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Dear Annie: Still doing it alone after decades of marriage

Dear Annie: I have been married for 45 years, and the silence in my marriage feels deafening. It did not happen overnight. It built slowly over the years, like a snowball rolling downhill, growing larger and heavier until it now seems to fill every corner of our home. I always believed I was being a good wife and partner. I raised our children, kept the books, did the laundry, cooked the meals, handled the shopping, managed the house, worked full time for many years and then part time, and carried most of the invisible load that keeps a family running. My husband worked full time and ...

Man suffers from tinnitus that greatly impacts his quality of life

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband has been suffering from tinnitus for a couple of years now. His primary care physician referred him to an audiologist. He isn’t a candidate for a hearing aid and has basically been told that there is nothing he can do, and there are no treatments available. He has adopted some sound apps on his phone to distract himself from the noise and was offered antidepressants to help him deal with it, but this is about it. The medical advice that he received also told him not to believe anything he reads about cures because none has been proven to be effective. He ...

The illusion of strength: America’s fragile economy

There is a difference between confidence and comfort, between projecting strength and actually possessing it. In today’s American economy, that difference is becoming harder to ignore. President Donald Trump speaks often of resilience, growth and dominance. The language is bold, the tone unwavering. But beneath that optimism lies a more fragile reality, one that millions of Americans feel every day, even if it is not always acknowledged from the podium. An economy is not measured by its headlines. It is measured by its households. And across this country, the warning signs are ...

Faith among young people surges, providing a missing anchor

Last September, Pastor Jason Howard of the Sanctuary Church in Pittsburgh saw a surge of young people flocking to his Christian congregation, the week after Charlie Kirk was murdered. Howard knew that something had shifted. Yes, their congregation had always been predominantly youth-driven, but this was different. Lines began to form for their services. Public transportation was dropping off children by the busload from campuses across the city, and he knew that he had an obligation to expand. Howard teamed up with local college students at the University of Pittsburgh, and a revival ...

Dear Annie: Retired husband is rewriting house rules

Dear Annie: My husband retired eight months ago, and ever since then, our home has felt less like a place to relax and more like a company he has decided to manage. After years of leaving early, coming home late and barely noticing whether the bath towels matched, he is suddenly very interested in how everything is done and has strong opinions about all of it. He has started announcing new “house rules” as though he is issuing office memos. Shoes may no longer be left by the door. The dishwasher must be run only at night. Lunch should not be eaten in the den. The mail must be opened ...

Weighing whether a nerve block is right for a case of arthritis

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have bad knee arthritis. My doctor is suggesting a genicular nerve block. Is this a good idea? Will it fix the problem? — P.O.V. ANSWER: Chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis is a common problem in middle-aged and older adults. Before a person receives treatment, the diagnosis should be confirmed by an X-ray. First-line treatments are exercise and anti-inflammatory drugs, like naproxen (orally) or diclofenac (topically). When first-line treatments are ineffective, there are other options. Knee injections with steroids have long been used, but recent studies ...