"To Health"


Dr. Steven Rochell has published a Newspaper column answering medical questions submitted by readers. Listed below are some of the questions and answers:


  1. Why is the ankle I sprained 4 weeks ago still swollen and painful?
  2. Without any apparent injury my shoulder has become stiff and painful. What can I do?
  3. Whenever I lift or grasp an object I have severe elbow pain. What can I do?
  4. I have degenerative arthritis of my knees and my doctor has recommended a total joint replacement. How do I know that it is time?
  5. I have had back pain for a number of years and now the pain is affecting my legs. My doctor says that I may need surgery because the vertebrae have slipped out of position. I am a 68-year-old female. What other options are available?
  6. I developed severe swelling and redness in my foot without any injury that I recall. My doctor found that several bones were dislocated. How can this happen?
  7. I read about a 17 year old high school student who died while playing basketball. What can cause sudden death in an apparently healthy person?
  8. I was diagnosed with breast cancer and my doctor said the cancer has spread to my thighbone. He wants me to see an orthopaedic surgeon about surgery to prevent this bone from breaking. Why?
  9. I suddenly developed pain in my hip without falling or even missing a step. X-rays subsequently revealed a fracture that required surgery. Why did this occur?
  10. I have gotten in the habit of stretching before and after I work out but I don’t know why. Is stretching really important?
  11. If I switch from smoking cigarettes to cigars will I decrease the risk of health problems?
  12. I will be having a total hip replacement in a few weeks. What sports activities can I participate in after I have recovered?
  13. I have a golf ball sized lump on the point of my elbow. What is it? What can I do?
  14. Whenever I lift or grasp an object I have severe elbow pain. What can I do?
  15. My friend fell and broke her wrist. Why did the doctor put her in an external device instead of a cast?
  16. My doctor told me that I have damage to the cartilage surfaces in my knee joint. Can this be repaired?
  17. My orthopaedic surgeon recommended a Total Hip Replacement where one of the components is cemented in place. What is bone cement?
  18. I stepped off a curb inadvertently 3 months ago and sprained my ankle. Why do I still have pain and why does my foot feel unstable when I walk on uneven surfaces?
  19. I developed pain and swelling in my knee and my doctor said it is related to my psoriasis. Can you explain?
  20. When I developed an infection in my arm that did not respond to oral antibiotics my doctor insisted that I be hospitalized for care. What was he so concerned about?
  21. For the past few months I have had pain in my thumb when I write, turn a doorknob and do needlepoint. What can I do?
  22. My doctor says I am at risk to develop osteoporosis. Why?
  23. I am 60 years old and am in reasonably good health. How much exercise should I get?
  24. I have pain and swelling on the outside of my foot just before my little toe. What can I do?
  25. I have terrific pain in both of my knees. Will glucosamine and chondroitin help my arthritis?
  26. What is a meniscus? My doctor told me I have a torn meniscus and need arthroscopic surgery.
  27. I began to have pain in my shoulder while serving in tennis. Now I have pain when I move my shoulder and even at night. What’s wrong?
  28. Every morning when I begin to walk I experience severe pain on the bottom of my heel which tends to improve as I walk. If I sit or rest for awhile the pain will recur when I walk again. What can I do?
  29. I heard that heart defibrillators are now available on airplanes. What do they do and should they be available at other public places?
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