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.
- Medical Matters is based on the popular ‘Ask the Doctor’ series in ME Essential magazine.
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Questions in the Category: Spinal Cord
Dorsal root ganglionitis and post-mortem research into ME
I've been following the post-mortem research that you are involved with and note that there are occasional references to dorsal root ganglionitis being found in some of the nervous system tissues that have been examined so far.
Please could you explain in simple terms what this means. And does this finding confirm that people with ME do actually have inflammation (the -myelitis in encephalomyelitis) in the spinal cord?
Does ME involve spinal cord inflammation?
Earlier this year, I suddenly developed severe back pain, loss of balance and was unable to walk in a straight line. I was sent to casualty where I had a CT and MRI scan. I was then diagnosed as having severe spinal inflammation.
The MEA purple book states that there is no evidence of brain or spinal inflammation (= encephalomyelitis) in ME/CFS.
But are we missing something here? Could symptoms such as back pain, poor coordination and abnormal sensations that are commonly reported in ME be caused by inflammation in the spinal nerves?
Research: Post-Mortem
What is happening to post-mortem tissue research into ME/CFS at the moment? Is the ME Association still funding and carrying out any postmortem research? And have any significant abnormalities been found in the post-mortems that have been carried out so far?
Nomenclature: ME/CFS
Is there a simple reason why the ME Association also uses the term myalgic encephalopathy instead of myalgic encephalomyelitis?
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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