Chronic fatigue syndrome is a health condition with many symptoms and many questions surrounding the underlying cause. As a result, there are very few chronic fatigue syndrome treatment options, and most of them have limited success at mitigating symptoms. We’re going to take a closer look at the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Then we will address some lifestyle changes that may make the condition a little easier to live with. Finally, we will discuss a natural therapy that has helped patients in case studies to regain some quality of life despite living with debilitating health conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptom Checklist 

Here is a short checklist of some of the most common chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. 

• Chronic fatigue – The symptom the condition draws its name from, this is no mere lack of sleep. Fatigue of fibromyalgia can stem from or worsen due to both physical or mental exertion. Even regular rest does not relieve the symptoms. 
• Widespread pain – Some doctors may actually confuse chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia because both conditions present with widespread joint pain and muscle aches. 
• Inhibited immune system function – This is so common among chronic fatigue patients that some researchers think it predates the condition and is the cause of its onset rather than being a symptom. 
• Sore throat – Chronic sore throats with no other reasonable cause are common for chronic fatigue syndrome patients. 
• Cognitive symptoms – Ranging from memory problems to attention issues, most patients exhibit some form of cognitive distress. Brain fog is the term for all of the cognitive symptoms together. 
• Enlarged lymph nodes – Lumps in the neck and armpit may be enlarged lymph nodes.
• Headaches – Headaches are considered chronic once they occur more than 15 days per month. This is another condition associated with chronic fatigue. 
• Non-refreshing sleep – The patient will often feel tired, even after sleeping a full night. It is, however, essential to continue to get enough sleep, even if it feels like it isn’t helping. 

Fighting Chronic Fatigue with Self-Care 

It is no wonder that chronic fatigue usually has a significant effect on a person’s quality of life. However, there are some things you can do to reduce the control that chronic fatigue has over you. Here are a few ways to diminish your symptoms.

• Get more sleep – Again, rest isn’t the complete solution, and you may still wake up feeling tired. However, you don’t want to add being sleep deprived to a condition that already causes extreme exhaustion. Having a regular schedule for sleep, creating the right environment for sleep in your bedroom, and resisting the urge to use mobile devices in bed can all help you to get the rest you need. 
• Stay active – When overdoing it can cause you to end up in bed for a few days, the idea of even a mild exercise program can seem out of reach. However, there are a few reasons that exercise is vital. First of all, even a little exercise can help keep your joints limber and may reduce the amount of pain you feel. Second, exercise improves circulation. This is particularly important when dealing with chronic health problems. Finally, exercise releases chemicals in the brain that help to fight stress. Since stress is a major symptom trigger for most people living with chronic fatigue syndrome, this can provide significant benefits. Just be sure to consult a doctor before starting a new exercise routine. 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Causes 

One of the main reasons there is such a lack of chronic fatigue syndrome treatment is because researchers don’t understand what causes it in the first place. Taking their best guesses, here are a few of the things that have been postulated to date:

• Weak immune system – As we mentioned earlier in the article, researchers disagree as to whether a weakened immune system is a symptom of chronic fatigue or if it is the underlying cause. 
• Viral Infection – Researchers have tried to link chronic fatigue to viral infections like Epstein Barr and herpesvirus. However, the presence of chronic fatigue and one of the viruses is not consistent. 
• Hormone imbalances – Researchers have noticed abnormal hormone levels in many chronic fatigue patients. However, it has not been determined whether this is an underlying cause or just one more symptom.  
• Trauma – Researchers believe that both physical and emotional trauma may play a role in the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome. Many patients have a history of trauma ranging from childhood abuse to car accidents. 

Misalignments in the C1 and C2 are the potential link between chronic fatigue syndrome and trauma. This can have far-reaching effects in the central nervous system, including affecting the brainstem, which can also have an impact on hormone level balance. With that in mind, let’s address a natural way to combat this common an often-overlooked subluxation. 

Upper Cervical Chiropractic and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 

Upper cervical chiropractors are specifically trained to detect and correct misalignments of the C1 and C2 down to hundredths of a degree. Because of the sensitive location of these top two vertebrae in the neck, even minute misalignments can lead to many symptoms. In case studies, chronic fatigue patients have experienced improved quality of life after having an upper cervical misalignment corrected. To see if this would be a viable form of care for you, please contact a practitioner in your area and schedule a no-obligation consultation.

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