Ann Burgess, East Sussex.
Dr Martin Scurr replies: I'm afraid to say you may well be right. In fact, a link between regular consumption of ibuprofen - a type of drug known as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) - and hearing loss was first identified in a major US study, the Nurses' Health Study, back in 2012.
The research, which is actually a series of large, ongoing projects investigating how lifestyle factors influence women's health, revealed that taking ibuprofen more than twice weekly was linked to a 10 per cent higher risk of some degree of sensorineural deafness.
This is a type of hearing loss caused by damage to the hearing mechanism in the inner ear, affecting the delicate hair cells in the cochlea, the spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear that is crucial for hearing.
Infection, trauma and chronic exposure to loud noise can all damage the hair cells. With ibuprofen, the mechanism isn't clear, but one theory is that the drug impairs blood flow to the cochlea - the inner ear needs a steady blood supply to function correctly and chemicals called prostaglandins are key to maintaining the correct blood flow. And NSAIDs block prostaglandins.
Once hair cells are damaged, that's it - they can't be repaired.
Ibuprofen is now classified as having ototoxic (ear-damaging) effects. Other NSAIDs - indomethacin, naproxen, piroxicam and celecoxib, commonly used to treat pain caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and sports injuries - are also associated with irreversible hearing damage.
However, aspirin, another type of NSAID, did not have this effect, in women at least.
This indicates that whatever condition you need regular pain relief for, you should not continuously use an NSAID long term. It's better to try to adhere to short courses, maybe a week or two maximum, not months.
Frank Allen, Lyme Regis.
Dr Martin Scurr replies: Discitis is a rare but serious condition, where the disc between two bones in the spine becomes chronically inflamed - typically in the lower spine as a result of infection caused by bacteria that's spread via the bloodstream.
The discs have little in the way of blood vessels in them, which limits the immune response, so bacteria can thrive. This leads to intense inflammation: potentially the infection can spread into the bone of the vertebrae either side, and form an abscess, affecting the nerves running in the spinal canal.
Discitis is typically caused by staphylococci bacteria, found naturally on the skin. Discitis is more common in those with weakened immune systems, including older people.
One of my patients suffered this condition some years ago, caused by salmonella, which we had to assume gained access to his body from food. Like yourself, the patient was a man in his 80s.
The treatment involves a long course of high-dose antibiotics which must be given intravenously to ensure high levels in the blood. Usually this would continue for 12 weeks. Strict rest is important. In rare cases, surgery may be required to drain the abscess between the vertebrae.
The persisting pain is not uncommon but your spinal specialist team can always refer you to pain control specialists. Your symptoms should settle entirely in the following months.