Chronic primary MSK pain 2022

Inspired by a perspective and commentaries in Pain Reports.[1–3] Photo by Mateo Krössler on Unsplash. View of Heidelberg... MSK – musculoskeletalMPS – myofascial pain syndromeWA – Western Australia key to acronyms A couple of these papers popped up on my searches on Friday 19th August, and since transport disruption had led to a cancelled clinic, … Continue reading Chronic primary MSK pain 2022

Where to needle 2022

...in two tricky muscles! Inspired by Yi et al & Lee et al 2022.[1,2] Drawing by MC to illustrate the 3 different sets of fibres making up QL (left) and the just the costotransverse fibres (right).Screenshot from the BMAS Points Resource (QL) with QL fibres and their attachments drawn in over the image. SR – … Continue reading Where to needle 2022

Evidence mapping 2022

Inspired by number 8 in the BMJ acupuncture research series.[1–8] SR – systematic reviewICU – intensive care unitRCT – randomised controlled trialGRADE – Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (a method of grading the quality or ‘certainty’ and strength or ‘effect size’ of evidence inhealthcare)MSK – musculoskeletalES – effect sizeSMD – standardised mean differenceTMJD … Continue reading Evidence mapping 2022

Looking inside the MTrP 2022

Inspired by Ball et al 2022.[1] Inside the trigger point drawn by MC on Paper 53 circa 2015. MTrP – myofascial trigger pointTrP – trigger point (exactly the same as MTrP for those wanting to save a keystroke)LTR – local twitch responseUS – ultrasoundVSE – vibration sonoelastographySWE – shear wave elastographyDN – dry needling aka … Continue reading Looking inside the MTrP 2022

MPS in patients with CA 2022

Inspired by Hasuo et al 2021a&b and Ishiki et al 2021.[1–3] Graphic by MC shows characteristic referred pain patterns from the most common trigger points in trapezius on the right and other possible sites of trapezius trigger points on the left. MPS – myofascial pain syndromeCA – cancer (in this case ‘incurable’ cancer) aka ‘the … Continue reading MPS in patients with CA 2022

Floating needles

Inspired by Al-Sawat et al 2021, Chen et al 2021 & Ang et al 2021.[1–3] Seirin L type needle handle and shaft. Photograph by MC using Canon EOS 5D Mark III EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM. SUI – stress urinary incontinenceFSN – Fu’s subcutaneous needlingMTrP – myofascial trigger pointkey to acronyms This is a set … Continue reading Floating needles

Ocular AEs

Inspired by Jiang et al 2021.[1] Photo by Cameron Venti on Unsplash. AEs – adverse eventsEA – electroacupunctureTPI – trigger point injectionkey to acronyms Thankfully rare, ocular injuries caused by acupuncture seem to affect me more than most other AEs. I cannot help myself grimace a little every time I think of needling points inside … Continue reading Ocular AEs

Transfer of FMS with IgG

Inspired by Goebel et al 2021.[1] Graphical abstract from Goebel et al 2021. FMS – fibromyalgia syndromeFM – fibromyalgiaIgG – immunoglobulin GIF – impact factorHC – healthy controlsCM – C-mechanoreceptorCMC – cold-sensitive CMDRGs – dorsal root gangliaSGCs – satellite glial cellsMTrPs – myofascial trigger pointsSHA – self home acupunctureST36 – an area in upper tibialis … Continue reading Transfer of FMS with IgG

Breast pain and MPS

Stimulated by Mandiroğlu et al 2021.[1] Diagram of referred pain patterns from myofascial trigger points by MC. MPS – myofascial pain syndromePM&R – physical medicine and rehabilitationSF–MPQ – Short Form McGill Pain QuestionnaireFiRST – Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Toolkey to acronyms Referred pain from muscle has been an interest of mine since my earliest days in … Continue reading Breast pain and MPS

Consider acupuncture for chronic pain

Stimulated by NG193.[1] Photo by Arno Smit on Unsplash. NICE – National Institute for Health & Care ExcellencecLBP – chronic low back painMSK – musculoskeletalGERAC – German acupuncture trials (large 3 arm trials with ~1000 patients in each)MCID – minimum clinical important differenceLA – local anaestheticCRPS – complex regional pain syndromeRFD – radiofrequency denervation. key … Continue reading Consider acupuncture for chronic pain