In the News

24 May, 2024

Deciphering Nociplastic Pain: Clinical Features, Risk Factors And Potential Mechanisms

Nociplastic pain is a mechanistic term used to describe pain that arises or is sustained by altered nociception, despite the absence of tissue damage. Although nociplastic pain has distinct pathophysiology from nociceptive and neuropathic pain, these pain mechanisms often coincide within individuals, which contributes to the intractability of chronic pain. Key symptoms of nociplastic pain include pain in multiple body regions, fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive dysfunction, depression and anxiety. Individuals with nociplastic pain are often diffusely tender — indicative of hyperalgesia and/or allodynia — and are often more sensitive than others to non-painful sensory stimuli such as lights, odours and noises. This Review summarizes the risk factors, clinical presentation and treatment of nociplastic pain, and describes how alterations in brain function and structure, immune processing and peripheral factors might contribute to the nociplastic pain phenotype. This article concludes with a discussion of two proposed subtypes of nociplastic pain that reflect distinct neurobiological features and treatment responsivity.

24 May, 2024

Long Dismissed, Chronic Lyme Disease Is Finally Getting Its Moment

Sue Gray, 59, has been sick half her life. But it took two decades to confirm why. When Gray was 30 and living with her then-husband in the middle of the woods in upstate New York, she felt a tick on her scalp one day after taking a shower. Her former husband plucked it off with tweezers, and “that was the end of that—for that day,” Gray says. Over the next few months, however, Gray’s health began to decline. She suffered frequent respiratory infections and developed a twitch in her eye. Then, a few weeks after the twitch began, she felt the sensation of ants crawling up and down her legs, even though nothing was there. That made Gray nervous enough to book an appointment with a neurologist. Remembering her recent tick bite, Gray asked to be tested for Lyme disease—but the results came back negative. Looking back, knowing what she does now about the faultiness of Lyme tests, she wishes she’d been retested. But her doctor just sent her on her way.

24 May, 2024

Impact Of Physical Activity Education On Muscle Strength And Shoulder Girdle Pain In Fibromyalgia

The following is a summary of “Effect of physical activity education on shoulder girdle pain and muscle strength in participants with fibromyalgia: a pilot experimental study,” published in the May 2024 issue of Pain by Couëpel et al.

23 May, 2024

A Housing Association Is Torturing A Woman With EDS And Severe ME

A housing association – Adra – is torturing a severely chronically ill woman and putting her life at risk. She lives with both Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and severe myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Despite her extreme vulnerability to noise and vibrations due to her ME and EDS, the housing association operating a nearby estate sprung construction work on her without warning.

23 May, 2024

PIP Payments Of Up To £737 Each Month For People With These 87 Muscle Or Joint Conditions

The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that there are more than 1.1 million adults across Great Britain receiving support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for more than 85 musculoskeletal conditions, including 64,202 living in Scotland.

23 May, 2024

Validation Of The Danish Version Of The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revised

Increasing recognition of chronic pain diseases, including Fibromyalgia, warrants the need for tools to monitor the impact of the disease as well as the efficacy of interventions. The Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) has previously proved to be a valuable tool in both clinical and research settings. The study objective was to translate and validate the FIQR in Danish.

22 May, 2024

Life Becomes Art In Wellcome’s New Exhibition

This giant installation forms part of a joyful exploration of the body, drawing on the experiences of artist Jason Wilsher-Mills, who as a child had polyneuropathy and chronic fatigue syndrome and who became paralysed for five years. The Wellcome’s immersive exhibition Jason and the Adventure of 254 reimagines the gallery space as a hospital ward, and the sculptures, illustrations, and interactive dioramas are designed to challenge cultural and societal perceptions of disability, medicine, and the human body.

22 May, 2024

Marolt: If I Haven’t Seemed Like Myself Lately…

Physically it only hurts when I ski, run, ride or do many other activities I love. Mentally, it comes in waves. When they crest, my thoughts are like wax objects I am sorting under a hot sun. Uncomfortable. Some stick together and I fumble to figure out what they were. Others melt into pools beyond recognition and I have to let them go. I have long COVID. I had my fifth positive test for COVID on Jan. 1, and while I wasn’t extremely sick, my recovery felt slow. In the first week of March, there was no more denying the condition I previously doubted was real.

22 May, 2024

Long COVID, ME/CFS And The Importance Of Studying Infection-Associated Illnesses

Research on Long COVID may also shine light on the underlying causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, or ME/CFS.

21 May, 2024

Navigating The Long Haul: A Comprehensive Review Of Long-COVID Sequelae, Patient Impact, Pathogenesis, And Management

Long COVID, characterized by persistent symptoms following a SARS-CoV-2 infection, presents a significant public health challenge with wide-ranging implications. This comprehensive review explores the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, risk factors, diagnosis, patient impact, management strategies, and long-term prognosis of COVID. Despite a varied symptomatology that spans multiple organ systems, including respiratory, neurological, and cardiovascular systems, this condition is primarily associated with chronic inflammation and potential viral persistence. Prevalence varies, influenced by the initial infection severity, demographic factors, and pre-existing conditions. The review emphasizes the necessity for healthcare systems to adapt to the needs of long-COVID patients by developing standardized diagnostic criteria and personalized, multidisciplinary treatment approaches. Current research gaps and future directions are identified, highlighting the urgent need for further studies on pathophysiological mechanisms and effective therapeutic interventions. This review aims to inform healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers, enhancing patient care and guiding ongoing and future research initiatives. The continuing global focus and collaborative efforts offer hope for improved outcomes for those affected by long COVID, marking an essential step towards addressing this emergent condition comprehensively.