ask-the-doctor
I am 57 years old. I’ve had intermittent bouts of diarrhea and sharp cramps in my stomach for the last 3 weeks. Normally it happens in the middle of the night, and after eating a higher-fat meal. What might cause this?
My daughter went swimming and 4 days later her ear is still clogged. How can I help her relieve this? How can she prevent this from happening in the future?
I am a healthy 25-year-old woman. I really don’t have anything wrong with me. How often do I really need to go for a routine check-up?
During intercourse, I can’t maintain an erection. I have high blood pressure and take two different blood pressure pills. I am otherwise in good health and exercise regularly. Do blood pressure medications make it difficult to maintain an erection?
I have carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment. My doctor has mentioned that I might need nerve release surgery. What does that mean? How do you decide which patients need that done?
I have had soreness in the ball of my foot for about one month. It hurts to walk. I also notice that moving my big toe causes pain. What could it be?
I sometimes get muscle cramps so severe that I can’t use the stairs. I am into weight lifting, but never work the same muscle groups on back-to-back days. I get plenty of water and potassium. Any ideas what could cause this?
My 9-year-old daughter is small for her age and below the growth chart norm. She had a bone test that said the age of her bones was 7 years. How can that be and what does it mean?
My blood uric acid level is high at 8.1 mg/dL. I may have had an attack of gout in my big toe 2 years ago, but I never went to see a doctor. It got better with Aleve. Do I need medicine to lower my uric acid? I would like to avoid that if possible.
I always feel cold, even in the summer. It’s so bad now that it interferes with my work and enjoyment of life. What might cause me to always feel so cold?