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What can I do about the music constantly playing in my head?

Ask Dr Ellie THE GP WHO’S ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU

I CAN constantly hear music in my head. It can be when I wake up, when walking the dogs, or in the car. It’s really getting me down. What’s wrong with me?

AS STRANGE as it might sound, hearing noises that aren’t there isn’t uncommon. There are a variety of causes, but most frequently, it’s this sort of symptom is due to a condition called tinnitus.

It’s not totally clear what causes this, but we know it’s often linked to hearing loss. It can also be a side effect of medication.

Commonly, patients describe hearing a constant or intermittent high-pitched ringing, but others say it’s more like a humming or whistling. Some describe a buzzing or beeping.

The ‘noises’ plague people, causing a huge amount of stress, and often stop them sleeping. It’s uncommon, but not unheard of, for people to hear more complex sounds such as music, simple melodies and familiar songs.

Hearing music can also be what we’d call an auditory hallucination – although this is far less likely than tinnitus.

Usually these involve voices rather than music.

Hallucinations are a sign of the mental illness schizophrenia, but they can also happen with alcohol and drug misuse and be triggered by grief and confusion.

In any case, it’s important to see a doctor who can offer a diagnosis. It is vital to mention to a doctor if other new symptoms are present, such as changes in vision, dizziness, headaches or difficulties in movement.

They should be able to carry out an ear examination and hearing tests. Other investigations, including a brain scan, may be needed to rule out serious disease. Once a diagnosis is made, patients should expect to be referred to a specialist clinic for treatment.

THREE months ago, I had a total knee replacement. Since then I’ve suffered from tightness, stiffness, intermittent numbness and some throbbing in the knee operated on. The doctor says this kind of discomfort is normal. Am I right to be worried?

RECOVERY time after a big operation like this can vary quite a bit. Factors that dictate this include the state of a person’s general health and fitness prior to surgery, and whether there were complications. In the case of joint replacement, physiotherapy during recovery can play a big role too.

After a knee replacement, it can take up to three months for pain and swelling to settle down, but it can take as long as a year for any leg swelling to completely disappear.

You could be looking at a year or two before things are totally ‘back to normal’. Of course, when you’re in discomfort, this can feel never-ending. Swelling is often described as feeling like tightness, stiffness or throbbing.

Follow-up appointments – with a doctor or other specialist – after a knee replacement are very important.

Patients should be offered sessions with a physiotherapist, but a great deal of rehab work has to be done by the patient in their own time. The patients who are most diligent at keeping up their exercises, and making sure they stay as healthy as possible, have the best results.

I’d also say that people know their own bodies, and if recovery after an operation does not feel right, particularly with significant pain, then it absolutely warrants a discussion.

Pain may be related to infection, or there may be some transient nerve or muscle damage. Excess scar tissue can also form, which could account for a slow recovery. Numbness is considered a recognised complication of a knee replacement.

FOR the past 13 years, I’ve been taking Oxycodone and Duloxetine tablets for the pain I suffer in my neck and lower back. I try to keep myself active and healthy, but I’ve put on weight every year since stating these medications. Can you offer any advice?

UNFORTUNATELY, both longterm pain condition and taking pain medicines can result in weight gain that may be very hard to shift. Part of the reason is that it’s often difficult to unpick the cause.

For example, chronic pain can result in low mood and loneliness, which may result in overeating, even when we think we are being healthy.

Similarly, chronic pain, by its nature, leads to limited mobility and reduced exercise which also undoubtedly affect weight.

Oxycodone is a strong, prescription-only painkiller, related to morphine – these are known as opioid drugs and they can be highly addictive.

Duloxetine is an antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication which is used in both these conditions. It is also used in chronic pain and may be prescribed in combination with standard painkillers by pain clinics.

This drug commonly causes weight changes, as well as upset in the bowels and problems with appetite.

Unexplained weight gain, or weight loss, or potential medication side effects should always be discussed with a GP or pain specialist. Gaining weight can also increase the risk of other health problems, and these need to be monitored.

Health

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2021-07-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-07-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

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