What Is The Outlook For Someone With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The long-term outlook varies quite a bit. There may be times when your symptoms are not too bad and other times when they flare up and become worse. However, many people improve over time and some recover well. Children and younger people have a better rate of full recovery. Early diagnosis and treatment may lessen the impact of the illness. The important thing to remember is that this is not a progressive or life-threatening disease and that for many people full recovery is possible.
What Else Could It Be
The symptoms of ME/CFS are similar to those of other conditions.
If you think you may have ME/CFS itâs important to see a GP to make sure you get a correct diagnosis. A GP should also be able to refer you to a ME/CFS specialist if they think it would help you.
Page last reviewed: 29 October 2021 Next review due: 29 October 2024
Donât Miss: Chronic Fatigue And Sinus Problems
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis
As more research is done on ME/CFS, the criteria for diagnosis continue to be updated. There are a few possible sets of criteria physicians may choose to use in their diagnosis. However, most of these criteria sets require the following:
- Post-exertional malaise , or worsened fatigue after performing usual activities
- Unrefreshing sleep or other sleep problems
- Widespread pain or discomfort, such as muscle or joint pain or headache
- Two or more types of neurological or cognitive dysfunction, such as impaired memory and concentration
- Symptoms lasting longer than six months
There is no chronic fatigue syndrome test to verify whether or not a person has the syndrome. Instead, physicians take a history of patient symptoms, including family history. They often conduct tests to rule out the possibility of other diseases, including urine and blood tests. Physicians may also refer patients to specialists to ensure other diagnoses are ruled out.
Experts note that patients may be diagnosed with both ME/CFS and an additional source of chronic fatigue. Some comorbidities of ME/CFS include:
- Allergies and sensitivities
Read Also: Can Fatigue Cause Shortness Of Breath
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
As a side note, there is a difference between the muscle pain felt in an actively contracted muscle and the muscle soreness which occurs after a challenging workout. This second type of muscle soreness is referred to as delayed onset muscle soreness , and tends to peak around forty-eight hours after exercise.
Most research suggests that DOMS is a result of structural cell damage that occurs during strenuous exercise, especially types of exercise which involve eccentric contractions such as downhill running. The damaged cells release substances which help to facilitate the healing process, but unfortunately, some of these substances also activate pain receptors. Consider this soreness a reminder from your body to take it easy because you pushed it a little too hard a couple of days ago. As your muscle cells are repaired, the irritating substances are flushed out of your system, and the soreness goes away.
to start learning Clinical Somatics exercises and relieving your chronic muscle soreness today!
How Ischronic Myofascial Pain Treated
Treatment options might include:
- Physical therapy: A therapy program includes stretching, postural and strengthening exercises.
- Medicine: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen and naproxen, might be used to help reduce pain.
- Massage therapy: Therapeutic massage can loosen tight muscles and relieve cramping or spasms.
- Workplace ergonomics: You can adapt your workspace to minimize strain .
- Injections: This involves injecting a pain medicine directly into the trigger points.
It is also important to address any factors such as poor posture or mechanical problems that might be contributing to CMP pain.
Read Also: Lower Back Pain Diarrhea Fatigue Headache
Physical Or Emotional Trauma
A few people report that they encountered a physical issue, medical procedure or significant emotional stress shortly before their manifestations started.
Fatigue can be a side effect of numerous ailments, for example, infections or psychological disorders. In general, in case you have excessive or persistent weariness, visit your doctor.
Every individual has various symptoms and hence may require different kinds of treatment to deal with the issue and ease their indications. Work with your group of healthcare providers to make the best therapy plan for you. They can go over the potential advantages and side effects of the treatments with you. Take into consideration that sometimes even a 5-minutes daily workout can boost your mood and rejuvenate you even when you feel tired.
Recommended Reading: Supplements To Help Adrenal Fatigue
Mental Health Support And Me/cfs
ME/CFS is not a psychological disorder. However, living with a chronic illness is challenging, especially one that involves missing out on normal life activities, and this may lead to mental health problems like anxiety or depression.
Speaking with a qualified mental health professional who understands the challenges of living with ME/CFS can be very helpful. They can help with things such as coping with changes to schooling, employment or social activities, and symptoms such as difficulty with sleep or pain. With the availability of Medicare rebates for telehealth, many mental health practitioners now offer remote consultations which makes healthcare more accessible for those who are housebound or bedbound with ME/CFS.
Recommended Reading: Fatigue In The Third Trimester
Why Does My Body Ache Causes & Treatment
Body aches are an uncomfortable but common symptom of a variety of medical ailments. If youre experiencing body aches, your muscles may feel weak, sore, tired, or hard to move.
