Are you new to a chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis? Has a loved one recently received such a diagnosis? Have you been living with chronic fatigue for years but have not yet found a way to cope? This article will discuss some of the most important things to know about chronic fatigue syndrome and will conclude with a natural way to get help. 

Know the Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 

The obvious symptom is fatigue that isn’t corrected by proper rest. However, this is not the only chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) symptom. Here are a few other things that make CFS so debilitating. 

• Cognitive issues – including poor memory, concentration, etc. 
• Sore throat 
• Enlarged lymph nodes – particularly in the neck and armpits 
• Headaches
• Joint and muscle pain – often leads to confusion with fibromyalgia

Another common problem experienced by persons living with CFS is that overexertion results in symptoms flareup. This does not just include physical activity. Mental exertion can also lead to a flareup of physical symptoms. Therefore, you may want to work at reducing stress. 

The FDA Has Not Approved a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment  

While there are certain medications that get prescribed for chronic fatigue syndrome, the FDA has not approved any of these as treatment. Off label use occurs when a physician prescribes a drug that was developed and tested for a health condition other than what a patient has. He or she may do this because research shows it may help with specific symptoms. However, if there is no FDA approval, you can’t predict the benefits or side effects.

At the same time, the FDA has not approved any alternative means of treatment either. So don’t let a supplement or alternative form of medicine claim to be a treatment. There is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome. The objective with care, both traditional and alternative, is to provide help for symptoms. 

You Can Experience Flare-ups and Remission 

When a person receives a diagnosis, you may think that chronic fatigue syndrome dooms you to a lifetime of days with little to no energy to accomplish anything. However, this is not the case. Once you learn how to manage your symptoms, you may be able to have days or even weeks between flareups. What can you do right now to try and increase the time between your flareups?

Learning to pace yourself is crucial. When you have a good day, it can be tempting to try and get through your entire to-do list. However, learning your limits for physical and emotional strain can help you to reduce your workload, even on good days, so that you can help remissions to last as long as possible. 

Try a Program of Graduate Exercise (Under Physician Supervision) 

If overexertion causes symptom flareups, there is the temptation to move as little as possible. However, a sedentary lifestyle can lead to stiff joints, weight gain, increased stress, and other negative factors that may make your symptoms even worse. Thus, you have to stay physically active. What is graduated exercise, and how may it help?

A graduated exercise program begins with something as simple as light stretches. Under the supervision of a doctor, you gradually increase the amount of exercise that you perform. At times, you may face setbacks due to overexertion. However, the benefits of daily activity, for your heart, lungs, brain, and other critical body systems, are a must. Hopefully, the exercise will also improve energy levels, help you control stress, make it easier to sleep at night, and provide other health benefits. 

Seek Natural Help Through Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic Care 

Upper cervical chiropractic care may be able to help you restore some quality of life, as has been shown in a case study. While the study involved just 19 patients, the results are still worth noticing. The study involved using a health survey to rate the patients’ quality of life before and throughout the case study. What were the results?

• General Health – This section of the survey saw the most considerable improvements for patients. At the start, the average score was just 30.3 out of 100. By the end of the case study, the average rating was 55.6, showing a dramatic increase in physical well-being.
• Mental Health – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other chronic ailments also take a toll on a person mentally and emotionally. Mental health scores for patients improved from 46.4 out of 100 to 68.6. 
• Sleep Health – The PSQI was used to determine the ability of patients to sleep. The test has a score range of 0 to 21, with higher numbers indicating more sleep problems. At the start of the trial, patients averaged a 12.1 out of 21, indicating significant sleep problems. After the study, this score was a 6.1, revealing that the patients were sleeping much better. 

Upper cervical chiropractic care was used in this study to correct misalignments of the C1 and C2 vertebrae (only patients living with both chronic fatigue syndrome and an upper cervical misalignment participated in the trial). Upper cervical chiropractic involves precise and gentle adjustments of the top two bones in the neck. Keeping these bones in proper alignment assists the central nervous system to function optimally. As you can see from the results of the study, correcting these misalignments can have physical and mental health benefits, including improved sleep. Contact a practitioner in your area to learn more.

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