THE DOC REPLIES

I’M 93 and have been troubled by a sore knee and hip, which I’ve been told is down to wear and tear. There’s not much else they can do. I wonder if it’s worth going private?

I am sorry to hear that you are suffering from knee and hip pain. This is likely to be osteoarthritis and unfortunately there is likely to be little else that they can do. It is unlikely that a private professional is going to recommend anything other than mild exercise such as walking to stay active, while also recommending you take paracetamol and perhaps a topical painkiller such as Ibuprofen gel.

I WANT to give my body to medical science, but my family aren’t happy. I wonder, is there anything left that will be buried in a grave?

Giving your body to Medical Science is a noble consideration. It is of course up to yourself and it’s unfortunate your family are not very supportive. If you do choose to go down this line the family are given the remains around a year later and they can then choose to have a burial or a cremation.

WHAT’S the difference between otitis externa and otitis media?

The former is inflammation in the outer ear canal and usually gives an itching sensation. The latter is inflammation in the middle ear. It affects the ear drum, which often becomes red and inflamed and may even burst. This tends to be a painful condition.

I have recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and wonder what the prognosis is for the average man? I am 69 and I wonder how many years I have left.

Most cases of prostate cancer develop in older men. In many cases the cancer is slow growing and does not reduce life-expectancy – it also may not need treatment. In some cases, it is more aggressive and spreads to other parts of the body and may benefit from treatment. In general, the more advanced the cancer the less chance the treatment will be curative. However, treatment can slow the progress of the cancer. So the prognosis is likely to be good but depends on what other symptoms you have.

WHAT are shingles?

It’s an infection of a nerve area caused by the Varicella Zoster virus. It causes pain and a rash along the band of skin supplied by the affected nerve. Symptoms usually go within two to four weeks. Pain can sometimes persist after the rash has gone, especially among over-50s. The Varicella Zoster virus is the same one that causes chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles. HOW common are bed bugs? I often see adverts for products to get rid of them.

Bed bugs seem to be becoming more common. It is thought that the increase in international travel and immigration has contributed to the increase. The way to eradicate them is to wash all bedding at 60°C. It is likely that you will require to dispose of the mattress. It is not recommended to use purchased products or insecticides and if you are going to follow this route you should contact a professional company.

I HAVE a soft painless lump above my gum line. Should I speak to the doctor or the dentist?

This sort of problem can be assessed by either. Without further information it is impossible to hazard a guess as to the diagnosis of this but I’d suggest that you should seek an appointment soon.

MY husband loves to wear sandals now the weather is getting better, but he has smelly feet despite washing them every day.

Smelly feet are unlikely to have any sinister cause. Washing them regularly will alleviate some of the problem and wearing sandals may actually be helpful!

Unfortunately The Doc can’t directly reply to individual letters. When in doubt speak to your GP