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.
  • It is a free resource that supplements the detailed information contained in the full range of literature that can be found in the website shop.

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Questions in the Category: Vitamin Deficiency

Bone pain and ME/CFS

ME Essential Autumn 2024

I have just been reading the new MEA information leaflet on pain management. This covers muscle, joint and nerve (neuropathic) pain ME/CFS. But why isn’t there any mention of bone pain? I have hip pain that was eventually diagnosed as being due to osteomalacia and vitamin D deficiency – which I understand is more common in ME. This is now being treated because my doctors felt I was at increased risk of having a fracture in the hip bone.

Symptoms: Gradual deterioration

ME Essential Winter 2024

I’m in my late forties and have had ME for over 10 years.  For the past few years it has been fairly stable with occasional exacerbations, normally when I get an infection.  But I’ve recently noticed a gradual deterioration in almost all of my ME symptoms.  I don’t have any new or unusual symptoms and there are no obvious reasons for this deterioration in health – infection, stress etc. I’m reluctant to see my GP – who knows very little about ME – but I am starting to feel concerned.

Symptoms – Abnormal red blood cells

ME Essential Autumn 2023

After feeling more fatigued than usual, my GP arranged some blood tests – all of which were normal apart an abnormality with my red blood cells called macrocytosis. Can this can be caused by ME? I understand that there has been some research from New Zealand that found abnormally shaped red blood cells that impaired the blood flow in tiny capillaries.

Symptoms: Pins and Needles

ME Essential Spring 2023

I’m in my early forties and have had moderate ME/CFS for about 5 years. I have all the usual symptoms but I now have a new and rather distressing sensation in my arms and sometimes in my legs. It is very similar to the ‘pins and needles’ sensation you can get when your legs have been crossed for too long. These abnormal sensations come and go and don’t seem to be triggered by anything in particular. Is this yet another symptom of ME/CFS? Or do I need to go and see my doctor?

Treatment: High-dose Vitamin C

ME Essential Summer 2020

I have read about the use of high dose vitamin C injections being used to treat people with coronavirus infection. Could this also be used to treat ME?

Anaemia

ME Essential Summer 2018

A friend of mine with ME/CFS takes a daily iron supplement to help with her fatigue. She says I ought to do the same – even though I know I’m not anaemic. This has been confirmed by a recent GP blood test. So is there any evidence that taking iron tablets could help to boost energy levels in ME/CFS? And is it safe to do so if you are not anaemic?

Charles Shepherd

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