fatigue

Posted on Pain Management

Electrical nerve stimulation eases pain and fatigue for some conditions

Wearable TENS system “offered immediate, on-demand relief,” say researchers

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device Credit Bijan Najafi Research Team

 Wearable electrical nerve stimulation devices can relieve people experiencing the persistent pain and fatigue linked to long COVID, a study co-led by UCLA and Baylor College of Medicine researchers suggests.

Long-COVID, a complex and lingering condition following COVID-19 recovery, affects approximately 1 in 13 adults in the U.S. Symptoms such as widespread pain, fatigue, and muscle weakness often continue to disrupt daily activities, including walking and basic tasks.

The study focused on a wearable Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device, which uses low-voltage electrical currents to reduce pain, fatigue, and mobility issues associated with long-COVID.

However, the device could have broader applications.

 “While this study focused on managing pain and fatigue caused by long COVID, it may also have potential applications for addressing similar symptoms in individuals with other respiratory diseases, those who have experienced extended ICU stays and developed post-hospitalization weaknesses, and conditions involving chronic fatigue and pain, such as fibromyalgia or chemotherapy-related side effects,” Najafi said. “But further studies are needed to confirm these potential uses.”

In the study, 25 participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and gait difficulties were assigned either a high-dose (active) TENS device or a low-dose (placebo) device. Both groups used the TENS device for three to five hours daily over four weeks.

Researchers measured participants’ pain levels, fatigue, and walking performance before and after the therapy period. Findings indicated that the high-dose TENS group experienced notable improvements in pain relief (26.1% more relief than placebo) and walking ability (8% during fast walking), suggesting that wearable TENS therapy may help reduce long-COVID’s impact on daily life.

The high-dose TENS group also reported a slightly higher perceived benefit (71.2%) than the low-dose group (61.4%), underscoring the potential of wearable TENS technology to support long-term COVID recovery.

Najafi said one factor in the study’s success was likely the high rate of daily device usage. The wearable nature of the TENS device allowed participants to use it seamlessly throughout the day without disrupting their routines.

“This wearable TENS system offered immediate, on-demand relief from pain and fatigue, making it easy to integrate into daily activities,” Najafi said.

Leave a comment Posted on Multiple Sclerosis

“Multiple Sclerosis: What are the signs and symptoms of MS?”

Terri wears a tie to promote MS awareness

Terri wears a tie to promote MS awareness

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis




Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause a wide range of symptoms and can affect any part of the body. Each person with the condition is affected differently.

The symptoms are unpredictable. Some people’s symptoms develop and worsen steadily over time, while for others they come and go.

Periods when symptoms get worse are known as “relapses”. Periods when symptoms improve or disappear are known as “remissions”.

Some of the most common symptoms include:

fatigue

vision problems

numbness and tingling

muscle spasms, stiffness and weakness

mobility problems

pain

problems with thinking, learning and planning

depression and anxiety

sexual problems

bladder problems

bowel problems

speech and swallowing difficulties

Most people with MS only have a few of these symptoms.

See your GP if you’re worried you might have early signs of MS. The symptoms can be similar to several other conditions, so they’re not necessarily caused by MS.

Read more about diagnosing MS.

Fatigue

Feeling fatigued is one of the most common and troublesome symptoms of MS.

It’s often described as an overwhelming sense of exhaustion that means it’s a struggle to carry out even the simplest activities.

Fatigue can significantly interfere with your daily activities and tends to get worse towards the end of each day, in hot weather, after exercising, or during illness.

Vision problems

In around one in four cases of MS, the first noticeable symptom is a problem with one of your eyes (optic neuritis). You may experience:

some temporary loss of vision in the affected eye, usually lasting for days to weeks

colour blindness

eye pain, which is usually worse when moving the eye

flashes of light when moving the eye

Other problems that can occur in the eyes include:

double vision

involuntary eye movements, which can make it seem as though stationary objects are jumping around

Occasionally, both of your eyes may be affected.

Abnormal sensations

Abnormal sensations can be a common initial symptom of MS.




This often takes the form of numbness or tingling in different parts of your body, such as the arms, legs or trunk, which typically spreads out over a few days.

Muscle spasms, stiffness and weakness

MS can cause your muscles to:

contract tightly and painfully (spasm)

become stiff and resistant to movement (spasticity)

feel weak

Mobility problems

MS can make walking and moving around difficult, particularly if you also have muscle weakness and spasticity (see above). You may experience:

clumsiness

difficulty with balance and co-ordination (ataxia)

shaking of the limbs (tremor)

dizziness and vertigo, which can make it feel as though everything around you is spinning

Pain

Some people with MS experience pain, which can take two forms:

Pain caused by MS itself (neuropathic pain) – this is pain caused by damage to the nervous system. This may include stabbing pains in the face and a variety of sensations in the trunk and limbs, including feelings of burning, pins and needles, hugging or squeezing. Muscle spasms can sometimes be painful.

Musculoskeletal pain – back, neck and joint pain can be indirectly caused by MS, particularly for people who have problems walking or moving around that puts pressure on their lower back or hips.

