Chronic Fatigue Management Plans - Chronic Fatigue Help

What is it?

Chronic fatigue is symptom associated with many chronic illnesses. It can be following extended periods in hospital, head injuries, post-cancer treatment or burnout to name a few.

It is one of the primary symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and/or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), now more commonly known as ME/CFS.

Chronic Fatigue related conditions primarily affects the:

Brain
Gastrointestinal system
Immune system
Endocrine and cardiac systems

Symptoms we address

Chronic fatigue is a symptom we address, however, there are other associated symptoms we also tackle. With ME/CFS for example, the most common fatigue-type symptom is post-exertional malaise (PEM) with minimal cognitive, emotional, or physical effort. This type of fatigue can be quite disabling and is often triggered by minimal activity.

There are a range of symptoms that can concurrently manifest with chronic fatigue. These include:

Sleep problems
Dizziness
Cognitive issues (e.g. short term memory loss, loss of concentration, ‘brain fog’)
Gastrointestinal problems (e.g. nausea, abdominal pain, bloating, IBS)
Hypersensitivity to light and sound
Widespread pain and ongoing headaches
Issues with body temperature and weight regulation
Sensitivities to food, medications, odours or certain chemicals
Sudden drops in blood pressure
Recurring flu symptoms (e.g. sore throat)
Orthostatic Intolerance

Treatment needs to be catered to the individual; a particular treatment or plan for one person can be catastrophic for another.

Causes

Common conditions that cause chronic fatigue include (but not limited to):

Cancer/post-cancer treatment
Chronic respiratory conditions
ME/CFS
Brain injuries
Chronic infections / viruses
Neurological conditions
Chronic Muscular conditions

We also know that psychological stress/illness, childhood trauma, perfectionist personalities, low physical fitness, and allergies may lead to the development of chronic fatigue.

The research suggests that the chronic fatigue is likely to be associated with problems involving:

The body’s ability to produce and transport energy
The immune, neurological and hormonal systems
Blood pressure, circulatory and cardiac systems
Biochemical abnormalities such as fructose malabsorption
Digestion
Complex systems at a cellular level

Who gets it?

Chronic fatigue can manifest in men and women. Some research indicates up to 20% of us are affected by chronic fatigue at some point in our lives.

Those who have symptoms of chronic fatigue are also are often extremely sensitive to normal amounts of exercise.

Of the clients we see, high proportion of people who experience non-cancer related chronic fatigue have had Glandular fever (or similar), are hypermobile, and have a ‘Type A’ personality. Of course, these do not constitute a diagnostic criterion, rather an interesting observation.

Effective chronic fatigue programs vary between individuals, so for best results it is important to us that we understand your story before treatment.

One in ten Australian adults will experience some form of chronic fatigue in their lifetime.
One in three people experiencing chronic fatigue are likely to have psychological distress
Chronic fatigue is mentally exhausting, irrespective of severity. About 25% of people living with it can end up being bed ridden and in full-time care.
There are higher levels of depression in those who suffer with chronic fatigue. Often these people are labelled as 'lazy', which is simply NOT true.
There is no one simple solution to addressing chronic fatigue, it is complex and can be caused by a range of external and/or biological factors. It is more than just 'being tired', it is an ongoing, exhausting experience.

Our Chronic Fatigue Management Programs

At Beyond Pain, we not only aim to address your chronic fatigue but provide you with the tools to empower yourself on your journey to recovery. This is why our fatigue management programs are always tailored to suit the individual. Because we are all different, to succeed, it makes sense to design programs with individualised long term goals in mind. All our programs feature:

Goal setting and
enjoyable activities

We believe it is vital that your rehabilitation program is based on what you want to achieve. This way we can help you work towards that. When you don’t have clear goals, you won’t have a clear sense of direction. Once you set your goals, we will help you to achieve them in a manageable way.

Stretch & exercise programs

We will teach you our program and show you how to set the numbers yourself and do them to a level you can manage. This will stop you from push yourself too hard and save you money in the longer term because you will know how to set up a program that works for you. It’s not about pushing, it’s about pacing.

Relaxation
techniques

We will teach you different types of relaxation techniques so that you can use whichever works best for you when you need it. They range from short 30 second techniques to the longer 20 minute techniques. Our techniques are also versatile- they can be performed at home, at work or on the tram.

Managing flare-ups & setbacks

We teach you the difference between a flare-up and setback and how best to manage them both. Understanding the difference between them will empower you with the skill to know when you need external help.

Getting a better
night’s sleep

Research tell us that good sleep is very important for health and well-being. If you don’t sleep well, your symptoms tends to be worse the next day. So we will teach you some strategies to get a better nights sleep.

Getting into the
right mindset

If are getting angry, frustrated, depressed and/or anxious, we will teach you a range of strategies to help you. We understand everyone is different, so we will find what will work best for you.

Returning to work / activity in a helpful way

Having structure in your day and a sense of self-worth is vital in life. If you are at a working age, we will discuss what special considerations are required to support you with your work. We will also show you how to get back to enjoyable activities because for metal and physical well-being- it is important to have some fun!

Intimacy and how
to get it back

Often a delicate topic of discussion, but an integral part of life, we will discuss what you can do to help get this back into your life. We understand that everyone is at a different stage of intimacy and we are happy to work around your needs.

Learn how
to be heard

By the end your program, you will have a greater understanding and a sense of control of you condition. You may even save on costly ongoing treatments. Most people find noticeable improvement in their quality of life within the first month of treatment.

We understand

People with chronic fatigue (even cancer related fatigue) find that activities they once took for granted take an enormous toll on their health. For example, a short stroll, coffee with a friend, getting their child ready for school or catching the train to work, which caused no fatigue before, is followed by unusual tiredness that takes longer than usual to go away.

Alongside the chronic fatigue, people can experience a range of symptoms from pain, headaches, dizziness, orthostatic intolerance, sleep issues, sensitivity to light and noise, and, allergies just to name a few.

It can lead to issues in your personal life, such as change of roles at home, social life and work life. It can be isolating and debilitating. For most people who suffer with chronic fatigue, with the right help, and, as time passes and their condition improves, they will find they can do more. But it is a slow and gradual process.

We can help

Beyond Pain is renowned for its unique and personalised chronic fatigue management and the ability to achieve successful outcomes within a short time period. We have a deep seeded, personal understanding of experiencing chronic fatigue and clinical expertise. We understand that chronic fatigue is not only physically exhausting to live with, it impacts people mentally, emotionally and socially. So, we address the whole you and not just the physical part… this is our strength and what makes us different!

We work with anyone suffering from chronic fatigue and we will help you with your chronic fatigue recovery. Our clients range from CEOs to factory workers, sports people, stay at home mums and dads and retirees. We see people from all walks of life.

To find out more about our chronic fatigue treatment plans, connect with us today.