{"id":309,"date":"2023-05-25T10:18:15","date_gmt":"2023-05-25T10:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glennruscoe.physio\/newswebsite2\/2023\/05\/25\/the-disease-where-pushing-harder-can-make-you-sicker-learnfromme-on-worldmeday-2023\/"},"modified":"2023-05-25T10:18:15","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T10:18:15","slug":"the-disease-where-pushing-harder-can-make-you-sicker-learnfromme-on-worldmeday-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glennruscoe.physio\/newswebsite2\/2023\/05\/25\/the-disease-where-pushing-harder-can-make-you-sicker-learnfromme-on-worldmeday-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"The disease where pushing harder can make you sicker: #LearnFromME on #WorldMEDay 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today is World Myalgic Encephalomyelitis\u00a0<\/strong>(ME) Day, this year the focus is on raising awareness and improving understanding of post-exertional malaise (PEM), a symptom of this complex condition.<\/p>\n

Marking the birth of Florence Nightingale, a historical figure who experienced ME-like symptoms. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)<\/a>, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), is a complex neurological disease. The COVID-19<\/a> pandemic has brought ME\/CFS and PEM into sharper focus. Many individuals with Long COVID<\/a> have developed ME\/CFS, highlighting the urgent need for treatment approaches that acknowledge PEM\u2019s devastating impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

PEM is one of the unique symptoms of ME\/CFS that is often misunderstood. It is characterised by severe fatigue that can be exacerbated by any minor physical, mental or emotional exertion. Unlike ordinary fatigue, PEM is a profound, incapacitating exhaustion that can last for days or weeks after minimal exertion. Pushing through doesn\u2019t bring improvement; instead, it can cause a worsening of symptoms, signifying the distinct character of ME\/CFS.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[I am] a doctor who has been bedridden with severe ME for a long period after [graded exercise therapy] GET caused a severe relapse from which I have not recovered\u201d Dr Mark Vink, ME\/CFS patient, clinician and researcher<\/span><\/p>\n

PEM impacts all facets of life. Simple tasks can trigger a range of symptoms, including cognitive impairment<\/a>, muscle pain<\/a>, and light and noise sensitivity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n

This symptom has far-reaching implications. Basic tasks like cooking, bathing, or even conversation can lead to a resurgence of symptoms, often referred to as a \u2018crash\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I\u2019m a broken battery that\u2019s stuck at 10% and when we crash we disappear so you never see us at our worst\u201d\u00a0Jennifer Brea, US patient, Unrest documentary, 2017<\/span><\/p>\n

Rehabilitation professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists, play a critical role in managing ME\/CFS. It\u2019s about optimising function within an individual\u2019s energy limitations, focusing on energy conservation<\/a>, and avoiding triggering PEM. Tailored strategies might involve activity planning, pacing techniques, energy-saving devices, and coping mechanisms for anxiety<\/a> and breathlessness<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFatigue is what we experience, but it is what a match is to an atomic bomb\u201d\u00a0Laura Hillenbrand, author of Seabiscuit and Unbroken, An Author Escapes From Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, NYT, 4 Feb, 2011<\/span><\/p>\n

What you can do on World ME Day<\/h1>\n

World ME Day is an opportunity to raise awareness, dispel stigma, and learn from those living with ME\/CFS. Find out more so you can be part of the change. Read more about <\/span>ME\/CFS on our Physiopedia page<\/span><\/a>. As well as rehabilitation advice, you will learn more about the symptoms of ME\/CFS, how it is diagnosed, and the treatments that are available.<\/span><\/p>\n

Join in and be part of the goal to create a world without ME. Post on social media using the hashtags #LearnFromME and #WorldMEDay and let everyone know ME is the disease where pushing harder can make you sicker.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today is World Myalgic Encephalomyelitis\u00a0(ME) Day, this year the focus is on raising awareness and improving understanding of post-exertional malaise (PEM), a symptom of this complex condition. Marking the birth of Florence Nightingale, a historical figure who experienced ME-like symptoms….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"_ti_tpc_template_sync":false,"_ti_tpc_template_id":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-physio"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glennruscoe.physio\/newswebsite2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/glennruscoe.physio\/newswebsite2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/glennruscoe.physio\/newswebsite2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glennruscoe.physio\/newswebsite2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=309"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/glennruscoe.physio\/newswebsite2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glennruscoe.physio\/newswebsite2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glennruscoe.physio\/newswebsite2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glennruscoe.physio\/newswebsite2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}