look at some of the best QB draft classes.

2010 Sanford, North Carolina Muscular Dystrophy Association Lock Up

Today, we're down in Lee County, Sanford to be exact, to help the Eastern North Carolina Muscular Dystrophy Association with one of their many Lock Ups in 2010. We love going to these things because it is people helping people in practice. We meet great folks and assist in raising funds for a great cause. This year's event will be held at The Steele Pig on South Steele Street.

As always, we'll have the camera there to take some pictures and post them for all to see by way of our blog and our Facebook page. Come back next week and check them out!

2010 North Carolina Pickle Fest in Mount Olive, North Carolina

It's that time of year. Time to get out of the house on the weekends and see what is going on in the North Carolina communities. We kick off our spring, summer and fall tour of the North Carolina landscape starting this Saturday at the 2010 North Carolina Pickle Festival in Mount Olive, North Carolina. 

By just taking a quick look at the Schedule of Events, it looks like a great time. Here are some of the highlights of what will be going on Saturday:

- Free Pickles all day long on Saturday.
- Wayne County Cruisers Car Show until 4:00pm
- HOG/GWRRA Motorcycles until 4 p.m.
- Keith King Bike Stunt Team at 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30
and much, much more!
 
If you're around the Mt. Olive/ Wayne County area and want to get out on Saturday, come on down to the Pickle Festival and stop by and see us. If you can't make it, that's okay. Just stop by here or our Facebook page and check out some of the photos and video we take while we're there.
 

Social Security Administration to Provide Helpful Health Care Information

The Social Security Administration recently announced that they will be providing helpful health care information to those who apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. The press release follows:

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced the agency is providing helpful health care information and website links to the more than three million individuals who apply each year for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. The website links take disability applicants to two U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) websites – www.healthfinder.gov where they will find information and tools to help them better understand and cope with their conditions; and www.healthfinder.gov/rxdrug where they may be able to get help paying for prescription drugs.

“This year over three million Americans will apply for disability benefits. Whether they meet the statutory test and qualify for benefits or not, almost all of them are facing difficult economic and medical challenges. One of the advantages of our fully electronic system is that our notices can provide applicants with valuable information provided by HHS that might help them make good choices faster,” Commissioner Astrue said. “Twenty five years ago, I had the experience of filing for disability benefits on behalf of my seriously ill father. It would have been a blessing to have had easy access to this kind of important information.”

The website at www.healthfinder.gov provides detailed information about specific diseases. For example, an applicant with breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, or other diseases can go to the site to gather information about diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, ongoing research, and local resources available to people with those diseases. The website at www.healthfinder.gov/rxdrug links people to the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, which directs people to information on reduced cost or free prescription drugs offered by drug companies, state and local governments, and local organizations.

In 2009, we placed a guide on our website called the "North Carolina Financial & Services Guide." The goal was to create a directory of helpful resources for those who suffered financial burden in the time after an accident or disability. It spans across 22 counties in North Carolina and can be viewed here. 

Friday Feed #48

WRAL Channel 5's Out and About
See what's going on around the Triangle this weekend!

News & Observer Deals Page
Check out some great deals around the Triangle.

2010 North Carolina Pickle Festival
We'll be down in Mount Olive next Saturday for this event. Stop by and meet the great folks of Wayne County.

Texas High School Gets $60 Million Football Stadium
They take their football serious in the Lone Star State.

The Sarah Jane Brain Project

The other day we received an e-mail about an event taking place in Chapel Hill on the 26th of April. Off the bat, we did not recognize the organization who was throwing the event. After taking a look at their message and seeing what the organization was all about, we couldn't help but to sign up for the event and also use our blog as a channel for this organization to reach more people and for more to learn about their cause.

The name of the organization is the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation. Sarah Jane is the daughter of Patrick Donohue. When she was just five days old, Sarah Jane was shaken by her nurse. Due to the shaking, Sarah Jane suffered from Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury (PTBI).

The mission of the Foundation is to create a  model system for children suffering from all Pediatric Acquired Brain Injuries. The full text of the plan can be read on the foundation's official website here.

The foundation created a four phase plan to reaching their goal. From the official website:

We have four Phases of The Sarah Jane Brain Project. Phase 1 involved using open source principles for the first time in medical history making all of Sarah Jane's medical records available online without any restrictions. Phase 2 started bringing in more families into our open source initiative and began developing The National Advisory Board of The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation. Phase 3 created a National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan (the PABI Plan) which outlines the model system by developing a continuum of care for children suffering from PABI. Now in Phase 4, we are funding and implementing the PABI Plan and its model system.

It sounds like this foundation is doing some great things and we are excited to join the folks around the Triangle and hear Sarah Jane's story and learn of the future plans of the foundation. If you would like more information on the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, please visit their website here.

* Picture courtesy of  http://www.nasdaq.com/

The Durham Rescue Mission Is Doing Some Great Things For The Community

If you've never heard of the Durham Rescue Mission in Durham, NC, then take a couple minutes to check out their website: Durham Rescue Mission

Members of the firm received a first hand look at the great things the Rescue Mission is doing for the Durham Community when they visited and volunteered for their Annual Easter Community Dinner on Good Friday (April 2nd, 2010). It was a beautiful, sunny and almost summer like day in Durham. People and businesses from across the Triangle donated all kinds of food, clothing and Easter Baskets for the children of the community.

