Nonsurgical therapy best first choice

Dear Dr. Gott: My daughter, who is 48 years old, has severe back pain.

An MRI showed deterioration of the discs in her back. Her doctor said there is nothing to be done for her.

It seems with all our knowledge there would be a substitute for the disc to help ease the pain. I would appreciate your input on this.

Dear Reader: I believe that your daughter can be helped. I’d start with physical therapy. Such a resource should be available in her closest hospital.

Should that not be effective, she might try acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation, transdermal electric nerve stimulation, epidural injections, and/or a pain clinic.

If she has pain in a certain area in her back, she may need surgery to correct compression of a spinal nerve. However, in my experience, nonsurgical therapy is preferable and usually quite effective.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my health report “Managing Chronic Pain.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Dear Dr. Gott: In response to the person in your column who had chronic constipation, I have a solution.

For more than two years I have added a tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal to my cereal (usually oatmeal, sometimes cold cereal). I have had no constipation since using this meal.

Most large grocery stores have it.

Dear Reader: I have had no experience with flaxseed but, as I have written before, if this alternative is effective, I see no reason not to try it. Thanks for writing.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my health report “Constipation and Diarrhea.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.