16/07/2023
- The RAT under Dug mountain # - the multisite non inflammatory pain syndrome of unknown etiology. Spares none - common in all races , ethnicity, socioeconomic class . Usually affects young females more than men but with the current lifestyle incidence is high. Accounts for almost 10% of patients attending GP. On an average these patients have at least 25 visits to Gp clinics and then referrals to the specialist. And still being unable to find diagnosis. No definitive blood test or radiology test to correctly diagnose it. It’s a diagnosis of exclusion and takes average 5 years to label it as affirmative. Vague symptoms , varied presentation, lack of diagnostic tests and not definitive treatment only makes psychological stress to the patient even worse. On the contrary most of the patients develop it as PTSD. A physician has to consider all these factors while offering treatment which includes mainly Non pharmacological therapies like - exercise , stretching, massage , meditation, biofeedback, physical therapy and counter stress for distraction. Only few pharmacological therapies proven effective like antidepressants, BZDs with muscle relaxant properties combined with NSAIDS , opioid analgesics and which also comes with a long list of side effects .