Treatment For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Conventionally speaking many doctors contend that there is no one treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. Due to the fact that the cause of CFS has not been determined to be related to an infection, an immune system problem or a metabolic dysfunction, no one treatment has been settled upon by the medical community. Most often treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome is on a “symptom-by-symptom basis.”
One of the first treatments to be tried for CFS is exercise programs in the form of graded exercise or pacing exercises. In the case of graded exercise (GE, GA or GET), this is a type of rehabilitation program that involves self-monitored or supervised activity or exercise that is graded. Pacing is a form of self-controlled rest and exercise that is designed to minimize an individual’s homeostatic disequilibrium. Still other forms of exercise are sometimes undertaken for pain relief and these include gentle forms of stretching, gentle yoga, walking, t’ai chi, and non-aerobic exercise.
The drug treatments prescribed for chronic fatigue syndrome run the gamut depending on what symptoms a patient is suffering from and how severe the symptoms are. There are antidepressants, antibiotics, amphetamines, sleep aids, and immune-modulating drugs. Sleep aids and pain relievers are the two kinds of drugs that are most commonly prescribed to patients. Many of those who suffer from CFS experience poor or irregular sleep patterns and therefore need a little help to ensure a good night’s rest on a consistent basis. Some patients are prescribed sleep aids while others are given the names of over-the-counter remedies.
Pain is a common side effect of CFS, especially when it comes to physical, neuralgic pain. Nerve pain of this type often responds best to tricyclic antidepressants, however other kinds of pain relievers can also be recommended. Those suffering from headaches and/or migraines need to seek out pain relievers that are suited for that purpose. In some cases hot water bathing and acupuncture have been shown to be helpful in relieving neuralgic forms of pain.
There are yet other types of treatments that are sought out to help those who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. Sometimes a doctor will try more than one form of treatment concurrently or in other cases it will be only one form of treatment at a time. Cognitive behavioral therapy is sometimes undertaken, as is hydrotherapy, massage (in particular in the forms of myofascial therapy and /or craniosacral therapy), acupuncture and reflexology. Many doctors have found that behaviorial intervention in the form of cognitive therapy and graded exercise combined together is extremely effective in treating chronic fatigue syndrome.
Another option is alternative therapies such as nutritional supplementation and dietary modification and herbal therapies. For example such nutritional supplements that have been found to help CFS sufferers include magnesium, alpha lipoic acid, glutathione, and L-theanine. The herbal remedy passionflower has shown promising results as has Echinacea, licorice, lomatium, astragalus, ginkgo biloba, Chinese (or Korean) ginseng, Siberian ginseng, milk thistle, pau d’arco, St. John’s wort, kava kava, cat’s claw, ashwaganda, goldenseal and a variety of other ones.
