Aches and pains in hips and hands

¦ I’m 52 and have started to get aches, and the occasional stabbing pain, in my hips and hands.

I am taking cod liver oil, but it doesn’t seem to be helping. What do you recommend?

>> As you’ll know, you don’t have to be 52 to get occasional aches and pains; they can happen at any age. What’s different is that, as we get older, they become more difficult to dismiss as nothing to worry about. There is evidence that cod liver oil can help in arthritis. It contains omega 3 fatty acids, which can reduce damage to cartilage and inflammation within the joints.

You need to ask some more questions, to know whether these aches and pains may suggest an underlying cause. In particular, arthritis (inflammation in the joints) doesn’t just cause pain. Symptoms may also include a feeling of stiffness, so it’s difficult to flexibly move about, especially first thing in the morning. Joint swelling can be visible in the fingers and wrists. You may also notice your hip symptoms are aggravated by weight-bearing, such as walking, or getting in and out of the car. You also need to think about your general health, if you’re overweight, don’t do much (or any) exercise, or have a sedentary, tiring, or stressful lifestyle. All these factors can contribute to muscle and joint aches and pains. You may also have other health problems you know about, which may be unexpectedly contributing to these symptoms, and, if you’re female, muscular aches and pain can be features of the menopause.

Overall, a good guide to deciding whether to see your GP is if your symptoms are starting to interfere with your normal daily activities, at home, or work, or affecting your leisure. If this is the case, and as an over-the-counter approach hasn’t worked, you should discuss these symptoms further.

¦ We are back from our holidays in Spain. The family got a nasty tummy bug. The adults are over the worst of it, but the children’s energy levels are low. Other than a tonic, how can they build up their immunity?

>> I’m sorry to hear your holiday was spoiled. It can take a while to recover. Your children will seem more easily tired, more inclined to sleep, and less interested in their normal activities. They will play for shorter periods. They may also be reluctant to eat as much as usual, or prefer to stick to their favourites.

After a significant gastrointestinal infection (tummy bug), the lining of the gut can take a while to return to normal. During this time, some tummy cramps and soft or loose motions may occur, and younger children may not digest cow’s milk as easily.

Restricting cow’s milk intake, for a few weeks, can reduce these symptoms.

Assuming your children are fit and healthy with no underlying medical problems, I’d reassure you that they, and their immune system, should soon be back to normal.

Getting plenty of rest, encouraging a return to a varied diet, and maintaining good fluid intake will help their recovery.

It’s normal for a child’s immune system to cope successfully with a wide range of infections. This process is important, as it helps create their natural immunity in later life.