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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Cleveland Clinic

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Research indicates that the brain is responsible for a large part of the onset of CFS. By aligning the spine and neck , chiropractors can create clear paths for neurons to communicate with the brain and the rest of the body. This has been shown to increase energy levels and decrease the pain associated with CFS.

In addition to dealing with the symptoms of CFS, regular adjustments will also boost the immune, respiratory and glandular systems within the body and create a better overall picture of health.

Best Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Akureyri Disease Doctors Inwestlake Oh

We found 273doctors who treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Westlake.

Doctors who treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in this region have an average rating of 3.9 stars. Below are some of the best options around Westlake. The providers below have at least 1 or more past patient ratings, so you can be confident that these providers have the experience that you are looking for.

Other Drugs Being Investigated For Cfs

Rituximab: Rituximab is a biologic drug used to treat the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers. The drug targets and blocks the activation of certain type of B cells. A small early-stage trial investigated rituximab’s effectiveness in treating CFS. Results suggest that the drug may improve fatigue and other symptoms in some people with the disease. The results are preliminary and further study is needed before it can be determined if rituximab is likely to be helpful in treating CFS.

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How Is Cancer Fatigue Diagnosed

Your healthcare provider will assess your symptoms. You may be asked to complete a questionnaire or rate your fatigue level. Your provider may ask you to keep a journal to track your level of fatigue and factors that might contribute to fatigue.

Blood tests can check for anemia, signs of infection or other problems that cause fatigue.

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Rev Environ Health. 2015 30(4):251

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With guest host Anthony Brooks.

Chronic fatigue syndrome has been renamed: systemic exertion intolerance disease. Well look at a new name and new diagnosis.

As many as two and a half million Americans suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. There is no formal diagnosis but there is a huge debate about what it is and what to call it. Many who suffer from it say the name, chronic fatigue syndrome, trivializes the illness. So now, the Institute of Medicine has come up with a new diagnosis, and a new name: Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease, to better describe its debilitating effects. This hour, On Point: whats in a name? The debate over chronic fatigue syndrome.— Anthony Brooks

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What Is Sjgren’s Syndrome

Sjögren’s syndrome is a lifelong autoimmune disorder that reduces the amount of moisture produced by glands in the eyes and mouth. It is named for Henrik Sjögren, a Swedish eye doctor who first described the condition. While dry mouth and dry eyes are the primary symptoms, most people who have these problems don’t have Sjögren’s syndrome. Dry mouth is also called xerostomia.

There are two forms of Sjögren’s syndrome:

  • Primary Sjögren’s syndrome develops on its own, not because of any other health condition.
  • Secondary Sjögren’s syndrome develops in addition to other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and psoriatic arthritis.
  • What Is Brain Fog And What Does Brain Fog Feel Like

    Brain fog is not a medical condition, disease or disorder. It is a set of symptoms that include a general feeling of fatigue and cognitive inefficiencies, such as reduced concentration and difficulty with memory, said Cynthia Funes, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist at Banner University Medicine Neurosurgery Clinic in Phoenix, AZ. Patients often describe the experience of having a cloud inside their head that makes it difficult for them to focus on daily tasks.

    Youve probably heard brain fog more these days especially as it relates to those recovering from COVID-19 or at the very least, experienced the symptoms on your own. Typical symptoms of brain fog include poor concentration, an extra effort to focus on a task, trouble multitasking or managing too many tasks at once, trouble tracking what you are doing and trouble retrieving a memory or information.

    To better understand the causes and when you should be concerned, heres a breakdown of potential causes for brain fog.

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    How Can I Combat Cancer Fatigue

    The best way to combat fatigue is to treat the underlying cause. Unfortunately, the exact cause may be unknown, or there may be multiple causes. There are treatments to reduce certain causes of cancer fatigue, such as anemia or hypothyroidism. Other causes must be managed on an individual basis.

    The following are tips you can use to combat cancer fatigue:

    • Conserve energy.

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    To find out what is causing your fatigue, your healthcare provider will ask questions about your lifestyle and medications and will conduct a physical examination. They might order some lab tests to test blood and urine. If you are a woman of child-bearing age, your provider will probably order a pregnancy test.

    To relieve fatigue, your provider will treat the condition or disorder thatâs causing it. Depending on your health, your treatment plan may include a combination of medication, exercise, or therapy. If youâre taking a medication that makes you feel exhausted, talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of stopping the medication or trying another one.

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    Q: How Is Pots Tested/assessed

    A: Seeking answers from a medical center with autonomic expertise will give you a better chance of receiving an accurate diagnosis. If you think you may have POTS, its important that your doctor rules out other conditions, including thyroid disease.

    Your autonomic medical specialist will use a special tilt table test to diagnose your condition. The tilt table test is designed to measure heart rate and blood pressure as you change your body position from lying flat to a 60- to 70-degree angle. The title table is the best way to confirm a POTS diagnosis.

    How Your Family Can Help

    Always remember that youre not alone. Support from your family can make your condition easier to bear by spending time with you on good days as well as the bad days.

    I try to make family members a partner in treatment, he says. When you just want to spend the day in bed watching TV because of fatigue or pain, a family member can encourage simple, fun activities to help get you moving.

