DEAR DR. ROACH: I suffered a severe torn meniscus at age 67. I reached a point where I could no longer walk. Six weeks of physical therapy was recommended. I decided to consult another physician. I had arthroscopic surgery about a week later. My surgery started about 11 a.m. and I walked out of the […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have had lower-back problems almost all my life. Many doctors and therapists have examined it, with almost no success. Recently my attacks have been fewer and milder, even if the bed is not quite right. I can live with it, but a new wrinkle has emerged: If I don’t get out […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: For the past eight months, I have had a twitch in the inside of my right ear. I can hear it twitching, and I can feel it. It seems to get worse when I talk on the phone (it’s my phone ear), but sometimes I wake up with it twitching. I have […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have had high blood pressure at times, and my doctor said I have white coat syndrome. I had a problem a few years ago where I felt lightheaded with pain in my chest, and I went to the emergency room. I have been on metoprolol and ramipril for a few years. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: In a December column, you mentioned that the A1c result of 6.5 and above indicates a diabetic condition. My doctor is telling me that 5.6 is the cutoff, and since I’m at 5.8, I’m a diabetic. Does the goal change with age? I’m a 66-year-old male in very good health. Could you […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: What advice do you have for a man in his mid-90s who has just found out that he has ureter cancer and does not want to have an operation? He is not in any pain and is in good physical condition for his age. Would it be OK for him to take […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 59-year-old woman. I weigh 116 pounds and am 5 feet, 3 inches tall. Before I go to the office, I am at the gym four or five mornings a week, working out for an hour. My focus is on weight-bearing exercise. I believe my diet would be considered good […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My mother passed away at age 81, just a short time before Christmas. Advanced dementia appeared to be the culprit that led to her demise. Her dementia was caused primarily by vascular insufficiency, as both of her carotid arteries were more than 60 percent blocked; although some doctors said she could have […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have questions regarding sugar substitutes. I have come to the overwhelming conclusion that sugar is a poison to the human body. However, I have never read any information regarding the safety of sugar substitutes. My questions are: Are they harmless to our bodies; are some safer than others; and do any […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently was diagnosed with A-fib and am taking metoprolol. My cardiologist also wants me on Xarelto, which is a blood thinner. Why is it necessary to take the blood thinner to avoid blood clots when the metoprolol should be averting the A-fib anyway, which would cause the blood pooling and possible […]