Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) can negatively affect the quality of a person’s life as well as his or her state of mind. It is known for such symptoms as:
- Extreme exhaustion that is not improved with rest
- Muscle pain
- Problems with concentration and memory
- Tiredness after mental or physical exertion that lasts over 24 hours
- Irregular patterns of sleep
- Sore throat
- Abnormal headaches
- Joint pain with no swelling or redness
- No other medical conditions to explain the fatigue
These symptoms must be experienced by adults for 6 months and children for 3 months in order to be diagnosed properly. No one really knows exactly what causes CFS, but here are a few theories:
- Viral infections
- Genetics
- Immune system problems
- Hormonal imbalances
Another theory that is gaining popularity because of its success in helping chronic fatigue patients has to do with an often-overlooked misalignment in the bones of the upper neck, specifically the atlas and the axis bones. If one has been in a car accident, had a trip and fall, experienced a sports-related injury, or suffered any other kind of mild or major blow to the head or neck, he may be at risk for a misalignment of these bones. When this happens, undue stress is put upon the brainstem and causes the central nervous system to malfunction.
How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Helps Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
We take chronic fatigue very seriously at our Danville, Illinois practice. We know that a healthy spine means a healthy body and a happier person. A misalignment – even one as tiny as ¼ of a millimeter – can be the source of a lot of serious health problems throughout the body. We use modern technology to help us detect exactly where the misalignment lies, and then we use a very gentle method to begin to correct it. We do not pop or crack the spine or neck in any way (that’s general chiropractic). The technique used by upper cervical chiropractors encourages the bones to more back into place naturally with minimal force. Once the misalignment is corrected, patients often report seeing chronic fatigue symptoms improve greatly.