When you suffer from chronic fatigue, then you know there is no singular magical cure out there to help you eliminate your symptoms and stop feeling tired all of the time. While there is no one standard treatment, there are many options available for managing the symptoms and improving your quality of life! These options include lifestyle changes, medications, and stress management techniques as well as a variety of drug-free therapeutic services.
With the help of your healthcare provider, treatment options can be tailored and personalized to your specific symptoms. Read on to learn about some available treatment options and therapeutic services available in Edmonton.
What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
First of all, it’s important to understand what chronic fatigue syndrome is in order to understand the effectiveness of the therapies we offer.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disorder that involves extreme fatigue that lasts for at least six months. However, it is a complicated disorder with no known underlying medical conditions. There are theories that suggest chronic fatigue may be caused by psychological stress or a viral infection – or a combination of these factors. More recently, patients suffering from long COVID have also experienced symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.
There are no tests that can definitively diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome, although tests may be conducted to rule out other health issues with similar symptoms. Typically, the fatigue caused by CFS worsens with physical or mental activity and does not improve with rest.
Other symptoms include:
- Problems with thinking or memory
- Worsening of symptoms when standing up
- Muscles pains and aches
- Joint pain
- Headaches
- Tender lymph nodes
- Digestive issues
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle weakness
Overall, those with chronic fatigue typically struggle with constant feelings of fatigue along with poor sleep patterns.
Treatment Options For Chronic Fatigue
As we mentioned, there is no one treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. Instead, treatment is personalized based on your unique symptoms with a focus on reducing those symptoms and improving your quality of life.
Here are some effective therapy options you can explore to manage and minimize your chronic fatigue:
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is often recommended to those who live with chronic fatigue in order to promote nerve and muscle relaxation. This therapy technique calms, relaxes, and soothes your body to relieve stress and pain.
Prolonged stress can aggravate chronic fatigue syndrome, so massage techniques such as craniosacral and myofascial are effective treatment methods .
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a hands-on treatment that requires a physiotherapist to develop a unique treatment plan for your specific condition. They will work with you to ease your discomfort as well as build your short-term endurance and strength.
Chronic fatigue syndrome involves fatigue, pain, and weakness, so building strength can help alleviate these symptoms. Your physiotherapist may refer you to other specialists as well to help manage other symptoms such as depression.
Chiropractic Care
Because there is often pain that accompanies chronic fatigue syndrome, chiropractic care may be an ideal therapy technique. By using spinal manipulation, a chiropractor can treat many chronic fatigue symptoms without medication or invasive treatments.
Chiropractic adjustments can help improve energy, reduce pain, and increase mobility. The overall treatment can also strengthen the immune system and help you feel more in control of your body.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a well-known practice that has been around for centuries! An acupuncturist inserts thin and painless needles into specific points in your body’s energy field in order to manipulate your qi energy.
Acupuncture can help relieve common symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome such as pain, sleep problems, headaches, and depression by stimulating acupuncture points to reduce inflammation, improve muscle stiffness, and reduce insomnia.
Laser Therapy
Many of the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome can be linked to the lymphatic system’s inability to flush out inflammatory proteins, which causes a biochemical disturbance in this system. This disturbance can lead to pain, low immunity, hormonal imbalances, and other issues that contribute to chronic fatigue.
Laser therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, treats the deepest levels of your body’s tissues in order to promote cellular regeneration to alleviate inflammation and pain. It also promotes the healthy functioning of the lymphatic system, which could reduce many of the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Shockwave Therapy
Many patients with chronic fatigue experience chronic musculoskeletal pain which can be even more debilitating than the fatigue. Shockwave therapy can be used to treat a range of musculoskeletal conditions by using high-energy shock waves to stimulate the body’s natural healing process.
Healing occurs by initiating an inflammatory process and increasing blood supply to the affected area. Over several treatments, metabolic activity will increase around the area of pain and facilitate natural healing.
Chronic Fatigue Treatment Options: Which Is Best For Me?
The best treatment option for chronic fatigue syndrome is different for everyone! Ultimately, it’s whatever is effective in treating and managing your unique symptoms. This can be one specific treatment method or a combination of different therapies.
While there are medications available to help alleviate the symptoms of CFS, River Stone Wellness understands that many individuals are hesitant to rely on medications for relief. This is why we offer a variety of natural and non-invasive therapies when it comes to treating chronic fatigue syndrome.
We are dedicated to working with you and your healthcare provider to plan the best course of treatment tailored to your individual needs. Whether you are dealing with chronic pain or constant stress, we have a treatment option that is right for you!
If you’re ready to take control of your chronic fatigue syndrome and mange symptoms so you can live a better life, book your appointment today! We look forward to supporting you on your journey to improved health and wellness.