For most, body aches are easily treatablea few days of rest and hydration can provide relief from any discomfort. For some, body aches, particularly those that last a long time, can indicate a serious underlying medical condition that may require treatment.
Preparing For Your Appointment
To prepare for your appointment, see the topicMaking the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:
- What is your major symptom, weakness or fatigue?
- Have you had these symptoms before? If so:
- Did you see a doctor for an evaluation of your symptoms?
- What was the diagnosis?
- How were your symptoms treated?
While you are waiting for your appointment, it may be helpful to keep a diary of your symptoms .
You May Like: Herbal Remedies For Adrenal Fatigue
Read Also: Extreme Fatigue And Hair Loss
How Does Me/cfs Affect People
ME/CFS affects different people in different ways, some more severely than others. There are four levels of severity of ME/CFS, which give an indication of the level of disability ME/CFS can create:
- mild: 50% reduction in pre-illness activity
- moderate: mostly housebound
- severe: mostly bedridden
- very severe: totally bedridden and need help with basic activities including nutrition and hydration.
The severity of ME/CFS can vary over time. A person living with ME/CFS could be at one level of severity now, then their disease could either improve or deteriorate over time. For some patients, their disease can worsen significantly with no known cause. Other patients have a fluctuating illness where they have better and worse periods, which last for months or years. It is unclear why this happens.
For most people, ME/CFS is a lifelong disease. Full recovery is rare and estimated at less than 10%. For some people with ME/CFS, as time passes and their disease improves, they will find they can do more, but it is a slow and gradual process. However, this is not the case for everyone. Some people find their disease worsens over time, others may remain somewhat stable. With support and pacing, people can often improve their quality of life.
Our App Helps Reduce Persistent Pain
- Monitor patterns in your fatigue
Monitoring when your fatigue is at its highest can allow you to see patterns you can identify times in the day when you have the most energy and plan activities to utilize these times.
- Maintain a good sleep routine
When sleep is challenging to achieve, its vital to give yourself the best chance possible. Going to bed and rising at the same day each day winding down before bed using relaxation techniques keeping your bedroom comfortable being active during the day and more, can all help you to sleep more peacefully.
- Eat a nutritious diet
Ensuring that you are eating energy rich foods and healthy balanced meals to help your body fight fatigue. Replacing foods that contribute to inflammation or provide empty calories like processed foods and junk food with healthy alternatives, such as fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins, can make a significant difference.
Dehydration is often overlooked without the right amount of liquids your body can struggle just as much as without the right nutrients. Your body needs water to carry nutrients around your body, to help keep your digestive system moving, to help rid the body of harmful bacteria and more: every system in your body uses water!
Stress contributes to pain and therefore to fatigue, so reducing stress in life can reduce fatigue as well as pain. It can also help you to get better rest at night without so many things on your mind.
- Maintain your mental health
Also Check: How Long Does Fatigue Last After A Concussion
Viral Or Bacterial Infection And Fatigue
Symptoms: Fatigue, fever, head or body aches.
Fatigue can be a symptom of infections ranging from the flu to HIV. If you have an infection, youll probably have other symptoms like fever, head or body aches, shortness of breath, or appetite loss.
Infections that may cause fatigue include:
Symptoms: Chronic fatigue, deep muscle pain, painful tender points, sleep problems, anxiety, depression
Fibromyalgia is one of the more common causes of chronic fatigue and musculoskeletal pain, especially in women. Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are considered separate but related disorders. They share a common symptom: severe fatigue that greatly interferes with peoples lives.
With fibromyalgia, you may feel that no matter how long you sleep, its never restful. And you may feel as if you are always fatigued during daytime hours. Your sleep may be interrupted by frequent waking. Yet, you may not remember any sleep disruptions the next day. Some people with fibromyalgia live in a constant fibro fog a hazy feeling that makes it hard to concentrate.
Constant daytime fatigue with fibromyalgia often results in people not getting enough exercise. That causes a decline in physical fitness. It can also lead to mood-related problems. The best way to offset these effects is to try to exercise more. Exercise has tremendous benefits for sleep, mood, and fatigue.
Continued
Read Also: Chronic Fatigue And Stomach Problems
Menopause Fatigue Remedies: Your Guide To Crashing Fatigue During Menopause
As you enter menopause, your body starts to undergo changes caused by hormone level fluctuations. You may start to experience symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and insomnia.
Fatigue is also a common symptom of menopause, and it can interfere with your normal day-to-day activities. But there are ways you can boost your energy levels and beat menopausal fatigue.
Read Also: Joint Pain And Fatigue In Adults
Joint Pain: Youre Not Alone
In a recent national survey, nearly one out of every three adults in the US reported having joint pain within the last 30 days. In this survey, deep pain was the most common complaint, followed by shoulder and hip pain
Joints connect your bones together, providing your body with support as you move. Joint pain can impact just about any part of your body, including the ankles, feet and hands. While joint pain can occur at any age, it becomes increasingly common as a person ages.
