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My husband has got lower back pain. He went to the doctors and was prescribed anti-inflammatory medications, very strong paracetamol and codeine. For some reason this made him very light headed and he was severely sick so he had to stop taking them. Can you advise of anything else he could take instead? The doctor said it could be arthritis but they are going to arrange an x-ray to confirm this.

Ok, so there a couple of things I would suggest. Devil's Claw might be quite helpful as it has anti-inflammatory properties and doesn't... Read the full answer 〉

Hi, I have lots of swelling on my hands and fingers. I’ve also noticed a lot of pain in this area, particularly when I’ve had too much sugar, sweets, fatty foods, dairy, pasta and deep/fried foods. I suspect this is rheumatoid arthritis. Over the past two weeks I have changed my diet – I cut out sugar and salty foods and switched to fish like salmon. I also eat lots of fresh fruit and green veggies. What can you recommend as a natural painkiller?

Can I just ask if you have had rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed by your doctor? If not, I would really recommend you make an appointment just to rule... Read the full answer 〉

How do you know if you are going through the Menopause? I am getting pain in the back of my knee joints and in my fingers. My periods are now coming at different times each month whereas just recently they were every 28 days without fail. I am 50 so could it be the Menopause but could someone advise me further please.

The fact that your cycle has changed is a major indication that you are in perimenopause, which is the lead up to your last-ever period. During this... Read the full answer 〉

I am very active – I work on my feet all day and exercise regularly. Lately though, I have begun to experience pain in my thigh and calf muscles. I haven’t done any more exercise than usual and was wondering if perhaps something is lacking in my diet which may be contributing to the problem. Do you have any supplements you could recommend for this?

Hi there, unfortunately we couldn't say for sure what is at the root of this problem, though it could be that working long hours standing up has... Read the full answer 〉

I am 48 years old and have had pain in my neck, upper back, shoulders and also pain radiating into my arms for a few months now. I am also having nausea at different time and breast pain, along with unrefreshing sleep. I have been to four different doctors and they can't seem to make up their minds between perimenopause and fibromyalgia. Can you shed any light on my situation please?

It sounds to us as if your menopause is approaching. The symptoms you describe are typical and you are in the age range of 45-55. Are your periods... Read the full answer 〉

I have been suffering with painful joints and bones since February 2009. I have been backwards and forwards to the doctor's and the hospital and I have had all sorts of tests. I'm a Ceoliac. Please can you help me because it is really getting me down? I also suffer with broken sleep, I'm emotional and tired al the time.

I don't know if any of those tests told you anything but don't discount your coeliac disease as a cause. It is an autoimmune disorder and therefore... Read the full answer 〉

I was diagnosed 12 years ago with chronic pain syndrome. When I changed doctors I had what seemed like a heart attack, but all was fine apart from very high blood pressure. My new doctor however thinks the pain I have is most likely fibromyalgia as I have almost all the symptoms i.e. sleep problems, depression, bowel problems and severe debilitating pain. I can do very little for myself and at 54 hope to recover one day. Is this possible? And will I work again?

People do recover from fibromyalgia but not simply by taking medicines for the symptoms, whether conventional or natural. A more comprehensive... Read the full answer 〉

I've had a condition for about five years. It started in my knees and it took about 18 months for the hospital to tell me what I had. I have good days when I'm in little pain and other days when I'm in loads of pain and I can't move. I have had some mental health problems as well and I was on tablets. I'm now a million times better but I've put on a lot of weight because of all the tablets I was on. I've given up smoking for about two years. I've started a slim fast diet and I'm trying to do a little excise but I'm in lots of pain afterwards. Is there any foods or excise that I can try that is not going to cause me pain?

What did the hospital tell you was wrong with your knee? In the meantime, please follow this link to a blog I wrote recently on the understanding and... Read the full answer 〉

My husband has very severe back pain, he is really troubled and in severe pain when trying to stand, he also has trouble when he straightens up. I have looked at your excercises for back pain and a lot of them require bending the knees, as my husband cannot bend his right knee (he has had his right knee fused....he has a pin from hip to ankle) can you recommend other excercises to accomodate this?

Here are a few that might be possible:   1) Whilst stood and using a hand on a table top edge to steady yourself, swing a straight leg... Read the full answer 〉

I have been suffering with painful joints and bones since February 2009. I have been backwards and forwards to the doctor's and the hospital and I have all sorts of tests done. I'm a Ceoliac. Please can you help me because it is really getting me down. I also suffer with broken sleep and I'm emotional and tired all the time.

