back pain
My mother (72) has been suffering from back pain for quite some time. All the prescribed painkillers seem to have had no effect on her. On the contrary, her upper back is getting somewhat round-shaped. Please suggest a remedy.
Your mother needs a few investigations, including an x-ray. Most probably she has been suffering from a fracture on the spine which is known as osteoprotic wedge fracture in medical parlance. She may need to wear a brace and go for some medicines. Please see an orthopaedic surgeon.
swelling on toe
I am a 46-year-old man. I had an attack of sudden pain and swelling on the base of my left great toe. My doctor had given me some medicines and the pain subsided. But I had a similar bout of pain after an interval of six months. Please help.
Didn’t your doctor advise you to go for a blood urea test? If he didn’t, please get it done. If the level of uric acid in your blood is high, you should restrict your diet. Please cut down certain food items (high protein food such as lentils, red meat, soyabean etc) to minimise the level of uric acid in blood. If you are fond of alcohol, stop it immediately.
pain in the heel
I am a 36-year-old woman suffering from pain on the heel of my right leg. It pains when I wake up in the morning. Painkillers offer only temporary relief. How can I get permanent relief?
You may be suffering from a a disease called plantar fascitis (related to a band of tissue, much like a tendon, on the bottom of your foot). Usually it starts at the heel and goes along the bottom of a foot. If you are overweight I suggest you try to reduce the flab. Go for warm compress and wear a pair of shoes which has soft soles. Stretching exercises for your foot can help. If the pain persists even after all this consult your doctor for the next course of action.
old fracture
My son (15) had a fracture in the elbow in his childhood. He was fitted with a cast of plaster of Paris. The fracture healed in a few months, but he had a deformity in the elbow region. Now he’s complaining of a tingling sensation in the ring finger and the little finger. Please suggest a remedy.
Probably your son has been suffering from a fracture in his finger bones. This is a late complication of fractures which doesn’t get healed up in time. The problem is known as tardy ulnar nerve palsy. You need to consult an orthopaedic surgeon for the right course of action.
YOUR HEALTH
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