    Whether your diagnosis is chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia, a doctors role in treating the disease small. A doctor is there as the coach and can help you with the first 10% to 15% of improvement, while you have to help yourself manage the remaining 85% to 90%.

    If youre suffering with chronic pain and/or fatigue, talk to your doctor. A diagnosis can put you in a better position to manage your symptoms even if there are still some mysteries surrounding your disease.

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    How Is Sjgrens Syndrome Diagnosed

    If you have dry mouth, dry eyes or other signs of Sjögrens syndrome, your doctor may use these methods to confirm a diagnosis:

    • Blood tests: These tests detect specific antibodies in the blood. They look for anti-nuclear antibodies , anti-Sjögrens syndrome antibodies and anti-Sjögrens syndrome type B . A blood test can also detect rheumatoid factor, an antibody found in many people who have rheumatoid arthritis.
    • Biopsy: Your doctor may remove tissue or cells from a salivary gland or the inside of your lip. This biopsy sample goes to a lab to check for signs of inflammation.
    • Eye exam: An eye specialist, such as an ophthalmologist, can measure tear production. During an eye exam, your doctor will examine the cornea, the clear part of the eye, for dryness.
    • Imaging tests: These include sialometry, which measures how much saliva you produce by using X-rays that can see dye injected into salivary glands. There is also salivary scintigraphy, a way to track how long it takes for a radioactive isotope to travel from an injection point in your vein to your salivary glands.
    • Health history: If you have a pre-existing autoimmune disease, plus dry eyes and dry mouth, your doctor may conclude that you have developed secondary Sjögrens syndrome.

    Ruling Out Other Conditions

    Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)

    Other conditions can mimic symptoms of CFS. They include:

    Fibromyalgia: a disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue, is closely associated with CFS and often overlaps with it. Unlike CFS, fibromyalgia generally has specific pain trigger pains.

    Autoimmune diseases: including systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis , and rheumatoid arthritis , are caused by autoimmunity, a condition in which a person’s immune system attacks the body’s own tissues. The early symptoms of these conditions, such as muscle and joint pain and fatigue, may mimic CFS symptoms.

    Infectious diseases: such as Lyme disease or HIV/AIDS can be identified with blood tests. Infectious mononucleosis causes fatigue and swollen glands. It primarily affects adolescents and young adults. Blood tests can detect the Epstein-Barr virus , which causes mononucleosis.

    Endocrine disorders: such as Addison disease can cause fatigue and muscle weakness.

    Sleep disorders: such as restless legs syndrome should be considered.

    Substance abuse and psychiatric disorders: should be ruled out. Fatigue is a side effect of many prescription and over-the-counter medications. In addition, dependence on or abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs may lead to chronic fatigue.

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    What Are The Complications Of Sjgrens Syndrome

    Most people who have Sjögrens syndrome live their lives without any significant problems. However, a dry mouth means that you are more likely to have dental problems, such as tooth decay and infection. Dry eyes can also place you at risk for eye infections.

    If you have secondary Sjögrens syndrome, you may also have problems like joint paint caused by rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

    Rarely, people with Sjögrens syndrome develop these complications:

    • Abnormal liver or kidney function.
    • Lung problems that may be mistaken for pneumonia.
    • Neurological problems that cause weakness or numbness.

    What Medications Can Treat Chronic Pain

    Your healthcare provider may recommend certain medications to relieve chronic pain, including:

    • Anticonvulsants for nerve pain.
    • Antidepressants such as tricyclic antidepressants.
    • Muscle relaxers.
    • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen.
    • Topical products that contain pain relievers or ingredients that create soothing heat or cold.
    • Opioids . Opioids can be addictive, and you can build up a tolerance to them over time. Because of this, healthcare providers usually try other pain treatment options before prescribing opioids.
    • Sedatives to help with anxiety or insomnia.
    • Medical marijuana.

    Other medical treatments your healthcare provider may have you try include:

    • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation : This procedure delivers small shocks through patches on your skin. The electrical impulses can relieve pain.
    • Nerve blocks: For this treatment, your healthcare provider injects an anesthetic near the site of your pain to reduce feeling in the area. Nerve blocks can also sometimes provide diagnostic information and locate the source of your pain.
    • Epidural steroid injections: This procedure is an injection of anti-inflammatory medicine a steroid or corticosteroid into the space around your spinal nerves known as the epidural space to treat chronic pain caused by irritation and inflammation of spinal nerve roots.

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    Whats The Difference Between Chronic Pain And Other Pain

    Chronic pain differs from another type of pain called acute pain. Acute pain happens when you get hurt, such as experiencing a simple cut to your skin or a broken bone. It doesnt last long, and it goes away after your body heals from whatever caused the pain. In contrast, chronic pain continues long after you recover from an injury or illness. Sometimes it even happens for no obvious reason.

    What Are The Complications Of Cancer Fatigue

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    Persistent fatigue can interfere with your ability to participate in lifes activities. You may miss out on time with family and friends. It can affect your ability to concentrate and think clearly. Some people are too exhausted to continue working.

