Will I be able to

QI HAVE arthritis, which is causing me to gradually lean forward as I walk along. My doctor says nothing can be done but I was wondering if a firm back brace or corset-type garment would help me stand up straight again?

I try to exercise and keep going but it is really getting me down. Is there any hope? I am 84.

AALTHOUGH arthritis in the lower back can occasionally cause a change in posture, the most common reason for leaning forward is a change in the shape of the upper spine, in the area where the ribs are attached.

It is usually caused by gradual thinning of the bones, which can compress into a wedge shape. If left untreated this can lead to a ‘dowager’s hump’ appearance. The underlying reason for this is osteoporosis, not arthritis.

There’s no cure but plenty can be done to stop the condition progressing, including taking medicines to help keep bones strong, as well as calcium and vitamin D supplements. Check with your GP whether you need to have a diagnostic bone-density scan. If the underlying cause is arthritis lower in your spine, the best treatment for helping posture is physiotherapy, to help strengthen the muscles of your back and your stomach.

Back braces are hardly ever used now, except during recovery from a fractured spine.

In older people especially they can be very uncomfortable and are usually best avoided.

I SUFFER from repeated urinary tract infections and short courses of antibiotics do not seem to help. I don’t think my GP takes it seriously. What can I do?

AIT is important to check that your symptoms, which I presume are frequently needing to pass urine and pain when you go, are due to an infection. And if so, that you’re being given the right antibiotics. This is because many of the bacteria that cause urine infections are resistant to commonly-used antibiotics.

Next, you should have a test done at the end of the course of treatment to check the infection has cleared. This is the only way you can be sure you are getting recurrent infections.

In younger women, recurrent urine infections are often linked to sexual activity which pushes bacteria up into the bladder. Emptying your bladder after sex can wash away the bacteria and help stop infections taking hold.

In women who have gone through the menopause, urine infections are often linked to thinning of the tissues around the genital area due to lack of oestrogen.

Applying either an oestrogen cream or pessaries (available on prescription from your GP) can often solve the problem. Less commonly, there may be an issue with the bladder muscle itself, which can lead to incomplete emptying when you use the loo. This can be diagnosed with special urodynamic tests, so if the problem persists, ask your GP about a referral. Q A HEAT rash, sometimes called prickly heat, is an itchy rash consisting of tiny raised spots that can look like small blisters surrounded by red skin. It can sometimes lead to a stinging sensation on the skin.

It develops when someone sweats more than usual and that excess sweat is trapped inside the skin. It is more common in babies and young children because their sweat glands are not fully developed. It can also

WHAT is the best way to treat heat rash?