Sorry to hear Letitia's tale! (‘Living with pain', The Weekend Sun, August 7) I know, as I hurt my back when I was 19 and now I am 83! I have had every kind of treatment known to man (and woman).

I've tried rub-on stuff, heat, cold and in 2005 I had my left hip replaced. Four months to the day later, I had a pain down my thigh, which has never gone.

Then in 2007, after a failed cortisone injection, I let the same surgeon (must have been crackers) put 12 pieces of titanium into my lower spine (spinal fusion) as the pain was so bad. After a year pins and needles started and it has gone on from there to be extremely painful with pains down both legs and on top and under my feet. Another surgeon I approached, having paid for x-rays and an MRI, plus his initial fee, said 'Go back to the original surgeon, he's done a good job.” Not blooming likely!

I know a number of people who have had the same problems as mine from operations by the same surgeon.

I have another problem too – hypothyroidism – but we won't go into this here. All I will say is that pharmaceutical manufacturers have a lot to answer for.

Over the years I have been as active as possible, and have done a lot of walking, which isn't really possible now as I have got worse with age. However, I do manage
to do my own housework and cooking etc. We go out as much as we can.

Keep smiling and don't lose your sense of humour. After all, it's only pain we are moaning about and all that money we've spent over the years. Some people are a lot worse off – look at the obituaries!

T Janes, Tauranga