Will Pilates make it easier for me to use the stairs? DR MARTIN SCURR answers your health questions –

Last year an MRI showed I had scoliosis. My spine is curved at the base and some discs and vertebrae have degenerated, causing severe pain in my back and legs and making it difficult for me to go up and down stairs. Physio has not been helpful so far. Should I try Pilates?

Brenda Tidbury, Tilehurst, Reading.

I apologize for all the problems with your spine and the inconvenience and disruption they have caused in your life.

The type of spinal degeneration you describe is common with a number of possible causes, including osteoporosis, wear and tear on the cushioning discs located between the vertebrae (or bones) of the spine, and inflammation of the facet joints that hold the bones. the spine that connects the vertebrae.

The underlying issue is usually aging, heredity, your eating habits during adolescence (95% peak bone mass is reached before age 20, so adequate calcium is vital) and the amount of exercise you do over the years (exercise also increases bone strength) all play a role.

Besides the debilitating pain you experience, another problem is inflammation. This is the body’s way of trying to heal damage to bone, but it can lead to narrowing of the spinal canal that carries the nerves that transmit messages between the trunk and limbs.

This narrowing puts pressure on the nerves, which causes pain in the legs.

Spinal pain treatment can be complex, so we now have Integrated Pain and Spine Service (iPASS) clinics dedicated to treating chronic spinal pain.

In the longest letter you state that you have been referred to an iPASS clinic. Essentially, you will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team, which will lead to advice on the best approach for your treatment.

This may mean that you will initially be seen by a trained physical therapist. Even if the recommended physical therapy wasn’t helpful, I wouldn’t try Pilates sessions without further advice from the team that’s caring for you.

For example, a member of the neurology team or neurosurgeon may recommend surgery to relieve pressure on nerves in the spine.

In the meantime, I recommend sticking with the exercises as it can take weeks or months to see the benefits of physiotherapy.

Spinal pain treatment can be complex, so we now have iPASS (Integrated Pain and Spine Service) clinics dedicated to treating chronic spinal pain.

I was on statins for mild constriction of the vein. I’ve since heard plant sterols do the same thing, but more “naturally”. Are they a good alternative?

Anne Smith, by e-mail.

Sterols and stanols are molecules found in many plants, from grains and fruits to vegetables and nuts, that reduce the amount of cholesterol absorbed from the foods we eat. And now they’re included in some processed foods (like versions).

You’ve been given statins because your doctor diagnosed you with coronary artery disease early, and there’s plenty of evidence that lowering your cholesterol (especially LDL, or “bad” cholesterol) reduces fat deposits in the arteries and increases your risk. attack or paralysis.

Statins are the most powerful way to achieve this, but best results are achieved when combined with a healthy diet such as the Mediterranean diet.

Also, studies confirm that in addition to consuming sterols and stanols, taking statins can further lower cholesterol.

Therefore, eating foods rich in plant sterols and stanols may provide an additional benefit to statins, but they are in no way a substitute for them.

In the meantime, I recommend sticking with the exercises as it can take weeks or months to see the benefits of physiotherapy.

write to scer

Write to Dr Scurr at Good Health, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email drmartin@dailymail.co.uk – include your contact details. Dr. Scurr cannot access personal correspondence. Answers should be taken in a general context and always consult your doctor if you have any health concerns.

In my opinion: friends and family are the keys to health

For over a decade my wife has been involved with UK Biobank, a large research project involving half a million people providing genetic samples and other information to improve our understanding of the disease.

He and 100,000 others are about to undergo brain and body scans, detailed heart scans, blood tests and other tests.

The potential benefits of this research are phenomenal, but as I researched it, I came across another lower-tech project with some compelling results.

Started at Harvard Medical School in 1938, the Grant study followed hundreds of men for more than 75 years (it’s still ongoing).

The aim was to identify the factors that play a role in healthy aging. The launch of research precedes modern biobank research technology, but the results are valuable.

As a result, happy marriages and satisfying relationships (with family, teachers or peers) lead to better health and a longer life. In other words, how we relate to others is the key to health.

A lesson that we can all benefit from.