Management of Central Poststroke Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Central poststroke pain (CPSP) is a neuropathic pain condition prevalent in 8 to 35% of stroke patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to provide insight into the effectiveness of available pharmacological, physical, psychological, and neuromodulation interventions in reducing pain in CPSP patients (PROSPERO Registration: CRD42022371835). Secondary outcomes included mood, sleep, global impression of change, and physical responses.

Clinical Characterization of New-Onset Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: New-onset chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is one of the common persistent symptoms in Long COVID (LC). This study investigated its clinical characteristics, underlying mechanisms, and impact on function, psychological health, and quality of life.

Patients And Methods: Thirty adults (19 female, 11 male) with LC and new-onset chronic MSK pain underwent clinical examination, Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST), and blood tests for inflammatory markers and completed the following outcome measures: Timed Up and Go test (TUG), handgrip strength test, COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale (C19-YRS), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-sf), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and EuroQol Five Dimensions health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L).

A systematic review of quantitative EEG findings in Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID (LC) are similar multisymptom clinical syndromes but with difference in dominant symptoms in each individual. There is existing and emerging literature on possible functional alterations of the central nervous system in these conditions. This review aims to synthesise and appraise the literature on resting-state quantitative EEG (qEEG) in FMS, ME/CFS and LC, drawing on previous research on FMS and ME/CFS to help understand neuropathophysiology of the new condition LC.

Frontal alpha asymmetry: A potential biomarker of approach-withdrawal motivation towards pain.

Pain-related catastrophising is a maladaptive coping strategy known to have a strong influence on clinical pain outcomes and treatment efficacy. Notwithstanding, little is known about its neurophysiological correlates. There is evidence to suggest catastrophising is associated with resting-state EEG frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) patterns reflective of greater relative right frontal activity, which is known to be linked to withdrawal motivation and avoidance of aversive stimuli.

Clinical Characteristics and Mechanisms of Musculoskeletal Pain in Long COVID.

Objective: Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is being increasingly reported by patients as one of the most common persistent symptoms in post-COVID-19 syndrome or Long COVID. However, there is a lack of understanding of its prevalence, characteristics, and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. The objective of this review is to identify and describe the features and characteristics of MSK pain in Long COVID patients.