Treatments For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

While chronic fatigue syndrome treatments have been rarely explored in depth, a 2001 study published in the Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome revealed that 91% of patients using Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum's SHINE (Sleep, Hormones, Infections, Nutrition, Exercise) treatment saw improvement in their medical symptoms and quality of life by 90%. Best selling author Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, recently appeared on the Dr. Oz show discussing his own personal battle with chronic fatigue syndrome that left him a med school drop out, homeless and sleeping on park benches. "From that time, my medical career has been focused on finding effective treatment for CFS and its painful cousin fibromyalgia, which together afflict at least 12 million Americans," Dr. Teitelbaum explained.

Since the root cause is so mysterious, many CFS treatments are pharmaceutical in nature so the symptoms can be treated. Sleep aids, muscle relaxants and stimulants are given to help with sleep disorders and fatigue. Antidepressants can help with depression, sleep difficulty and pain. Analgesics and anticonvulsants may be given for pain. Since the discovery of the chronic fatigue retrovirus, antiviral medications are being developed and tested. The problem with drug treatment is that everyone responds differently. Some people may tolerate a medication well, while others may suffer side effects and adverse reactions.

Exercise is sometimes recommended in chronic fatigue syndrome treatments but may also be discouraged by doctors. One of the afflictions on the chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms list is "post-exertion malaise," which means that patients experience a worsening of symptoms or a relapse following physical exertion. Despite fatigue, specialists recommend a new definition of exercise. "Perhaps a better word would be movement," says Dr. Charles Lapp. Instead, he says, try deep breathing exercises, muscle stretches and short intervals. Five, three minute sessions are often recommended, compared to one fifteen minute session. For those who can tolerate it, low impact water exercise is a good option.

No matter what course is prescribed, lifestyle changes are essential chronic fatigue syndrome treatments. First and foremost, a CFS patient must know his or her energy limit and always abide by this rule. Some days feel better than others, but it's important that one does not over-exert or a relapse may follow. Good sleep habits are important as well, so reading a book like "Sleeping Without Pills" would be helpful. Nutrition plays an important role in energy, so it's important that individuals learn which foods carry the best nutritional value. Patients who fit the chronic fatigue syndrome medical definition find it very helpful to organize the home better, which will enable them to waste less energy. Knowing where the phone, pens, paper and keys are can save a lot of time running around the house.

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