Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by persistent and severe fatigue, and is often associated with difficulty sleeping and concentrating, sore throat, depression, and aching muscles and joints.
In the 1980s, CFS was often dismissed as the "yuppie flu," and people who complained of constant fatigue were told that it was all in their heads or were misdiagnosed with related problems.
The diagnosis remains elusive today. While diagnostic criteria for CFS were developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1994, the cause or causes of CFS are still not clear. People with CFS often have to do their own research and consult several medical experts before a diagnosis can be made.
"I had to work hard to find a doctor who actually understood the illness and believed me," said Marie K. "I would bring all my books and magazine articles with me as I went from expert to expert trying to find help."
When it's that difficult to get a diagnosis, it may be even harder to ask a medical practitioner about alternative or complementary forms of treatment. Although there are no specific conventional treatments for CFS, doctors tend to prescribe low doses of antidepressants, anti-inflammatory agents, antivirals, and immunologically active drugs, such as isoprinosine.
If taking medication for a prolonged period is troublesome to you, or you are simply looking for a way to supplement conventional treatment with some complementary treatment, there are a number of therapies you can try. Because there is no cure at this time, many people with CFS find that the best treatment is more a matter of learning to cope with and alleviate the symptoms.
Work with your medical practitioner to develop a program, but understand that the criteria for feeling better are all subjective, so only you can be the best judge of what's working and what's not.
Chiropractic care and osteopathy are hands-on, adjusting techniques that have provided relief to many people with CFS. Physical therapy may be helpful as well.
Chiropractic works on vitality and good health are due to an unobstructed flow of nerve impulses from the brain through the spinal nerves and throughout the rest of the body. It is thought that when misalignments or "subluxations" occur, such as joint disfunctions, joint adhesions or joint fixations, there is an interference with the normal transmission of nerve impulses. If this continues over a long period of time, there is impaired capability, often accompanied by pain. A chiropractor uses "adjustments"—quick , forceful movements—to change the range of joint movement back to normal.
For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact Morris Family Chiropractic at
440-639-9171 or visit our website at http://www.morriswellness.com/
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