E:\LETTERS\21DARR12.HTM
Joy Beeson
1700 Park Avenue
Winona Lake, Indiana 46590
Phone:  574 268-9539
Cell (stored on charger when I'm at home):  1 574 742- 0266
D.O.B.:  15 April 1940

Itches:

I used the scabies ointment, washed all the bedding, and sealed the pillows in plastic bags until the bugs starved.

It helped, but I still have bumps and itching. The itching is less associated with the bumps than it was before the scabies treatment. I seldom use anything stronger than witch hazel on the itches. I have never used anything but A&D on my crotch.

The bumps are mostly on my back, face, neck, armpits, and just above the hairline. One of the scalp bumps is large enough that I can find it on purpose. I still have the itchy spot on my right shoulder blade that I've had for years. It's just too low to scratch with my left hand, and just too high to scratch with my right hand.

Unlike the "bugbite" itches and the itch on my shins from wearing long underwear, scratching the shoulder-blade itch doesn't make it itch more.

It is only the crotch itch that makes me get out of bed, and that not too often.

Sciatica

Seems to be holding steady.

I stiffen on long sitting, but church services don't bother me -- presumably because we stand up to sing, and I wiggle my feet during the sermon. I usually fidget while standing.

Sometimes I can barely walk when getting up from the computer, if I forget to stand up once in a while.

I feel that the flexibility exercises help. They have migrated a bit from what was on the sheet you gave me, and I've added range-of-motion for my arms.