
In the News
Keep up to date with the latest news articles from around the world.
Articles represent the views of their authors and not ME/CFS SA. Always seek advice from a registered health practitioner before changing your care plan.
19 August, 2023
Genetic Risk Factors Found For Long COVID
Computational biology company PrecisionLife has announced the results of its long COVID study providing detailed genetic insights into the condition and its commonalities with other diseases, including myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). It is hoped that this analysis will open the door for new precision diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to address the massive unmet medical need affecting the lives of millions of patients.
19 August, 2023
Trigger Point Injections Versus Medical Management For Acute Myofascial Pain: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis
Myofascial pain is a common problem resulting in musculoskeletal pain characterized by myofascial trigger points. These trigger points can cause substantial discomfort and functional limitations. This meta-analysis aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of trigger point injections versus medical management alone in treating acute onset myofascial pain. A thorough search was conducted across four databases, namely, PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science (WOS), and Cochrane Library, to identify randomized controlled trials that compared the effectiveness of trigger point injections versus medical management for the treatment of acute myofascial pain. The search encompassed articles published from the databases’ inception until June 2023. The relevant data were extracted and analyzed using the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Of the 1151 records identified, four met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review, and all were included in the meta-analysis. The analysis of four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed that trigger point injections were effective in reducing pain scores compared to medical treatment (SMD = -2.09 (95% CI: -3.34 to -0.85, P = 0.001)). The data revealed a negative standardized mean difference, which was significant and consistent in favor of trigger point injections. Overall, these findings highlight the beneficial impact of trigger point injections in reducing acute myofascial pain when compared to isolated medical management.
18 August, 2023
Exploring The Link Between Fibromyalgia And The Immune System: Implications For Treatment
Numerous scientific studies have investigated the relationship between fibromyalgia and the immune system, revealing various findings and proposing possible mechanisms. One such discovery is the presence of systemic inflammation in fibromyalgia patients. Chronic low-grade inflammation may contribute to the sensitization of the central nervous system, heightening pain perception and causing other typical symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
18 August, 2023
Milnacipran As Treatment For FM
Experts discuss the FDA approved agent milnacipran for the treatment of fibromyalgia (FM).
18 August, 2023
EastEnders Icon And Film Star Hospitalised After Being Unable To Stand
Former EastEnders legend, movie star, singer and all-round icon Martine McCutcheon has been speaking about the health issues that left her so dizzy she was barely able to stand up. Martine was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, in 2011, and six years later was diagnosed with Lyme disease. She also suffers from fibromyalgia. These conditions cause a range of debilitating symptoms for the actress.
17 August, 2023
Godmanchester Woman Plans Solo Channel Swim Using Arms Alone
A woman who finds the touch of water painful is planning a solo English Channel swim powered only by her arms. Sophie Etheridge, 31, took up the challenge to raise the profile of a Swimming Teachers Association campaign for swimmers with disabilities. She has had fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome since 2011.
17 August, 2023
The ME/CFS Finnish Fecal Matter Transplant Study Flounders
With the gut microflora (the gut-brain axis) able to affect the brain and cognition and with dysregulated gut microflora implicated in chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM) – not to mention diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – a finding a corrective gut flora treatment might be a big deal.
17 August, 2023
I Begged My Doctors To Figure Out What Was Wrong With Me. Instead, I Was Medically Gaslit.
"'Great news!' she said. 'They looked at your labs and history. It turns out ... there’s nothing wrong with you!'"
16 August, 2023
A Protein That Disrupts Cells’ Energy Centers May Be A Culprit In Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
New study offers clues as to how exhaustion could arise in people with ME/CFS—and potentially related conditions such as Long Covid.
16 August, 2023
Long COVID: Unusual Case Turns Man's Legs Blue After 10 Minutes Of Standing Up
A number of long COVID symptoms have been observed since research into the condition began, including impacting the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating blood pressure and heart rate.