Hi Carl, Losing 12 stones will have greatly reduced the burden on your joints - so very well done! Gentle exercise can also help ease joint pain and stiffness and improve mobility. It would also improve your fitness and help you maintain your weight loss. Walking, swimming and cycling are great low-...

Hi Aside from the excellent advice you've already been offered around watching your weight, alternative pain relief and exercise, I just wanted to offer a few more tips. I appreciate that you won't feel like exercising when you are suffering from low mood. However, even a couple of short (15-20 minu...

Hi Katya, There are always other options to pain killers that are worth exploring. Have you tried asking your GP for a referral for physiotherapy? A physiotherapist would be able to advise you on the best types of exercises you can do for your particular pain issues. Another option would be to ask f...

Hi Gerry, Gentle exercise in water can only be of benefit to your knees and hips, as it will help ease any pain and stiffness and improve your mobility, fitness and strength without putting too much strain on your joints. Exercise will also help you to manage your weight, which is very important if ...

Hi Margaret, I appreciate you might find it difficult to lose weight, but doing so will not only improve the outcomes of your knee surgery, but will also help reduce the amount of knee pain you experience. Carrying extra weight puts additional strain on the joints - especially on the knees and hips....

Hi Carole, I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's ongoing problems with back pain, in addition to his other health conditions. As none of the treatments he has received so far have resolved his back pain, I can only suggest that he goes back to his GP and, if he hasn't already done so, ask to be ...

Hi Leislei61 I'm so sorry to hear about the huge impact your eczema has had on your life. I know that as a nurse you're very knowledgeable about medical treatments and it sounds like you've tried them all! However I wonder if you might benefit from taking a more holistic approach to your condition? ...

Hi Stuart, I completely understand you concerns, however at the moment it doesn't sound like you need to worry too much. My advice would be to continue to monitor your skin, and if either actinic keratosis grows into a lump, becomes tender, or starts bleeding, seek medical advice straight away, as t...

Hi In answer to your questions: 1. Irritant contact dermatitis normally disappears once the irritant is identified and avoided. In your case it sounds as though the serum damaged your skin's barrier, leaving it more sensitive and prone to irritation. 2. It would be difficult to predict whether your ...

Hi Kirsty, It's good that you are looking for alternative ways to manage your son's eczema, rather than simply relying on hydrocortisone cream. You could try using toiletries and washing powders etc designed for sensitive skin, as these don't contain the harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin an...