I don't know if any of those tests told you anything but don't discount your coeliac disease as a cause. It is an autoimmune disorder and therefore... Read the full answer 〉

I have been recently diagnosed with fibromalgia and have now been referred back to the GP for medication and physiotherapy. I am currently doing yoga for an hour each day with both breathing techniques and stretching. I also walk daily for about an hour and have always been an active person. I am currently looking for a more natural holistic approach to helping my illness as I don't believe in taking pills! I also understand that each approach will affect a person in a different way! What is so difficult to comprehend is how an illness with an array of symptoms can have an impact upon your whole life! From your mind, body to your complete functioning and you are left battling each day as there is no complete cure! What I am confused about is where to go from here! And what route to explore through trial and error!

I'm sorry you have to battle this rotten illness that affects the person in so many different ways but you're right, there is no known drug cure and... Read the full answer 〉

I suffer with muscle and joint pain, swelling of joints, migraine and constant pain in my body, especially the back of neck and shoulders. I cannot sleep, my feet are sore and my legs restless, I cannot stand for long, sit for long or walk very far. I get hot sweats, have bowel problems and stiffness. What is causing this?

We cannot diagnose I'm afraid, only refer you to the information on the website (visit our trigger points page) and ask you to take your suspicions... Read the full answer 〉

I think I may have fibromyalgia. I'm tired, sleep badly and have muscle pain. I have pain on testing quite a few trigger points, but also on my left forearm and wrist. In fact the whole area is very weak. I initially thought I was getting carpal tunnel as my fingers were becoming dead and tingly overnight. Do you think this is all part of fibromyalgia?

Different peoples experience of fibromyalgia varies, so you may well have it. We can't diagnose I'm afraid but you should take your suspicions to... Read the full answer 〉

I have been getting pain in my knee joint for the past year. It gets very swollen and I have problems walking up and down the slightest incline. Stairs are getting a big problem as I get a sharp pain which causes my knee to give way causing me to fall. Lately I have been getting swollen legs, very tight, with pain all down the back of my leg. I am also experiencing bad ankle joint pain. The pain is more severe after I have been sitting down for some time. Could this be because of the limping due to the pain in my knee?

Sorry to read about your spreading discomfort. It's difficult to say for sure what effects all the postural changes will be, you'll need to be... Read the full answer 〉

I have had FMS for about 16 years and it affects my whole body. For the last 3-6 months, I've been finding bruises on my arms, legs ankles, wrists, just about anywhere, but don't know how I got them, even though some of the bruising has been painful & quite large. Can you please tell me if this just another symptom or something else? I don't want to bother my doctor or use take an appointment that someone else may really need.

Unexplained bruising should always be investigated, so you have every reason to go straight to your doctor. Whether it's related to the fibromyalgia... Read the full answer 〉

I have just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I have had it for 10 years now. I am in that much pain that I need to use a disability scoter. I have confusion, memory loss and can’t concentrate. I’ve had chronic tiredness all these years and can’t pick myself up. I’ve been like this 10 years. Is there anything I can get to help with chronic fatigue?

Sorry to read about your long period of suffering. The key to energy is not any 'booster' but to improve sleep quality, something generally very poor... Read the full answer 〉

I have always been fit, and a good walker. Recently the top of my left leg has become very painful, and walking very difficult. It clicks and then gives way. The doctor said it was Bursitus and I had a cortizone injection. Now the pain is in the top of both legs, and I find walking difficult. I am very low in mood and very tired, and my legs become restless at night. Could it be fibromyalgia?

It won't be fibromyalgia. If you have time to check your symptoms against our new fibromyalgia 'trigger point' illustration in the fibromyalgia... Read the full answer 〉

I have been to my doctors so many times about the pain I feel and it has started to get worse. I have been tested for so many things and it always come back clear. It is now getting to the point where normal household chores and walking is becoming painful for me. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do to help the pain? Reading the symptoms for Fibromyalgia, I have them all. I try to exercise by going to yoga, which is quite painful, but I try to bear it and stop when I am unable to perform certain movements.