Problems with thinking, learning and planning

Some people with MS have problems with thinking, learning and planning – known as cognitive dysfunction. This can include:

problems learning and remembering new things – long-term memory is usually unaffected

slowness in processing lots of information or multi-tasking

a shortened attention span

getting stuck on words

problems with understanding and processing visual information, such as reading a map

difficulty with planning and problem solving – people often report that they know what they want to do, but can’t grasp how to do it

problems with reasoning, such as mathematical laws or solving puzzles

However, many of these problems aren’t specific to MS and can be caused by a wide range of other conditions, including depression and anxiety, or even some medications.

Mental health issues

Many people with MS experience periods of depression. It’s unclear whether this is directly caused by MS, or is due to the stress of having to live with a long-term condition, or both.

Anxiety can also be a problem for people with MS, possibly due to the unpredictable nature of the condition.

In rare cases, people with MS can experience rapid and severe mood swings, suddenly bursting into tears, laughing or shouting angrily for no apparent reason.

Sexual problems

MS can have an effect on sexual function.

Men with MS often find it hard to obtain or maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction). They may also find it takes a lot longer to ejaculate when having sex or masturbating, and may even lose the ability to ejaculate altogether.

For women, problems include difficulty reaching orgasm, as well as decreased vaginal lubrication and sensation.

Both men and women with MS may find they are less interested in sex than they were before. This could be directly related to MS, or it could be the result of living with the condition.

Bladder problems

Bladder problems are common in MS. They may include:

having to pee more frequently

having a sudden, urgent need to pee, which can lead to unintentionally passing urine (urge incontinence)

difficulty emptying the bladder completely

having to get up frequently during the night to pee

recurrent urinary tract infections

These problems can also have a range of causes other than MS.

Bowel problems

Many people with MS also have problems with their bowel function.

Constipation is the most common problem. You may find passing stools difficult and pass them much less frequently than normal.

Bowel incontinence is less common, but is often linked to constipation. If a stool becomes stuck, it can irritate the wall of the bowel, causing it to produce more fluid and mucus that can leak out of your bottom.

Again, some of these problems aren’t specific to MS and can even be the result of medications, such as medicines prescribed for pain.

Speech and swallowing difficulties

Some people with MS experience difficulty chewing or swallowing (dysphagia) at some point.

Speech may also become slurred, or difficult to understand (dysarthria).

Posted on Multiple Sclerosis

“Strategies and Mindset to Transform Your Life with Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue”

In today’s video podcast episode, I will be sharing valuable insights and strategies for managing MS fatigue and how to address it. I will discuss how this symptom manifests, how to minimize it, ways to prevent it, and the most beneficial mindset to have when dealing with MS and MS fatigue. I will also explain what MS fatigue looks like and how it can impact people with MS and those around them. The information and solutions presented are relevant not only to individuals with MS but also to those with other autoimmune conditions that have fatigue as a primary symptom. This episode will also provide value to those who are chronically tired, overwhelmed, and living in a survival mode.

How do we differentiate between fatigue and general tiredness? It’s simple. When we are tired, rest or sleep rejuvenates us, and we feel better afterwards. Tiredness does not significantly affect our body’s response, and with effort, we can continue functioning for a while longer. We have some control over it. On the other hand, fatigue is not alleviated by rest or sleep and can persist for an unknown period until we feel better. It also tends to be unpredictable. Overcoming fatigue is not solely a matter of willpower; it also affects our body and mind. The good news is that there are ways to reduce the likelihood of experiencing fatigue and methods to prevent both fatigue and MS fatigue.

Posted on ADHD, Autism

Neurodivergent children are twice as likely to experience chronic disabling fatigue in adolescence

A groundbreaking study has found that children who exhibit neurodivergent traits, such as those associated with autism and ADHD, are twice as likely to experience chronic disabling fatigue by age 18.
A groundbreaking study has found that children who exhibit neurodivergent traits, such as those associated with autism and ADHD, are twice as likely to experience chronic disabling fatigue by age 18.

The research, led by Dr Lisa Quadt, Research Fellow in Psychiatry at BSMS and Dr Jessica Eccles, Reader in Brain-Body Medicine at BSMS, highlights a significant link between neurodivergence and chronic fatigue. The study found that increased inflammation in childhood, often resulting from heightened stress levels, may be a contributing factor. This supports previous findings that suggest chronic fatigue can be rooted in inflammatory processes.

“These results show the importance of trans-diagnostic screening for children and the need for better support for neurodivergent children” says Dr Quadt. “Children with neurodivergent traits, diagnosed or not, often experience heightened stress, which is likely one reason for their increased inflammatory levels. Our study indicates that this may be a risk factor for developing chronic disabling fatigue, which dramatically decreases quality of life.”

While this research emphasises the higher risk of chronic fatigue among neurodivergent populations, it does not imply that all individuals with chronic fatigue are neurodivergent. The causes and mechanisms of chronic fatigue are multifaceted and intricate, necessitating a comprehensive approach by healthcare providers to identify contributing factors and tailor support and treatment accordingly.

The study’s findings advocate for better screening practices and enhanced support systems for neurodivergent children to mitigate the risk of chronic fatigue and improve overall quality of life.