Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as “CFS” or myalgic encephalomyelitis or “ME”,  is a complex condition that is much more common in women than men, by a 2 to 1 margin. The CDC estimates that upwards of 2.5 million people in the US suffer from it.

What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:  Viruses have been said to be the most common cause of CFS, though high stress levels, hormonal imbalances and environmental toxins are thought to be involved too. Current thinking is that CFS is a set of symptoms that are caused by a combination of the above factors.

Symptoms Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Symptoms of CFS are many and varied. To be considered CFS the following symptoms will be present for at least 5-6 months:

• Feeling wiped out, even after a good night’s sleep
• Extreme fatigue that has lasted for more than 6 months
• Many types of routine daily activities cause the symptoms to get worse
• Becoming house or bed bound after low activity levels
• Experiencing insomnia a majority of the time
  Inability to focus or concentrate
• Difficulty organizing and conveying thoughts
  Lack of stamina
  Declining memory
  Feeling achy or wide-spread, diffuse pain
  Experiencing frequent headaches
  Having immune system issues, including frequent colds and sore throats
• Experiencing dizziness, vertigo, or feeling gaint when sitting or standing
• Pain is very common and can be severe during a crash
• Headaches, chills, nightsweats
• Allergies, food sensitivities, sinus issues
• Digestive upsets, ibs/ibd

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome tends to come and go in cycles of feeling better for awhile, then feeling worse again. There could also be a randomness to the symptoms, meaning that one day you have achy arms, and the next day your legs or feet are painful.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis

Getting a diagnosis from your doctor can be difficult, and can take awhile, as there is no specific test for CFS.  Rather, your doctor will run a battery of tests to rule out other things such as Lupus, Lyme Disease, and MS before making a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Many CFS symptoms mimic other chronic diseases. Your doctor will typically begin with a physical exam. They will also usually do a sleep related evaluation, as well as order blood tests, including a cbc.

As well, they will usually do tests for things like fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, multiple sclerosis, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, sleep apnea, and heart/lung functioning.

You may be referred to a neurologist, a rheumatologist, a sleep specialist, or an endocrinologist for further testing to narrow down the diagnosis.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome treatment options that your doctor may discuss with you include pacing, aka activity management (do only what you’re able, then rest til your energy returns), meditation, group therapy, pain medications, medications to help with sleep, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medications.

Craniosacral Therapy For Chronic Fatigue

CranioSacral Therapy can complement and go beyond the western medicine/allopathic approach to help your body better deal with many of the aspects and causes of CFS.

Benefits Of CranioSacral Therapy For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Stress reduction
Better sleep
Pain relief
Better cellular nutrition
Improved communication in the body, resulting in your body functioning better overall
Increased energy levels and feelings of well being

As with all therapies and protocols, each person responds differently with the use of CranioSacral Therapy.  Health status, chronic disease, medications, previous illnesses, and previous injuries are all factors in outcomes.  Please call for a complimentary consultation to discuss your particulars and goals.

Hi, I’m Sandy Schell, CST.  I am a Certified CranioSacral Therapist with more than 20 years experience.  I’ve worked with a wide variety of health conditions and am an Advanced Level Therapist.  My primary focus is CranioSacral Therapy, although I will also combine other modalities as necessary into a session, such as Myofascial Release, Reiki, Grid Balancing, Vagus Nerve Balancing. 

CranioSacral Therapy St Petersburg FL has a long, proven track record of being able to restore health and vitality by focusing on the core elements that “run” the body – the nervous system, it’s fluids, rhythms, and fascia (connective tissue). 

CranioSacral Therapy is based in Osteopathic Medicine, and dates back to the early 1900’s.  It’s safe, effective, and results-oriented.

The proper functioning of your nervous system is vitally important to your health and well-being.  Your nervous system is based in communication, which happens through the cells, the energetic impulses, the fluids, and the connective tissues of the body.  Having clear, strong, healthy communication, energy, and fluid movement is what underlies a health body.  By focusing on the nervous system, a properly trained, experienced CranioSacral Therapist can release stress patterns at the causative level, resulting in symptoms disappearing once balance and communication throughout the body are restored.

Musculoskeletal tightness, neurological imbalances, autoimmune disease, many types of pain, and organ dysfunction are some of the many categories of health conditions that typically respond well with CranioSacral Therapy.