I've suffered with a burning sensation in my right thigh for several years. My GP told me to stop wearing tight clothing, but that hasn't helped. What else can I do?

DR ELLIE: A burning sensation in one area of the body is often related to a nerve problem.

If nerves become damaged or pressured from nearby swelling or a scar, they don't function properly. Nerve damage can cause numbness, burning pains or weakness. One possible cause of nerve problems can be a spinal injury, such as a slipped disc.

If the problem is due to a spinal injury, physiotherapy might improve things. An injury to the area experiencing the burning sensation could also trigger nerve issues – this is true even for injuries which happened several years ago, as nerve damage can be long-lasting. Tight clothing or certain sleeping positions are also linked to the problem.

Another cause could be a shingles infection – this is known as neuralgia. The condition is triggered by the chickenpox virus – called varicella zoster – which remains in the nerves after the usual childhood infection. The virus can resurface as shingles as we age, causing a painful rash.

In rare cases, patients can get nerve problems as a result of shingles even though they did not develop the distinctive rash.

There is no treatment to get rid of shingles-related neuralgia, but it does fade. Painkillers and a special chilli pepper ointment, called capsaicin cream, can also reduce symptoms.

Anyone struggling to sleep due to nerve problems should talk to their GP about nerve painkillers such as gabapentin, pregabalin and amitriptyline.

A burning sensation in one area of the body is often related to a nerve problem - which can cause numbness, burning pains or weakness - DR ELLIE CANNON explains

I was prescribed a blood pressure tablet, furosemide, to help reduce swelling in my legs and ankles. However, since I began taking it I've developed tinnitus. Could the tablets be to blame?

DR ELLIE: Tinnitus – constantly hearing noises that aren't there, such as ringing or buzzing – is a known side effect of furosemide.

The blood pressure drug helps protect the heart, however, it is also a diuretic, meaning it encourages the body to pass more water. This can help reduce swelling in the legs – a common side effect of high blood pressure.

Furosemide is effective but ear issues such as deafness and tinnitus are both commonly reported problems.

Tinnitus is a particularly distressing symptom as it can be hard to ignore and can even lead to mental health problems.

Sometimes cutting the dose of a medicine can reduce side effects, but this is something that patients should try only under the supervision of a doctor. If the tinnitus goes away then it's almost certainly due to the furosemide.

However, it's important to stress that, while tinnitus can be extremely unpleasant, it is not life-threatening, whereas high blood pressure is often deadly. For this reason, some patients who develop tinnitus choose to continue taking furosemide as they believe the benefits outweigh the risks. But this is a decision for the patient to make.

While there is no simple cure to chronic back pain, DR ELLIE is keen to tell patients there are several steps that can be taken to reduce suffering

I'm 82 and I've suffered with back pain since I was 26. I've had numerous scans which haven't spotted anything amiss. However, I'm told I have low iron levels. Could that be the cause of my pain?

DR ELLIE: Even in the most severe cases, low iron is very unlikely to trigger back pain.

Iron is a crucial mineral that helps red blood cells carry oxygen around the body. Most of our iron intake comes from iron-rich foods including dark-green leafy vegetables such as kale, cereals and bread, meat, dried fruit and pulses.

When people have low iron levels this can trigger a condition called anaemia. It's most common among pregnant women and those taking anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as those with stomach ulcers, piles and some cancers.

The symptoms are typically fatigue, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, pale skin and headaches, so it is more likely that back pain would be an unrelated problem.

Chronic back pain is common, particularly among older people. In many cases the symptom can occur despite no signs of damage under a scan.

While there is no simple cure, there are several steps that can be taken to reduce suffering.

The most important is remaining active. The natural reaction to pain is to move less. However, this is not the right approach and anyone suffering with the problem should regularly exercise. Over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol can help. Many patients also find that seeing a therapist to learn pain management techniques can be effective.

In some cases, patients may be offered steroid injections, which some studies suggest can help. However, this reduction in pain is typically temporary.

A GP can help patients find a combination of measures that is right for them.

I'm hungry to learn more about night eaters

Are you a 'night eater'? I was surprised to come across this syndrome recently – waking in the middle of the night, raiding the kitchen for sugary snacks or carb-heavy treats, sometimes more than once – and equally intrigued to learn that it's not uncommon.

While I haven't heard many of my patients mention it, dentists say around a third of adults do it – often to the detriment of their teeth. My first question is: why?

Sufferers of night-eating syndrome say they can't get back to sleep unless they feel full. While the occasional midnight snack is normal, it's an issue if it happens more than once a week. I suspect blood-sugar fluctuations could be to blame, given the strong cravings for starchy foods. Like all forms of insomnia, it can leave people exhausted and low in mood.

Does this sound familiar? If so, I'd love to hear from you – please use the email address below.

Why men must moisturise too

Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is on the rise, and this year is projected to see the highest number of cases on record.

But did you know men and women tend to develop it in different places?

It is crucial men moisturise as they are less likely to use products containing SPF ingredients 

Because it's linked to UV exposure, women are more likely to get melanoma on their legs while in men it's more often found on the back, chest or stomach – reflecting the way we dress in hot weather.

I wonder if we'll start to see other differences emerge. For instance, I don't apply extra SPF these days – it's in most moisturisers and even make-up. But most men don't use any skincare. So could facial skin cancer one day become something that mostly affects men?

Friends often complain their husbands won't buy their own moisturiser. Maybe it's time to stop nagging, and instead start encouraging the habit.

Do you have a question for Dr Ellie Cannon? Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk. 

Dr Cannon cannot enter into personal correspondence and her replies should be taken in a general context.