Evaluation of pain and therapeutic intervention in people with ME/CFS
Dr Lorna Paul
Investigator
Dr Lorna Paul
Institution
School of Health and Social Care, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
Aims
The objective of this study is to evaluate pain and therapeutic interventions in people with ME/CFS. Post-exercise pain and malaise/fatigue are the two most common and often most disabling symptoms experienced by ME patients. Some researchers have proposed mechanisms to explain the pain experienced by ME/CFS patients, but little is really known about their pain experience. While researchers attempt to unravel the biology of the pain mechanisms, patients still do require symptomatic relief, and there is a need to assess a wide range of potential therapeutic interventions, including symptom control measures. The aims of the study are to comprehensively examine the pain presentation in a group of ME/CFS patients, and to determine appropriate instruments to evaluate pain presentation and the effectiveness of a therapeutic intervention for pain control within a subgroup of these patients. The chosen intervention may involve acupuncture, manual therapy, TENS or other electrophysical agents such as heat — all currently used to control pain in other patient groups.
