Dr Rosemary

Medical adVice cOlUmNiST OF THe YeaR

advice. The one thing you have not mentioned is your muscles or your tendons and whether they are functioning normally.

If your leg is becoming weaker it is important to keep the muscles as strong as possible. You say you find walking difficult but a physiotherapist could teach you exercises you could do at home. I suggest you ask your GP if this could be arranged.

I’m assuming your specialists have arranged blood tests but it is worth checking that you haven’t got an underlying disorder such as an underactive thyroid, inflammation of your muscles, anaemia or a low vitamin D level.

It may be that you are one of the unlucky people who have a problem that medics just can’t explain. Are there any other Daily Express readers who have had a similar problem?

MY 11-year-old granddaughter has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Sometimes she can barely walk, she is in so much pain. Her GP is reluctant to prescribe anything other than paracetamol as she has never heard of anyone as young as that having this condition.

My daughter feels helpless watching her suffer. Can you offer advice or is there an organisation she could contact for help?

APEOPLE with fibromyalgia have pain and tenderness all over their body. Other symptoms can include extreme tiredness and disturbed sleep and many say they can’t think clearly or remember things properly.

It can affect anyone, including children, but is seven times more common in women, especially those between aged 30-50.

The cause isn’t known but experts believe there may be abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the way the central nervous system (including the brain, spinal cord and nerves) process pain messages.

In many sufferers the condition appears to be triggered by a physical or emotionally stressful event such as a bereavement, injury or illness. In some women, giving birth seems to be a trigger. There may also be a genetic link with