In order to perform some beneficial exercise you need to be more comfortable first. Would you consider trying some Atrogel® and Ginkgo for a month... Read the full answer 〉

Have had lower back pain for 6 weeks now, which doesn't seem to be getting any better. Taking painkillers and inflammatory tablets but these don't seem to be working. When I am sitting on the couch with my legs out straight I find it painful. When I just lift my leg up slightly I get sharp pains, not really in my lower back, but I would say more at my buttocks than anywhere else.

It sounds as if you may have trapped a nerve and it may be worth asking the doctor or a physio if this is the case. Most soft tissue injuries would... Read the full answer 〉

I have just been told I probably have fibromyalgia. My question is what does the muscle pain feel like? My body twitches, I have tender points on both knees with stabbing pains in my legs all over as well as my hands. Although this all is concerning to me, what scares me more is the pain I get in my knees. It almost feels like there is something eating away at the joints in my knees. Does this sound like fibromyalgia? I have had ex rays and there is no arthritis in my joints. I'm still very active but always in pain!

Much of what you describe does sound like fibromyalgia. I recently wrote a blog describing the difference between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and... Read the full answer 〉

I am 80 years of age and have enjoyed good health all my life. I am not overweight and my blood pressure is normal for a person of my age. In the last 5/6 weeks I have not been able to enjoy my normal, 2/3-mile daily walks, due to stiffness and soreness in my legs both below and above the knees. Can anybody suggest what is causing this sudden change?

Many people swear that the colder and damper months exacerbate any underlying wear and tear in the joints and it has certainly been damp in the last... Read the full answer 〉

I have been having muscle and joint pain for about 2 years now and have been to my doctor on many occasions. I was told 18 months ago it was arthritis but blood tests showed nothing, even though my fingers have become lumpy and hard to bend. My sleep pattern is all out. Whenever I get into bed and I am wide-awake, no matter how long I stay up at night. My knees crack and are very painful walking up stairs. I had more blood tests last week and they have also come back perfectly clear. My doctor now says I have fibromyalgia. How can she know this if it doesn’t show up in the blood?

A diagnosis of fibromyalgia cannot be arrived at via any blood test and your doctor will likely have arrived at that conclusion as a result of not... Read the full answer 〉

I had a fall last March, injuring my neck and shoulders causing soft tissue damage. I have visited the hospital and have seen many doctors since my fall and have been told I have a diffuse lipoma, which is very painful. I have had acupuncture and I am currently seeing a physiotherapist at the moment. Could you tell me is this going to get any better, as it is nearly one year since I had this fall.

As you may know, a lipoma is a type of benign tumour composed of fatty tissue. However, this fat is not structural nor can it be metabolised (broken... Read the full answer 〉

I broke my spine last February and had an operation to fuse three vertebrae. There is no sign of fusion though. No new bone growth. I am in chronic pain with arthritis in all my joints and crippling pain in my sacroiliac joint and hips. I’m over weight, lost a lot of head hair and 61 years old, but look younger surprisingly despite the pain. I would really appreciate some help in getting fitter. I’m so inactive because of my operation and continuing pain.

Sorry to hear of your horribly traumatic experiences. Sometimes the soft tissues can remain painful for many months following the initial injury,... Read the full answer 〉

I have been taking devils claw tincture for chronically sore muscles and joints for 10 days, but have not had any relief at all. I realise sometimes it takes time, but I had hoped for a small glimmer of relief. My condition has worsened after being taken off methotrexate last year, which kept a cap on my symptoms, but of course is a very toxic drug. I am delaying contacting my rheumatologist, as I know he would put me on steroids and then the methorexate as before. I am desperate to find something as an alternative to these scary drugs. I take vitamin D, vitamin B, gluchosomine/chondroitin, krill oil and marine phytoplankton plus devils claw at the moment. I still have no relief from the pain. I just have to resort to painkillers sometimes for relief. What can I do?

Devils Claw is a remedy you have to be a little patient with. I'd say a few weeks rather than a few days for results. The other factors that cause an... Read the full answer 〉

My side hurts when I turn over in bed. I’m ok during the day but I feel as if I have pulled something in my side. I had an experience carrying some hand luggage recently, when it felt as though something was pulling inside. I never took much notice but since I have come home from holiday its got worse. Its just when I lie down or try to turn over it is painful.

