To walk or not to walk

March 24, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am an 80-year-old male, 5’8”, weighing 172 pounds. My medications consist of finasteride, simvastatin, lisinopril, terazosin, omeprazole, plus all types of vitamins including glucosamine MSM for joint pain relief. I also take chelation therapy on a monthly basis. I golf three times a week during my winter months in Florida and walk one or two miles a day.

My problem is I can only walk for ten minutes at a time due to severe pain in both hips. After resting for less than a minute, I can continue for another ten minutes.

I purchased an expensive pair of walking shoes but that didn’t help. I took one 500 mg pill of naproxen a day for two weeks in the event I had some inflammation but it didn’t improve my problem. [Read more...]

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Wax for osteoarthritis relief?

March 8, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a professional saxophonist. Music is both my vocation and my avocation so you can understand how disturbed I am by the onset of osteoarthritis in my hands. I’ve been advised to use hot paraffin baths to ward off this condition; however, no one seems able to tell me for how long or how often. The arthritis is clearly getting worse. It now affects more of my fingers and a wider area than before.

Can you please advise specifically how to use the paraffin bath and any other preventive measures of which you are aware? By the way, I am a male, 66 years old, in excellent health. I exercise every day and eat sensibly.

DEAR READER: Paraffin works to soothe dry skin and painful joints by warming and hydrating the [Read more...]

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Injection may delay knee surgery

May 20, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: You receive a lot of requests about knee-pain treatments versus surgery, but I have never seen you mention Synvisc-One. I’m 80 years old and have had two injections over the past two and a half years. They last a year or more and take effect a few weeks following the injection.

DEAR READER: This 2009 FDA-approved medication contains hylan polymers, produced from chicken comb. It is similar to the fluid that surrounds the joints of your body and acts as a lubricant. It is injected directly into the intra-articular space inside the knee and is prescribed for the treatment of osteoarthritis pain in patients who have failed to respond to more conservative therapy. A single dose is reported to reduce pain for up to 26 weeks.
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Osteoarthritis sufferer finds alternatives to surgery

April 16, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 75-year-old with severe osteoarthritis in both knees. I have done well without knee-replacement surgery, owing to a knowledgeable physical therapist. The therapy goal of nearly a year ago was to walk a new puppy a short distance.

Early last year, a torn cartilage was surgically repaired, but the post-op pain continued. Cortisone injections offered no relief. A wheelchair was necessary to get any distance. Otherwise, a cane was necessary for support. Periodically, a lidocaine patch was applied with limited pain relief.
[Read more...]

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Arthritic fingers can be painful

December 17, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My doctor X-rayed my hands and said I have osteo in them. They get stiff and ache. What should I take for it and what should I not eat? Thank you for your help.

DEAR READER: I assume you are referring to osteoarthritis, not osteoporosis because of your claim that your hands are stiff.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the joints that results from a breakdown of cartilage. Symptoms include pain and stiffness of the affected joints. The condition is commonly associated with aging. As such, it is seen more in older people than in younger ones.

Healthy cartilage is smooth, elastic and flexible, allowing for easy movement. When osteoarthritis occurs, the surface of the cartilage softens, becomes pitted, frayed and/or cracked. [Read more...]

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Can ginger help arthritis?

November 19, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I recently heard that taking ginger tablets will relieve aching joints. Is there any validity to this advice?

DEAR READER: In answer to your question, I am unaware of any scientific studies to support its use; however, I’d defy anyone to go up against what the Roman Empire began using almost 2,000 years ago as a healing herb for countless maladies. Scientific studies aside, what is valid is what works. [Read more...]

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Weightlifting can be a pain

November 5, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have osteoarthritis, bursitis and tendinitis in both shoulders and upper arms. I hurt both shoulders while lifting weights. What is the best treatment to reduce the inflammation? Is it ice or ultrasound? Would it help to immobilize my shoulder joints with arm slings? Lifting my arms away from my body and above my head causes the most pain.

Would it hurt to try and do light exercise? Is it better to wait until the inflammation and pain go away? With proper treatment, how long do you think it will take to heal?

Would an MRI test on both shoulders help to determine how much inflammation is present and whether there are any muscle tears in the shoulder joints? I would appreciate any insight and information you can provide.
[Read more...]

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Osteoarthritis not linked to employment

October 20, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have osteoarthritis in my neck and spine. Could you tell me how a 54-year-old lady like me got such a thing? My job is repetitive work in manufacturing, but my employer says it’s not from the work. I feel it is, but I don’t feel that 54 is old.

DEAR READER: Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that results from a breakdown of joint cartilage. Healthy cartilage allows our joints to move easily and without pain. When osteoarthritis is present, a degeneration of the cartilage that cushions bone ends occurs. Over time, some areas of cartilage may wear away completely, resulting in damage to the bone and extreme pain on movement. The ends of the bone may form spurs, and the ligaments may thicken. This common disorder affects about one in three people and, while most common in older adults, it can affect people of any age.
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Medical woes plague young reader

September 8, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Since childhood, I have been suffering with tonsillitis, chronic colds and allergies — both seasonal and medication-induced. At the age of 24, I was diagnosed with discoid lupus; at the age of 30, with fibromyalgia, pleurisy, kidney stones/infection, vertigo, depression and anxiety.

My ANA test for three years has come back normal, but I continue to get lesions, my hair falls out, and I get sick easily. I have been to two rheumatologists. Both say I do not have SLE, but my family doctor feels I do. What do you think?
[Read more...]

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Ease the pain of degenerative disc disease

April 1, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have recently been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. I am 69 and also have osteoarthritis. My symptoms are groin, knee, hip and thigh pain — all on the left side. What treatment would you recommend? I take 12 prescription medications and 13 supplements. I’m allergic to penicillin, Demerol, codeine and Vancomycin.

DEAR READER: The spine is made up of bones called vertebrae. A disc that contains a soft, jelly-like inner layer cushions each vertebra. The discs in our backs can be compared with shock absorbers on a car. During activity, they absorb jarring and movements while allowing you to bend and flex in a variety of positions.
[Read more...]

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