DR ELLIE CANNON: Is this pain in my knee really because of a cyst? –

I have I have been limp for the past few weeks due to extreme pain in my left knee. I went to the ER and the doctor wasn’t sure but diagnosed me with a Baker’s cyst even though there was no swelling. Is this the correct diagnosis?

Knee pain and swelling caused by a baker’s cyst is very common. Minor growths often develop due to an injury or are related to arthritis. Patients often report that the knee is tight or uncomfortable after walking or other exercise. If the cyst ruptures, you will likely experience sudden pain and an “explosion.” The knee may also feel very red, swollen, and hot.

But there are also more serious diagnoses that can be confused with a Baker’s cyst, such as blood clots, so it’s important for doctors to rule them out. Primary care doctors may refer patients to ultrasound to help resolve the problem.

Other less serious things can also mimic a Baker’s cyst. If patients feel sudden pain after fast movements, such as during exercise, it may be a tennis leg. This is a tear in the calf after a big or hard step.

An ultrasound can also help diagnose this. Other potential problems may include a tear or sprain in the knee itself.

The knee is a very complex joint with ligaments, tendons and shock absorbers called the meniscus. Sudden jerky movements in the already painful knee can damage any of these elements.

Most of these conditions are treated with “conservative management”: rest, ice packs and pain relievers.

A comprehensive evaluation with a physical therapist can also help.

In some areas, it is possible to make an appointment with a physical therapist without consulting your family doctor. It’s a good idea to call your operating room to see if this is possible.

I was recently told that I have a bowel problem called proctitis. I have read many articles about Crohn’s disease and IBS but never this one. Are new treatments possible?

Proctitis is definitely less common than the other conditions you mentioned. The problem that causes inflammation of the tissue differs from the others in that it only affects the rectum, which is the lowest part of the intestine.

If patients feel the need to constantly go to the toilet, see blood and feel severe pain, they understand that they have a problem.

Some have diarrhea and have a persistent feeling that their bowels are not empty even though they are empty.

Doctors often refer patients to a colonoscopy to detect inflammation at the bottom of the gut – a tube with a camera at the end is passed through the back passage – to detect inflammation at the bottom of the gut.

It’s common for proctitis to be part of another condition such as colitis or Crohn’s disease. But food poisoning can also be an isolated case caused by antibiotics or radiation therapy.

The treatment patients receive depends on the underlying cause. Doctors often use anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids in tablet form or enema form.

If an infection, such as bacteria in food, is thought to be the trigger, antibiotics or antivirals may help. In severe cases, doctors may prescribe drugs that suppress the immune system, as the body’s “fight” response can exacerbate the inflammation.

Powerful anti-inflammatory drugs such as infliximab are now available for some people with very severe symptoms.

Changing your diet to reduce the risk of diarrhea can also help relieve symptoms. This includes avoiding caffeine, high-fiber foods like legumes, and possibly lactose – the sugar in milk is a natural laxative.

I have asthma and I am on medication. I was diagnosed with pseudomonas last September and my breathing has been much worse since then. I’ve turned the antibiotics on and off but it doesn’t seem to work. I was referred to a clinic but was told there would be a long wait for an appointment. Do you have any advice

For people with healthy lungs, pseudomonas, a type of bacteria that we can breathe, poses no problem. But for people with lung diseases such as severe asthma, this can be very unpleasant.

Pseudomona bugs are found in soil and water and can also cause urinary tract infections and open sores.

Bacteria are notoriously difficult to eradicate: They do not respond to commonly used antibiotics such as penicillin. Instead, doctors use a different type called ciprofloxacin, which is usually given at an unusually high dose twice a day.

For people with healthy lungs, pseudomonas, a type of bacteria that we can breathe, poses no problem. But for people with lung diseases such as severe asthma, this can be very unpleasant.

For some, even a long course of this treatment does not kill insects. In these cases, doctors may try different doses of antibiotics or administer them through an inhaler.

Patients do not have to wait long to see a counselor. A family doctor may contact the local infectious disease team, whose members can advise on treatment. Likewise, the primary care physician may ask the hospital’s respiratory team if they have any recommendations.

For example, you could theoretically start taking a drug before seeing a specialist.

There are also respiratory health teams in the UK, many of whom can come to your home. Depending on your age and the severity of your problems, you may be eligible for help.

If your symptoms are not caused by an infection, it’s possible that your problems mean your asthma is getting worse, and there are several treatments that can help.

How your pills could make a heat wave worse

Are you bothered by the heat more than you expected? It can be caused by the drugs you are using.

Last week, I saw a Twitter post from someone who uses common antidepressants called SSRIs to remind other patients that tablets can predispose them to heatstroke.

This was new to me, but a little research has revealed clinical cases of such reactions.

You’re much more likely to be vulnerable to sunburn – often this is listed as “photosensitivity” in patient information about side effects.

There are common medications to watch out for, such as doxycycline and tetracycline (antibiotics used for acne), as well as the heart medication amiodarone and the anti-inflammatory naproxen.

This doesn’t mean you’re allergic to the sun, just hypersensitive. So apply more sunscreen than usual or stay out of the sun altogether.

If you’ve had a reaction to the sun and heat and you think it’s related to your meds, let me know.

Are you bothered by the heat more than you expected? It may be due to the medications you are taking.

Oh, we have a minister for that!

Have you heard of a congressman named Will Quince?

No, neither do I. But apparently she is the minister of children and families and is apparently responsible for advocating for young people with learning difficulties. Well, I would never have known, even though I spent most of my days in my clinic helping vulnerable families access basic support for complex needs.

Perhaps its invisibility explains why many parents caring for children with disabilities feel they are frustrated by the government as they rummage through piles of paperwork to access help.

This is just another example of a symbolic appointment, a faceless minister who does little to help the people he is supposed to represent. Maybe there’s more behind the scenes, but I doubt it.