I’m a man aged 82 with osteoporosis, with constant pain in my back. My doctor has prescribed calcium tablets and paracetamol, but they don’t ease the pain. Is there anything else I can take or do to relieve it?

Please see your doctor again. If you really have proven osteoporosis then you can be prescribed medicines that will help drive calcium back into your bones – they are called bisphosphonates. Over time they have been shown to help. Most back pain is caused by muscular spasms, so a physiotherapist may be able to help you with gentle stretching exercises to relieve it. If all else fails there are more powerful painkillers that should help a lot.