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Pain After A Total Knee Replacement Might Be Due To The Hip

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your recent column about a person who had knee pain after a knee replacement. I am a retired orthopedic surgeon who performed on over 10,000 total joints of the hip, knee and shoulder in my 47 years of active surgical practice. A well-done total knee replacement does not give the patient much pain postoperatively. I saw ...Read more

Steatotic Liver Disease Can Be Treated With Weight Loss, Exercise

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had right upper abdominal pain, and my doctor suspected gallbladder problems. The abdominal ultrasound showed that my gallbladder was normal, and the HIDA scan showed normal gallbladder function. But the ultrasound reported "hepatic steatosis," aka fatty liver disease. My labs were all normal, including an ALT test of 19.

My...Read more

Apple Cider Vinegar Is A Surprising Help For Blood In Urine

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: Recently, I had anal cancer and was treated with chemo and radiation. The radiation burned my insides, severely damaging most of my internal organs. One of the aftereffects was occasional blood and small clots in my urine. A few months ago, both the frequency and the amount of blood, especially the clots, increased dramatically...Read more

Doctor Oddly Recommends Less Liquid To Avoid Kidney Disease

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 79-year-old woman who weighs 123 pounds and exercises with Zumba, yoga and cardio drumming. I feel well and have plenty of energy, friends, support and family. I have been on a low-salt eating program to treat Meniere's disease for 25 years. My blood pressure is 115/69 mm Hg.

My doctor recently retired, so my new doctor...Read more

Lisping Could Potentially Be The First Symptom Of Als

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: My mother-in-law died at age 73 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). There was no family history of the disease. My sister-in-law, age 72, is now experiencing occasional problems with lisping. Could this be the first sign of her developing familial ALS? She is in great physical condition otherwise, and she has no ...Read more

What Are The Causes Behind Mobility Problems?

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm 79 and can move around without any problem. However, it seems that many people -- some younger than I am -- have mobility problems. I wonder what causes this problem: lack of exercise, genes, weight, etc.? I walk five days a week, and my weight is normal. -- E.G.

ANSWER: Be very grateful that you can move around without a ...Read more

Distinguishing Between Types Of Therapy For Severe Depression

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an ex-medical/surgical nurse. I have a daughter-in-law who was treated for depression with magnetic therapy. My psychiatric exposure in the 1950s was with electroshock therapy and insulin shock therapy. Can you explain how the new magnetic therapy works for depression, compared with the other two treatments?

P.S. Is ...Read more

Meds Can Help Identify The Cause Behind Cough With Mucus

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 103-year-old woman with a medical problem that I hope you can help me with. I cough up a lot of mucus every day, which is clear with no discoloration. The cough can start at anytime, but it is more prevalent at night. The mucus starts with the cough and can last anywhere from 15-30 minutes or more.

I don't know where ...Read more

Herpes Symptoms Usually Appear Four Days After Exposure

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a question regarding the transmission rate of herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). I had a sexual encounter with exposure to HSV-1. Despite being careful, there was some contact. I explained my fear of contracting HSV-1, and my partner admitted that they had the virus but had been on antiviral medication for years, to the point...Read more

Ten Days Is Sufficient Enough To Stop Isolation After Mild Covid

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband and I both came down with COVID. We had all of the usual symptoms and have since recovered. We have been in isolation and are even wearing masks around the house to keep our (so far) uninfected son safe. However, after 15 days for me and 17 days for my husband, we are still testing positive. We have used four ...Read more

Is A Hysterectomy Necessary For Woman With A Low Cancer Risk?

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 66-year old post-menopausal woman who is scheduled next month for a hysterectomy to correct a pelvic organ prolapse. There is no history of ovarian cancer in my family. My first period was at age 12, and menopause happened for me at age 51. I used birth control pills.

My gynecologist is leaving the decision up to me. I ...Read more

Growth Of Tissue On The Palm Bothers Retired Mail Carrier

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 75-year-old retired mail carrier. I have a growth on my palm that continues to grow. It's not hurting me, but it is annoying and puts pressure on my hand. My hand surgeon called it "palmar fibromatosis" and said to just leave it alone, since it's no big deal. But I want it gone, and I am at a loss as to what to do next. ...Read more

Vocal Cord Becomes Paralyzed After A Cold

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: My daughter, 45, has had a paralyzed left vocal cord for about a year now. We have been to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor who ran at least a half dozen tests, including several scans. These didn't show a reason for the problem, and everything else appeared to be normal. She had a cold before this happened. We were ...Read more

Trouble Swallowing Can Point To A Number Of Possibilities

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 94-year-old father has been having trouble swallowing lately. He tries to expel any food by inducing himself to vomit, but it is very difficult. We looked up his esophagus symptoms, but there doesn't seem to be many causes. He does have chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); would this point to cancer or a blockage? Would a ...Read more

 

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