DEAR DR. GOTT:
I’m at my wit’s end. My problems are all musculoskeletal in nature.
I’m a 65-year-old woman. Last August my right knee began hurting and I could not bend it. I don’t remember injuring it. After an X-ray that was negative, my doctor gave my knee a cortisone shot and I followed up with physical therapy for eight sessions. That helped until I wrenched my right foot while going down a step. My knee also twisted with the action. It was first believed there was a hairline fracture of the 5th metatarsal and my foot was in an air cast for eight weeks but it turned out the injury was to the tendons and soft tissue, not bone, confirmed by an MRI. After nine visits to the physical therapist for my foot I was “almost” better and I started resuming my daily activities. That’s when my knee started the same problems all over again. To make matters worse, the back of my neck and shoulder tops are tight and hurt and I’ve had some numbness in my left little finger and lips.
My doctor just wrote out prescriptions which I had to discontinue due to the side effects, since I’m very sensitive to medications. So, I am using a hot pack on my neck, doing some stretching exercises from physical therapy for my foot and knee, followed by ice packs. I’m still a mess. There has been no improvement and I’m tired of hurting and having this weird numbness. What else can I do? Please no more doctors or pills.
DEAR READER:
My initial reaction was to consider that the knee pain originated from a form of arthritis, a breakdown of cartilage that causes pain and stiffness of a knee, elbow, shoulder and other joints. Any movement can trigger pain and you certainly didn’t do yourself any good when you wrenched your foot on the steps.
Consider your body to resemble a well oiled machine. All parts work well when nothing is wrong. When malfunction causes that machine to falter, the entire system reacts, muscles such as the ones in your shoulders and neck tense and tighten. You put additional strain on parts of your body that aren’t accustomed to malfunctioning and those parts react with pain, tingling and numbness. This might also reflect a pinched nerve.
I suggest initially that you visit your doctor (or find a new one who will not push pills at you) to discuss a plan of action. Work together to formulate your own plan since no one knows your body better. You’ve had physical therapy and know the drill.
You might consider a topical ointment such as Castiva for relief of symptoms from arthritis and muscle strain. Another option is to substitute your hot pack for an old towel that you wet, wring out and dot with lavender oil. Place the towel in your microwave for a minute. Remove it and wrap it around your neck. Those tight muscles will loosen and relax you as you inhale the aroma (this is essentially an inexpensive version of aromatherapy). Your shoulders will feel better, the tightness should improve and the tingling might disappear.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Managing Chronic Pain”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped, number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.
About Dr. Gott