ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: Could you please comment on radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for chronic shoulder pain with rotator cuff disease? I'm 78 in good health with arthritis and a small separation of the rotator cuff. I've received epidurals that do work very well. I don't want to keep getting them, but I also don't want surgery. My shoulder orthopedic ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband, who is 78 and about 100 pounds overweight, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in July 2022. In November 2025, he was diagnosed with stage I pancreatic cancer. He's currently getting chemo treatments that started in early January of this year. He has two options -- get surgery or get radiation treatments. His ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm frustrated that my physicians aren't giving me adequate pain relief. I had a shoulder repair with three severely torn tendons and a torn labrum, and the surgeon cut and moved my biceps tendon. I was given 20 mg of hydrocodone and APAP 5/325 mg for pain! Are the doctors legally prevented from giving me pain medication? -- J....Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My daughter's going through a manic psychotic break. Her reality is skewed, and she thinks that she's right and that the rest of us are out of touch. It's taking a toll on our family. How can I get through to her to seek professional help? -- B.C.

ANSWER: Unfortunately, this is a common situation that often doesn't have an ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: About six years ago, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I chose to have a high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), which ultimately wasn't successful. I was told that surgery after an HIFU was a high-risk option, so I chose to have radiation therapy to reduce the surgical risk of side effects like incontinence.

Prior to ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Recently, you wrote that people who were born before 1957 are likely to have had measles and don't need to get the measles vaccine. I was born in 1954 and had measles in 1959 (with photographs to prove it). Last year, I had an MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) titer test, which showed that I had sufficient antibodies for mumps and ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I've read that there's a big increase in whooping cough. I am pregnant and want to know the best way to protect my baby. Is it exclusive breastfeeding? Getting the vaccine? Making sure that visitors are vaccinated or wear masks? -- D.G.

ANSWER: Whooping cough is caused by a species of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. This...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a 66-year-old male in good health. I've always had very regular bowel movements, usually spending less than 5 minutes in the bathroom daily. About six months ago, I had a colonoscopy. Since then, I've been constipated with very hard stools. My doctor recommended fiber supplements three times a day and Colace. I've been ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm an 80-year-old male who doesn't drink or smoke, exercises regularly, and takes telmisartan for blood pressure and rosuvastatin for cholesterol. I've never had any heart issues except for a diagnosis of arteriosclerosis. Five years ago, my calcium score resulted in a left anterior descending artery at 92.9 Agatston units, ...Read more

DEAR DR ROACH: I decided to practice using an inhalation spirometer, partly because I have a daily productive cough (small amounts three to four times a day). I smoked a pack of filtered cigarettes a day from ages 17-29. I smoke marijuana now.

My scoliosis is quite complex and has taken over 4 inches off my height. But at age 75, I volunteer as...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was in excellent health until December 2020, when I was admitted to the hospital with high-risk multiple myeloma (MM). I've been participating in a Phase 2 clinical trial since January 2021, and I was fortunate to achieve minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative status in November 2023 -- a milestone that is reached by only 10...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a 70 year old woman in good health, other than osteopenia and digestive problems that plague many seniors. I went through a sleep study and was found to have somewhat severe periodic limb movement. I do wake up frequently, always use the bathroom, and can be awake for a while before going back to sleep.

I was prescribed ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: After a routine blood test raised suspicions, my husband was diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). At first, we thought this wasn't a big deal, but further tests indicate that he's in the "high risk" category, although he doesn't have symptoms. The hematologist/oncologist has indicated that he ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an active senior and have started to feel symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS). I'm wondering how and why this started. In the evenings, I use an athletic foam roller, drink water, and take magnesium supplements. I'd like to hear how to remedy this so that I can get some much-needed sleep. -- J.L.

ANSWER: We don't ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My future son-in-law was diagnosed with hemicrania continua several weeks ago by a neurologist and is responding to indomethacin. Could you provide a prognosis for this illness? The internet says that it can take anywhere from weeks to months to years. Is this likely the case? -- M.I.L.

ANSWER: Hemicrania continua is an ...Read more