MEDICAL MATTERS
- Medical Matters features questions asked by Members of the ME Association on health-related topics.
- Dr Charles Shepherd and the ME Association's other advisers answer these questions by sharing their expert knowledge.
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Questions in the Category: Intermittent Claudication
Leg pain – could it be caused by ME/CFS?
Like most people with ME/CFS, I often have muscle or nerve pain in various parts of my body – often brought on or made worse by activity. But I've recently had a more unusual and very localised pain in the calf muscles of my legs. It's not usually present at rest and normally comes on when I have been for a longish walk – which I can still manage to do. I should add that I'm in my early sixties, am a bit overweight, also have mild diabetes, and have had ME for about 15 years.
Is this very specific type of activity-induced pain in the legs being caused by ME? Or do I need to see my GP?
Dr Charles Shepherd
Dr Shepherd has been Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association for more than 40 years. He is integral to the charity's activities and provides information and support based on his professional knowledge, personal experience as a doctor with ME/CFS, and the understanding gained from helping many thousands of people with the condition. He was a member of the comittee responsible for the 2021 NICE Clinical Guideline and is a recognised expert on ME/CFS in the UK. His knowledge extends to Post-Viral Fatigue Syndromes (PVFS), Myalgic Encephalopathy/Encephalomyelitis (ME), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) or Long Covid.
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Medical Matters is based on the popular ‘Ask the Doctor‘ series featured in the highly-regarded member’s magazine, ME Essential, and in the healthcare professional magazine, ME Medical. Both are produced by the ME Association and published as hard-copy magazines every 3 months and sent to members and healthcare professionals by post to home or business addresses.
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