BENGALURU: My mother-in-law, who is 97 years old, has been having stiff legs for the last two years. She is unable to stand on the legs to change her clothes. She is also unable to get up by herself from the bed to sit for eating. She has to be lifted to make her sit on the wheel chair. Help has been arranged for doing the above. Her health is otherwise very good. She wants to lie down all the time in the bed. She is able to use her hand for taking food. Is there any remedy possible for the stiff legs?
The symptoms mentioned in a 97 year old individual could be because of multiple causes. It could be either because of issues with her knee joints being severely arthritic and unable to bend and thus leading to all problems of elderly individual lying for prolonged periods of time. It also could be spinal issues like canal stenosis or metabolic causes. The bottom line for this patient is that she needs evaluation by a doctor in a hospital and appropriate specialty consultations
I am 18-years-old girl and used to be active in sports. It has been a year that I have been less physically active than I used to be. I get a severe back ache all of a sudden when I stand or walk a bit too much. By back I mean the hip region of the spine. Can this be serious?
When young healthy individuals develop pain in the hip and the back for a short duration majority of the time it is muscle catch and will settle down in two to three months. If the symptoms persist for long or is causing a lot of symptoms then needs evaluation. It could be something like spondylolysis or hip impingement. She will benefit by visiting an orthopedic surgeon
I sprained my neck and shoulder because I slept in a odd position. However, it has been four days and the pain has not subsided. What could the reason be because everyone tells me this is common and will eventually go. But it feels like the region is damaged, however, there is no swelling.
The adage “pain in the neck” is coined for obvious reasons. It can be very troublesome and bothers all day today activity. As long as there is no numbness, weakness, tingling or difficulty to pass urine and motion it is not an emergency. You can take brufen twice a day and topical pain balms. If it still persists or shows the mentioned symptoms it is time to consult a doctor.
The author is a consultant reconstructive orthopedic surgeon at Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road
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