With the emergence of a mysterious new illness called Long COVID, The incapacitating nature of persistent fatigue.
Around the world, the unintended consequences of this pandemic are now significant health problems, causing considerable personal suffering, absenteeism from work, High social costs are expected.
An additional burden for Long COVID patients is medical skepticism and Social stigma,it is Self-doubt and shame.
So far, the focus has been on the lack of available treatments and the lack of a cure. However, persistent fatigue can be Chronic painNew understanding of the neurophysiology of pain and sensation is bringing brighter prospects for Long COVID patients.
Similarities between Long COVID and Chronic Fatigue
The virus that causes COVID has infected 750 million people, many of whom died before mass vaccination. Most people recover fully from mild infections, but about 10% Persistent, debilitating fatigueThis can include brain fog, anxiety, shortness of breath and a host of other symptoms.
Long COVID The broad range of symptoms is similar It is common in people with chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalitis. The illness, known as CFS/ME, first came to prominence in the 1970s as a recurrent illness following glandular fever, but is now Caused by another infection.
Latest insights from the burgeoning field of neuroscience Guiding the clinical management of chronic pain It may offer hope to people who suffer from chronic fatigue.
The Neuroscience of Pain and Sensation
Neuroscience is the study of the central and peripheral nervous systems, the complex whole-body networks that monitor and control every function in our body. Under our conscious thought and control.
The fight-or-flight response in a stressful situation is a useful example: Our attention becomes more focused, our heart rate speeds up, and our blood pressure rises, pumping more blood to our muscles. We don’t have to think about it; it just happens.
The sensation of pain is now understood to be a warning signal produced by the nervous system in response to an actual or potential threat to our safety. The strength of the pain signal varies depending not only on the physical injury but also on past experiences and anticipation.
Persistent pain often results from an oversensitive nervous system that continues to send warning signals. The neurophysiology underlying persistent pain isCentral sensitizationThe term describes an oversensitive alarm system that triggers excessive pain signals even after damaged tissue has healed.
Central sensitization depends on the phenomenon of neuroplasticity. The neural pathways we use frequently Becoming more established, efficient and dominantWhen pain or fatigue persists, the associated neural pathways become highly developed, which is counterproductive to normal function.
Neuroplasticity contributes to the development of useless neural pathways, but the opposite is also true. Useless pathways may be downregulatedImprovement of symptoms.
Applying Neuroscience to CFS/ME and Long COVID
These insights are the basis for the concept of pain neuroscience education, which pain clinics around the world use to teach patients about the nature of their pain and its causes. Not consciously controlled.
These explanations include how certain activities such as group education, physical retraining, and hidden belief identification work. Promotes recovery.
the study It has been shown that properly trained general practitioners can provide explanations to help people recover from a range of persistent symptoms, including fatigue and pain.
At normal levels, pain and fatigue Adaptive ResponseLike pain, fatigue is a warning signal that your body needs rest. How tired you feel depends on many factors, even at a subconscious level.
Inflammation and nervous system dysfunction underlie the cluster, as does persistent pain. Pervasive Problems in CFS/ME and Long COVIDCurrent approaches to chronic pain It may also be applicable to persistent fatigue syndrome..
Encourage early success
Studies are showing promising early results. Unconscious beliefs about the nature of illnessreduced Long COVID fatigue, with benefits lasting for six months.
a Scandinavian Studies Group He also questions the current narrative that describes persistent fatigue syndrome as “an incomprehensible and incurable disease with no cure,” arguing instead that: New insights into the nervous system And they play a role in creating and, sometimes unintentionally, perpetuating a debilitating sense of fatigue.
These insights may ease current fears that Long COVID is a mystery illness. While there is no magic bullet, supportive care supplemented with “fatigue neuroscience education” may give patients a better understanding of the mechanisms behind their symptoms and provide advice that will help them recover.
These concepts are Not yet integrated Medical training and clinical care efforts for persistent fatigue syndrome. However, ongoing neuroscience research and reports of promising clinical results have generated some optimism regarding understanding and treating Long COVID.
Hamish WilsonAssociate Professor, Department of General Medicine University of Otago and John Douglas DunbarSenior Clinical Lecturer in Surgical Sciences University of Otago
This article is reprinted from conversation Published under a Creative Commons license. Original Article.