It was the Golden Rule in practice. It's always awesome to see a community come together to help the community. We had to pass along the greatness we saw and also provide a link for anyone who comes across the blog to help out if they would like. The link below leads you to a page on the Durham Rescue Mission's website which shows their donation options.

How to Help

(Picture Above: Managing Partner, Ben Cochran volunteers by taking up tickets at the 2010 Annual Easter Community Dinner at the Durham Rescue Mission in Durham, NC)

        

Florida Man Feeling Backlog of Social Security Disability

Thomas Presha is a Florida resident who has been unemployed for 3 years. In the morning, he can barely get himself out of bed. He has put in for Social Security disability benefits, but in a state with the average waiting time of 470 days, Mr. Presha has been waiting for over two years for his case to be heard by an Administrative Law Judge.

470 days may seem like a lot, but that is an improvement over the average wait in Florida only two years ago which was 557. If everyday is like how Mr. Presha describes in the following text, then one more day is too much for him not to be able to have the funds to see the appropriate doctors.

“I’m in excruciating pain all the time. I actually wake up every morning crying from what kind of pain I’m in. I spend the day whining and crying in bed.”


The above and much more can be found on the Bradenton Herald website.

Friday Feed #47

Well, the NASCAR Sprint Cup will be down in Phoenix International Speedway tomorrow, but Ken and Ben some how found Jimmy Johnson's car in Cary, North Carolina on Thursday. Have a great weekend and we'll see you back here on Monday!

7 Frequently Asked Questions About North Carolina Boating Accidents

It's warming up outside. In North Carolina, it seems we've just skipped spring and went to summer. With that being said, when the heat goes up, so does the numbers of boats, jet skis and ultimately people who are around the waterways of North Carolina. So today on the blog, we'll share 7 frequently asked questions when it comes to boating accidents in North Carolina.

1. If I’m involved in a boat accident, what should I do?

If anyone is seriously injured, seek medical attention immediately. After assessing the situation, decide if you need to call your insurance company due to injury or extensive property damage.

2. Under what circumstances do I need to file a boating accident report and is there a time frame in which I have to file the report?
From the 2007 US Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics Report:

Under federal regulations (33 CFR Part 173; Subpart C – Casualty and Accident Reporting) the operator of any numbered vessel that was not required to be inspected or a vessel that was used for recreational purposes is required to file a Boating Accident Report (BAR) when, as a result of an occurrence that involves the vessel or its equipment:

- A person dies; or
- A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury; or
- A person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid; or
- Damage to vessels and other property totals $2,000 or more; or

- There is a complete loss of any vessel.

If the above conditions are met, the federal regulations state that the operator or owner must report their accident to a reporting authority. The reporting authority can be either in the state where the accident occurred, the state in which the vessel was numbered, or, if the vessel does not have a number, the state where the vessel was principally used. The owner must submit the report if the operator is deceased or unable to make the report.

The regulations also state the acceptable length of time in which the accident report must be submitted to the reporting authority. Vessel operators or owners must submit:

- Accident reports within 48 hours of an occurrence if:
- A person dies within 24 hours of the occurrence; or
- A person requires medical treatment beyond first aid; or

- A person disappears from the vessel.

Accident reports within 10 days of an occurrence if there is damage to the vessel / property only.

The minimum reporting requirements are set by Federal regulation, but states are allowed to have stricter requirements. For example, some states have a lower threshold for reporting damage to vessels and other property.

3. Is Carbon Monoxide a risk with boating?

Yes. Engines, gas generators, cooking ranges, space heaters, and water heaters are all sources of carbon monoxide. If there is little to no ventilation the colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas may cause death. Early symptoms include irritated eyes, headache, nausea, weakness, and dizziness. Many times it is mistaken for seasickness.

4. What are common boating accident contributing factors?

Operator inattention, careless / reckless operation, passenger / skier behavior, excessive speed, and alcohol involvement are the top five situations that lead to a boating accident.

5. Are there safety measures that I can take to prevent an accident?

- Wear a life jacket and make sure everyone on the vessel has one available to them

- Don’t drink alcohol or be under the influence of drugs while boating

- Seek out boating safety classes in your area

- Regularly check your safety equipment to make sure it is properly functioning

- Be alert to the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning

Be aware of others on or around the waterway while operating your boat

6. Is there a type of boat that is involved in casualty more frequently?

Yes. Open motorboats and personal water crafts (jet skis) are involved more frequently than any other type of boat.

7. How common are boating accident fatalities?
In 2007, more than 650 deaths occurred in the US due to boating accidents.

*Jet Ski photo courtesy of leo! via Flickr Creative Commons.

Friday Feed #46

It's a day early, but here's this week's Friday Feed. We hear the weather is supposed to be wonderful this weekend, so have a great Holiday weekend and we'll see you here back on Monday April 5th.

A Dozen ways to decorate your Easter Eggs
Check out 12 different ways to paint your eggs this Holiday.

The 15 WORST Opening Weekends In Box Office History
Movies that just didn't start out so well.

Instant impact rookies to watch
Baseball begins this weekend. Dust up on your MLB knowledge with profiles of some promising stars.

50 Movie Cars
From the 1982 DeLorean DMC-12 (Back to the Future) to the 1948 Ford Deluxe (Grease) this chart has all the cool cars from the big screen.