She has severe arthritis — bone rubbing on bone in her hip because the cartilage is gone, and her sciatic nerve is being pinched. She has spinal stenosis and fibromyalgia as well, as far as we can tell.

She’s tried things from your column from time to time. She’s been to pain doctors, had five shots, acupuncture, seen a chiropractor and has had physical therapy. We rub her down with different things. She sparingly takes pain medication, which doesn’t always work, applies ice for 20 minutes once or twice a day and still is in severe pain most of the time. She cannot walk due to it.

I keep thinking surely there is something that can help other than surgery. She’s not interested in that option because of her age and her negative reactions to anesthesia and many drugs. Is there a noninvasive procedure that can help, a cream she can use, a specialist she can see or a pill she can take? I find it so hard to believe that in this day and age someone has to be in such severe pain. A once very active woman has been all but stopped.

DEAR READER: As with any medical condition and possible options, a physician must look at the whole picture. The thing that stands out is her age. Most people don’t respond as well to surgery at 92 as they would when younger, recuperation is longer than in a younger person and, as you pointed out, she has had negative reactions to anesthesia.

I cannot comment on her macular degeneration other than to recommend she see a top-notch ophthalmologist if she hasn’t already done so.

Osteoarthritis, sciatica, spinal stenosis and fibromyalgia have one symptom in common — pain. There are options for relief.

Initially, I might suggest massage by a therapist. You might check with her physician or your local hospital for recommendations. If you are fortunate enough to have a visiting nurse’s facility in your community, they will likely make house calls.

Purchase a whirlpool insert for her bath tub or obtain a chair for the shower that will allow soothing water to help ease her pain.

Instead of ice, consider a warming topical ointment such as Castiva or another over-the-counter product that has a castor oil base plus capsaicin to provide relief from the pain. If you can’t find any product at your local independent store, ask them to order it for you.

Make an aromatherapy “hot-pack” of sorts from an old pillowcase cut down to about 8 inches in height. Fill it with dry white rice and lavender or chamomile. Stitch up the fourth side to prevent the contents from spilling out. At appropriate times, pop it into your microwave for about 30 seconds to warm. Wrap it around her neck. The scent may lessen her pain by providing soothing relief as she inhales.

Speak with her physician about modifying her medication. Sometimes when one drug in a specific class isn’t adequate, another is. Also, be sure you run my rather benign suggestions past him or her before initiating them.

To give you related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “Understanding Osteoarthritis” and “Fibromyalgia.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order for each report payable to Newsletter and forwarded to PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title(s) or print out an order form from my website www.AskDrGottMD.com.

DEAR READER:
Thank you for sharing your experience with this product.

Ocuvite PreserVision is an over-the-counter supplement that contains vitamins A, C, and E, zinc and copper. The AREDS formulation is the only supplement proven effective in the reduction in risk of developing AMD as well as a reduction in the risk of vision loss among moderate-to-advanced cases of AMD. The AREDS formulation is so named because it was tested during the Age-Related Eye Disease Study which was sponsored by the National Eye Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health. The study lasted for 10 years.

While the supplement is not a cure, it was shown to reduce the risk of developing AMD by 25% in those at high risk as well as reducing the risk of vision loss by 19% in those with advanced cases. Before starting any supplement, it is important to speak to your physician about whether the supplement is right for you.

For those readers who would like to learn more about the study, the supplement and whether or not it is something for you, I recommend going online to www.nei.nih.gov/amd/summary.asp. This webpage covers how the product should be taken, who should or shouldn’t take it and where to get more information.

Eight years ago I was told by the leading retina expert in my area that I was going blind due to the condition. I immediately moved my office to my home, figuring I would not be able to drive.

A close friend of mine who is an optometrist suggested I try a multi-vitamin specifically designed for the eyes. He read of a discovery that was producing good results. Well, the results were astounding. Although I still have the condition, my right eye tests 20/30 and my left tests 20/40. I lead a normal life.

The multi-vitamin only helps the dry form of the condition. Unfortunately, the eye industry does not accept this multi-vitamin, probably because they can’t make any money with the treatment.

The product, put out by Science-Based Health is Ocula RX. Their phone number is 1-888-433-4726. Perhaps this will help some of your readers and will offer yet another option to their recovery.

DEAR READER:
Long-standing tests have linked lower than normal levels of zinc and vitamin E serum with the development of age-related macular degeneration.

In my original column I did indicate there is no current treatment available to reverse dry macular degeneration. I should have indicated there are methods to potentially halt its progression. I also went on to state that most eye specialists recommend high doses of antioxidants and zinc to reduce its progression and recommended patients speak with their physicians about adding the supplements. In doing so, I felt I covered the issue of vitamins. However, I am grateful you offered an alternative option.

Eyes are precious. I am extremely pleased you have been able to lead a normal life and halt the progression of this devastating condition. I recommend other readers so diagnosed to speak with their ophthalmologists about the possibility of vitamin therapy.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Fads: Vitamins and Minerals”. 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.

DEAR READER:
I am not an ophthalmologist but will do my best.

Macular degeneration is an age-related disorder of the eye. It causes deterioration of the macula which is located in the center of the retina. It commonly occurs in individuals over the age of 50. The dry variety of this disease simply means the deterioration is not accompanied by bleeding. It is also the more common form.

Macular degeneration does not cause total blindness; rather it affects only central vision. Central vision is what we use for everyday tasks such as reading, driving, detail work and recognizing faces.

Symptoms can include needing increasingly brighter lights for reading or close up work, difficulty recognizing faces, increasing difficulty adapting to low light levels, a gradual increase in haziness of overall vision, increasing blurriness of printed words, a decrease in the brightness of colors and a blurred or blind spot in the center of the visual field. Sufferers may also notice one eye is affected more than the other or one is not affected at all. Early in the disorder this may not be noticeable because the stronger eye compensates for the weaker one. Some individuals may even start having hallucinations. Known as Charles Bonnet syndrome, these common visual abnormalities are not a sign of mental illness in individuals with macular degeneration. These “visions” can appear as unusual patterns, animals, geometric shapes or faces.

It is important to have regular eye screenings, especially after the age of 50. Don’t be afraid to tell your eye doctor about your symptoms, including hallucinations. The ophthalmologist can perform specialized testing to determine the cause of the problem.

Currently there is no treatment available to reverse dry macular degeneration. However, because it progresses slowly, most individuals can lead fairly normal lives. It is important to be checked regularly because of the increased risk of developing the more rapidly progressing, severe form, wet macular degeneration.

Most eye specialists recommend high doses of antioxidants and zinc to reduce progression. Speak to your physician about this possibility if you are not already taking a formulation. You may also be helped by getting glasses, using magnifiers, increasing lighting in the home and purchasing house-hold items, such as clocks, telephones and more with extra-large lettering and numbering.

For others interested in learning more about this common, age-related disease, I recommend you go online to www.MayoClinic.com/health/macular-degeneration/DS00284. The Mayo Clinic does a spectacular job of explaining the disorder, possible causes, symptoms, tests, treatment and self-help techniques. The websites covers many disorders, common to uncommon in an easy-to-understand way.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Medical Specialists”. 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.