I hope the holiday was otherwise fun. The muscles in the trunk are multi-layered, with some responsible for balance and others for movement, which is... Read the full answer 〉

For the past five months I have had stabbing pains in both feet and a weakness and pain in my thighs. I have had an MRI scan of my spine, which seems to be fine and another on my right foot, which shows some wear and tear. Strangely enough I also started with a pain in my left arm, which is worst when I'm in bed. It is in both hands, especially my thumb and fingers on my right hand. All my blood test results have been good so far. I have been off work for almost six months now and no one seems to have answers as to why I have ended up with using crutches, which I depend on occassionaly on a bad day. I have been under the care of a very good rheumatologist team, which provided all the necessary assessments, and on going blood test and scans. I’m still baffled as to what’s causing this sudden onset of pain and discomfort. I’m so stressed out and just wondering if there's anyone out there, that started with symptoms similar to mine and what was their diagnosis if any? I’m so desperate I can’t take this pain anymore.

Sorry to hear of your discomfort. We cannot diagnose but have your medical team considered 'peripheral neuropathy' (in your case... Read the full answer 〉

I am a 27-year-old male who is generally extremely fit and active. About a week ago, I started noticing some pain in my neck, lower left side, a bit into the shoulder, when I woke up. I thought I had just slept in an odd position, because I do that sometimes. Since then, the neck pain has gone down nearly 50%, but now I experience a bit of aching in a small portion of my upper back, only on the left side. Kind of soreness really, more than sharp pain. I shovelled some snow the other day, and I wonder if that did it. The soreness, the aching.... it goes away after a nice, warm shower, or when I lie down, or just basically rest my back. And actually, I can go a period of time, feeling completely normal and no aching. But just when I think it's healed, I feel the aching and soreness again. One friend said aching like that is very dangerous and can mean a slipped disc or something. But a different friend said, if it goes away after a warm shower or rest, I just need to give it time and rest, and I will feel better in a week or so. This has happened to him, too, after shovelling. I don't have insurance, and don't have any money to just go see a doctor unless it's a huge emergency. It's not like my back is aching so bad that I can't function or anything... but it has me worried. In your opinion, could this be something really serious...or something that just needs some anti-inflammatory stuff and rest? Any advice would be welcome!

I've been battling the same for a while now and have reduced its frequency and duration, though I suspect I am going to have to take the plunge and... Read the full answer 〉

I am a 77-year-old woman with arthritis in knees, hands and elbows. I had a complete knee replacement one year ago, which has been only partially successful. Two months ago I fell downstairs and hurt coccyx and ha ve been fairly sedentary since. I now have low back and side pain and have been taking Ibuprofen irregularly. Can you suggest what I should do?

Please ensure your tea and coffee intake do not exceed 3 cups per day. More than this will deplete your absorption of magnesium, needed for the... Read the full answer 〉

I have been diagnosed with rheumatic arthritis. My knees are stiff. It feels like there is a cold wind entering above the knee. The worst part is I work on the 3rd floor and have to use steps daily. Is this healthy or am I aggravating the pain? My left arm is difficult to lift up but the pain is not on the shoulder but the arm itself. Its worse in the morning. I totally can’t carry heavy things nor wash my back with the left hand. Any cure?

You won't cause extra damage by climbing the stairs but the pain will of course increase. However, keeping a joint mobile is very important, as... Read the full answer 〉

I have been suffering upper back pain for a couple of months. The pain aggravates during sleep and it remains stable during daytime. I don't feel any pain during daytime. But today, after taking a sunbath for 1 hour, the pain grew much stronger. I have become really upset as the whole of my body started aching. I have not taken any medicines or consulted with any doctors yet. My diabetes and blood pressure are normal. I have not faced any accident nor have I hit my back with anything. Are my morning exercises not good? Could it be due to sleeping on a mattress? Please suggest what I should do?

You may be correct when you wonder if the mattress is responsible.Many people experience a bad back just a few days after sleeping on a softer... Read the full answer 〉

I have suffered for over 2 years with pain now, which never goes. An injury at work when I fell and landed on my lower back about 3 feet up, resulted in a whip lashed neck. Trigger points in lots of areas – numbness, burning pins and needles and worst of all the headaches. Had MRI CT scan. Eyes sting, sinuses weird and hands go blue when cold. Need help.

Sorry to read all of that, what an ordeal. I presume you've been prescribed and have taken all sorts of pain killers to little effect. 'Modern'... Read the full answer 〉

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