As one who’s suffering from Fibromyalgia, I have a firsthand experience with chronic pain and fatigue; and because of this, I consider myself a tad bit qualified in the subject matter. Chronic exhaustion and pain are common symptoms found in both Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The two disorders might seem alike, but trust me when I say that they’re not. In Fibromyalgia, the exhaustion usually takes a backseat to the unbearable muscle pain; while in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome the pain is minimal and lack of energy is maximal. While there’s no definite cure for the condition yet, there are several ways to manage it and live a healthy life.
Causes
First things first, let’s talk about the disorder and its causes. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or CFS for short, is an ailment that cannot be explained by any core medical condition immediately it is noticed. It’s characterized by extreme tiredness and exhaustion that doesn’t go away even after the sufferer had has enough rest. While there’s been a lot of theories surrounding the causes of the disorder ranging from viral infection, psychological stress, to a combination of both; it still hasn’t been fully understood yet.
Sometimes CFS can develop after the attack of a viral infection, but no particular type of infection has been noted to be the cause of the disorder. Even diagnosing CFS can be a challenge since there are no specific tests for it yet. Your doctor would have to rule out other causes of your fatigue before he can decide for sure it’s CFS.
Even though the disorder can affect anyone, CFS is more common in women within the age range of 40-50. Genetics, stress, environmental factors and sometimes allergies could increase the chances of developing CFS.
Symptoms
The indicators of CFS vary in different individuals, and it also depends on how severe it is.
Exhaustion that’s extreme enough that it could interrupt the person’s daily activities even after sufficient rest
Muscle pain
Low concentration or memory loss
Not feeling refreshed even after a good night’s sleep
Tender lymph nodes present in the armpits and neck
Consistent headaches
Since a lot of people with CFS don’t always look sick, it’s usually hard to diagnose on time. And for your doctor to identify the disorder, you must have at least four or more of the mentioned symptoms above.
Treating CFS
Just like Fibromyalgia, there’s no permanent or definite cure for CFS. And since most of the people affected have different symptoms and needs, they usually require various types of treatment plans to manage and relieve the pain and exhaustion. Some of the methods include;
Elimination or reduction of coffee intake to improve your sleeping habits
Creating a sleep routine that works best for your needs (avoid taking naps in the day time).
Avoid physical and emotional stress since they could worsen your symptoms.
Try out different exercise therapy as recommended by your therapist. Psychological counseling could also help you cope with your condition.
Getting anti-depressants to battle the depression that sometimes comes with CFS.
Trying out alternative treatments such as; yoga, acupuncture, tai chi, or getting massages to soothe the pain that accompanies CFS.
