Daily Column

April 3, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am an 85-year-old female in excellent health. I don’t take any medications, walk a lot and swim every day.

A few years ago, I suddenly got severe muscle pains in my shoulders and arms. My doctor could only advise cortisone shots which I declined. Shortly after, I went to visit a relative who lives in Germany who has suffered from terrible rheumatism all his life. I had visited because he was about to be released from the hospital after a heart problem. While helping him get ready to leave, I noticed his discharge instructions at the foot of his bed. His doctor had written that he needed to avoid peas, beans and lentils.

I remembered that, in months before, I had really indulged in these legumes which I love and are supposed to be very healthful. After that I stayed away from them and within a few weeks all the pain in my arms and shoulders disappeared. [Read more…]

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Recurring Trigger Finger Difficult To Treat

March 31, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I get trigger finger. This is the third one I have gotten in the last two years. A cortisone shot does nothing and surgery is the only thing that has helped me. The episodes are very painful and I want to know if there is anything to prevent them from happening again.

DEAR READER:
Sadly, you are probably a pro when it comes to recognizing the symptoms of a trigger finger. However, I will bring my reading audience up to speed before I answer your question.

Trigger finger is a condition in which any finger joint catches in a bent position (partial dislocation). An individual might be able to straighten the finger with a gun’s trigger-like motion and snap it back into proper position; thus the name. [Read more…]

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Cause Of Muscle Spasms Difficult To Find

March 26, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Ten months ago I woke up with numbness, tingling and muscle spasms throughout my body. The sensations lasted just over a week and then went away.

Over the next few months, they would come back occasionally in my face and head for up to a week, only to disappear again. I would describe the feeling as electrical currents running though my face and head and numbness in my nose and lips.

I went to see my primary care physician who sent me to a neurologist. He checked my reflexes, examined my gait and sent me home. Several weeks later, I went to a different neurologist who ordered X-rays and an MRI of my head and neck. Because of some disc misalignment I was given exercises to do. This helped but I continued to have problems, now in my lower back, down into my buttocks and legs. [Read more…]

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Wwii Vet Now Fights Peripheral Neuropathy

March 21, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 90-year-old veteran of World War II and have had peripheral neuropathy for several years. My feet burn all night. I have been taking Neurontin for many years, but it doesn’t seem to help any. Can you please help with my situation?

DEAR READER:
Peripheral neuropathy causes pain, numbness, tingling, or burning of the extremities. It can result from infection, exposure to heavy metals or other toxins, infection, metabolic disorders, and more. Symptoms vary from person to person, depending on the types of nerves affected. Those with alcoholism, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid, kidney, liver or specific autoimmune disorders are at high risk for the condition. I cannot determine from your letter what caused your problem; nevertheless, the point now is to improve your quality of life. [Read more…]

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Back Pain Needs Diagnosis

March 9, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 45-year-old female in good health except for back pain. I have muscle and joint pain from the base of my skull to my lower back.

Despite regular yoga, chiropractic care and massage, I wake up stiff and uncomfortable. It lasts all day. The left side of my back from my shoulder to the mid-back is also noticeably more developed or pronounced than the right side. A few years ago, a physician diagnosed me as having notalgia paresthetica.

What are your thoughts on this situation? Where should I go from here?

DEAR READER:
Notalgia paresthetica is defined as a chronic, localized itch that usually affects patches of skin on the upper back. It can occasionally affect the shoulders, upper chest and other portions of the back. [Read more…]

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Sunday Column

March 1, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
You have written about peripheral neuropathy several times. I would like to share my experience with you and your readers.

I am a cancer survivor and have suffered with this condition for more than eight years. I have severe burning, tingling and pain in my feet due to chemotherapy. Then a few years ago my sister-in-law came across an article about neuropathy in a magazine. The article talked about a new treatment called Anodyne therapy.

After doing some research, I decided I had nothing to lose and gave it a try. I had a total of 16 treatments at a local outpatient therapy center. After only six treatments, the pain in my feet was much better. The throbbing and burning were totally gone. [Read more…]

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Herniated Disc Difficult To Treat

February 20, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My mother was diagnosed with a herniated disc last year. She was in pain but able to walk. She tried physical therapy which did not help and also steroid injections into her back. The first helped only a little and the second did nothing at all. Her legs are now much weaker and the pain is more intense and she has to usea wheelchair because of it. Surgery is not an option because of her diabetes, high blood pressure, a partially blocked carotid artery and autoimmune hepatitis.

Is there any way to treat her pain and weakness?

DEAR READER:
Your mother certain has some serious health conditions that would likely disqualify her for surgery because of the high risk of complications. That being said, there are still several treatment options she hasn’t tried. [Read more…]

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Costochondritis Downright Painful

February 14, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I’ve been diagnosed with costochondritis and have been unable to determine what causes the inflammation. I swim daily and work part-time. Is this a contagious illness I have picked up?

My doctor did not give me any medication except Indocin for pain. My chest and back hurt and I am extremely tired. I have not had any trauma or viral respiratory infections recently, have never smoked, nor did I go near people that smoke.

X-rays were taken and my doctor said my lungs are clear. I have had no surgeries and hope never to have any. I take vitamins, exercise and try to maintain a healthy life. The doctor said it could last as long as three weeks.

Please give me your thoughts on this illness. I had never heard of it before but it is painful and could make one think of a heart attack about to happen. [Read more…]

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Frozen Shoulder Remains Despite Treatment

February 11, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am seeking relief from the pain of adhesive capsulitis. I’ve been suffering for almost a year. I’ve had X-rays, two MRIs, cortisone shots, distension arthrogram, 11 months of physical therapy, manipulation under anesthesia, and shoulder arthroscopy that removed a small bone spur.

DEAR READER:
Adhesive capsulitis is commonly known as a “frozen shoulder”. The shoulder itself is a ball and socket joint, held intact with tough connective tissue. Frozen shoulder occurs when the shoulder capsule becomes inflamed and stiff and the shoulder bones are unable to move freely within the joint. In turn, this results in limited range of motion and pain, making even simple tasks next to impossible. [Read more…]

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Sunday Column

January 25, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and my greatest wish is for you to write one column on this subject. I am sure you will please millions of people with RA by informing people of the difference between arthritis and RA.

Everyday I run into people that notice when I limp or move slowly in pain and ask what’s wrong. I inform them I have rheumatoid arthritis and before I can finish my sentence they are telling me how they have the same thing and start telling me how bad it is in their knee, etc.

When I question them, I realize they have normal aging and osteoarthritis. People do not understand RA patients and the difference because both have arthritis in the name.

Please dedicate one column to this subject. Your column will help educate the public as it has helped educate me on so many disorders. [Read more…]

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