Q I had a few twinges of pain in my right shoulder over the last two weeks. This morning, I could not lift my arm over my head.

This painful, debilitating condition is called a “frozen shoulder”. It is very common and is due to tendonitis. Since it is commoner in diabetics, check your blood sugar as well as Vitamin D3 and calcium levels. Get an x-ray of the shoulder and neck taken as well. Sometimes, the pain at the shoulder may be referred from the neck.

The good news is that it usually responds to anti-inflammatory pills such as ibuprofen, applications of ointments and exercises.

Too thin for PCOD?

Q I am 22 years old and weigh 35kg. My BMI is only 19. I developed irregular periods and a pelvic scan showed that I have polycystic ovaries. How can I have PCOD? I am too thin!

Lean women can have PCOD too. They form a unique group that cannot be treated with diet restriction, exercise and metformin. While they benefit from exercise, they need resistance training. Many require hormonal therapy to adjust the imbalance between the male and female hormones in their body so that they menstruate regularly and can conceive.

Acidic burps

Q I am 54 years old. Of late, I have a burning sensation in my chest after eating. I burp frequently and it brings an acidic feeling into my mouth.

You could try to obtain relief naturally by walking 40 minutes a day in the morning inside your house or on the terrace or balcony. Do 20 minutes of yoga and meditation every day. It will calm you and regulate the forward propulsive movement of your digestive tract and prevent regurgitation. Do not lie down for an hour after eating. Also, eat many small meals instead of three big ones.

Salaam seizure

Q My nephew is 2 years old. Initially, he used to bend forward from his waist and do a “salaam” movement on and off. We thought it was cute. Now I realise that he does it even when he is alone and has a blank look when he performs it.

You need to take him to a paediatric neurologist. From your description, it seems he has “salaam seizures”, a type of myoclonic seizure disorder that occurs in infancy. It needs to be evaluated with an EEG and a brain scan and treated with medication.

Tackle backache

Q I developed pain in my lower back. I have taken an appointment at the hospital but I have to wait for 10 days till the lockdown is lifted. What can I do till then?

You could apply a capsaicin-containing ointment and follow it up with the application of an ice pack. Ice should not be applied directly to the skin; wrap it in a cloth or towel. This can be done several times a day. You can alternate this with warm fomentations. Try to keep mobile as resting in bed or sitting in a chair will weaken the back muscles and eventually aggravate the pain.

Offensive smell

Q Recently, I noticed that my urine has an offensive smell which lingers in the toilet for some time.

Urine may smell offensive if it is concentrated. The constituents of food may also cause it to smell, particularly garlic, onions or coffee. Urinary tract infection, antibiotics and even the excess consumption of vitamins can cause the urine to smell.

The writer is a paediatrician with a family practice at Vellore and the author of Staying Healthy in Modern India.