From foot cramps to loss of libido – Dr Jeff answers your health questions
DR Jeff Foster is The Sun on Sunday’s resident doctor and is here to help YOU.
Dr Jeff, 43, splits his time between working as a GP in Leamington Spa, Warks, and running his clinic, H3 Health, which is the first of its kind in the UK to look at hormonal issues for both men and women.
See h3health.co.uk and email at drjeff@the-sun.co.uk.
Q) I’M 68 and all of a sudden I have developed pain in my toes and my feet.
Plus they are colder than usual.
My hands also have a slight tingling feeling, are colder than usual and are itchy.
In bed I sometimes get cramp in one of my legs, although not often.
Can you advise please?
Henry Eary, Louth
A) If someone develops a pain in a single toe, foot, or even leg, often the causes are localised problems such as nerve compression, sciatica, or injuries such as muscle or tendon problems.
If someone develops pain or altered sensation in both feet and both hands, and particularly if this is relatively sudden, this is a very different picture and usually points towards a more systemic problem.
These could be either hormonal, metabolic, or biochemical.
Occasionally the problem could also be to do with skin, but you would usually see something visual.
Conditions such as an under-active thyroid, types of anaemia, electrolyte disturbances including sodium, potassium, or calcium, kidney or liver problems could all cause tingling and pain in the extremities with little to see – as some of these conditions can lead to more serious problems if left untreated, it is important to see your doctor.
In most cases the causes are simple to treat but often require a blood test to get to the underlying cause.
Q) I’M a 45-year-old woman and I have totally lost my sex drive.
I don’t want to tell my husband this as he’ll think I’ve gone off him and I haven’t.
We have a great sex life but it’s like a switch has gone off in my brain and I just don’t want to do it any more.
Is there something wrong with me?
Gina Dorde, Wigan
A) Libido is the end result of a complex process of biochemical, psychological and physical stimuli so a loss of libido can often be a challenge to treat.
The first step would be to look at your lifestyle and if you are overworking and not devoting enough time to yourself.
If you are simply working too hard, or running around after kids with no time to yourself, your body and therefore brain will not be energetic enough to think of sex.
Secondly, consider the psychological causes – are you still attracted to your partner?
Are you stressed or worried about other things that take your mind away from being relaxed?
If none of these apply, I would speak to your doctor to arrange a blood test as several medical conditions can affect libido such as thyroid disease, types of anaemia, perimenopause and menopause.