Damage to your joints caused by injury or disease cannot only interfere with movement, but can also be a common cause of pain. Some of the most common conditions leading to painful joints include rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, osteoarthritis, gout, strains, sprains and other injuries, such as in sports.
As with back pain, joint pain can vary greatly in terms of severity in the amount of time that it lasts. For example, joint pain that resolves within a few weeks is referred to as acute. However, many people suffer from chronic joint pain, or pain that lingers for weeks or months at a time.
Other common causes of joint pain include:
- Autoimmune diseases, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
- Seasonal allergies
Donât Miss: Main Causes Of Extreme Fatigue
How Does Fatigue Really Affect Someones Life
Fatigue is one of the most debilitating symptoms to deal with for many people, myself included. It feels as though all the energy has been completely sapped from your body it makes it hard to even get out of bed or walk across a room, never mind function daily. Its as though your limbs are weighed down, making every action feel so much harder.
I live with fibromyalgia and fatigue comes as one of the main symptoms of the disorder. I often find that when my fatigue is at its worst, I cant even keep my eyes open even when I am trying my hardest to function and to stay awake.
Fatigue can affect literally every aspect of someones life. It can affect whether someone is able to work to engage in activities in day to day life to interact with loved ones to do things that bring them joy, basically to have a good quality of life. This studyconcluded that fatigue,
associates with all measures of distress, and is a predictor of work dysfunction and overall health status.
This all sounds very dire, but dont lose hope there are ways to lessen fatigue and to live a happy life.
- Get your health checked
If you are experiencing fatigue and you have not addressed it with your doctor, its wise to bring it up and get your health checked. Your doctor may eliminate other causes of fatigue such as anaemia, to ensure that the fatigue is coming only from your chronic pain condition.
- Ask your doctor about medication
- Address your chronic pain
Don’t Miss: How To Beat Chronic Fatigue
The Underlying Cause Of Chronic Muscle Soreness
Now, back to answering our original question of what causes chronic muscle soreness. In normal movement, muscles contract and release, contract and release, over and over again. When muscles release and get a chance to rest, metabolic wastes are flushed out of our muscles, making the soreness go away and restoring full function. When we hold our muscles in a constant state of contraction, however, this recycling process never gets to happen.
Muscles that are constantly contracted, or being held in a state of tonic contraction, are working very hard even when were standing still. So as you can imagine, they require a great deal of energy in the form of ATP. But unfortunately, contracted muscles squeeze the blood vessels in the area, restricting blood flow and reducing the amount of oxygen and glucose that can be carried to the working muscle. This compression of the blood vessels is not problem during a phasic contraction, in which muscles regularly contract and release. But during a tonic contraction, constant compression of the blood vessels leads to ischemia, a condition in which lack of oxygen and nutrients can lead to pain, loss of function, cell damage and even cell death.
Pain Can Reduce Activity Levels
If you are dealing with pain on any level, it is very likely to impact activity levels. Feeling unable to participate in exercise is one reason, though day-to-day activities that get us up and moving about may also become more challenging to complete when suffering from pain. The result of this is reduced movement which can go on to impact energy levels.
In a 2017 study, for example, it was found that higher levels of physical activity and lower levels of sedentary time were associated with lower pain and fatigue in women with fibromyalgia.2 Additionally, more vigorous physical activity was connected with lower general and physical fatigue, further suggesting that movement is crucial in the management of this issue.
Read Also: Apache Mills Anti Fatigue Mat
Fact: A Short Nap Is The Best Solution
According to the National Sleep Foundation, pulling over for a short nap is the most effective way to restore alertness on the road. Park in a safe, well-lit area. Set your watch or phone to wake you up in 15. Then let yourself really wake up before you get back on the road. Longer naps can increase grogginess and disorientation. If you plan to nap longer than half an hour, it may be best to stop for the night.
Q: Why Is Pots Often Misdiagnosed
A: Many of the symptoms described above seem very cardiac-driven. However, at the hospital or ER, the doctors will find that the POTS patients heart is fine. Its actually the adrenaline thats producing a lot of these symptoms to compensate for a neurologic problem.
Often, patients have so many symptoms and are consulting so many different specialists that theres no cohesive assessment or treatment. In addition, POTS symptoms are often misdiagnosed as adrenal fatigue a term used to describe a group of symptoms when nothing else can be used to explain it.
Awareness of POTS in todays medical culture is limited. Recently, however, theres been a growing awareness of POTS thats evolving across the board. As the general population is learning more about it, the medical community is being educated as well.
You May Like: How Can Mental Fatigue Be Overcome
