Coping with Chronic Pain

Dear Dr. Karpel: I’ve had pain in my knees for 5 months.  The doctor can’t find the reason.  I’m taking pain medication, but he won’t raise the dose any higher.  I don’t want a higher dose, anyway, because I don’t like the medication.  It makes me dopey, and I try not...

Depressed in Paradise

Dear Dr. Karpel: Last year my husband and I moved to a beautiful retirement paradise in Mexico.  We’re from a big city in the northern U.S.  I don’t miss the cold weather, the crowds, or the traffic.  Throughout my life, I’ve had bouts of depression and the cold,...

Fear of Living My Dream

Dear Dr. Karpel: I’m 60.  I recently took early retirement and have saved up enough money to have a very comfortable long retirement.  I’ve always lived a “careful” life (that’s how I now have all of this money).  Deep down, I’ve always dreamed of moving to Colorado...

Fired by Her Chiropractor (Follow-Up)

Dear Dr. Karpel: I wanted to update you about a situation that I wrote to you about last year.  At that time the chiropractor that I went to in my winter home told me that I was a hopeless case and sent me on my way, telling me I should see an acupuncturist instead. ...

Fired By Her Chiropractor

Dear Dr. Karpel: I feel awful.  I have been going to a chiropractor regularly in my hometown for a long time.   She’s been great.  I have a lot of aches and pains, in my shoulder, my neck, my back, my side….  You know, the usual for a 78 year old woman with a little...