    As many as 1 in 4 people with cancer develop depression. Sometimes, its hard to determine if fatigue leads to depression or vice versa.

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    What Are The Symptoms Of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic Fatigue Syndrome

    For many people, the symptoms of ME/CFS resemble other diseases, like influenza. Symptoms may come and go over time and may increase or decrease in severity. ME/CFS symptoms vary widely from person to person.

    Many of the symptoms of ME/CFS make daily life difficult. These symptoms include:

    • Severe fatigue lasting at least 6 months that does not improve with rest or sleep
    • Difficulty sleeping
    • Flu-like symptoms, including swollen lymph nodes , headaches, and joint pain
    • Cognitive difficulties, including attention and memory problems

    Less common symptoms of ME/CFS include:

    • Problems with vision
    • Irritable bowel, an intestinal condition causing painful bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhea
    • Psychological issues, including mood swings, irritability and anxiety
    • Tingling or numbness in the feet, hands or face

    For many people, ME/CFS symptoms get worse following physical exercise or strenuous mental exertion. In some cases, orthostatic intolerance causes dizziness, weakness, and fainting.

    Can Stress Management Help With Cancer Fatigue

    Managing stress can play an important role in combating fatigue. Here are some ways you can manage stress:

    • Adjust your expectations. For example, if you have a list of 10 things you want to accomplish today, pare it down to two and leave the rest for other days. A sense of accomplishment goes a long way to reducing stress.
    • Help others to understand and support you. Family and friends can be helpful if they can “put themselves in your shoes” and understand what cancer fatigue means for you. Cancer support groups can be a source of support as well. Other people with cancer truly understand what you are going through.
    • Relaxation techniques including guided meditation, deep breathing or visualization can help reduce stress and minimize cancer fatigue.
    • Divert your attention. Activities that divert your attention away from fatigue can also be helpful. Activities that require little physical energy but demand attention include knitting, reading or listening to music.

    If your stress feels overwhelming, talk to your healthcare provider. They are there to help.

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    What Causes Chronic Myofascial Pain

    No one is sure what causes CMP. Possible causes include:

    • Mechanical factors, such as one leg longer than the other
    • Poor posture, stress and overuse of muscles
    • Performing work activities using poor techniques that can lead to repetitive stress injuries
    • Anxiety and depression which can cause increased muscle tension, leading to significant myofascial pain

    Trigger points might be activated by overwork, fatigue, direct trauma and cold.

    What Are The Symptoms Of Chronic Myofascial Pain

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    The most notable feature of CMP is the presence of trigger points. These trigger points or tender points are highly sensitive areas within the muscle that are painful to touch and cause pain that can be felt in another area of the body, called referred pain.

    Trigger points might be active or latent. An active trigger point is always sore and can prevent the full use of the muscle, subsequently leading to weakness and decreased range of motion. A latent trigger point does not cause pain during normal activities, but is tender when touched and can be activated when the muscle is strained, fatigued or injured.

    Other symptoms associated with CMP include a sensation of muscle weakness, tingling and stiffness. The pain associated with CMP might also lead to problems sleeping.

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    How Common Is Chronic Myofascial Pain

    Pain originating in the muscles and fascia is very common. Nearly everyone at some point suffers from this type of pain, known as myalgia fasciitis or myofascitis. CMP, however, involves pain that is chronic, or long lasting, and is associated with specific trigger points.CMP most often occurs in people between the ages of 30 and 60 years. It affects men and women equally.

    Are There Side Effects Or Complications Of Medical Treatment For Chronic Pain

    Every medication has a potential for side effects some are more serious than others. Be sure to discuss the possible side effects of your chronic pain medications with your healthcare provider.

    Complications from medical treatments for chronic pain can include:

    • Acute liver failure from acetaminophen treatment.
    • Opioid addiction and/or overdose.
    • Spinal cord damage or infection from spinal cord stimulators.

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    Q: What Is Adrenal Insufficiency

    A: Adrenal insufficiency is a state in which your adrenal glands dont function properly and cannot secrete the vital hormones your body needs to function normally.

    Adrenal insufficiency can be caused by Addisons disease, a pituitary disorder or another disorder. Some symptoms of this life-threatening dysfunction include extreme exhaustion, lack of appetite , diarrhea, nausea, low blood pressure and low blood sugar.

    Is There A Cure For Chronic Pain

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    Currently, there is no cure for chronic pain, other than to identify and treat its cause. For example, treating arthritis can sometimes stop joint pain.

    Many people with chronic pain dont know its cause and cant find a cure. They use a combination of medications, therapies and lifestyle changes to lessen pain.

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    Autonomic Nervous System Abnormalities

    Researchers are investigating links between autonomic system dysfunction and CFS. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary actions, including regulating blood pressure.

    Some people who have CFS also have symptoms of a condition known as neurally mediated hypotension . NMH causes a dramatic drop in blood pressure when a person stands up, for even as few as 10 minutes. Its immediate effects can be light-headedness, nausea, and fainting.

    A related condition experienced by some people with CFS is called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome . POTS causes a rapid increase in blood pressure when changing from a lying down to a standing up position.

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