Six months ago, Robert woke up with a severe sore throat. A doctor gave him antibiotics for 10 days, during which time he lost his sense of taste and smell. Another doctor gave him steroids, and a throat specialist examined his throat and nose for polyps and said all was okay. Blood tests showed anemia, and it took B12 shots. He cannot smell or taste anything. One doctor said it may take some time to come back or it may never come back. What causes it? And what can b done about it?

Taste and smell are closely linked. Except for the tongue’s ability to differentiate salt, bitter, sour, and sweet, flavor is identified through the nose.

Air containing an odor must travel through the nose to reach olfactory receptors located behind the bridge of the nose. These receptors identify an odor and transmit the information to the brain. Anything that hinders that journey or interferes with those receptors can cause problems with smell and the flavor part of taste.

Polyps, deformities of the nasal septum and nasal tumors can contribute to long-term taste and smell problems by blocking the nasal passages. Short-term problems can accompany nasal blockages associated with colds and allergic response.

Many drugs and toxic chemicals can also impair taste and smell by inhibiting the action of the receptors, as can head trauma and aging.

Unfortunately, doctors can do little to restore the sense of smell or taste. Peter may want to experiment with spices like pepper, which can stimulate the receptors. Also, he can enhance his dining enjoyment by including food of different textures, temperatures and appearance.

James has been suffering chronic back pain for the last five years. A recent set of X-rays does not show arthritis to the degree of this pain. When his wife rubs firmly on his spine, he feels fairly intense.

There are, of course, many potential causes of your chronic back pain. However, if your symptoms include intermittent back pain that worsens with rest and improves with activity, and progressive limitation of back motion and chest expansion, you may want to talk to an orthopedist about something called ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory joint disease of the spinal column. It usually begins in early childhood. It typically starts in the lower back and, over many years, moves upward along the spine. About half of those with this condition will also have arthritis on other parts of their body.

This is a long-term disease, and there are no quick fixes. But there is much that can be done. The basic treatment program is similar to that for rheumatoid arthritis, and includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical and occupational therapy, exercise and rest.