Dear Dr. Roach: My wife (age 59) has very weak legs. This has been going on for years now and her late mother had a similar problem. Climbing her stairs is really hard for her, especially if it’s steep. She is not overweight and is otherwise healthy. I have asked her to talk to her doctor about this, but she seems reluctant.
I would appreciate it if you could shed some light on this and suggest the cause of the problem. Is it as simple as needing to strengthen her legs through exercise? — CH
Answer: The most likely explanation is that she doesn’t use her legs as much as she needs (the old adage “if you don’t use it you lose it” is true), but I think she doesn’t use her legs too much. It means that they are not. evaluated.
Poor circulation interferes with exercise, but the most common symptom is not a decline in physical fitness. Exercise usually causes pain. Many people experience a deep, aching discomfort in their legs that does not go away until they stop exercising. This symptom is usually reproducible. I have spoken to many patients who have benches to stop on as they walk each day. The medical term for this is claudication, which usually means blockage of a large blood vessel.
Treatment is important not only to relieve symptoms, but also because blockage of blood vessels to the legs is often accompanied by blockage of blood vessels to the heart and brain. Treatment can also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
However, it is also possible that you have problems with the nerves in your feet. Many neurological conditions can cause this. Adult-onset muscle disorders are rare, but not uncommon, so the muscles themselves may be the problem.
Determining whether this is a treatable condition or whether an exercise program is needed to improve leg strength requires careful examination by your doctor.
Dear Dr. Roach: Having read your recent column on incontinence after prostate surgery, I would like to suggest another option. A dribble stop is a clamp that is a highly effective and non-invasive solution. It can be purchased online or at medical supply stores for about $100.
I wish there was such an easy solution for women! – lb
Answer: I have never prescribed a penile clamp. It is used for stress urinary incontinence and is mostly used intermittently, such as during exercise.
Most men in the trial said it was the safest and least likely to leak, but nearly all said they felt pain or discomfort. The clamp should only be used by men with normal bladder capacity who can put it on and take it off themselves, and should not be used by anyone with sensory issues.
Most of the men in studies using different types of devices for incontinence after prostate surgery preferred using different devices and pads. There is no one solution of his that is best for everyone.
Dr. Roach regrets not being able to respond to individual letters, but will try to incorporate them into the column as much as possible.Readers can email questions to [email protected] Or send an email to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.
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